A couple of 20-something sisters out of the Shoals are staking out their share of that region's music fame. Laura and Lydia Rogers, doing business as The Secret Sisters, recently recorded their debut CD, “The Secret Sisters, ” under the watchful eye of the celebrated producer T. Bone Burnett.
The sisters, who learned to sing in the North Carolina Church of Christ, in Killen, Ala., which they still attend, are vocal harmonizers in the vintage country tradition, singing reverent covers of songs like “Why Baby Why, ” “The One I Love is Gone, ” “Why Don’t You Love Me” and “My Heart Skips a Beat.” The CD also includes a couple of original songs.
In recent months, the Secret Sisters have toured with Burnett’s Speaking Clock Revue and opened shows for Levon Helm and Ray LaMontagne.
The sisters were one of four acts that comprised the “Abalabip!” concert at the Alabama Theater on February 4 — an event (named for a song by Eddie Cole) sponsored by The Oxford American magazine and the Alabama Tourism Department.
The tourism department is celebrating 2011 as The Year of Alabama Music. In a partnership with the department, Oxford American's annual December music edition focused on Alabama roots music, including a free CD with 27 songs with ties to Alabama.
The calendar of events for the Year of Alabama Music is available for view at yearofalabamamusic.com.
By Chris McFadyen
