Student Molly Tuttle Performs on Prairie Home Companion

Molly Tuttle had a very good reason to miss class last week.

 

The second semester Berklee student was invited by Garrison Keillor to perform on Prairie Home Companion as part of the 2012 Prairie Home Duet Contest. She took second place performing "Kentucky Waltz" with her father, Jack Tuttle.

 

Five other duos performed in the contest: MaMuse, the Half Step Sisters, Arnaé Batson and Tim McAfee-Lewis, Avenue Elle, and Kaija and Brian Bonde. 

 

 

Tuttle juggles her studies in Berklee's American Roots Music Program with a healthy career. She performs regularly as part of the Tuttles with A.J. Lee—a bluegrass band—and as a solo act. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist, she's known for her flatpicking on guitar, as well as her clawhammer and three-finger banjo playing. Her videos have over two million views on YouTube.

 

"Singer-songwriter and guitarist Molly Tuttle's playing, singing, and writing set a high bar for all other roots musicians to aspire to. She is a shining light in the American Roots Music Program, and I'm excited to see where she takes her music," said Joe Walsh, a professor in the American Roots Music Program.

 

Tuttle blogged about her experience with Praire Home Companion on Bluegrass Today.

 

"I have been listening to Prairie Home Companion since I was a kid, so it was a dream come true to play on the show," Tuttle wrote on the blog.

 

"When my dad and I got to the first rehearsal, Garrison Keillor came and informed us that we would be in a skit and had to choose a well-known guilty pleasure song to sing part of. My dad and I chose Rocky Top, one that we had never really sung together. We had no idea that we would be in a skit but this was a fun surprise!" she said.

 

The American Roots Music Program at Berklee explores America's musical heritage, including blues, gospel, folk, early country music, bluegrass, old-time, cajun, western swing, polka, Tex-Mex, and others. Among its many projects, the American Roots Music Program produces concert; hosts visiting artists; creates and hosts faculty development sessions; and designs and implements curriculum, symposiums, and seminars;