Debbi Bailes & Neil Stretcher Jazz Duo from Hendersonville, TN

In a city that's famous for its legendary music and musicians, Debbi Bailes and Neil Stretcher have an outstanding reputation and are respected among their peers. They are known not only for their musicianship and vast repertoire, but also their satisfied and returning customers. They play the hits from the Big Band era, 30's, 40's and 50's, standards, first class cocktail jazz, swing, country, old rock and roll and requests. The versatile Debbi Bailes and Neil Stretcher are available as a jazz duo, jazz trio, quartet or quintet. This enables them to provide musical entertainment at most any event or occasion including private functions, corporate events, conventions, weddings receptions, parties, fund raisers, festivals, political rallies, theme gatherings and holiday occasions. Neil's experience as a performer, vocalist, pianist and writer has covered a wide range of musical settings from smart jazz clubs to being a crowd favorite in Las Vegas. He has sung and played theatres, hotels, fairs, concerts, etc. from Hawaii to Europe, from Hollywood to the Winter Olympics in Norway. Neil was the featured pianist and vocalist at Lincoln Center in New York City for their Midsummer Night Swing series. He also was the headliner gospel artist at the Louise Mandrell Theatre in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and has played church concerts all over the country. Neil has an incomparable style. He has a definite way of delivering a song with such a fresh approach, he makes it his own. His originality can include many of his own composition, and being a very active songwriter and recording artist, when not performing live, you will find him in the studio. As Nashville Hall of Fame sonwriter Dallas Frazier noted, "During my long music business career, I've known just a few musicians endowed with the incredible diversity that this man's been blessed with! A man for all music occasions' is a term that truly describes Neil Stretcher. Whether the job calls for gospel, traditional country music, big band standards, the blues and jazz sounds of New Orleans or the show tunes of Broadway, this entertainer can meet the demand!" During Neil's 14 years on the Grand Ole Opry, he performed and became friends with most all the Opry legends including Ferlin Husky, Little Jimmy Dickens, Jeannie Seely, Chet Atkins, Connie Smith, Jack Greene, Gene Watson, Johnny Russell, Steve Wariner, Lefty Frizzell, Barbara Fairchild, Hank Thompson, Harold Bradley, Pee Wee King, Redd Stewart, Freddie Hart, Boxcar Willie, and Kenny Price, to name a few among many. Other Nashville appearances include Opryland Hotel, General Jackson Showboat, and the Nashville Palace. And the greatest honor of all has been the privelege to play and create with some of the world's greatest musicians. Neil has also appeared on stage with Red Skelton, Milton Berle, Morey Amsterdam and Jack E. Leonard. Through Chet Atkins, Neil met and wrote with Homer and Jethro who recorded some of Neil's songs and parodies. As Neil says "I love it!! I've been doin' this all my life and I'm just getting started."