Ed Turner
Metro Spirit
Issue #20.49 :: 07/01/2009 - 07/07/2009

Lokal love: Congratulations to Stoney Cannon on the success of the “Lexie’s Legacy” endowment fund that will fund a scholarship in her honor at Augusta State University.

The entire article can be read at http://www.metrospirit.com/index.php?cat=121304064644348&z_Issue_ID=11012306094045188&ShowArchiveArticle_ID=11013006093982910&Year=2009

Pop rocks
By Steven Uhles| Columnist
Thursday, June 25, 2009

LEXIE’S LASTING LEGACY

The Lexie’s Legacy Scholarship fund, founded in memory of Alexis Noelle Colohan-Cannon Hayworth, daughter of local musician John “Stoney” Cannon, has reached endowment status. That means enough money has been raised to keep the scholarship fund, which awards grants to married women seeking a college education, going in perpetuity. It’s a fitting tribute to Alexis and her family, immediate and musical.

It says a great deal about the musicians in this town that in a relatively short time, thanks in no small part to their efforts and contributions, this endowment has gotten up and running. I know Stoney and his wonderful wife, Jean, are grateful.

The entire article can be read at http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/06/25/uhl_528725.shtml

AUGUSTA, GA - Sixteen tracks by various bands from around the Augusta, Georgia area, “A Very Lexie CD” is a collection of many different styles released by Stoney Cannon from Lokal Loudness. 

Will McCranie opens the album with the high-energy, funky Dave Matthews-with-attitude song “This Time.” The acoustic, bluesy-voiced “Whiskey Bottle” by Allison Foster lets loose with a moody goosebump-inducing song that really stands out on this CD, as does “Promises” by NoStar.

For those craving something a little harder, there are tracks by Shotgun Opera and Suhgarim.  Chairleg’s “Mecha” hits the listener over the head with some straight forward metal. Be warned, some of this stuff will knock your socks off.

“Menthol Longs” by the Dew Hickies is one of the best tracks on the album, sounding a little bit like Hank III.

The Mellencamp / Bon Jovi soft rock of the G-City Rockers runs well with 48 Volt’s dual male-female vocals on “Five Years.” 

A compilation of many talented bands, the real standout aspect of “A Very Lexie CD” is the variety on the album, and the simple fact that so many talented musicians come from within miles of one another. There’s something for everyone on this album.      ]]> http://lexieslegacy.org/2009/02/metro-spirit-review-of-a-very-lexie-cd/feed/ http://lexieslegacy.org/2009/01/wjbf-online-lexie-mention/ http://lexieslegacy.org/2009/01/wjbf-online-lexie-mention/#comments Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:36:51 +0000 Daddy http://lexieslegacy.org/?p=57 WJBF-TV employee and Augusta musician Kevin Kinkead got the ball rolling on pumping the events for February!

Check out the online article here:

http://www.wjbf.com/jbf/social_networking/all_the_aces/article/a_very_lexie_weekend/10072/

NOT A DRY EYE

Imagine a room full of musicians, accustomed to the stage sneer and artful aloofness, avoiding eye contact, sniffling occasionally and, in more than a couple of cases, openly crying. That was the scene Friday at the 12 Bands of Christmas CD release party.

Knowing that Lights of the Boulevard would be introduced toward the end of the evening, many tried to steel themselves to the emotional onslaught. I wrote about the song, briefly, last week and mentioned that it was written for Augusta musician John “Stoney” Cannon, his wife, Jean, and their daughter, Alexis, who died this year.

I knew it was a powerful tune, well-written and recorded. What I did not foresee was the emotional impact it would have on a room full of musicians who consider the Cannon family part of their own. I stayed relatively composed until Stoney and Jean embraced during the song’s chorus. That’s when I lost it. I was not alone. None of us, I feel certain, feels ashamed.

You can read Steven entire article below which also mentions Alexis’ favorite lokal band Jemani.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2008/11/20/uhl_484119.shtml

I know I’m late posting this one…the actual online article is below…the site may ask you to “sign up” which is OK they rarely email you and they never give out any info which you hardly have to supply anything.  But I will post the “photo-less” type here as well.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/081408/mus_469404.shtml

Concert has been therapeutic for promoter

Thursday, August 14, 2008

 

Lokal Loudness founder John “Stoney” Cannon has booked a lot of bands in Augusta, but none have been as important as the six acts assembled for the inaugural Lexie’s Legacy scholarship concert Friday at Sky City. .. language=javascript> storyPhotos(); ..>

 

The Dew Hickies and 420 Outback (shown) are two of the bands that will perform as part of a scholarship concert at Sky City in honor of Mr. Cannon’s late daughter.

 

This time it’s personal, with the bands chosen in honor of his late daughter, Alexis.

“I did develop this lineup sentimentally,” he said. “I mean, you always want a good lineup, but we were very fortunate that some of the people Alexis was close to happen to play in some really great bands.”

Included on the bill are Jemani, 48Volt, 420 Outback, Veara, Dew Hickies and Mr. Cannon’s own band, the G-City Rockers.

Mr. Cannon and his wife, Jean, lost their daughter, Alexis Colohan-Cannon Haworth, to injuries she sustained in a car accident April 6. He began work soon after on a scholarship fund to honor his daughter, and needed to raise money for the campaign.

He knew, without a doubt, music would be involved.

Mr. Cannon said putting the concert together has been an important part of his grieving process, that having a project allows him the comfort of building something positive off the foundation of his daughter’s memory. Still, he admits it is a technique he has to approach with caution.

“I have to be careful because I do think it is possible to get so busy that you lose sight of what is going on,” he said. “I am afraid that I’ll wake up one day and really get slapped in the face by everything that has happened. Still, I believe throwing myself into this has been good therapy.”

Mr. Cannon said working on the concert and the support directed at him and his wife by the music community has given him pause. He said the cliche of re-evaluation certainly applies.

“It was overwhelming, particular in the beginning,” he said quietly. “It makes you feel like something higher is in control. We all work together here and what I’ve learned is that while you may not always agree with people, that doesn’t mean you have to have a problem with them. So you don’t agree. Big deal. That’s not, as it turns out, what is important.”

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.

IN CONCERT

WHAT: Lexie’s Legacy benefit concert, featuring Jemani, 420 Outback, Dew Hickies, Veara, 48 Volt and G-City Rockers

WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Sky City, 1157 Broad St.

COST: $5

SEE: www.skycityaugusta.com or www.lokalloudness.com

 

From the Thursday, August 14, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle

A NOBLE CAUSE……one helluva concert! 

I’ll be talking about in this in the coming weeks as this show approaches, so look to see this poster quite a bit…….and not just because my band 48VOLT is participating(which is our honor to be sure)……..but more because of what it’s all about…….

As most of you know, Stoney(and his lovely wife Jean) of LOKAL LOUDNESS lost their daughter earlier this year after a horrible car accident……..if you’ve spent any amount of time paying attention to this music scene, you know that Stoney has been a critical element………aside from being the most fervent of cheerleaders for Augusta music, Stoney is resposible for many thousands of dollars going to local charities each year……then he gives back to the musicians each year with the LOKAL LOUDNESS READERS CHOICE AWARDS……

Now i’ll be the first to admit that at times i’ve been less than kind to Stoney at times…….but at the heart of things, i feel very strongly that we are brothers in arms and i’ve come to care about the guy deeply……..and because of that i think it’s incumbent upon me and and every musician in this scene possible to give back in some way………this show on August 15th is that oppurtunity…….

The funds collected at this show will go toward an ASU scholarship fund for married young women……..the scholarship is already in effect at this writing, but Stoney’s goal is to collect enough funds to make it an endowment………and what that means is that the fund will become self-perpetuating…….truly a noble goal and a wonderful way to honor the memory of his daughter……..

So Stoney, it is with nothing but the utmost respect(and a bit of a heavy heart) that 48VOLT takes the stage at this show…….we knew from the start that we needed to find a way to boost you up…….and we are thrilled to do this…………we have something of a more permanent gift for you in the works presently……and we’ll unveil that for you in the coming months…………you are Aces in our book,man……….

See y’all at the rock show…….

Stak

Alexis is in the May Issue of Verge, Augusta’s newest informative newspaper!

Alexis is featured in the Lokal Loudness ad on page 32…

…and Alexis’ All-Star pick debut’s on page 36!

Check out the online version here!

It’s unfortunate that it sometimes takes a tragedy to recognize true treasure.
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It’s hard to remember a time when Lokal Loudness kingpin John “Stoney” Cannon wasn’t a fixture in the Augusta music community. Whether as a musician, writer, champion or cheerleader, he is a ubiquitous presence. Every musician who calls or has called Augusta home, every music fan who has ever spent a Saturday night in a Garden City venue owes Mr. Cannon and his wife, Jean, an incalculable debt.

Augusta, it’s time to pay up.

On April 6, just as Augusta was gearing up for the Masters, the Cannons’ daughter, 21-year-old Alexis Noelle Colohan-Cannon Haworth, died from injuries suffered in a car wreck. She was the couple’s only child and had been married a little more than a year.

Like her parents, she had grown up placing significant value on music, particularly music produced by family, friends and neighbors. She was all but reared under the protective wing of the scores of musicians who benefitted from Mr. Cannon’s persistent vision of an Augusta known not only for James Brown but also for the legion of talented acts and artists that have and continue to call the city home.

Admittedly, my relationship with Ms. Colohan-Cannon Haworth was mostly tangential, the result of the professional relationship and friendship I share with Mr. Cannon. Still, I have two favorite memories.

One was watching her celebrate Augusta music at my first Lokal Loudness awards. She couldn’t have been more than 14, but she had already developed a real appreciation of music and the people who play it.

The second was seeing the Cannons and Ms. Colohan-Cannon Haworth bombing down Interstate 20, top down on the family convertible, headed toward Atlanta. As I recall, the outing was to a KISS concert. It seems so fitting.

Now, the question has become what can we do to help the Cannons.

As they have done for countless bands looking for a way to play, the couple have made it easy: They and their families have set up a scholarship fund in Ms. Colohan-Cannon Haworth’s name.

Lexie’s Legacy will help defray the cost of education for deserving Augusta State University students. Already, plans are in motion for benefit concerts. The Confederation of Loudness Augusta Music showcase, a previously planned event combining the talents of Mr. Cannon and Confederation of Noisemakers blog master Brian Allen, has shifted focus to raising money for the fund. Augusta act Dirty Sons of Ireland donated all proceeds from a pair of shows last weekend to the cause.

Augusta is already beginning to take care of its own. I only wish it wasn’t necessary.

If you’re interested in donating, collections will be taken at the Confederation of Loudness shows today and Saturday at the Playground, 873 Broad St. The all-local showcase starts at 9 p.m. and the cover is $5.

Donations can also be sent to:

Lexie’s Legacy, The Alexis Noelle Colohan-Cannon Haworth Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 212606, Martinez, GA 30917

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.

From the Friday, April 18, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle