Coming to Corsicana’s Palace Theatre at 7:30 pm on Thursday, January 26, Hank and Patsy, featuring the lives and music of country music’s first superstars starring Jake Penrod and Lisa Layne.
Jake Penrod’s name is becoming increasingly familiar with country music fans in Texas and nationally. The singer has quickly earned a reputation as a master of honky-tonk music, who not only sings and writes, but can also play just about any instrument you hand him (14 total). In 2013, he released an album of original material titled Closer To Me. The album showcases Penrod’s songwriting ability as well as musicianship across an array of different styles of honky-tonk music. He wrote each song on the album and played every instrument in authentic honky-tonk fashion, proving he knows his stuff when it comes to traditional country music, and earning the title of “King of Texas Twang.”
A native of Brownsboro, Texas, he first became interested in country music as a child when he saw a commercial for a Hank Williams record album on television.
Jake attracted national attention as a featured guest on RFD-TV’s TruCountry, and was a regular cast member on RuralTV’s Texas Pickin’ Party where he not only sang, but was also the program’s pedal steel guitarist. He has performed as country music icon Hank Williams, Sr. in the Off Broadway play Lost Highway and in his self-penned road show, Hank Williams Remembered. He hosted the 2nd longest-running show in America, WSM’s Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree, on September 19, 2015.
He is a country music traditionalist who believes moving forward doesn’t necessarily mean leaving the past behind. “There were a lot of great ones before me,” he says.
At an imperially slim 6-feet-two-inches, decked out in a suit and tie, and crowned with his signature Stetson, Jake Penrod even looks like a flashback to country music’s heyday. He gives credit to fellow Texan Ernest Tubb for inspiring his style. “He always looked like a million bucks. His band, too.”
Jake Penrod and his Million Dollar Cowboys can be seen regularly in the dance halls and honky-tonks throughout Texas. His hardcore honky-tonk band and powerful, Ray Price-like tenor vocals pierce through the loudest of barrooms and keep dancers on their feet all night. “There’s not a lot of downtime in our shows,” he says. “These people show up to dance.”
Lisa Layne was born in Tyler, Texas, and lived in the small town of Van before her family moved to Dallas. Her first professional appearance was at age 4. She attended Kimball High School where she became interested in music and theatre. Lisa attended Mountain View College in Dallas with a double major in English and Voice. After college, she joined Vince Vance and the Valiants and performed an average of 300 shows each year with the band for 5-years. She married and moved to Nashville in 1990 where she began recording demos and her own compositions. In 1993, she won the role of Patsy Cline in the first national tour of A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline and later performing in Always Patsy Cline. She performed for and represented the Patsy Cline Foundation for a total of 22-years. Ms. Layne is proficient on bass, percussion, keyboards and all brass instruments.
The Palace Theatre is located at 109 South Main in Downtown Corsicana. All seats are reserved and tickets are priced at $20, $25 and $35.00. Tickets may be ordered at CorsicanaPalace.com, by phone at 903.874.7792 or at the box office during normal business hours.
