Plain and Fancy: Hedge And Donna - Evolution (1971 us, fine rhythm 'n' blues, folk classic rock feat. Joe Walsh)

Monday, November 18, 2024

Hedge And Donna - Evolution (1971 us, fine rhythm 'n' blues, folk classic rock feat. Joe Walsh)

Hedge and Donna was a 60's, 70's folk duo featuring acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies. The members were Hedges Capers and Donna Marie Carson, a biracial couple who were married during their heyday but later divorced. At some point, the duo's name was changed to Capers and Carson. REvolution" was the duo's fifth album and finds them throwing down a groovier and more contemporary folk vibe. Joe Walsh's presence here maintains a lower profile letting the two do their thing. And it's pretty good for what it is. Certainly an enjoyable album.

Donna was born to U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Harry "Kit" Carson and his wife Dorothy in November of 1946. After the duo split in the early 1970's and she moved on with her degree from Whittier College. Her heart ever open, she eventually went on to work with special needs children at the California State Diagnostic School, and ultimately as a protector working for Los Angeles County Courts as a Child Advocate Supervisor. She found joy in helping kids and believed in supporting them so that no child would fall through the cracks of the court system. She worked tirelessly until she retired in 2004. Donna passed away November 21st, 2019.

Keene Hedge Capers was born February 21, 1945. The duo began singing together in 1967 and only had a few weeks rehearsal before making a big splash at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. Not only did the gig result in meeting their first manager (Doug Weston, who was also the club owner) but a representative for Capitol Records signed the duo that evening. As an interracial couple in the late 60s, they did receive some negative responses but never from the audiences who embraced them and their music. They were even on the cover of Jet Magazine in 1969 and made several television appearances together before divorcing in 1976. Hedges continued to write songs and perform as well as act. He starred as the title character in The Legend of Hillbilly John released in 1972. In more recent years he earned his degree as a psychotherapist as did his wife, actress Nancy Locke. The couple co-wrote the musical The Geeze & Me about growing old, which Nancy directed when it debuted in San Diego in 2017.