Music Historian, Performer, Teacher
"Underwood's portrait performances are not strictly dramatic, simply concerts, or solely lectures, but a mixture of all three. At the end of the night, audiences know they have spent time with an able historian, a top-flight musician, and a master storyteller."
"That Ribbon of Highway: stories and songs of Woody Guthrie"
Two acts that tell the story of Guthrie's formative years, his BPA project in the Pacific Northwest, Merchant Marine adventures in WWII, and the story of "This Land Is Your Land"! A great sing-along night.
"Move it On Over: stories and songs of Hank Williams"
Moving back and forth between Williams' early formative years and the night of his mysterious death, these two acts (approximately 80 minutes total) feature ten beloved songs and leaves audiences nostalgic but thoughtful on the subjects of addiction, fame, and generational trauma.
"Not Fade Away: Stories and Songs of Buddy Holly"
Buddy Holly emerged from Lubbock, Texas in the mid-1950's and blazed across the rock-and-roll sky like a comet. Before his untimely death in an Iowa plane crash at the age of 22, he and his band The Crickets created a series of pop music masterpieces and the template for what a rock band looks and sounds like, influencing later artists such as Bob Dylan, Elton John, and The Beatles.
"Blowin' In the Wind: Songs and Stories of Bob Dylan"
An intimate evening that features twenty great Dylan songs and the stories behind them, including his early years and the Newport night he "went electric"!