In The Press
I can do ALL things thru CHRIST who STRENGTHENS me. Philippians 4:13
fIRST sINGLE rELEASE
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Penni McDaniel penni@hoperiverentertainment.com 770-367-1480
New Single Release
“Amazing Grace”
by Whysper Stephenson
Featuring Larry Stephenson
Nashville, Tenn. (February 1, 2021) – Whysper Dream Music is proud to announce the sweet new single release of “Amazing Grace” by 10-year-old and multi-Instrumentalist Whysper Stephenson featuring Larry Stephenson. This beloved song appears on her upcoming album, Fiddlin’ A Lilbit Whyspy, recorded last year at GainTrain studio. It is scheduled for a Valentine’s Day release on February 14, 2021. “Amazing Grace” features Whysper on fiddle and vocals, Larry Stephenson on mandolin and vocals, and Steve Thomas on guitar and bass. The album will feature songs like “I'll Fly Away,” “Down To The River To Pray,” “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” twin fiddles with Whysper and Steve on “Faded Love,” and more fan favorites. Whysper is the daughter of bluegrass music veteran Larry Stephenson and Dreama Stephenson who runs the Whysper Dream Music label and her own photography business. The label will also release a new album by Larry later this year. “Amazing Grace” is available to radio programmers at AirPlayDirect.com. It’s available now for streaming on Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube and more streaming and purchase outlets. For more information on Whysper Stephenson, please visit: LarryStephensonBand.com and WhysperDream.com.
Biography
When 10-year-old, Whysper Stephenson, found herself home for weeks on end during the 2020 pandemic, there was no sign of going back to school to finish her 5th grade year. So she decided she would use her time preparing to record some gospel and bluegrass songs.
Fiddlin' A Lilbit Whyspy, a mostly instrumental collection of songs, is the first endeavor for the multi-instrumentalist. The album was recorded after she and her dad, bluegrass veteran Larry Stephenson of the Larry Stephenson Band, were making videos and posting them online each day. It had been less than a year that she learned to play fiddle by ear, but she would enthusiastically learn another song to try and lift the spirits of everyone on lockdown. For many folks, it was a time of panic, uncertainty, and not knowing what was coming next.
In her first collection of songs, Whysper lends her sweet vocals on “Amazing Grace” and “I'll Fly Away,” that also features her Dad. She delights on the faster paced track, "Liberty," trading licks from mandolin to fiddle, and twin fiddlin’ with fiddler, Steve Thomas. She slows it down, but is twin fiddlin’ again, on “Faded Love” - a song her Mom loves, and her Papa used to play.
Whysper began playing piano at church at the age of 7, and still plays on occasion. You’ll find her singing one of favorite songs, "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing,” a song she first learned on piano a few years ago.
I've been in competitive gymnast for most of my short life. First a rec class, then asked if I wanted to be on the competitive team. My mom was a gymnast for a few years, so because of that she enrolled me in a local gymnastics club. This is the sport that grounds me! It's like my anchor. I feel at home and happy when competing and at the gym. I've been lucky enough to go to the South East Region 8 United States Gymnastic Association's competition on the State Team, where only 6 gymnast were accepted due to overall scores at our level during the Tennessee State Meet and it's a trip I'll never forget. Although that particular state competition gave me my highest All-Around score to date, it was at the regionals competing against 7 other states that I gained my highest bar score ever with a 9.85. This 2020-21 season I feel has been my next best season. After moving gyms in February 2020, and being the new kids so to speak, learning the coaches expectations and my parents driving me more than 3 times as far as either of the first 2 place. I've been lucky enough to move up to a new harder level and was just recently asked this past week if i wanted to move up again mid-season! It's been a lot of fun competing the harder L7 skills even though a L6 and even one L8 skill in my floor routine. They gym had to close during the lockdown of 2020. So these moves up have made me very happy. Valentine's Day 2021, the same day as the release of my first CD - "Fiddlin' A Lilbit Whyspy" will be my first Level 7 competition. And I'm over the moon excited, with butterflies. I just received the news a few days ago.
In 2019 I started collecting tabs from friends and family so that I could turn them in to my STEM school, here in TN. And then for my local 4H club. After asking family and my parents reaching out to more friends in the bluegrass community, some of those people were members and wives of the Del McCoury Band. When they learned WHY I was collecting them and how they help the Ronald McDonald House they began collecting at their music festival called Delfest, where thousands of tabs have now been collected and given.
I am still collecting tabs, so if you have any and do not mind collecting them off all of your food an beverage cans, I would be so grateful. They can be mailed to me or I can collect in person. It is so appreciated. We hold the Ronald McDonald House dear in our hearts as a friend of the family (before I was born) had their newborn son at one for weeks during a very scary time. That was years ago but he is fine now.