The Lee County Library has joined with The ACMA (Americana Community Music Association), to offer FREE concerts of all original music by local Artists. Concerts will take place in the Amphitheater, which is located on South Cornog Plaza. Bring a chair or a blanket, shows will be moved to the meeting rooms located next to the amphitheater if needed depending on weather.

The ACMA is a Fort Myers based not for profit promoting local artists who perform original songs. What to expect, you will hear singer-songwriters sharing a lifetime of experiences in song and the inspiration behind the songs. Be prepared to enjoy an evening of professional quality acoustic Americana music. Americana music is a coming together of blues, roots, folk , bluegrass, and country. Lots of room to spread out so bring a friend.

Bill Metts started playing guitar during the Country Blues revival of the 60s and fell in love with the art of finger-style guitar. Shortly after moving to South West Florida he was asked to serve on the board of the nationally known Americana Community Music Association and hosted their weekly Songwriter Circle for four years. Also, for the past eight years, through a not-for-profit organization called Hope by Song Inc., he has been composing songs from the writings of people dealing with great emotional trauma in order to help them heal through the power inherent in music. He has performed at the prestigious Mississippi John Hurt Blues Festival, the world famous “Ground Zero” in Clarksdale Mississippi and in the BMI sponsored Island Hopper Songwriter Festival in Fort Myers Florida.

Ray Cerbone, One of the founding members of the Americana Community Music Association, Ray began playing guitar during the late 60’s folk scene. With the support and inspiration of fellow local and touring musicians, he began writing and playing in earnest in 2010. Traveling a long road in a short time, his music encompasses many genres, including Americana, Folk, Blues, Ballads, and a little bit of Country. His storyteller style takes the listener to another place in time, his music and lyrics bringing evocative insights into the many sides of life. Ray is also a singer-songwriter’s song-singer. That is, he does interpretive covers of great originals by other very talented singer/songwriters using his own creative touch. His inventive fingerstyle guitar is uniquely diverse and easy-on-the-ears. Ray’s recently released CD, “How Much Time”, has received glowing reviews stateside and overseas.

Ralph Leeseberg is a resident of Pickerington, Ohio when he is not wintering in SW Florida. He’s been playing guitar since he saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan with all the girls screaming and he said “That’s what I want to do.” He’s been writing songs for fifty years and has dozens of tunes that he’s actually not embarrassed to play for people. His styles range from early folk to classic country to blues and a little bit of rock’n’roll thrown in. He enjoys what he does and hopes you enjoy it too.