Maggie's Journal Historical Musical Valerie Smith Label: Bell Buckle Records ℗ ©Valerie Stevens 2023, All songs are Copyright 2023 © Buckle Down Music Publishing (BMI) Produced by Donna Ulisse Genre: Roots, bluegrass, Grassicana, Americana, blues, musical,folk, historical content Journal: Written by Margaret Attebury Brooks-McCamis Script: Developed & written by Valerie Smith & Donna Ulisse Instrumental background tracks for speaking parts recorded & engineered by Tim Carter, Tree House Studio, Ridgetop, TN Vocals and instruments for song tracks recorded & engineered by Scott Vestal / Digital Underground / Greenbrier, TN Mixed and mastered by Chris Latham at The Gorilla’s Nest, Ashland City, TN Album artwork and design by David Lynch | Photos of Maggie - credit unknown, used with permission | Photo of Valerie Smith by Joe Zauner | Portrait of Valerie Smith by John Murray Catalog # BR20250 UPC: 085218111151 “If I could dream up a project to set my imagination aflame, let it dance about in the most colorful, heart-wrenching compositions with a voice I admire beyond words, it would be this very collection of songs!" Donna Ulisse - Producer

"Each note feels like a collaboration with Maggie, a woman I never met but whose spirit guided me through this 12-year journey. I hope this album speaks to you, inviting reflection on our shared history and the enduring power of courage and compassion. With gratitude, Valerie Smith"

Maggie’s Journal (Bell Buckle Records) is a profound and heartfelt musical narrative that brings to life the raw, emotional story of Margaret Attebury Brooks-McCamis, the great-grandmother of bluegrass luminary Valerie Smith. The result of a 12-year labor of love, this ambitious 30-track album blends roots, bluegrass, and Americana music to create a sonic tapestry that pairs original songs with spoken-word excerpts from Maggie's journal, a handwritten "Car Load Tablet," which Smith's cousins Fonda Wells and Kathy Eaton found hidden in an attic trunk. Unveiling a life untold, the journal reveals Maggie’s early years in post-Civil War rural Missouri—married young to a violent man, her hardened exterior masking a kind, gentle soul. Her story, personal and unflinching, is a masterpiece of resilience, offering timeless insights into American history, women’s and children’s rights, education, and the enduring human spirit. Crafted with deep reverence, Maggie’s Journal is in many ways a collaboration between Smith and her great-grandmother, whom she never met. From the haunting “That Was A Long Time Ago” to the tender “Alva’s Lullaby” and the stark “Jim O’Dell, Straight From Hell,” the album's tracks weave a narrative of struggle and grace, rooted in the storytelling traditions of folk and bluegrass. Smith’s evocative lead vocals, embodying Maggie’s voice, are complemented by rich harmonies from Donna Ulisse, Josie Smith, Mike Rogers, Rosa Vestal, and Aaron Vestal. The instrumentation—featuring Cody Kilby (acoustic guitar, mandolin), Stephen Burwell (violin), Evan Winsor (upright bass), and Scott Vestal (banjo)—pulses with life, capturing the raw emotion of Maggie’s world. Produced by Donna Ulisse, whose songwriting partnership with Smith (along with writers Daniel Crabtree and Ann Miller) shaped the album’s lyrical depth, Maggie’s Journal was masterfully recorded and engineered at Tim Carter’s Tree House Studio in Ridgetop, TN, and Scott Vestal’s Digital Underground in Greenbrier, TN. Smith’s artistry shines through, building on her legacy of Grammy, IBMA, and Dove Award nominations.