The Team
Katharine Lee Bates (Original Lyricist)
Katharine Lee Bates (August 12, 1859 – March 28, 1929) was a multifaceted American intellectual whose legacy extends far beyond her famous anthem "America the Beautiful." A prolific author and poet, Bates was also a passionate advocate for social reform, addressing a wide range of issues through her writings and public speaking. Her activism encompassed the rights and welfare of women, laborers, racial minorities, urban poor, immigrants, and other marginalized groups. While "America the Beautiful" remains her most celebrated work (she wrote the first draft in 1893 after an inspirational trip to Pikes Peak), Bates's broader contributions to literature and social justice significantly shaped American discourse in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Samuel A. Ward (Composer)
Samuel Augustus Ward (December 28, 1848 – September 28, 1903) was an American composer who left an indelible mark on American patriotic music. Though Ward died in 1903 without knowing the future significance of his work, his melody was posthumously paired with Katharine Lee Bates's poem "America" to create "America the Beautiful." The first official publication combining Ward's music with Bates's lyrics appeared in 1910, cementing what would become one of America's most beloved patriotic songs. Despite creating complementary pieces of this enduring national anthem, Ward and Bates never met. For his musical contributions, Ward was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.
Rob Ferguson (Vocalist, Lyricist)
Rob is a singer-songwriter in Durham, North Carolina. He conceived of “America the Beautiful 2025” shortly after the 2024 election. He is currently working on songs about gun violence, addiction, a tribute to Woody Guthrie, and forgotten stories from history. He plans to release an album of his songs in 2026. Rob is also a psychologist and co-author of Making Conflict Work: Harnessing the Power of Disagreement, with Peter Coleman. The book won the 2016 International Association for Conflict Management Outstanding Book Award.
Jon Shain (Arranger, Guitarist, Producer, Contributing Lyricist)
Jon is a Durham singer-songwriter, producer, and award winning musician. He won the 2019 International Blues Challenge in Memphis in the solo/duo category, besting over 260 competitors. In collaboration with FJ Ventre (owner of Good Luck Studio), Jon has produced dozens of albums and many singles. As he puts it, “One of my favorite things to do is work with people bringing their musical dreams to life.” As arranger, producer, and contributing lyricist (and major encourager), Jon made essential contributions to the song.
Susan Head (Contributing Lyricist)
Susan is a Durham restauranter, painter, and local music promoter. She helped Rob get “unstuck” when he was struggling to write the song’s final verse and call to action, making a significant contribution to the lyrics.
Laurelyn Dossett (Vocalist)
Laurelyn is a singer/songwriter who lives and writes in the piedmont of North Carolina, and her songs tend to reflect the stories of the region, both traditional and contemporary. One of the most sought-after voices in creative collaborations, Laurelyn is a frequent performer at regional music festivals such as MerleFest, and has been a guest on the radio show A Prairie Home Companion. She has toured with folk legend Alice Gerrard, as well as Rhiannon Giddens of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and North Carolina’s own banjo virtuoso, Joe Newberry.
DaShawn Hickman (Vocalist, Pedal Steel Guitar)
From Mt. Airy, North Carolina, Dashawn is one of the foremost contemporary practitioners of Sacred Steel, a blues-gospel tradition dating back to the Pentecostal-Holiness churches of the 1930s, He is a sought after vocalist and pedal steel master. He recently completed a tour with Cirque Du Soleil, and his album Drums, Roots, & Steel (with Charlie Hunter) was a 2023 International Blues Association Nominee. Dashawn frequently performs with his wife, Wendy, and summed up his passion by saying: “We just want to spread love and joy to people; that's our mission, me and my wife both.”
FJ Ventre (Electric Bass, Sound Engineer, Owner of Good Luck Studio)
FJ, from Chapel Hill NC, is a maestro of the bass, and a highly skilled sound engineer. He currently plays electric and standup bass with numerous acts from The Triangle area, including Huzzah, Jon Shain, Wyatt Easterling, Wes Collins, Nantahala, and more. Many musicians have benefited from his expertise as a recording engineer. His Good Luck Studio in Chapel Hill has recorded and mixed projects for Jon Shain, The Swang Brothers, Jeff Hart, Hailey Clark, The Infidels, Tad Walters, Tom Maxwell, Joe Newberry, Donna Herula, Karyn Oliver, the Drowning Lovers, Barry Gray, Leah Kaufman, Wyatt Easterling, Mary Johnson Rockers, Rebecca Newton, Suzanne Schmid, Penny Pierce, Nick Hutson, Penne Sandbeck, Suzanne Schmid, Lynn Swisher Spears, Alex Hardy, and others.
Eddie Huffman (Videographer)
Eddie Huffman, from Greensboro, North Carolina, is a ninth- or tenth-generation North Carolinian, as well as a writer, videographer, and music journalist. He has directed several music videos, and contributed to Rolling Stone, the New York Times, Utne Reader, All Music Guide, Goldmine, the Virgin Islands Source, and many other publications. He has also authored two music biographies, John Prine: In Spite of Himself, and his latest, Doc Watson: A Life in Music.
Nick Kiely (Lighting)
Nick is an artist, freelance photographer and lighting designer based in Raleigh. He specializes in photographing abandoned buildings at nighttime as a blank canvas to contrast bright lights with forgotten places.
Special thanks to . . .
Janet Buehler, Lynn Burnett, Jeff Carroll (Bluefield Mastering, Raleigh NC), Cady & Scott Ferguson, Ella Ferguson, Liz Hutchins, Susan Johnson, Leah Kaufman, John Lynch, and the Picknbow Community