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Branson
• Profiles |
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By Joshua Heston
Beautiful, comedic, corny, talented and dead serious about their faith, the vocal trio of Pure Heart — sisters Tonyia Landry and Theresa Stone with best friend, Melanie Bertoglio — are pure Ozarks.
"We all three grew up together in Crane, Missouri" explains Melanie. "We went to the same country church. That's how we got started singing together."
"This is where we've lived all our lives," corrects Tonyia, laughing, "We've tried to grow up!"
They have become a Branson icon.
The trio now have 15 years of Silver Dollar City performances under their belts, including a seven-year stint in the Echo Hollow amphitheater.
"The first time in Echo Hollow? We were terrified," remembers Tonyia. "It was Labor Day weekend, about a week after our first audition.
"The theater was full — 4,000 people sitting out there. Our hearts were pounding but I think we did okay."
Possessing innate talent, beautiful voices, and a natural stage presence that captures the attention of many, Pure Heart continues to impress audiences.
Nonetheless, they never stray far from their Ozarkian heritage.
Tonyia explains, "You can say hillbilly all you want to me and I don't care. I'm glad. I love it.
"Our grandparents took us to church almost every time the doors were open. Not to slight our parents, but our grandparents lived the next hill over. We didn't get a telephone until I was 13.
"If we missed the bus we'd open up the front door and yell across the hill to grandpa!
Their fond memories often shine through in their performances, whether it is a tightly crafted rendition of Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, or a country standard like Coat of Many Colors.
"One of the things I love about Silver Dollar City is the smell of sawdust," notes Melanie. "My grandpa had a lumber mill in his backyard and that smell always makes me think of him. It's a warm, fuzzy feeling for me."
(continued above right)
"I get that way when I smell cow manure," interjects Theresa, who is known for her excellent yodeling abilities as well as her uncanny chainsaw impressions.
"That's what being on the farm was like for us," continues Tonyia, "Lots of puppies and cleaning our own chickens and knowing how to take a butcher knife out to the smokehouse to slice bacon. We could fix you up!"
Their faith continues to be a vital part of their heritage as well.
"We've been so blessed," Tonyia notes. "God has been so good. We always want to put gospel music in our shows because that's where we came from and we don't want to lose sight of that.
"So we're thankful for a place like Silver Dollar City because we're getting the opportunity to speak to thousands who might not ever hear the Word otherwise. That's the biggest deal for us."
Growing up in southern Missouri, all three have also witnessed the meteoric rise in Branson's popularity. Despite this, has Branson really changed?
"We don't really think so, though it's a lot easier to get around now with the new roads," they conclude. "Branson itself? The friendliness? We're still the same."
December 28, 2007