Opera House presents Fredonia native in concert

Doug DeJoe will perform Friday in Fredonia.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center presents singer/songwriter and Fredonia native Doug DeJoe live in concert on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in a special concert that also features Fredonia native Russell St. George as opener.

DeJoe returns to his hometown for this special concert that will feature slice of life songs all about growing up in what he considers “the best small town in America.” It was here in Fredonia, growing up in the “Little Italy” neighborhood that he learned about family, friendship, good food, good humor, confession on Saturday, church on Sunday, lake effect snowstorms, sandlot football, and how to throw a baseball.

After college at the State University of New York at Fredonia and St. Bonaventure University, DeJoe taught high school English in Hinsdale, before moving to Nashville when offered a staff songwriting position by Chuck Howard of Great Cumberland Music.

In Nashville, DeJoe began writing with Keith Follese, who has penned many country hits. Two of his and Follese’s songs landed on country artist Joe Nichols’ debut album including “Six of One, Half Dozen of the Other,” his first single and a CMT Hot Shot video.

DeJoe then went on to write for Horipro Entertainment under the tutelage of Combine Music publisher and Modern Music Row pioneer Rob Becham. He also was staff writer for Bob Morrison Music and continues a musical relationship with Russ Zavitson of SMG, who published DeJoe’s first song, “Pretty Good Shape for the Shape I’m In” in 1991.

DeJoe’s songs have been recorded by several musical artists, but his proudest recordings are those done with his band, The Bloomlaters, which took flight in 2003. DeJoe and the Bloomlaters released two albums, Jesus Drives an Oldsmobile in 2005 and Headlines in 2009. They currently are recording their third album at Quakehouse Studios in Nashville with their longtime producer and consigliere, Caesar Cirigliano.

DeJoe now calls the Pacific Northwest home, living outside of Seattle-Tacoma in the idyllic Puget Sound town of Gig Harbor.

Opening for DeJoe is Russell St. George, also a Fredonia native currently living in Beacon.

This event is part of the Folk in Fredonia Gilman Family Music Series at the Opera House, generously sponsored for nearly 30 years by The Gilman Family. Tickets are $20 (Adults), $18 (Opera House Members) and $10 (Students) and can be purchased in person at the Opera House Box Office or by phone at 716-679-1891, Tuesday-Friday, 12-4:30 p.m., or online anytime at www.fredopera.org.

Opera House programming is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and in part by the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is a member-supported not-for-profit performing arts center with a mission to “present the performing arts for the benefit of our community and region … providing access to artistic diversity … and high quality programming at an affordable price.” It is located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.

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