Greg Shelton, Jim Bachety, and Liz Jane
Music from the Manger
story by KATE HAMILTON PARDEE photos by JOHN WOLLWERTH
What happens when you take a Port Royal rustic warehouse, decorate it for the holidays, include unique vendors, and showcase an up-and-coming local performer’s concert in a manger — all to benefit the Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA) of Beaufort? You have the inaugural not-to-be-missed Music from the Manger event, being held December 10-12 and destined to become a holiday tradition in Port Royal Village. It was Greg Shelton and Jim Bachety’s vision that bore the idea for Music from the Manger.
Greg Shelton began his career as a Marine, stationed aboard the USS Simon Lake tender in Holy Lock, Scotland, where he oversaw security for nuclear missiles and warheads. It is also where Greg meets his wife, Anne. “I met her at a dance the very first night I was permitted to leave the base. It was love at first sight, and we married a year later.” Greg was introduced to South Carolina when he was next stationed at the Naval Mine Warfare Training Center in Charleston and moved part-time to Port Royal with Anne and their two children, Jeanmarie and Scott.
After a career in banking as the Global Emerging Markets Director from LexisNexis, Greg and his family became full-time Port Royal residents in 2016.
“This community raises their hands to help everyone, and you don’t find places like this just anywhere,” Greg says, sharing that it motivated him to find a way to give back to the town he deeply respects.
A decision to “pick up the guitar again” led Greg to begin lessons at Port Royal Music Academy. He mentioned the idea to Jim Bachety, his teacher and owner of the Academy. Before moving to Port Royal, Jim had an extensive career as a jazz musician in New York City, so the two men began to create and develop the concept immediately. The event’s centerpiece would include a holiday concert by local musician Liz Jane, one of Jim’s students, benefiting a local organization.
Jim had worked with Liz Jane since she was twelve and came in to learn guitar. “I heard her sing for the first time when she was 15, and at 17, and saw her talent maturing and developing.” Her voice is beautifully different and unique, and along with her skills as a guitar player has put her in the category to achieve anything she wants professionally in the future,” Jim says.
Recently Jim and Liz Jane worked together on A Thrill of Hope, a Christmas album engineered by Shane Baldwin and supported by studio musicians handpicked from Savannah. Of the musicians, Jim says, “they added so much to the project, and they loved the music and Liz’s voice. With the development of Music from the Manger, I also knew we were putting out this new holiday album, and it was important to play in Beaufort, specifically our hometown Port Royal.”
The next step was to find an appropriate venue. “I had a relationship with Whit Suber of Grey Ghost Properties, and I immediately thought of the rustic warehouse they owned.” Says Greg, “I knew it was the right place on so many levels. I could see the similarities between the biblical version of the manger, and the conditions that Mary and Joseph encountered on that fateful night.” He continued, “The audience would be sitting in this rustic warehouse setting, surrounded by a backdrop of lit trees. Jane and her band will perform beautiful Christmas melodies within the simplicity of the handmade manger. He continued, “It will be the perfect set. The building arrayed with draped lighting will be a magical sight to behold.”
Local garden clubs offered to help decorate the warehouse and suggested using simple greenery with the event’s rustic theme. Sandra Educate, president of the Beaufort Council of Garden Clubs, added: “Garden Clubs serve a unique purpose for the community. Our Beaufort Council of Garden Clubs has seven member clubs here in northern Beaufort County, and we’re all active in our communities and assisting good causes, such as Music from the Manger.”
“The most important part of the project was what organization would benefit from the proceeds of this project,” Shelton shared.
“I met with Brook Plank-Buccola at the Port Royal Town Hall, and she suggested right away for us to support CAPA of Beaufort. After a meeting with CAPA Executive Director Christina Wilson, the mutual support for the event and CAPA was clear. “The decision was unanimous in the efforts of all to go forward with Music from the Manger.”
“It was now time to start the hard work organizing the concert and working out all the details,” Shelton says. “Especially because we now had the talent of Liz Jane, headlining the ticketed show performed on December 11,” Bachety added, “We are so fortunate to have Jane performing; to introduce her music to her hometown community and show her talent.”
Liz Jane moved to Port Royal with her musically inclined parents and sister Becca when Liz was four. It was an artistically talented family of sounds and songs, instrumentally and vocally. At five, she started taking piano lessons, adding guitar lessons with Jim Bachety when she turned twelve. “He taught me everything I know about the guitar and so much about music. He has an amazing way of explaining things that are musically complex in a simple manner.”
Jane performed in many professional venues while attending the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC, and shares she is “excited and honored” to headline Music from the Manger on December 11. “I was traveling out west when Jim called to tell me about the event he and Greg were planning, and I loved it.” The timing is perfect too, aligning with the release of A Thrill of Hope, which will be available for purchase at the event. Batchety adds, “I can’t put into words why Liz is so specifically special for this project, but it is every part of the music working together; it is just how Christmas is supposed to sound.”
“I can’t wait to be playing music live for people again. And to do it raising money for our local CAPA of Beaufort is perfect,” Jane says. Throughout her performance journey, Jane has received inspiration from various sources, including the music and soulfulness of Beyonce, support from Batchety and her family, and her unwavering faith in God. “In the long term, I want to be living, breathing, and working full time in music.”
Music from the Manger will kick off with a private VIP party sponsored by Dick Stewart, the founder and CEO of 303 Associates. Local establishments will provide refreshments and food. The party will have a performance of a song sampling of Liz Jane’s Saturday night concert. The honorable Joe DeVito, mayor of Port Royal, will welcome the community to the event.
The weekend continues with plenty of food and shopping offered by local vendors, along with more holiday music performed by the Beaufort Harbormasters Barbershop Chorus. Rumor has it that Gunny Clause will make an appearance to meet with the children, who are also invited to take part in a holiday-themed art show competition spearheaded by Shelton.
Internationally acclaimed artist Jennifer JL Jones will judge the artworks. “I immediately accepted. It sounded like a great way for the kids to participate creatively. I’ve found Port Royal to be a friendly community that comes together, supports, and looks out for one another. And if anything I can do to participate in getting more people to create, count me in!” The winners of the art show will be announced following the VIP reception.
Shelton, Bachety, Jane, and the sponsors, vendors, and volunteers have worked tirelessly to make Music from the Manger a not-to-miss event, one which will continue for many years in the Port Royal community. Shelton shares, “My favorite part of working on this project is it’s like rerunning a business. Finding sponsors and vendors to offset expenses is challenging, but the support has been immense.”
Jane is looking forward to sharing her music in this incredible venue. “This album is a leap of faith for me, and I can’t thank everyone and the Port Royal community enough for supporting me in my music journey and asking me to perform at the event benefitting CAPA—Music from the Manger.”
Batchety sums up this event in the following simple words, “In this time of COVID, we need some hope. People are looking to get back to normal. I believe music heals, and I believe it gives people what they need.”
Shelton agrees. “Not only is it a great opportunity for the community of Port Royal to come together but it’s to thank Port Royal’s public officials for their support of events like this that are a great attraction to a town that is “Cool, Coastal and Far from Ordinary.”
Buy your tickets now for the December 11th concert or become a sponsor at MusicfromtheManger.com. Follow on Facebook and Instagram @MusicfromtheManger.
