Jill Newton and Joye Harris BIO

Hello, we would like you to know a little about us. We are a mother daughter song writing team. Mom has been in music all her life where I am what you would call a late bloomer to the beauty and power of music.

Joye Devine Harris

Joye Devine starting playing piano at the age of five. It was at this age that she gave her first music recital for a Christmas program held at her grade school in rural Kentucky.

At age eleven she began her life long passion as church pianist. Others recognized her talent too. Once on a class field trip to “My Old Kentucky Home” she was asked to play the same piano that the famous song had been composed on

During high school years she and her friends started a singing group called the “The Stringtown Trio.” The group entered and won first prize in a singing contest. The prize was performing live on a radio station in Madisonville, KY. Even at age fourteen Joye was up to the task and won the admiration of her

classmates and community. She continued to play piano for plays, and special programs all through school.

Joye married after high school graduation and somehow between rearing five children and her husband, she managed to continue her music.

As her confidence grew she started writing her own pieces. She wrote an Easter Cantata that was played in five area churches. She has performed in more weddings and community events than can be mention.

She is amazing, the music just keeps flows out of her. These days she spends her time in her beloved Virginia Place as always playing, composing her music, and teaching her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren the piano.


Jill A Newton

Jill has been a high school English teacher for the last sixteen years. She teaches in a small southern Indiana River town. This is the same school she and all her siblings graduated from.

She grew up listening to her Mother’s music. Somehow, although she loved her Mom’s music and songs were not that much apart of her life. It was just something Mom did better than anyone she knew.

After going through a few major life changes and a

family tragedy, Jill found more inside of her than she could contain. The words began to pour out of her in poem form. Jill shared both tears and these poems with her Mom who thought they would make great songs.

One of her songs is very personal. It was written after Jill’s son-in-law’s car crash. The accident left him in a coma for nine months before leaving this earth. This is the story behind Emily’s Song.

Jill will continue to write songs that they come to her while supporting her family and friends.