They may not seem old enough to be writing memoirs, but Hannah and Caroline Melby have been “on the road” since they attended elementary school in Starkville. The talented musical sisters, daughters of Pete and Cindy Melby, are based in Nashville and entertain as HanaLena. They are celebrating the release of their book, “Recipes and Road Stories: Life on the Road with Sisters Hannah and Caroline Melby of the duo HanaLena.”
“Over the years, we’ve piled up sweet, hilarious, outrageous and heart-warming stories,” explained Caroline. “James Dickerson, from Sartoris Literary Group, recognized our lengthy history of being on the road and approached us with the idea of writing a book.”
Dickerson’s idea was to combine those short stories with recipes from people the girls have encountered in their bluegrass and country music travels. “We immediately loved the idea and began the writing process,” Caroline said. A year later, the book is out and, instead of just autographing CDs, these days the siblings are attending a lot of book signings. Area fans can greet them Friday at The Book Mart in downtown Starkville at a signing from 3-5 p.m.
The sisters’ 228-page book of touching and rollicking road stories provides a glimpse into the lives of young musicians learning the art and business of the music industry. It chronicles small stages and big ones, including the journey (as the band Nash Street) to winning the 2008 Colgate Country Showdown Best New Act in Country Music title at Nashville’s storied Ryman Auditorium. LeAnn Rimes presented the check for $100,000 that night.
There are funny and heart-warming takes on life in a traveling band, of miles and miles covered in earlier days touring with acclaimed bluegrass picker and mentor Larry Wallace and his band. (Wallace, of Starkville, taught Caroline to play the mandolin.) There are tales of late night jams, locked trailers and a night the band literally set the stage on fire. Photographs throughout, with luminaries like Charlie Louvin, Rhonda Vincent, Jimmy Martin and Porter Wagoner, highlight the content.
And the food
Recipes for the book come from a variety of folks the Melbys have eaten with on the road, been hired to play for, played in the band with or shared a stage with. There’s one for homemade cinnamon rolls from five-time Grammy nominee Rhonda Vincent, the “queen of bluegrass.” Or try three-time International Bluegrass Music Association Vocalist of the Year Claire Lynch’s favorite recipe for cheese souffle.
There’s jambalaya from Dr. Cliff Taylor, director of the Mississippi State Maroon Marching Band, cornbread from Mississippi Chris Sharp, hummingbird cake from Larry Wallace’s wife, Barbara. And pickled sausage from Jacky Jack White, host of the Sucarnochee Revue. Readers will also enjoy recipes from the Melby family. The sisters’ grandmother and great-grandmother greatly influenced their love of the dinner table, of sharing a good meal along with good conversation. It’s one of the reasons Hannah and Caroline both have gardens at their homes in Nashville and love cooking fresh.
“The best part about writing this book together is that we got to relive those moments that we truly cherish,” Hannah said. “I think we appreciate our jobs even more since we started the project.”
The idea of writing a book may have initially seemed foreign to the girls, the elder Melby sister said, but “we now feel really thankful that we were encouraged to document our journey as female musicians.” It is a way to include at least a few of the many people who have been warm, friendly and nurturing.
“We could not be more thrilled to finally share these stories and experiences with the people who have listened to our music and supported us along the way,” Caroline stressed.
“Recipes and Road Stories” celebrates music and food, yes. But it also celebrates the bond of family and sisterhood.
“I honestly never thought we would become as close as we are today,” Hannah writes in a passage near the end of the book. “We write music together, we sing together, we cook together, we play together and we pray together. There is nothing better than that.”
BIRTHDAY BREAKFAST TREAT
1 can canned biscuits
Cherry pie filling
Brown sugar
Butter or margarine
(Source: Cindy Melby, Starkville)
HUMMINGBIRD CAKE
3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 eggs lightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups oil
1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple, undrained
3-4 large bananas, mashed
1 cup chopped pecans
For the cream cheese frosting:
1/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1-pound box confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
(Source: Barbara Wallace of Starkville, wife of Larry Wallace)
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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