Bill Landry Comes to Jefferson City
On July 9th at 3 p.m. at our very own Creek Cafe, author and host of The Heartland Series, Bill Landry will present a multi-media presentation for the Jefferson City Public Library Adult Summer Reading Program on “An Unlikely Explorer”, the story of William Bartram, Flower Hunter.
Bill Landry is the voice, host/narrator, and co-producer of The Heartland Series, now in its 31st year of running on WBIR-TV, in Knoxville, Tn. Since it began in 1984, over 1,900 short features have been produced, including 150 half-hour specials.
A graduate of Trinity University, the Dallas Theatre Center, with a Master of Fine Arts degree, and a BA in literature from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Bill has received 2 Emmy Awards for directing the Heartland Series episodes, and the Education in Appalachia Award from Carson Newman College. He has also received an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from Lincoln Memorial University and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Univ. of Tn., Chattanooga.
For over thirty years Bill has written, produced, and performed in his one-man play “Einstein the Man” which has been presented over 1000 times in 38 states and 2 provinces of Canada. In 2000, the script was distributed by the Department of Education, with an introduction by the Governor. In 2003, Bill’s production of The George Washington Carver Project was distributed, as well.
In 2009, Bill premiered his production of “William Bartram – An Unlikely Explorer” for the 75th Anniversary of the founding of The Great Smokey Mountain National Park. This live, multi-media, video presentation tells the tale of the little known 18th century explorer, adventurer, and naturalist, William Bartram.
In 2011, stories and adventures from his work was published in Bill’s first book,”Appalachian Tales & Heartland Adventures.” Bill’s second book, “Tellin’ It For the Truth” was published by Celtic Cat Publishing in 2013, with a children’s book “Buddy, Dog of the Smoky Mountains,” as well.
Bill is deeply rooted in the Appalachian region, and serves on the Princess Theater Foundation board in Harriman, Tn. and Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, Vonore, Tn. He’s a member of the Tennessee Historical Commission, having been appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam, and works as a ‘spokesman’ for several companies. In addition to his guest speaking, he continues to preform “The Talk is Cheap Tour” throughout the region with three other storytellers, Sam Venable, Elizabeth Rose and Jimmy Claborn. He continues to write, lecture and perform. He’s married to Sandra Weaver and they live happily in Knoxville, Tennessee.
