Fairview senior to sing for lawmakers

Local News

Related Photos

Fairview High School senior Rikki Nelson has been invited to sing “God Bless America” for the General Assembly. Kevin Goldy

Discussion

February 9, 2010

By MIKE JAMES — The Independent The Daily Independent Tue Feb 09, 2010, 10:00 AM EST

WESTWOOD —

Anytime, anyplace — Ask Rikki Nelson to sing and she’s ready to oblige.

Monday, for instance, huddled with a reporter and a photographer in an office at Fairview High School, Rikki offered an a capella verse of “God Bless America,” and then sang it again to make sure their recorder picked it up.

“It’s a degree of confidence you have to have (to be a performer), said Jeff Ware, Rikki’s band teacher and one of the faculty members who will accompany her to Frankfort next Tuesday when she is scheduled to sing for the members of the General Assembly.

Rikki caught the ear of state House majority floor leader Rocky Adkins, who attended a Veterans Day ceremony at Fairview High. That same day, Adkins told her history teacher she should come to Frankfort some time and sing for the senators and representatives.

Ware heard that and mentioned it to his wife Mary, who worked with Adkins. A couple of weeks and a few emails later, Adkins had made a formal invitation.

Rikki, a senior, will sing the number as arranged for the Fairview show choir, of which she is a three-year member. It’s the version Celine Dion sings, and Rikki has been rehearsing with the choir and at home. “It’s a very vocally challenging song,” she said.

It is clear that Rikki loves to sing, but she deflects compliments with an ever-present self-deprecatory humor. She’s been anxious, she said, about performing at the Capitol, but not because of the powerful and influential audience.

“It’s the first time I will ever sing in front of my mamaw,” she admitted. Her grandmother, Bessie Nelson, sings at church and was an early musical influence, she said. “Maybe that’s where I got my ability. No one else in the family sings.”

She totally gets the irony of an 18-year-old girl having the same name — spelling aside — as a 1960s teen idol, rolling her eyes and admitting she also has a thing for Elvis. Her academic plans, after a couple of semesters at Ashland Community and Technical College, include finding a college in Tennessee, the King’s home state.

Since she was 5 or 6 years old, Rikki has been able to listen to a song on the radio a time or two and remember the words well enough to sing. She has been in every school play from the time she enrolled at Fairview in third grade.

As a freshman she joined the band and plays clarinet and tenor saxophone. The formal musical training has helped her as a singer, she believes.

Though jittery about her Frankfort gig, she sees it as an opening, both personally and as a loyal Eagle. She wants to give the tiny Fairview district every possible chance to stand out. “It’s a huge opportunity, especially for such a small school,” she said.

“I hope they’re impressed.”

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.

Text Only

Local News

Beshear in West Liberty to help in tornado recovery
State legislatures and Gov. Steve Beshear gathered in West Liberty on Friday to sign three bills that will help in the recovery efforts of the tornado-stricken town.

May 26, 2012
Students get more than a scoop’s share
There’s nothing more refreshing than ice cream on a hot day, and no one knows that better than the principal of Hager Elementary School in Ashland.

May 26, 2012
2 school aides part of drug arrests
Two elementary school aides and three other people were arrested Thursday in a Carter County drug investigation.

May 26, 2012
5K run main attraction for Final Friday in Greenup
Greenup’s Final Friday included the usual live entertainment and car show, but a 5K run also attracted many to town Friday evening.

May 26, 2012
Fla.-to-Boyd drug ring defendants plead guilty
One of the eight people charged in an alleged Florida-to-Boyd County pill-trafficking ring pleaded guilty Thursday and a second is expected to do the same next week.
A third defendant in the case pleaded guilty May 18.

May 25, 2012
Carter school layoffs possible
Carter County schools are looking at deep budget cuts and layoffs.
About 20 may lose their jobs this year, treasurer Andy Lyons said. Lyons spoke to a reporter Thursday after presenting a tentative budget to the school board last week.

May 25, 2012
Day of music at Greenbo Saturday
Live music will be playing non-stop during Saturday afternoon’s Greenup County Music Festival at the Greenbo Lake State Park Amphitheatre, starting with “The Greenup County ‘IT’ Factor” top-10 finalists at 1 p.m.

May 25, 2012
U.S. 23 yard sale going strong in fifth year
The annual U.S. 23 yard sale began Thursday, starting along the highway in Michigan and ending in Virginia.

May 25, 2012
Couple donates land to Habitat
It is said home is where the heart is. One Greenup County couple’s heart-felt gift will help two families live the phrase by receiving homes.

May 25, 2012
Vet appreciation picnic set at park
Tri-State veterans are invited to a free outing on June 2.

May 25, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Fairview senior to sing for lawmakers

Site Map

Contact Us