Born Albert Nelson on a cotton plantation in Indianola, Mississippi, he moved to Osceola, Arkansas, in 1931.  He became known as Albert King when he started his career as a blues guitarist. Mainly self-taught he was inspired by Blind Lemon Jefferson. He was playing around Osceola with the “Groove Boys” when he began. His career was starting to taking off when in the 1950’s, he moved to Gary, Indiana, to play the drums with Jimmy Reed, a popular blues artist in the 1960’s. King was one of the first major blues performers to cross over into “soul”, commonly defined as blues and gospel.  Moving to St. Louis, Missouri, King recorded his Bobbin and King labels.  It was after this move, that his successful single, “Don’t Throw Your Love On Me So Strong” made #14 on the rhythm and blues chart. Finally, he signed with Stax Records and moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1966. The Stax Records “house” band, Booker T. and the MG’s, one of the most skillful music ensembles of the rock era, accompanied him.  Some of the more successful songs were: “Born Under a Bad Sign”; “Crosscut Saw”; “I’ll Play the Blues for You” and “As The Years Go Passing By”. Read more »

Barbara was born in the small community hospital in Lafe, Arkansas, however the family home was in Knobel, Arkansas.  She loved to sing from the time she was very small.  She made her first appearance on stage at five years of age in a local talent show in the Knobel School Gymnasium.  She sang “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” and “The Easter Parade,” and decided then and there she wanted to be a singer and has never deviated from that decision. Though success came to Barbara after her move from Arkansas, she never forgot where she came from.  She has done many benefit shows and other charitable things to give back to her hometown.  Barbara is very proud of her Arkansas roots that run deep in her heart and life.  She has received nominations for two prestigious Grammy Awards, one for her #1 country hit, “The Teddy Bear Song” and the other in the music for children category, “Lullaby for Teddy” are highlights in her career.  She now performs regularly in Branson, Missouri.

Although born in Hammon, Indiana, he and his family moved back to their hometown of Hampton, Arkansas, where he graduated in 1956. Pierce always had fond memories of his years growing up in Hampton and considered Arkansas his home state.  He forged lifetime bonds with his childhood friends in Hampton, such as his next-door neighbor Harry Thomason, who also works in films and TV. Pierce taught himself early to be a commercial artist.  From 1958-1968, he worked in radio and television throughout Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas by directing news, weather and commercials.  While running a small advertising studio in Texarkana and hosting a TV show for children as the character “Mayor Chuckles”, he began work on his first film – The Legend of Boggy Creek.   With a borrowed camera and nine high school students he began filming in Fouke, Arkansas, in the fall of 1971.  The film cost $160,000 to make and grossed over $25,000,000, becoming a cult phenomenon. Read more »

Little Rock, Arkansas, native George Newbern’s first lead role was in 1987’s Double Switch, a retelling of The Prince and the Pauper that aired as a part of the Wonderful World of Disney television series.  Newbern handled the role of Bart, a teenage rock star longing for a normal life, and also the role of Matt, a brainy high school student desperate to be popular. His big breakout movie role was in Father of the Bride (1991) and its sequel Father of the Bride Part II starring opposite Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams, and Martin Short. Other film credits include Adventures in Babysitting (1987) with Elisabeth Shue; Switching Channels (1988) with Kathleen Turner, Burt Reynolds and Christopher Reeve; and George’s most recent film credits include Senator Entertainment’s Fireflies in the Garden opposite Ryan Reynolds and the independent feature, Next of Kin. Read more »

Jerry McKinnis, the outdoor sports pioneer for ESPN, was born in St. Louis, Missouri.  Jerry had other interests besides fishing, such as baseball. He played professional baseball for the Kansas City Athletics organization. By the 1950’s, he had saved up enough money to go trout fishing on the White River. By the end of the trip, the guide had him wanting to move to Arkansas, and that’s exactly what he did. He moved to Little Rock and started a fishing guide service at Lake Maumelle. He needed a little boost in business so he started a local TV show called “The Fishin’ Hole”. This program went on to become a regional TV show, then went national is now the longest running fishing show in TV history. Read more »

Brown was born in Dearborn, Michigan, but moved to Jonesboro, Arkansas, when he was 14. He is a Grammy Award winning songwriter and Grammy nominated musician/producer with a great love for the state of Arkansas and got his first experiences playing music with “Southern Comfort”, a local band, and singer John Tolley from Blytheville.  “Moose” moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1983, and gained experience working with the touring bands of Jim Ed Brown; Whisperin’ Bill Anderson; Marie Osmond; Dan Seals, and even rock star Bob Seger as a member of the “Silver Bullet Band.” In 1994, he began playing on recording sessions and became “a team” session player and was nominated by the Academy of Country Music for “Keyboard Player of the Year” numerous times. He has played on dozens of #1 songs and millions of albums sold for such artists as Brad Paisley; Trace Atkins; Darryl Worley; Hank Williams, Jr.; Blake Shelton; Joe Diffie, and many others. Read more »

Born in Jacksonville, Arkansas, Kris’ talent was apparent as early as the fourth grade, when he learned to play the viola and joined the school orchestra at College Station Elementary. By age 13, Kris had taught himself how to play guitar. During his sophomore year in college, at the University of Central Arkansas, he played his first gig at a local bar in downtown Conway. Kris then started to book gigs in nearby towns of Little Rock and Fayetteville. In 2007, Kris left the university and focused on his music. At that time, he recorded and produced his own album, “Brand New Shoes.”  He continued to play gigs at night while working at Hibbert Sporting Goods during the day.  In July 2008, Kris’ brother Daniel decided to audition for “American Idol” in Louisville, Kentucky, and asked Kris and a friend to go with him. “We arrived and there were 12,000 people standing there and we were the last ones to sign up. It was intimidating,” says Kris.  Both brothers survived the first round of judging but only Kris made it into see Simon, Paula, Randy and Kara. Read more »

Lisa was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Her family moved to Little Rock where she attended Geyer Springs Elementary.   When Lisa was eleven, her family moved to Jacksonville, where Lisa attended junior high and high school through the eleventh grade.  She skipped her senior year, and enrolled at U.A.L.R. where she studied music and theatre. In 1976, Lisa auditioned for James Bridges film, 9-30-55, starring Richard Thomas and Dennis Quaid. She got the lead, and moved to Los Angeles, still a teenager. A few years later, she was cast in An Officer and a Gentleman, starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger. Lisa’s work was recognized with a Golden Globe nomination, and Us magazine’s Favorite Newcomer Award.   In television, she starred in countless Movies of the Week, pilot projects, series, and guest star roles. In 1989, she worked in Great Balls of Fire with Wynona Ryder and Dennis Quaid.  In 1996, while working in the series “Profit,” and she starred in Box of Moonlight as Catherine Keener’s sister. Read more »

Born in Searcy, Arkansas, Mark grew up in McCrory.  When he was 12 he wanted a clarinet, so he learned at home.  He walked to the McCrory high school from the 6th grade every day to practice. At 14, he was recruited by friends to join a band, borrowed a saxophone for the gig and got had a steady job playing at the Silver Moon in Newport.  He attended 2 years of college at ASU but moved to Memphis in 1971 to pursue his music. Mark developed a reputation in Memphis as an outstanding sax player for bands including Larry Raspberry, The Coon Elder Band, Jason D. Williams, and Rick Christian.  Additionally, he traveled regularly to New Orleans for gigs, learning to play the harmonica on trips between Memphis and New Orleans.  He became accomplished at the harmonica and was hired to teach a harmonica course at Memphis State University; was endorsed by Hohner harmonicas; and won a Grammy Award for Best Harmonica Player. Read more »