- [Announcer] Presented by the Kansas Arts Commission.

- Across our state and across the world, Kansas artists inspire us and enrich our communities with their talents and creativity.

This program celebrates those Kansas artists, some of whom you may know and others you may not, by bringing you remarkable performances from my office in the beautiful and historic Kansas State House.

Welcome to the LG Desk Concerts.

- Concert series, we're featuring roots, blues, Americana singer-songwriter Kelley Hunt.

Kelley Hunt has been inducted in the Kansas Music Hall of Fame, and her album, "New Shade of Blue," went to number nine on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart.

So please welcome Kelley Hunt.

("Yes We Can Can" begins) - All right.

Here we go, here we go!

Woo!

♪ Well, now's the time for all good men ♪ ♪ To get together with one another ♪ ♪ Iron out our problems and the quarrels ♪ ♪ And try to live as brothers ♪ ♪ Try to find peace within ♪ ♪ Without stepping on one another ♪ ♪ Well, do respect the women of the world ♪ ♪ Remember that we all have mothers ♪ ♪ Make this land a better land ♪ ♪ Than the world in which we live ♪ ♪ Help each man be a better man ♪ ♪ With the kindness that you give ♪ ♪ I know we can make it ♪ ♪ I know darn well that we can work it out ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, we can, I know we can, can ♪ ♪ Yes, we can, why can't we ♪ ♪ If we wanna, yes, we can, can ♪ ♪ I know we can make it work ♪ ♪ I know that we can make it if we try ♪ ♪ Yes, we can, I know we can, can ♪ ♪ Great-gosh almighty, yes, we can ♪ ♪ I know we can, can ♪ ♪ Oh I know ♪ ♪ I know, I know know, I know we can ♪ ♪ We gotta take care of these children ♪ ♪ Children of this world ♪ ♪ They're our only hope for the future ♪ ♪ Our little bitty boys, boys and girls ♪ ♪ Make this land a better land ♪ ♪ Than the world in which we live ♪ ♪ Help each woman be a better woman ♪ ♪ With the kindness that you give ♪ ♪ And, Lord, I know, I know we can make it ♪ ♪ I know we can make it if we try ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, we can, I know we can, can ♪ ♪ Yes, we can, why can't we ♪ ♪ If we wanna, yes, we can, can ♪ ♪ I know we can make it work ♪ ♪ I know we can make it if we try ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, we can, I know we can, can ♪ ♪ Great-gosh almighty ♪ ♪ Yes, we can, I know we can, can ♪ ("Yes We Can Can" continues) ♪ I know ♪ (singers clap) ♪ Yes, we can, oh ♪ Yeah, come on, now.

Play it.

Hey!

♪ Ah, better take care of others too ♪ ♪ Children of this whole world ♪ ♪ There our finest hope for the future ♪ ♪ Little bitty boys and girls ♪ ♪ Make this land a better land ♪ ♪ Than the world in which we live ♪ ♪ We're gonna help everybody be a better man or woman ♪ ♪ With the kindness that you give ♪ ♪ I know, I know, I know we can make it ♪ ♪ I know that we can ♪ ♪ I know darn well that we can work it out ♪ ♪ Yes, we can, I know we can, can ♪ ♪ Yes, we can, why can't we ♪ ♪ If we wanna, yes, we can, can ♪ ♪ I know we can make it work ♪ ♪ I know we can make it if we try ♪ ♪ Yes, we can, I know we can, can ♪ ♪ Great-gosh almighty, yes, we can ♪ ♪ Well, come on, let's make it work ♪ ♪ We're gonna make it if we try ♪ ♪ Yes, we can, I know we can, can ♪ ♪ Yes, we can, why can't we ♪ ♪ If we wanna, yes, we can, can ♪ ♪ I know we can make it work ♪ ♪ I know we can make it if we try ♪ ♪ Yes, we can, I know we can, can ♪ ♪ Great-gosh almighty, yes, we can ♪ ♪ I know we can, can ♪ Well, all right.

(audience cheers) Thank you!

All right, thanks so much.

("If We Don't Learn From Our History" begins) ♪ Do you see the double standard ♪ ♪ Well, it's got me seeing red ♪ ♪ Now it's 150 years later ♪ ♪ And Jim Crow still ain't dead ♪ ♪ Oh, still ain't dead ♪ ♪ If we don't learn from our history ♪ ♪ We are bound to live it again ♪ ♪ Pay attention to our history ♪ ♪ Do it now, my friend ♪ ♪ Right away, my friend ♪ ♪ Don't turn, don't turn a blind eye ♪ ♪ To the pain that's all around ♪ ♪ There are innocents that are falling, falling ♪ ♪ Down to the ground ♪ ♪ Down down down ♪ ♪ Listen to the words shouted ♪ ♪ Or whispered on the run ♪ ♪ It matters who's the target ♪ ♪ Who holds the gun ♪ ♪ Who holds the gun ♪ ♪ If we don't learn from our history ♪ ♪ We are bound to live it again ♪ ♪ Pay attention to our history ♪ ♪ Do it now, my friend ♪ ♪ Right away, my friend ♪ ♪ Open the book, take another look ♪ ♪ Try to stop, killed by a cop ♪ ♪ Children cry and children die ♪ ♪ Learn from our history ♪ ("If We Don't Learn From Our History" continues) ♪ If we don't learn from our history ♪ ♪ We are bound to live it again ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Pay attention to our history ♪ ♪ Do it now, my friend ♪ ♪ Right away, my friend ♪ ♪ Do it now, my friend ♪ ♪ Right now, my friend ♪ (audience cheers) Thank you.

("It's Not Mine" begins) ♪ I tried to fix the world ♪ ♪ But it felt right through my hands ♪ ♪ Tried to juggle ever detail every minute every day ♪ ♪ Oh, but it was so exhausting ♪ ♪ I couldn't catch my breath ♪ ♪ When I finally stopped trying ♪ ♪ The world kept spinning anyway ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's not mine ♪ ♪ It's not mine ♪ ♪ Let it go, let it go ♪ ♪ It's not mine ♪ ♪ It's not mine ♪ ♪ Let it go ♪ ♪ Let it go, let it, let it go ♪ ♪ Now the ones I love will tumble ♪ ♪ Falling to their knees ♪ ♪ Oh, I will want to run and save them ♪ ♪ Take away their pain ♪ ♪ But I know ♪ ♪ They have their own forest to run in the dark ♪ ♪ They will have to make their own way ♪ ♪ Through the storms and the rain ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's not mine ♪ ♪ It's not mine ♪ ♪ Let it go, let it go ♪ ♪ It's not mine ♪ ♪ It's not mine ♪ ♪ Let it go ♪ ♪ So I'll take the next breath in ♪ ♪ To remember when I did it on my own ♪ ♪ When someone loved me enough ♪ ♪ To let me find just was mine all along ♪ ♪ And I could be strong ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ("It's Not Mine" continues) ("It's Not Mine" continues) ♪ Oh, it's not mine ♪ ♪ It's not mine ♪ ♪ Let it go, let it go ♪ ♪ It's not mine ♪ ♪ It's not mine ♪ ♪ Let it go ♪ ♪ It's not mine ♪ ♪ It's not mine ♪ ♪ Let it go, let it go ♪ ♪ It's not mine ♪ ♪ It's not mine ♪ ♪ Let it go ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Mm ♪ ("It's Not Mine" concludes) (audience cheers) James Albright on that bass.

Thank you, James.

("Long Way Home" begins) Hey!

("Long Way Home" continues) ♪ Well, I had a brother ♪ ♪ He was going down slow ♪ ♪ I could not stand to watch him slide ♪ ♪ Oh, I reached out my hand ♪ ♪ He said thanks but no ♪ ♪ He turned down everything I tried ♪ ♪ You know, everything ♪ ♪ Well, I finally had to realize ♪ ♪ He was choosing his own road ♪ ♪ And the best that I could do ♪ ♪ I wished him well, let him go ♪ ♪ He's taking that long way home ♪ ♪ There ain't no wrong way home ♪ ♪ No, sir ♪ ♪ I don't want to judge the man ♪ ♪ I just want to understand ♪ ♪ That he's doing the best he can ♪ ♪ Gonna get there on his own ♪ ♪ Taking that long way home ♪ ♪ Well, there ain't no wrong way home ♪ ♪ So you say you got a shortcut to the promised land ♪ ♪ You got the way to save my soul, well ♪ ♪ But what you're preaching, it don't fit my plan ♪ ♪ Yeah, I wanna thank you, my friend ♪ ♪ But don't you know now, don't you know ♪ ♪ Everybody got to find their own road ♪ ♪ And the best that you can do ♪ ♪ Wish me well, let me go ♪ ♪ Taking that long way home ♪ ♪ That's right ♪ ♪ There ain't no wrong way home ♪ ♪ Don't try to judge me, man ♪ ♪ I'm doing the best I can ♪ ♪ I want you to understand ♪ ♪ Getting there on my own ♪ ♪ I'm taking that long way home, oh, oh ♪ ♪ There ain't no wrong way home, no ♪ ♪ Ah, hey, hey, I'm gonna get there ♪ ♪ Gonna go home and get there ♪ ("Long Way Home" continues) ♪ Don't try to judge me man ♪ ♪ I'm doin' the best I can ♪ ♪ I want you to understand ♪ ♪ Get there on my own ♪ ♪ There ain't no wrong way, baby ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get there, yes, on my own ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get there, gonna get there ♪ ♪ Taking it right away, the long way home ♪ ♪ Get there, yeah, on my own ♪ ♪ Gonna get there, gonna get there ♪ ♪ Taking it, taking it, take, take, take, take ♪ ("Long Way Home" continues) ♪ I'm wanna get there, woo, on my own ♪ ♪ Gonna get there, gonna get there ♪ ♪ Taking it right away, long way home ♪ ♪ Get there, yeah, on my own ♪ ♪ Gonna get there, gonna get there ♪ ♪ Take it, babe, take it now, long way home ♪ (audience cheers) All right, all right.

Thank you so much, everybody.

Whew!

Well, I had a dream come true about a year or more ago.

I'd always wanted to do a particular type of holiday album.

And I finally got to do it.

And it's called "Winter Soulstice," S-O-U-L-S-T-I-C-E. And I gathered in songs that I had grown up hearing.

My mom was a singer.

My dad played upright bass in the Navy band, and our house was filled with music.

I also added some of the songs that I wrote on it, three of my own songs.

This is one of those that was co-written with the former poet laureate of our great state of Kansas, Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, and with Al Berman.

And this is my wish for all of us.

("Bright Lights" begins) ♪ I can see the future coming ♪ ♪ With its bright lights on ♪ ♪ I don't know how I see it, but I do ♪ ♪ It's just around the bend ♪ ♪ From where we've always been ♪ ♪ It is righteous, it is ready, it is true ♪ ♪ On their knees in Ferguson ♪ ♪ The tear gas burns their eyes ♪ ♪ While memories of Birmingham ring true ♪ ♪ As children cross the border ♪ ♪ Clutching nothing but goodbyes ♪ ♪ It's as if they can't remember ♪ ♪ They're the same as me and you ♪ ♪ But I can see the future coming ♪ ♪ With its bright lights on ♪ ♪ I don't know how I see it, but I do ♪ ♪ It's just around the bend ♪ ♪ From where we have always been ♪ ♪ It is righteous, it is ready, it is true ♪ ♪ The future isn't found ♪ ♪ Just casting blame and shouting names ♪ ♪ We must keep on moving forward ♪ ♪ Things cannot remain the same ♪ ♪ Cast off the bonds of hatred ♪ ♪ We will fly, never fall ♪ ♪ But the wind is at our back ♪ ♪ And we must stand when we are called ♪ ♪ With our bright lights on ♪ ♪ Despite the human cry ♪ ♪ The sirens in the streets ♪ ♪ Sirens in the streets ♪ ♪ Despite all appearance of conflict and defeat ♪ ♪ There are those that walk among us ♪ ♪ With the light still in their eyes ♪ ♪ Light still in their eyes ♪ ♪ They see us all as equals ♪ ♪ They are angels in disguise ♪ ♪ With their bright lights on ♪ ♪ I don't know how I see it, but I do ♪ ♪ And it's just around the bend ♪ ♪ From where we've always been ♪ ♪ It is righteous, and we are ready ♪ ♪ It is true ♪ ("Bright Lights" concludes) (audience applauds) During the pandemic, I ended up doing a bunch of online concerts because I felt so isolated.

I thought if I'm isolated, so many Kansans and people all over the world are too.

And this was written during that time to reach out musically and say nothing can keep us apart.

("The Call" begins) ♪ I'm sending out a call of mercy ♪ ♪ I'm sending out a call of love ♪ ♪ I'm sending out an SOS ♪ ♪ On the wings of a mourning dove ♪ ♪ If you can hear the sound of my voice ♪ ♪ If you can hear the beat of my heart ♪ ♪ Then you know we're still together ♪ ♪ And nothing in this world can tear us apart ♪ ♪ Nothing ♪ ♪ Nothing ♪ ♪ Can tear us apart ♪ ♪ I'm sending out a call of compassion ♪ ♪ I'm sending out a call of love ♪ ♪ I'm sending out an SOS ♪ ♪ I pray for some sweet relief ♪ ♪ Do you hear the sound of my voice ♪ ♪ Can you feel the beat of my heart ♪ ♪ Do you know we are in this together ♪ ♪ There ain't nothing in this world ♪ ♪ Can tear us apart ♪ ♪ Nothing ♪ ♪ Nothing ♪ ♪ Nothing in this world ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ("The Call" continues) ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Whoa oh ♪ ♪ I'm sending out a call of mercy ♪ ♪ I'm sending out a call of love ♪ ♪ I'm sending out an SOS ♪ ♪ SOS on wings of a mourning dove ♪ ♪ Do you know we are still together ♪ ♪ Do you hear the beat of my heart ♪ ♪ Can you feel we are still together ♪ ♪ And can't let anything tear us apart ♪ ♪ Nothing ♪ ♪ Nothing ♪ ♪ Can tear us apart ♪ ♪ I'm sending out an SOS ♪ ♪ SOS ♪ ♪ Sending out mercy ♪ ♪ Sending out an SOS ♪ ♪ SOS ♪ ("The Call" concludes) (audience cheers) - Thanks, everybody, thank you.