Wayne-White Electric is excited to announce the entertainment for the 2024 Annual Meeting is Prairie Blend, an acoustic, harmonic duo made up of David Lane and Abbi Cook from Albion, Illinois.
Prairie Blend was established in August 2020. David Lane had spotted Abbi Cook singing on the Albion square for a local event that summer. After singing "Blue Bayou" by Linda Ronstadt, he knew he had to meet her. Taking a wild chance, David asked Abbi if she would be interested in singing together with him. She said yes, and they have been singing and playing guitar together ever since.
David and Abbi have a special interest in close harmony singing with guitar and tambourine background. Many songs they perform are from the 1950s and 1960s country and rock/pop genres. They also love singing more recent selections from current artists in folk, Americana, and gospel music. Many of their performances have been to aid in charity events, as well as at Albion Chamber of Commerce events, the Edwards County Fair, class reunions, private parties, local businesses during open houses, and wineries.
Growing up in Benton, Illinois, David was born into a musical family. He enjoyed playing in the school band and began playing guitar as a teenager. At age twenty, he began harmony singing in a local barbershop chorus when he lived in Carbondale.
After practicing veterinary medicine for thirty-four years, David and his wife Kathy moved to Edwards County to start a new life. David and Kathy have been married for fifty-four years and have three children and eight grandchildren. They became members of Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative in November 2006.
Thanks to a chance encounter and the gumption to say something in 2020, David was able to continue practicing his love of music when he and Abbi formed their duo. He states that, "The opportunity to sing with someone with Abbi's talent has been a blessing."
Abbi also got an early start in music thanks to the help of her teacher in second grade, Mrs. Van Der Voorn, who she took piano and singing lessons with. After singing "You Are My Sunshine" with her for the teachers and principals at her school, she was hooked! Throughout her school years, she sang at church, in choirs, and eventually attended Millikin University as a vocal performance major and was a part of the Millikin University Choir.
Following her college career, she traveled abroad to fifteen countries with two different bands with the Department of Defense entertaining American military at foreign bases. (How cool is that?!) Abbi would later go on to sing in the popular Evansville-based R&B band Filet of Soul for three years, as well as the Indianapolis Philharmonic Choir. Three years ago, she learned the guitar and added that to her musical arsenal.
When she's not gardening, traveling, or attending music festivals, you can find her cooking for her home-based salad business in Albion - Abbi's Salad 2 Go-Go. She has been married to husband Bo for twenty-five years, and together they have a son, Elias.
For more information or to book Prairie Blend for your event, you can contact David at (618) 203-9278 or Abbi at (618) 450-0050 to check availability.