The Tribeca Film Institute chose Moffett Library to be one of five libraries in Texas to participate in a grant-funded program.
“This is the first time the Tribeca Film Institute has selected libraries in Texas to be part of the program,” librarian Clara Latham said. She added that the community has been supportive of the series thus far, but not to the extent that MSU administrators expected when they were chosen for this program.
“We were hoping for around 200 people each session of the America Series in music and so far have had around 100 to 120,” Latham said.
The night of the presentation starts with a movie, followed by a lecture and then a musical performance. Joe Specht, a country and bluegrass scholar from Abilene, was chosen as the speaker for the bluegrass portion of the series. The university paid him $150 to speak and Brian Hull paid for their hotel and meals as a co-sponsor of the series. Mr. Specht has a book of songs that is available for purchase through the Wichita Falls Museum gift shop.
“Songs about Wichita Falls has been recorded commercially over the years and is available for $12,” Specht said.
At the end of the night, the Dan Miller Trio performed some of the genre’s most popular songs.
“I thought it was pretty neat how the band brought along someone from Billy Bob Thornton’s band to come to our little town of Wichita Falls to perform,” Laverene Roland, longtime city resident, said.
