Sam Cornette- Menchville student, guitarist, and honorary member of Brother Lucy. This Menchville junior will be performing in his third Menchville Rocks performance on Thursday, February 22^nd.

Cornette traces his Menchville Rocks career back to Freshman year, when he performed a selection of his favorite blues songs on guitar. This year, he will be performing “Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix, chosen because it was the first Stevie Ray Vaughn song Cornette ever learned, and Vaughan is noted as one of Cornette’s guitar idols. “Jimi Hendrix wrote it [“Little Wing”], but Stevie Ray Vaughan played it better, in my opinion. I sort of try to emulate him when I play,” said the junior on his music selection.

This year also marks the second year of Cornette playing for Menchville Rocks as a part of Brother Lucy- a local band with Menchville math teachers Ken Zoby and Brandon Traner. Brother Lucy has traditionally performed as the house band at Menchville Rocks since its inception, playing songs between sets and creating an energetic musical atmosphere for the concert. Last year, Brother Lucy gained an honorary member for the night as Cornette played with them on guitar throughout the show. The junior was originally introduced to the band through being in Traner’s math classes, and he appreciates the opportunity to play with a group. Said Cornette on the experience of playing music with his teachers, “It’s really awesome; it’s the most fun I’ve ever had playing music before because they’ve been playing together [as a band] for so long.”

As Menchville Rocks fast approaches, Cornette is preparing for his third consecutive year of performing at the concert. “I think this might be my best year,” he said with a smile. “[I feel] great, I guess, I’m really excited.”