October 6, 2017
The Nashville-based duo Towne, made up by Pennsylvania bred, Steevie Steeves and straight-from-Kentucky, Jon Decious, joined us on “Market Day Report” to talk about their ag roots and growing up around 4-H. The band’s name is actually inspired by the idea of reconnecting “City with Country.”
Their ag roots have taken them on a journey to Music City where they now live. Jon did 4-H in elementary and grew up on a farm. His grandmother was the secretary at the KY Ag Extension office and both grandparents were leaders at KY Pork Producers Association. Steevie grew up in the countryside of rural Pennsylvania and said that 4-H and her ag roots taught her how to be “a good member of the community” and that a new generation of youths can find lots of opportunities by getting involved with 4-H.
Towne recently worked with Kentucky 4-H youths this past year to teach them about music education. A performance group of Kentucky 4-H’ers visited Nashville as part of the 2016-17 Performing Arts Troupe or “PAT.” Each year PAT takes the kids on a career trip to learn about different opportunities in the performing arts. The group got a chance to sit down with Jon and Steevie of Towne at ACME Feed and Seed. Towne talked to the kids about their work, what it was like harmonizing in a group, how to find the right words when songwriting, and where they found their own inspiration.
Jon commented, “I wish there was a performing arts program when I was growing up in 4-H.”
The kids also got to see other sites around Nashville including a backstage tour of Wildhorse Saloon, a voice lesson with voice coach Ron Browning, and a recording session at the famous RCA Studio B. The Kentucky 4-H Performing Arts Troupe perform at various events such as the Kentucky State Fair, some elementary schools, and other 4-H events. Learn more about the program here.
Enjoy the music video for Towne’s original song “The One I Love” below.
Towne recently did a social take over for RFD-TV LIVE from Pilgrimage Fest in Franklin, TN. Check out the performance and their latest single “The One I Love” at townemusic.com.
