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Bob & Sheila Everhart have been performing old-time and traditional acoustic music in the "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" style for all 17 years of their married life. Bob is celebrating his 50th year in music this year. He is proficient on his Martin 12-string guitar, French harp, and lead vocals as well as country style humor and storytelling. Sheila plays the upright acoustic doghouse bass, fiddle, and clog dances in the style of her Ozark Mountain ancestors. They have one daughter, Bobbie Lhea, born October 3, 1996. They make their summer home in the rural village of Anita, Iowa, and have a winter home in Veracruz, Mexico. (However, they spend most of their winters on tour.) They have devoted their lives to the preservation and performance of America's rural country music, in their words "The real deal when it comes to an authentic musical genre." They have conducted a huge number of concerts for schools, festivals, symphony halls, opera houses, and home concerts, built around the historical aspects of America's early music on the frontier. The music of the settlers and homesteaders of the great plains and prairie lands. Their own ancestors are part of this incredible historically accurate 'audio picture' of America's great rural music of the past. Their songs and the manner in which they play them reflect the true American innovative method of oral tradition with their own creativity blended in. They have become one of the most 'in-demand' acts of this nature in the upper midwest, and have received tremendous accolades and honors from their peers as well as international fans. They are listed with the John F Kennedy Performance Arts Center for special Diplomatic Corp presentations as well as Governmental programs. They record for the prestigious Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, with six successful projects released on the Smithsonian-Folkways label. One of those releases, "Time After Time" was a Grammy nomination. Bob worked closely with, and became a lifelong friend of Moses Asch, the founder of Folkways Records in New York City, and also befriended Marjorie Guthrie, widow of Woody Guthrie, who became a fan of his, attending the Everhart's old-time music festival the remaining years of her life, and gave Bob an old guitar her husband Woody once played. It is now on display in their Pioneer Music Museum. Marjorie also insisted Bob perform on the Oklahoma City Woody Guthrie Festival with Earl Scruggs, much to his delight. Bob & Sheila have recorded an additional six successful CD's for Prairie Music Records, with re-releases on Condor Records in Canada, and numerous labels in Europe. The Everharts have performed their one-of-a-kind shows around the world, from China to the North Pole (Bob was on an Arctic Dewline Replenishment Expedition). From behind the Iron Curtain to the Symphony Stage in New Zealand. From "Hamburger in Paradise" in the Caribbean, to Fiji in the Pacific. And of course across the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Canada to Mexico. Attend one of their concerts, enjoy yourself, and find a unique and very rare entertainment offering, that can only come from the 'real' country. Booking the Everharts couldn't be easier. They do not ask for a lot of money, you will be surprised at the possibilities they offer you. Use the e-mail form on the home page, or e-mail them direct at bobeverhart@yahoo.com or call them at 712-762-4363, or write them a letter at P O Box 492, Anita, Iowa, 50020. You won't be sorry, and neither will the audience you are providing entertainement for.

SOME AWARDS AND ACCOLADES OF THE EVERHARTS

In 2009 Bob Everhart finished his autobiography, a 500 page book entitled "What I Saw." He wrote it mostly for his 12-year old daughter, Bobbie Lhea.

In 2007 and 2008 Bob & Sheila Everhart spent their winter months performing in New Zealand, under the auspices of Ginny Peters, successful international RCA Victor recording artist, and songwriter/composer for Pegasus Music in New Zealand. Both 3-month tours were a whirlwind of both islands, performing at festivals and concert halls. Ms. Peters opened the door for many New Zealanders when she worked with Cliffie Stone in California. She arranged for the Everharts to perform with the New Zealand Symphony in Auckland, and also arranged a concert with New Zealand's most famous guitarist, Peter Posa, who had an international hit with "White Rabbit." The Everharts performed a concert with Mr. Posa, who requested he play guitar with them in an 'out-of-retirement' program in Otrohanga, New Zealand. The Everharts performed both years on the Country Music Festival in Marton, and also received special recognition from the promoter Anne George.

In 2004, the Everharts were bestowed with the "Inspriration Award" for their efforts at preserving and performing old time country music for a new generation. This prestigious award has been earned by such greats as Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (for their cowboy music style); Highway 101 (for their contemporary style); John Hartford (for his folk style); and Bob & Sheila Everhart (for their traditional and old-time style). In media, Crook & Chase, and the TNT Television Network, have also won this award. According to Director Gordon Wall, "Bob & Sheila Everhart are the 2004 recipients, and their efforts will live long after them, giving future generations a peek at the past. We applaud them for their untiring efforts, and those of us who love country music, and its roots, appreciate their work in traditional and old-time music."

In April, 2003, Bob & Sheila Everhart were honored by the State of Iowa Legislature, as Resolution-35, was read aloud attesting to their great perserverance and performance of old-time traditional prairie and bluegrass music, and also honoring their festival of old-time music which they began in 1976. The entire Legislature gave the Everharts a standing ovation, applause of appreciation, for their work, especially concerning the historical importance of the early settlers and homesteaders in the State of Iowa. This resolution, in it's entirety, can be read in the daily record of the Iowa Legislature.

In August, 2003, Bob & Sheila Everhart were inducted into the South Texas Music Hall of Fame for their contributions both musically and promotional in helping Texas retain it's own identification and preservation of their specific country music style. The award was presented by Paul & Geneva Martinez.

In the Dec 2003/Jan 2004 issue of Midwest Country News, Bob and Sheila Everhart were featured in a story which will eventually become a book about performers of the Midwwest.

In March of 2002, Bob & Sheila Everhart concluded one of their most successful, of many, concert tours of Europe, ending five months of performances in Portugal. They took America's great rural musical heritage on a fast moving tour. Their renditions of midwest rural traditional music, as laid down by Bill & Charlie Monroe during their days of live radio broadcasting in Shenandoah, Iowa, 'went down a storm' as they say in Europe. The Everharts gave performances in Ireland, North Ireland, Scotland, England, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, East Germany, Holland, West Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Affidavits from their tour arrangers are available at any time.

In November of 2002, the Everharts were on tour in China, beginning in Hong Kong, and then to Guangzhou (formerly Canton) for a huge fashion festival, on to Beijing, Xi'an, and Guilin. They performed in Christian churches when they had the opportunity, to standing room only crowds. This tour was arranged by Gaylen Merriweather through governmental channels both in the United States and in China. According to the Everhart's one of the most remarkable tours they have ever made.

In 2001, while on tour in Europe, the Everharts were acknowledged as the "Entertainers of the Year" in Cologne, Germany. At the same time, their recording of "Dear Grand Ole Opry" rose to #12 on the European radio charts.

In 2000 American Profile Magazine, a slick magazine insert in Sunday newspapers with a circulation of over five-million, ran a story about Bob & Sheila Everhart, their music, their devotion to rural musical art forms, and their Pioneer Music Museum. The full story is available from the American Profile website.

In August of 2000, Bob & Sheila were stunned to receive the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from CIOFF, an international cultural exchange group. It was given to them at their annual festival of old time music by Rex Burdette, Internatinal Music Festival Director for Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, and also the USA President of CIOFF. CIOFF was created in France to preserve, perform, and perpetuate traditional music and dance of individual countries. Their name is Conseil International des Organisations de Festivals de Folklore et d'Arts.

Bob and Sheila were the very proud recipients of the Kitty Wells Johnny Wright "Leadership in Country Music" award from this very well known couple in country music. The Everharts were also made Tennessee Ambassadors by the Governor, Don Sundquist.

The Everharts were made Kentucky Colonels early on in their music career.

You will find them listed in Who's Who in America; Who's Who in Country Music; Who's who in International Music, ande a dozen or more reference tomes.

Bob Everhart Host/Produced the very popular PBS television show "Old Time Country Music" from 1989-1995. He actually performed 'with' some of the notables in this genre, including Ralph Stanley, John Hartford, Mac Wiseman, Jim & Jesse, Jimmy Martin, Grandpa Jones, Lewis Family, Sons of the San Joaquin, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Kenny Baker, Josh Graves, Norman & Nancy Blake, Randy Kohrs, and many more. The program was taped before a live audience in the state-of-the-art studios of Iowa Public Television. The show was so popular, it ran for seven years, and was aired in 22 States, and is currently in its third re-run.

BOB EVERHART

Bob was born in the great prairie lands of Nebraska. He grew up listening, like many of his fellow country artists, to Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams and Roy Acuff on his Dad's car radio. Out on the prairie, it was a Saturday night gathering to listen to the Louisiana Hayride or the Grand Ole Opry. Bob's country music life is amazing. He went on to become the only Iowan ever to be a regular member of the Louisiana Hayride. He started playing music when he was quite young, around age six. It was the piano for him, it was the only instrument he was exposed to as his parents played cards at a neighbors house who had one. Later in school it was the French Horn because that was the only instrument they had available. He hated it. Then in the Navy he got a guitar in Japan, and being a Radioman on the U.S.S. Gen. J.C. Breckenridge, a troop and military-dependent transport ship, he was soon playing in the Captain's Band. His abilities in the 6th Fleet, took him all the way to the North Pole on a Dewline Refurbishment Expedition. At the end of his Navy duty, college days found him at the University of Nebraska, where he teamed up with a band called the Royal Flairs and played the tenor saxophone, all the way to the Gold Coast in Chicago where his band opened for the likes of the Hollies; Peter & Gordon; Herman & The Hermits; Sonny & Cher, and many more. He was back stage when Bob Dylan switched from an acoustic folk set to an electric set and watched the people walk out. He was back stage when the Byrds were getting stage mobbed and the stage manager started unplugging their guitars. He saw John McGuin break his acoustic guitar over the stage managers head. He was with the Rolling Stones on their first tour to America, and felt Mick Jagger moaning about their near disaster tour in Omaha, with his arm around Bob's shoulders worried about the small turnout. He and his band cut the first Wrigley Spearmint Gum Hi-Ho Hay-Hay commercial, and he worked with Bill Fries for Bozell & Jacobs in Omaha. Bill Fries became C.W. McCall for Old Home Bread, and Bob became Hillbilly Billy for the Kitty Clover Potato Chip Company. Bob is the only Iowan to be ever be selected as a regular performer on the famous Louisiana Hayride, performing on the show about three times a year. Bob Everhart has been one of those quiet entertainers who has never 'sought' fame, but rather has spent the majority of his life honoring and recognizing talent in his fellow performers. Even though he has been highly honored himself, and could do any musical genre he would like, he has chosen to perform and perpetuate America's rural country music, which has seen so many drastic changes in recent years. According to Bob, "the changes are so drastic, it is no longer recognizable as 'country' music." Everhart got shot in Chicago, and eventually found himself at a country music contest in Nebraska, winning first place in that one, and all those he could find, including the Grand Ole Opry's 50th Anniversary Talent Contest in Omaha. He settled into writing, recording, and performing what he calls 'rural' country music. He's been on hundreds of television shows, including the Today Show; PM Magazine; Good Morning America; and even the BBC production "The World About Us." He has done tons of radio programs, and even his own "The Old Time Music Hour" was a tremendous syndication success in the upper midwest. As a traveling performer, he has probably covered more miles than anyone else in the business. His first, and last, love in music is the music of the early country music pioneers.

BOB & SHEILA'S 2009 PLAY DATES

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OLD-TIME RURAL MUSIC GATHERING , FREMONT, NEBR., OCT 1-2-3, 2010

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OAK TREE OPRY

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BOB & SHEILA EVERHART

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ROYAL FLAIR MUSIC, BMI & PRAIRIE MUSIC RECORDS

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PIONEER MUSIC MUSEUM

AMERICA'S OLD TIME COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME

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AMERICA'S OLD TIME FIDDLER'S HALL OF FAME

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WORLD MUSIC EVENTS

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