Pam Hamilton

Singer-Songwriter in Atlanta GA

A vision of community , friendship, and music

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You may look at the pictures of our little band, River North, and simply see a group of smiling musicians, but its WAY more than music. You see, we’ve been friends a LONG time. Decades long. Music friends, church friends, artsy friends, and David and my late husband, Scott, were Electrical Engineering friends way before I had even met either of them. (so adding a little geeky to the artsy mix. ;)) These were the friends that walked me through that great loss of my husband in 2009 when I was 41 years old. These were the friends who were there for me as I was left with 4 little boys (10 and under) to raise alone as a widow. Along with a wider amazing supportive community, (Of which I am forever grateful) these were the friends who were by my side. These are the friends who played on a worship team together with me at our church. These are the friends who’ve hung out around a fire pit, talking about life and faith, and pretty much anything else. It’s been a special combination – friendship and music.

Lately, we’ve been thinking, “How can we bring that to others?” How can we bring “Friendship and Music” to a wider community? How can we offer music and a hearty, “Come and gather with us!”? So spawned the idea to collaborate with a local coffeeshop to offer music and an opportunity to gather. If Covid taught us anything – it’s that real in-person connection and gathering is SO important! And we’d simply love to share our joy….of friendship and music. And we truly hope that you have as much fun listening, as we do playing for you! For no other reason, but to enjoy music and connection.

So…. Thank you Phoenix Coffee Roasters, for hosting us yet again, and for anyone in the Atlanta/Duluth area, “Come and gather with us”….enjoy some music, coffee, dessert and life-giving connection. Bring a friend, or maybe make a new friend while you are there.”

So mark your calendar: Saturday May 3, 2025. 3-5pm.

At Phoenix Roasters “Coffee that Matters”. 2640 Old Peachtree Rd. Duluth, GA

We’ll be there….with friendship and music. Hoping that you can join us. AND if you’d like a sneak peak at what we do….check out our River North link below for a sampling of video clips of us playing at a variety of venues around the Atlanta area.

River North – Band

Quilt of Love

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My mom turned 90 on January 18th 2023. I wrote this song in 2015 for my parents 50th wedding anniversary and wanted to add pictures to make into a “music video” of our family history for her birthday. She was surprised and delighted. But WE have been the ones that have been surprised and delighted by the many quilts that she has made for us over the years. (She is STILL making quilts at 91!!) We as a family are so grateful for her – and how LOVE has sewn us all together over time in a “Quilt of Love”. Yeah, sometimes it’s a “Crazy Quilt” but it’s all about the Love! Thanks Mom! And Thank You God for the blessing of this wonderful family! Hope you enjoy the video. She’s pretty amazing and we’d love to celebrate her!! :). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9CiDddnkAo

Pam has a Band! River North!

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Goodness it’s been awhile. Let me catch you up a bit ! Covid definitely slowed down the music happenings. But on the other side, some cool things have happened. Last September, some long time friends and I started to do some music together, playing a year ago at the Tucker Fall Festival. We had so much fun we KEPT doing music together until we realized we were becoming more than an occasional “thing. We needed a name. So after some ideas were thrown around we landed on “River North”. That’s me on lead vocals and keys. Brenda Ehly on bass, Scott Ehly on saxophones and flute, and David Dworkin on drums/percussion. We are having a blast doing standards, jazz, and my originals. As we say to our audience when we play – “We hope you are having as much fun as WE are!”

THIS SATURDAY Sept 10, we have the wonderful opportunity to be the opening act for Ruppert’s Orchestra for the Duluth Fall Festival Concert. We play 6:30-7:30. It’s a free concert on the town green. Bring your lawn chairs, picnic basket and enjoy live music!

The following week, Saturday September 24 at 1pm we play at the Duluth Fall Festival at the Parson’s Alley Stage. We will be playing from 1-1:50pm. Please come to this amazing Fall festival in the heart of Duluth, GA. There will be lots of great food, amazing arts and crafts vendors, games, pumpkins, and all things FALL! Oh and a lot of great local bands making great music….like us!! We’re SO thrilled to be playing there this year! We’d LOVE to have you stop by!

Another date to put on your calendar is Abbott’s Bar and Grill on Saturday December 10, 7:30-11pm. Abbott’s is located at 10900 Medlock Bridge Rd. Duluth, GA They have a wonderful menu of great food and it’s a great place to have dinner with friends and family. Don’t worry – We keep it “family friendly”!

I’ll be posting about my Youtube channel soon. I’ve had alot of fun the past few years (especially 2019) making videos of my songs….especially Red Gone Wrong. I pulled in a bunch of friends for a “Pink Party” and we made a video! (and you’ll see my whole band in it!….look for the guy in pink – he’s now my drummer!!) It was SO MUCH FUN to make. And we got a lot of views and great feedback on Facebook. Will share soon!! (or you can go NOW to the youtube tab….and find in on my list of videos.)

Have a great week! And THANKS for your encouragement and support!! So appreciate you!!!

These guys are the BEST!! We are having SO MUCH FUN playing together!!! Come out and see us soon!!

Front Burner, Back Burner

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Hey folks!  It’s been QUITE a while since I posted anything.   The music went from front burner to back burner….and stayed there a little longer than I thought it would!   I guess that’s reflective of the constant rumblings of my life, with new milestones and constant change.   The biggest milestone….my oldest son, Luke, graduated from high school last May!!  

He now attends Liberty University and loves college life.  Ok…Let me back up to the beginning of his senior year (fall of 2016). I thought through what I’d like to see happen come May and I realized I wanted to be more intentional with him and his brothers, doing music together as a family, creating good healthy margin in my life – to make sure I was more present on the home front.   So…. music (at least MY music) went on the back burner.    We started to play/lead worship together for the kids ministry at church…once a month – doing music and serving with my boys…  A good move!   The “Launching of Luke” was a primary focus of the year.  (as well as making a sweet family trip – a cruise – happen that fall!)  And of course the many activities and needs of the other 3 boys!!

After he graduated in May I thought….”ok, summer is here and I can try to carve out time to move the music back to the front burner….”   Then the beginning of June my 3rd son, Nathan, gets a rash, that starts to blister – ALL OVER HIS BODY!!   A trip to the pediatrician on June 12th reveals something VERY serious and life threatening.  He was admitted to Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital that afternoon.  So began 3 WEEKS in the hospital managing the unbelievable symptoms of Stephens-Johnson Syndrome.   Look it up…..it’s not pretty!!   He was at Scottish Rite for 2 weeks – 3 days in intensive care and then transferred toGrady Hospital’s Burn unit for a week.   Yes – BURN UNIT!!   His skin blistered and sloughed off on 80% of his body….leaving him to look more like a burn victim.  Pain management and avoidance of infection were top priority!  Thankfully he is mostly on the other side of this and is healing up – but will have some “souvenir scars” from the ordeal!     So I guess it was actually good that my music wasn’t on the front burner!!   As HE was!!   YIKES!!  But I’m so glad that I could be totally available for him….AND so thankful for the army of family and friends that gave us love and support during that time!!

All that to say….. my music has been on the back burner….and hopefully to move to the front burner soon.   I played music for a benefit for Spectrum Ministries last month with a friend and I’ll be doing a private home concert in a few weeks…. then a coffeehouse in Roswell in May (which I’ll try to let you all know about)  So although my music hasn’t been exactly on the front burner…maybe, just maybe it’s moving in that direction.  I’m just trying to remind myself to be intentional with my life and music, use those hot pads while I’m moving things from back burner to front burner….and for goodness sake – try to keep OUT of burn units!!!

Recent and upcoming events….and Happy Happy Thanksgiving!!

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Hey All!  Sorry so long since my last post!   Can’t believe Thanksgiving is already upon us!  How did it get to be November so fast!!  Is anyone else’s head spinning?!

Let’s see….what’s been going on…

September 30th I got to do fun coffeehouse for a great group of folks at Duluth First Baptist Church!  Thanks Melissa Newman for pulling me in to do that!   We all had a great time – from laughter to tears….. as we traveled the ups and downs of life – through story and song; seeing God’s tender love & goodness in the midst of it!   Thanks for all who came out that evening!!

The weekend of October 21-23 I went to Ellijay, GA for a wonderful women’s ministry retreat through “BE FREE” Ministry.   Thanks Ashley Harris for inviting me to come to sing and share with this sweet group of ladies.  I was so very blessed to be a part of such a special weekend!!

Thanksgiving week for us, our little family is going on a long anticipated special getaway…. drum roll please….the 4 boys and I are going on a CRUISE to the Bahamas!!  What?!!   Yes – Still can’t believe we leave in 2 days!!  Realizing that this year was my oldest son’s LAST year of high school….and last year he’ll be “fulltime” at home…..we just had to do something special and very intentional.  We are all so excited!   Say a prayer that all goes smooth and we get back safe & sound!!   I’ll be back in town to lead worship and share a bit of my story at Duluth First Baptist Church on November 27th.   All are welcome to come!!

Then on December 8th, I’ll be doing a coffeehouse for the annual Christmas Tea for the ladies at Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church.   Looking forward to this great group to share the story of God’s Goodness & Love!  (and sing a few Christmas songs too!!)   Thanks Laura Carson for pulling me into this one!

That’s all for now…..

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!    Count your blessings!  We have so much to be thankful for!!