Singer, songwriter featured at ‘Lunch’

Published 7:48 pm Monday, July 19, 2010

Author Frye Gaillard and singer Kathryn Scheldt made a musical connection at July’s “Lunch at the Library.” The program, “Watermelon Wine,” was part song, part commentary and 100-percent fun.

Gaillard is an award-winning journalist and author of more than a dozen books on Southern culture and history, including “Cradle of Freedom: Alabama and the Movement that Changed America,” “Race, Rock and Religion: Profiles from a Southern Journalist” and “Kyle at 200 MPH: Petty/NASCAR Dynasty.” He is a native of Mobile, where he is now a writer in residence at the University of South Alabama.

Scheldt has spent most of her life in music as a performer and teacher. More recently, she has launched a fast-paced recording career, releasing three albums in as many years. She lives in Fairhope.

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Along the way, she crossed paths with Gaillard. He heard her as a soloist at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mobile, and she began reading his books. He wrote the liner notes for her first album, 2007’s “Getting’ Ready,” and was credited as co-writer on two songs on her 2009 follow-up, “In the Middle of It All.” Her latest, “Southern Girl,” takes things to a new level. He co-wrote almost every track.

During the program, Scheldt sang songs from her newest CD, “Southern Girl,” and Gaillard narrated the program. He also discussed what is happening on the Gulf Coast and the impact it is having in his hometown of Mobile. They both discussed how they collaborate on a song and the writing process they use.

The next “Lunch at the Library” is Tuesday, Aug. 10, at noon with Mary Ann Neely. She has recently published “The Works of Matthew Blue, Montgomery’s First Historian.”