A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor

Kristin Andreassen

She sings, she dances, she writes award-winning songs, she plays a bunch of instruments. Many know Boston-based Kristin Andreassen from the old-time string band Uncle Earl. Or from her work with "folk noir" vocal trio Sometymes Why. Or from her warp-speed clogging routines with Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble. Now this multitalented performer — whose musical beginnings included her childhood choir and piano lessons with grandma — is branching out once more and starting to tour under her own name. Her debut solo album, Kiss Me Hello, came out in 2006. Joining her for tonight's performance are Jefferson Hamer, Emma Leahy-Good and Bryn Davies.

Jearlyn Steele

Jearlyn Steele grew up in Indiana and first sang with her siblings (as The Steele Children). After she left home and moved to Minnesota, one by one the rest of the Steele kids followed. They started singing together again as The Steeles, and now music is the family business. Jearlyn also hosts Steele Talkin', a Sunday-night radio show that originates on WCCO in Minneapolis and is heard in some 30 states nationwide. Steele Praising Hymn is her most recent CD.

Jevetta Steele

Plans change. Jevetta Steele first moved to the Twin Cities from Gary, Indiana (her childood home) to become a criminal lawyer. Instead, she and her sister Jearlyn — along with their siblings — turned to performing. In the 1980s, she toured the world (including Broadway) in the musical The Gospel at Colonus. And many remember her Academy Award-nominated performance of "Calling You," from the film Baghdad Café. She has recorded several solo albums, including My Heart.

Kaylee Grace Unverzagt

Kaylee Grace Unverzagt is 2008's Miss Minnesota U.S.A. She took the crown last November, and this past April she was one of the top 15 finalists in the Miss U.S.A. contest. She is a junior at the University of Minnesota, completing her major in journalism and mass communications. After graduation, she plans to earn a law degree.

Guy's All-Star Shoe Band

The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band is led by A Prairie Home Companion music director Richard Dworsky. A keyboard master with an arsenal of ideas, he has worked with artists from Al Jarreau to Kristin Chenoweth to the Hopeful Gospel Quartet. His latest CD is So Near and Dear to Me (Prairie Home Productions).

Chet Atkins called Pat Donohue (guitar) one of the greatest finger pickers in the world today. And he writes songs too — recorded by Suzy Bogguss, Kenny Rogers and others. Freewayman (Bluesky Records) is the most recent of Pat's nine albums.

Gary Raynor (bass) has performed with the Count Basie band, Sammy Davis Jr. — with whom he toured for several years — and the Minnesota Klezmer Band. He teaches jazz bass at the McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul.

Peter Johnson (percussion) has played klezmer music with Doc Severinsen and jazz with Dave Brubeck. He was a drummer for The Manhattan Transfer and for Gene Pitney. He has toured the world, but he always comes back to home base: Saint Paul.

Guitarist Dan Neale moves easily from blues and country to pop, jazz and rock. A Tennessee native who moved to Minnesota because "I married a woman who hates hot weather," this sought-after studio player and sideman has worked with Martin Zellar, Bobby Vee and a host of others.

Chris Silver (mandolin, guitar) spent five years touring with Stoney Lonesome. When vocalist Kate MacKenzie left the band, she and Chris toured for three more years. Chris — who heads up his own group, the Chris Silver Band — is the 2008 winner of the Minnesota Flatpicking Guitar Championship.