For more than 20 years, Bill Morris has conducted fun, educational programs for adults and children with developmental disabilities in group homes and schools. In addition to the following credits, Bill and Kristin have performed for numerous Elderhostel programs, campgrounds, retirement homes, hospitals, and coffee shops.
General Appearances
Special Performer, Appalachian Ballads and Railroad Songs for The Asheville Mountain Dance and Folk Festival; Asheville, N.C.
Featured Performer of Traditional Ballads for The N.C. Center for Public Television Series: The Great American Music Company
Homestead National Monument of America U S National Park Service; Beatrice, Nebraska
Bascom Lunsford Festival; Mars Hill, N.C.
Jimmy Rodgers Festival; Meridian, MS
The Virginia Shop; Charlottesville, Virginia
N.C. Transportation Museum
Wilson Creek Visitor Center - Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic River; Collettsville, N C
N.C. Center for Advancement of Teaching
Western Carolina University Heritage Festival
Roanoke Valley Heritage Festival
International Conference of Parks and Recreation - U.S. Department of Interior National Park Service
Southeastern Narrow Gauge & Shortline Railroad Museum; Newton, N C
School Appearances
Madison Middle School; Marshall, NC
Black Mountain Middle School; Black Mountain, NC
Nathaniel Alexander Middle School; Charlotte, NC
Beverly Woods Elementary School; Charlotte, NC
Jay M. Robinson High School; Concord, N.C
Vance High School; Charlotte, NC
Eastway Middle School; Charlotte, NC
Mabel Elementary School; Zionville, N C
Technical Credits*
Recording Engineer for Time-Warner TV miniseries "The Wild West"
Technical Producer and Recording Engineer for "Over Home" on National Public Radio
Recording Engineer for "Merlefest;" National Public Radio
Producer and Recording Engineer of "Blue Ridge Mountain Music," a Collection of Five Albums Sold through the National Park System and Museum Gift Shops Nationwide
President and Creator of Ivy Creek Resources, Inc. "The Home Of Authentic Blue Ridge Mountain Music."
Electronic Engineer for Motorola Communications and Electronics, Inc.
Recording Engineer, Technical Director, Studio Engineer, and Transmitter Engineer throughout the Radio and TV Broadcast Industry
Affiliations
National Railroad Historical Society, Alexander Chapter
National Storytelling Network
North Carolina Storytelling Guild
International Bluegrass Music Association
Testimonials
"Bill and Kristin Morris are among our favorite entertainers. Their program of railroad songs and folklore,"Steel Rails Hummin," is an excellent addition to our Raildays Festival. Their mix of songs and storytelling really holds our audience's attention and provides great family entertainment."
- Scott Warren, Historic Interpreter at N.C. Transportation Museum
"Bill Morris knows a lot of good railroad songs and really knows how to put them across too"
- U. Utah Phillips
Dear Bill and Kristin, Thank you for coming and taking your time to sing at our school, I really enjoyed it a lot. I liked the song about the dying hobo. It was my favorite. I also enjoyed the story by Kristin about “Kate Shelly”"
-Student, Madison Middle School
Bill, I’ve listened to “The City of New Orleans” by just about everyone who performed it, & I have to say that you win hands down. No matter how down I am, When you sing, “Good morning, America, How are Ya ! ”, it always makes me smile. Nobody does it like you.
- Lynne F. - West Burke, Vermont
Thank you so much for sharing your talent and time with our residents. I was overjoyed to see what a good time they had and how much fun they had listening to you sing and play. They especially enjoyed the interactive part when you invited them to join in and sing along. Your selections were just right for them.
Your promptness and reliability were so appreciated. Our residents with special needs look forward to events with great anticipation and are sorely disappointed if something planned doesn’t happen at the appointed time.
We would love to have an encore performance from you at anytime.
-Sincerely, Joy Bass - Concord, NC Cabarrus County Group homes, Inc.
Thank you for coming to our special education class to share your wonderful talent.
Our students were enthralled with you. They loved your stories and could not get enough of your singing and playing your instruments. They clapped, tapped their feet, sang along and yelled “Yee_ha! ! ! ! “You interacted so well with our students that they didn’t want you to leave. You are full of interesting stories that were both educational and entertaining.
We would glad to highly recommend you to anyone. Believe me, kids will love you anywhere.
- Katie S, EC Teacher - Concord, NC J M Robinson HS, Cabarrus County Schools
Get ready to have fun! That’s the advice I would give to anyone who is about to hear Bill Morris in concert. Bill comes to the stage with an amazing talent for playing a wide range of musical instruments, such as guitar, banjo and Harmonica. His songs and stories about trains, cowboys, and life in simpler times will touch your heart, and his humor is infectious. I’ve seen Bill perform for adult audiences, as well as for children, and he is completely comfortable and relaxed with both. A concert with Bill Morris “Hobo Bill” is entertainment at its best.
-Terry A. Rollins Past President, North Carolina Storytelling Guild
Bill and Kristin Morris perform delightful songs that will tickle and involve children and teenagers, as well as mature folk who haven’t forgotten the gifts of childhood. There songs reflect the comic nature of Blue Ridge Mountain people and their love of words tied to good tunes.
-Loyal Jones Director of the Appalachian Center at Berea College (1970-1993) Berea, Kentucky.
*Letters of reference and contacts are available upon request.
