Now in its 22nd year, Joy to the World is an annual live performance holiday jazz program hosted by pianist Bob Thompson and produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting. In addition to a distinguished solo career as the leader of the Charleston-based Bob Thompson Unit, Thompson has also been a member of the Mountain Stage band since 1991.
Singer Mollie O’Brien, a native of Wheeling, WV, was exposed to music of every stripe, from performances by the Wheeling Symphony to concerts by Count Basie, Ray Charles, and the Beatles. She listened to singers — Joni Mitchell and Judy Collins, Bonnie Raitt and Dinah Washington, Streisand, Sinatra, and Betty Carter — and took voice lessons. Later, with her brother, Tim, she performed in church and at coffeehouses. There have been any number of collaborations, most notably the Grammy-winning True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe (Sugar Hill) with a stellar bunch of bluegrass greats. For the past few years, Mollie has worked with Garrison Keillor and Robin & Linda Williams as the Hopeful Gospel Quartet, with her own five-piece band, and as a duo with husband Rich Moore. She’s been a frequent guest on Mountain Stage since 1985.
*Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. Culture Center Theater in Charleston. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, if available. All seats are General Admission. Call (800) 594-TIXX (8499), visit Taylor Books at 226 Capitol Street in Charleston, or go online.
*Dec. 12 at 8p.m. Presented by Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation- Captiol Theatre, 1015 MAIN ST. WHEELING, WV. Tickets are $32.00, $26.50, $21.50, assigned seating. Call 800-514-3849, visit WesBanco Arena, 2 14th St, Wheeling or go online to capitoltheatrewheeling.com/
*Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Presented by the Beckley Concert Assocation- Woodrow Wilson Auditorium in Beckley. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students, General Admission. Call (304) 253-3535 or go online to BeckleyConcerts.org. Season Tickets to Beckley Concert Association are also available.
Tickets and more information at http://wvpublic.org/post/joy-world-tickets-sale
