Résumé
Objectives ~No matter the occasion, it is the Farnum Family's sincere desire to provide a variety of energetic and wholesome family oriented musical entertainment or music ministry. They especially enjoy performing for audiences at Christian camps, conferences, church & homeschool events, family and military reunions, music festivals, private parties and other get-togethers, including conventions and corporate events. Norm & Trish have performed in the Branson area and around the country for many years. Now joined by their four oldest children − Daniel, Benjamin, Hannah and Nathaniel, on upright bass, mandolin, guitar, harmonica, fiddle, ukulele and singing − they present a masterful blend of bluegrass, folk, gospel, Irish, and old-time western music. The whole family is ready to provide your church or organization a complete ministry and/or entertainment package. Education ~Norm: Verdugo Hills High School, Tujunga, California; Lead Hill High School, Lead Hill, Arkansas. Graduated: 1974. North Arkansas Community College, Harrison, Arkansas ‑ Business and Music. Trish: Nowata High School, Nowata, Oklahoma. Graduated: 1984. Rogers State College, Claremore, Oklahoma. Associate of Arts Degree in Music ‑ 1986. Experience ~Farnum Family Band ♫ Silver Dollar City events include: Bluegrass & BBQ Festival, Silver Dollar City, Missouri, 5/06, 5/07, 5/08 and 5/09 Southern Gospel Music Picnic, Silver Dollar City, Missouri, 9/06 and 9/08 Festival of American Music & Crafts, Silver Dollar City, Missouri, 10/07 ♫ Other Bluegrass, Music Festivals & Events include: Ava Family Theater, Ava, Missouri, 10/07, 6/08, 12/08 & 6/09 Bluegrass Gospel Jamboree, Cornell, Wisconsin, 7/08 Bluegrass Pickin' Time, Dixon, Missouri, 9/07 Cass County Fair, Pleasant Hill, Missouri, 7/09 Festival at Laurel Lakes, Salemburg, North Carolina, 9/09 Heritage Days Festivals at Baker Creek, Mansfield, Missouri, 5/08, 6/08, 8/08, 9/08, 11/08 and 6/09, 9/09 MABC/BluegrassAmerica Benefit Concert, St. Ann, Missouri, 12/07 Oldfield Opry Theater, Oldfield, Missouri, 9/08 1/09 & 2/10 Ozark Folk Center, Mountain View, Arkansas, 8/09 Pretty Prairie Civic Theatre, Pretty Prairie, Kansas, 4/08 & 1/09 School Assembly Tour, Kansas, 1/09; North Carolina, 9/09 34th Annual SPBGMA Bluegrass America Showcase of Bands, Kirksville, Missouri, 10/07 TSBA Bluegrass Festivals, Hannibal, Missouri, 11/06; Burlington, Iowa, 3/07 Wooley Creek Festival, Cape Fair, Missouri, 10/07 ♫ Family Bible Camps, Cowboy & other Christian Churches... 2003 to present, with select performances in... Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Vermont. ♫ School Assemblies... American Heritage Music programs presented in Kansas, 1/09; and North Carolina, 9/09. See our Current Calendar or respective Past Events Calendars for comprehensive listings... 2006 Event History | 2007 Event History | 2008 Event History | 2009 Event History | 2010 Event History Norm 'n' Trish: "The Duet" ♫ GOSPEL GATHERING, 1998 to present. Sponsors & organizers of an annual summer and winter Christian music event. ♫ Family Bible Camps, 1991 to present, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin. Featured on miscellaneous International Short-wave, Internet, and other radio broadcasts. ♫ Lake Queen, Lake Taneycomo, Branson, Missouri, 5/87 thru 12/93. Entertainment on breakfast and supper cruises. Show featured a variety of musical styles and comedy. ♫ Oklahoma Swingin' Country, TV35, Rogers State College, Claremore, Oklahoma, 3/89. Thirty-minute country-variety show. ♫ Bureau of Lectures & Concert Artists, Lawrence, Kansas, through School Assembly Talent Service, Omaha, Nebraska, 1/90 thru 3/90. Traveled as "The Ragtime Duet" through 14 states, nearly 150 schools and institutions performing, "A History of Ragtime." ♫ Miscellaneous academic, church & civic organizations throughout the Midwest, performing gospel and variety. Norm: Musical Entertainer ♫ Tour Operators: Fox Tours, Great Southern Travel, Ozark Mt. Tour & Travel, Discovery Tours, Branson, Missouri, 1985 thru 2002 on a will-call basis. Performed Farewell Breakfasts as requested. Other private tour operators as well. ♫ Magic Valley Park, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, 6/86. Performed as a Country/Comedy duo with guitarist-partner. ♫ Roy Clark Theatre, Branson, Missouri, 6/83 thru 12/85. Banjo player and featured performer on Country Music Stage Show. Two performances daily, plus Dinner Theatre solo performance and after hours Floor Show in lounge. Performed every type of music. Helped back and/or warm-up many major Nashville entertainers, including: Roy Clark, Barbara Fairchild, Freddie Fender, Louise Mandrell, Ray Price, Ray Stevens, Tammy Wynette and others. ♫ Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri, 4/77 thru 10/81, 2 weeks in 1986. Singing and dancing bartender in Saloon Show scheduled 6 to 8 times daily. Featured on vocal and instrumental specials. Also performed with the Variety‑Bluegrass "Marvel Cave" Band. Featured on vocal, instrumental and comedy. Performed 4 to 6 shows daily. Soloist performer welcoming guests. Stone Mountain, Georgia, Board of Directors' Meeting, 4/7/98. Trish: Musical Entertainer♫ Tour Operators: Fox Tours, Discovery Tours, Branson, Missouri, 1986 thru 2000. Performed "Farewell Breakfasts" as requested − often with Norm. ♫ Shepherd of the Hills Homestead, Branson, Missouri, 4/87 thru 10/87. Ragtime piano player for "Homestead Comedy Revue" vaudeville show. Soloist on pre-show. Performed five times daily. Discography ~♫ Seven albums available: Four all Gospel: Power in the Blood and God Send Us Men (both on cassette), and Come and Rejoice and (our newest) Folk Psalms (on CD). Two Old-Timey Bluegrass: Norm & Trish ~ The Duet and Lake Queen Favorites (on cassette), and our first family album: Tomato Pickin' on CD. |
About...
|
...from Galena, Missouri, is a six-piece family band that plays a lively blend of gospel, bluegrass, Irish, novelty and old-time western music. They love to perform tunes that will have you tapping your foot and singing right along, or perhaps take you on a trip down memory lane. And a few songs will even make you laugh out loud! Dad (aka Norm) is the bandleader, picks the five-string banjo, sings lead and harmony vocals, and has 35+ years of stage experience under his belt. His musical credits include five seasons at Silver Dollar City, three at The Roy Clark Theatre and seven aboard the Lake Queen paddle wheeler (soon accompanied by his lovely and talented wife, Trish). Mom (her friends call her Trish) is the pianist for the group, is featured on lead and harmony vocals, and also plays the pennywhistle. She grew up playing music in church, for recitals, school concerts and 4-H programs. In 1987 she first performed in Branson playing the ragtime piano for the Vaudeville Show at the Shepherd of the Hills, later joining (her dashing husband) Norm on his Lake Queen cruises. They married in early 1988, and played music as a duet until a few years ago... In July 2003, their two oldest sons, Daniel and Benjamin, began taking music lessons. It wasn't long before they were able to do a song or two with Dad and Mom, and eventually became a full-time part of the band. Their younger sister, Hannah, followed suit in November of that year, and now they have all been playing nearly seven years together! Daniel, at 17, is doing a great job on the upright bass and lead vocals, and sometime plays around with the penny-whistle & bones. A fan of Marty Robbins, Josh Groban, Bar-J Ranglers and the Sons of the Pioneers, his rich baritone voice is featured on many of our songs. Benjamin, at 15, makes his mandolin ring as he plays rhythm, melodic fills and intricate lead. His skills on the mandolin are exceptional playing bluegrass, Irish or Texas Swing! Now he's also playing the guitar and harmonica... and no one knows if he can sing! Hannah, at 12 years old, handles a good percentage of the instrumental leads for the family band. She has a confident style playing bluegrass, gospel, Irish or Texas swing! She also sings some sweet gospel & bluegrass songs. Hannah still takes an occasion fiddle lesson from her teacher, Ricky Boen, star fiddler with the Sons of the Pioneers. In addition to the five musicians, 10-year old Nathaniel joined the group in August of 2006 singing an occasional special number, and is now learning to play the guitar and ukulele. His rendition of You’ve Got a Friend in Me is a real show-stopper! Five-year old Maggie sometimes makes a surprise stage appearance, and 4-year old Matthew is generally content listening to the music. Since forming their family band in 2004 they have played venues in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and many times in their home state of Missouri. Besides their many church dates, they enjoy performing fairs, festivals, historic theatres and other family oriented venues. They average about 100 live performances per year... not bad for a part-time family band! They were first invited to play at Silver Dollar City's Bluegrass & BBQ Festival and Southern Gospel Picnic in 2006, and have since been invited back in '07, '08, '09 and 2010 for similar festival events. By a special recommendation, the entire Farnum Family was awarded a scholarship to attend the O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat in Midlothian, Texas in October of 2009. “Our goal is to glorify Christ and be a blessing to all who hear us. To our Heavenly Father we give all thanks for the talents He has given and, as a family, to convey joy to others as we honor His Son.” Norm Farnum Family "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3:16 |
Thank you for visiting our site!