. Very Much a WORK IN PROGRESS. All SIC
Vol. 7 No. 7 - January, 1973The Bluegrass Express is not a band but a package tour featuring Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Jim and Jesse and James Monroe. The idea was to create a bluegrass package similar to the country shows which have done so well over the years. The idea was implemented last year and was successful enough to be repeated again this winter. Dates are set in a number of cities with more being added....The Bluegrass Club of New York York at 418 E. 89th St., NY 10028 again is putting on a number of shows in the New York area during the winter months. The club's president Doug Tuchman is elated at the response this season....The Country Gentlemen were at the Vanguard studios in New York cutting their furst LP for the label early in December. The sessions were a breeze with Vanguard, used to cutting rock acts, very surprised that a group could come in and do things so quickly and get a good LP. The songs were a variety of tunes from many sources.......... Starday Records has released some of the cuts by groups that they have recorded recently. A number of stations are giving heavy airplay to Reno & Harrell's Sweet Miss Sarah Jane and also the New Grass Revival's Great Balls of Fire. Carl Story is also scheduled to do his first session for Starday early in March....Lee Moore, The Coffee-Drinking Nite-Hawk who for years was the all night D-J from WWVA in Wheeling, West Virginia was the object of recent inclusion in a Partridge Family comic book. Of course, the stories, characters and incidents portrayed were entirely fictitious and no identification with actual pertons, living or dead, was intended but it was an odd place to find that type of story presented....The Sencland Bluegrass Society has been formed to promote bluegrass music in North Carolina. Mr Cecil Davis is president and their address is Rt. 1, Box 176, Holly Ridge, NC 28445. Speaking of clubs and friends of the music, the Boston Area Friends recently presnted a show with the Lilly Brothers, Don Stover and Tex Logan. The show was taped by WGBH-TV to be shown in the Boston area. The BAF also is in the process of obtaining additional copies of the performance for depositing it as a documentary of early bluegrass music in some of the libraries for future generations to see how bluegrass music was played by four of the people who were insturmental in its formative rears....Ricky Lee on lead guitar and bass/vocals is the newest member of Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys. He hails from Gastonia, N.C. ....Ralph Stanley and Don Reno and Bill Harrell were made honorary citizens of Myrtle Beach, S.C. during the festival there....Don Reno & Bill Harrell are working on a 1 hour TV show to be shown in the Washington, D.C. area...WBAl-FM in New York recently did a special 5 hour bluegrass show hosted by Tom Whitmore. It was such a success that Tom is planning on doing another....Not Seeing Forests Because of the Trees or How Dense Can You Be Department: In a recent letter to the editor in a San Antonio, Texas paper a bluegrass fan commented, "With three country radio stations in town why can't we have some Blue Grass music?" The answer that the paper received from the local country music authorities was that a total bluegrass station wouldn't go over very well. The gentlemen asked for some bluegrass not all. Some people just don't listen...... John Delgatto, contributor to BU and new owner of Grassroots Record Sales in Pasadena, California recently announced activation of the Briar record label. Among the first productions on Briar, which will be distributed by Takoma records, will be a Watson Family album and a release of performances by the legendary Kentucky Colonels.....Larry Sparks has had a fan club formed for him. Greta Stewart is the President and the formal title is the Larry Sparks International Fan Club with the mailing address 1952C Shadywood Drive, Bedford, Texas 76021....Swamp Grass, a recently formed group based in New Orleans, Louisiana, are scheduled for a tour of Vietnam and Thailand for the USO....The McLain Family recently received a standing ovation at the Renfro Valley Barn Dance in Renfro Valley Kentucky. Glenn Pennington, Barn Dance manager could not remember any other Epoup receiving such a response during his many years at Renfro Valley....Bluegrass songs are appearing in a variety of places these days. Most recent is a cut of She's No Angel on the most recent New Riders of the Purple Sage LP on Columbia. This one dates back to the 1950's and was on the flip side of the Osborne Brothers first cut of Ruby on MGM.... Mike Auldridge's Dobro LP for Takoma has turned out to be one of their best sellers to date. It is being played on a number of contemporary radio stations....Brush Arbor's cut of Proud Mary for Capitol has also shown up on the best selling country music playlists and hence has been somewhat of a break-thru for bluegrass fans who only, have a format modern country radio station to listen to....1973 looks like the biggest festival season of all with most of the major bluegrass acts already booked for the whole summer....In a recent trial in Fairfax, Virginia involving the promoters and owners of the park where the Timberlake Festival was held this past September against a court order banning it, one of the cases concerning the owner was dismissed because the judge was at the event and in contempt of court himself. In another case one of the promoters of the festival was sentenced to four months in jail for being in contempt of court. However, there didn't seem to be any definite ruling resulting from this series of legal problems for a bluegrass related festival that would adversely affect others throughout the country.....Rebel Records created an instant collectors item recently when the first pressing of Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys' Play Requests LP was released. Due to the demand for the LP the first group went out with a different picture on the front than the current version........ song of the year honors this year may go to Curly Ray Cline whose Flem Jones vocal on his latest Rebel LP has had everybody talking. It is a self-portrait of Curly's family, hometown and even his dogs. Ralph Stanley, who made the song up to kid Curly Ray, never even dreamed that Curly would even remember it, really got fooled when Curly showed up at the recording studio all set to record it.
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Vol. 7 No. 8 - February, 1973John Delgatto of Country Roads Ltd.. has announced the acquisition of "Grassroots Record Sales" by J & F Southern Record sales, 4501 Risinghill Road, Altadena, ca. 91001 which has specialized in blues record sales the last four years. In addition the Watson Family album and the Kentucky Colonels release on Briar mentioned in last months issue, there will be a release of a Leslie Keith fiddle album and the Stone Mountain Boys of Dallas, Texas with Byron Berline on fiddle . . . . If you think Tom Gray of The Seldom Scene is a good bluegrass bass player, you should see him perform with a dixieland jazz band on Friday nights at the Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, Md. . . . .More and more radio stations adding bluegrass to their programs and finding out the people like it. One of the latest is WFRB, Frostburg, Md. . . . . Earl Taylor, suffering from diabetes has been unable to play on a regular schedule lately, we were glad to hear he is improving . . . ."Boat Whistle” Mclntyre has been on the sick list but did appear at "Maudie's” in Cincinnati, Ohio. New Years Eve with The Appalachian Grass and received a standing ovation . . . . A 1/2 hour replay of the 1946 Grand Ole Opry Christmas Show was aired recently on Chuck Shield’s Hall Closet (of old radio programs), over WLTD, 1590, Evanston, Ill. Those wanting to hear more should write to Chuck . . . .Rufus Krisp, will be recording a demo for Columbia with Seatrain fiddler Richard Greene. The group will be produced by Greene . . . . Jimmy Arnold has left the New Shades of Grass to join Charlie Moore's Dixie Partners. Bobby Bryant will now be playing banjo with Cliff Waldron . . . . Don Reno and Bill Harrell signed a management contract with Doug Tuchman of New York. Anyone wishing to book Don & Bill may reach Doug at: 417 East 89 St., Box 1b, New york, N.y. 10028. Phone 212-427-1488 . . . . Jimmy Martin, Jr., better known as "Timmy", is now in the U.S. Navy stationed at Great Lakes, Ill. . . . . The Monroe Doctrine from Fort Collins, Colorado traveled nearly 50,000 miles in their van since last May during seven tours of the Midwest without an accident on the road--only to be run off the road a mile from home during christmas vacation. Fortunately the van was the only casualty . . . . Mrs. Jennie Martin a former director and treasurer of the C. F. Martin, Co., and wife of Frank H. Martin, Sr., died Friday, December 22, 1972. She was 99 years old . . . . Chicken Hot Rod is now being booked by Hit Attractions, Inc. of Charlotte, N.C. as well as by Campus Directions of New York City. They plan to release their first album early in February . . . . Two ten minute shows that the Monroe Doctrine did for WHA-TV in Madison, Wis., last May were so well received that they are still being repeated periodically months later . . . . Lester Flatt will have a new album released March 1st . . . . Mac Wiseman will be taping a guest appearance on Ian Tyson's CBC-TV series on February 8th, but air date is uncertain at this time . . . . The Shenandoah Cut-Ups will be appearing with Mac on this show . . . . The II Generation have been temporarily sidelined while bassman Randy Stockwell recoups from surgery. They are using their time wisely how-ever, working up new material and routines . . . . Lawrence University magazine recently featured a full page story on Dick Schroeder, banjo player for Monroe Doctrine and his father, Fred, who is the director of Lawrence Universities' well known concert band . . . .DECCA is changing its name to MCA . . . . The second International Country Music Fan Fair is being planned for June 6-10, 1973. A bluegrass kickoff is scheduled June 6th from noon til 5:00 PM at the Grand Old Opry House. Persons interested in space should write: Bill Hudson, chairman of the Booth committee, 905 l6th Ave., South, Nashville, Tn. 37212. To register for the Fan Fair, one should send $20.00 per person to Fan Fair, P.O. Box 100, Nashville, Tn. 97202. . . . . Kirk McGee is back to the Opry after heart trouble and hospitalization. Newest member of the Kentucky Grass is Tommy Boyd on Dobro. The group has a new release on ROME scheduled for release soon . . . . Another group of awards is slated for presentation during the next festival season. Bill and Ray Grant of the festival at Hugo, Oklahoma are planning on their own set of Bluegrass Awards to be presented at their festival August 9-12, 1973. These awards are unique in that they will be presented to amateur and semi-professional musicians ONLY. For ballots or further information write: Bill Grant, Bluegrass Awards, Rt. 2, Box 187, Hugo, Oklahoma 74743. . . . Don Reno & Bill Harrell are scheduled to play for President Nixon's Inauguration ceremony in Washington, D.c.. . . . Another new magazine has appeared on the scene. Country Music Explorer is the production of the International Association of Country Music. Correspondence and further information can be secured by writing Tommy Crank, P.O. Box 22, Trenton, Ohio 45067 . . . . One of the songs that will be featured on the Country Gentlemen's new Vanguard Lp is John Prine's "Paradise" or “Muhlenberg County" as it sometimes is called. The Seldom Scene have also recorded the tune as well as cuts by bluegrass groups that have already been released such as the RFD Boys and Hamilton County Bluegrass Band. The song is a touching plea against strip mining. The Country Gentlemen have added a real unique plus to their recording however in the person of fiddler Ricky Skaggs. Ricky, who spent quite a bit of time as a member of Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys, is from the general area of Kentucky that the song "Paradise" mentions and on top of that Ricky's father worked for the coal company that is mentioned in the song. How relevant can you get? The presence of Ricky on the Country Gentlemen’s new release will also be the first time in almost fifteen years that the group has used a fiddle on a session. Another added asset to the record is the presence of Mike Auldridge on Dobro . . . . Speaking of the Gentlemen, winner of the awards for first reunion of 1973 go to John Duffey and Charlie Waller. It seems that Bill Emerson and Doyle Lawson had to return to New York to re-do some breaks on the new Vanguard LP and couldn't get back in time to play with Charlie and Bill Yates at the Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, Md. So John Duffey and Ben Eldridge of the Seldom Scene were recruited to do the evening's work. . . . . On tour to the Guantanamo Navy Base in Cuba during February and March will be a new group organized by BU contributor Clarence Greene. Their name will be the Southbound Express and consist of Clarence Greene, guitar; Terry Baucom, fiddle; Randy Carrier, mandolin; Jerry Elliott, banjo; Frank Poindexter, dobro; Dickie Riddle, Bass. They are also looking for a recording contract . . . . Joan Sprung is now associated with Patrick Musone, Rob and Jon Edward in a new group called The Sound Friendship . . . . The Ralph Stanley show on December 17th was the 1st anniversary of the Bluegrass Club of New York. To date the club has presented seventeen concerts and iors now average at least one show every three weeks . . . . Recently published was an extensive collection of over 350 pages of actual music called "O'Neill's Music of lreland" and was originally printed in 1903. It has over 1,850 tunes and offers many Jigs, Reels, Hornpipes, Long Dances, Marches, etc. Many of the fiddle tunes used in bluegrass had their origins in Ireland. Details may be secured from Daniel Michael Collins, 1375 Crosby Ave., Bronx, NY 10461 . . . . The ll Generation will have a new record out sometime near the first of March on Starday-King. The titles are "It's Raining in Nashville Tonight" and "Lets". The latter song, one of Eddie Adcock's compositions was also on one of the LP's he made while a member of Country Gentlemen . . . .Bluegrass from where you may least expect it department: The sound track single from a recent hit film Deliverance distributed by Warner Brothers is called Dueling Banjos and is rapidly moving up the pop best selling charts. Yep, you guessed it. The tune is the old bluegrass standby "Feudin' Banjos" or "Mocking Banjos" under a new title . . . . The Lewis Family have picked up their new bus, a Challenger, at the factory in Pembina, North Dakota. Their new album for Canaan Records will be called Country Sunday.
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Vol. 7 No. 9 - March 1973Charlie Moore has signed an additional years contract with Jamboree USA in Wheeling, W. Va., to appear on a regular basis . . . Jimmy Martin has been nominated in the fifteenth annual Grammy awards for: "Will The Circle Be Unbroken", in the category of, Best Country Vocal performance by a duo or group . . . The Grey Eagle, is a new band to appear on the scene, it is an offshoot of the New Deal String Band . . . In the February issue we reported Jimmy Arnold going to work with Charlie Moore, however by the time the magazine reached you, Jimmy had become the new banjo player for Jimmy Gaudreau, Keith Whitley and the New Tradition . . . . Pat Cloud and Jim Lanners are back in the Los Angeles area . . . . Tommy Neal is the new banjo player with Cliff Waldron . . . . Larry Sparks is recording gospel album for Starday. The end of March . . . Bobby Diamond is playing fiddle with Del McCoury's Dixie Pals while regular fiddler Billy Sage is recovering from a shoulder injury. . . . The Brandywine Valley Friends of Old Time Music is now a year old and to their credit they have had several concerts and the Delaware Bluegrass Festival. Anyone interested can write to the organization c/o Box 3504, Greenville, Dela. 19807, or call Carl Goldstein at 302-654-3930 . . . . Brock & Cammack, Attornies have announced that McMeekin & Wells, inc., a Kentucky Corporation which produced Lemco records are going out of business. If any of our readers have ordered “Bluegrass Holiday" or "Ramblin Boy" by J.D. Crowe and not received them, they may send a photocopy of both sides of their check and any other evidence of their order to: Brock & Cammack, 200 North Upper Street, Lexington, Ky., 405O7 and they will attempt to supply them with the records or return their money . . . . It has come to our attention many bluegrass bands have performed for formal weddings. Jack Hicks & Sharon White had none other than Bill Monroe at their wedding party. The Bluegrass Experience played for the formal wedding Mr. & Mrs. Billy Ray in Chapel Hill, N.C., they played “Bill Cheatham" as the processional . . . . Mac Wiseman has plans to run his Renfro Valley Festival this year. He will be combining this year's Renfro Valley Old Time Fiddler's Convention, which usually runs for three days in June, with his own bluegrass festival which takes place for three days in July. The scheduled dates are now July 13 through the 15th . . . . Doug Dillard is cutting a banjo album for 20th Century Fox Records, which will also feature John Hartford and Byron Berline . . . .The "Duelin Banjo" LP is actually the "New Dimensions in Banjo and Bluegrass" with Clarence White which was recorded in 1962. There are two cuts of the song on the new album . . . .Billy Edwards formerly of the Shenandoah Cut-Ups has retired from music and his replacement will be Tom McKinney . . .. Rufus Krisp is traveling to California to record a demo for Columbia Records and to do some sound tracks for a comedy western called, "Eurika! 'It's Moly-B-Damn". They are also being highlighted in Colorado this year because of a song they wrote regarding Al Packer, a man convicted of cannibalism in Colorado in 1874 . . . . Due to unforseen difficulties the Georgia Jaycees are forced to cancel the bluegrass festival scheduled for May 1973. . . . Charlie Moore has signed with Starday Records and his latest single is "Lorena Go Home" and "Your Letter" . . . .Additional facilities. including much more parking have been added to the festival grounds at Spruce Pine. The festival will be held the same weekend as last, August 24-26, 197 3 . . . . Sonny Osborne was quoted in a recent trade publication as considering bluegrass a "stigma" which they have tried to overcome. It was also noted in the same week in another publication Billy Walker, the country artist, predicted that, "the next trend is bluegrass music played by the younger generation" . . . . Grammy nomination for the Best Country Instrumental Performance, includes Lester Flatt for "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" . . . . The Gene Parsons album scheduled to be released in March on the Warner Bros., label, will feature "Drunkards Dream". Other artists on the album will be, Clarence White, mandolin; Roger Bush, bass; Vassar Clements, fiddle;John Kaparakis, guitar and Ralph Stanley was flown in to sing tenor . . . . The Tax Action Campaign benefit, held at the Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, Md., drew a large crowd. The highlight of the event was the reunion of John Duffey, Charlie Waller and Eddie Adcock & Tom Gray.
. . . . We are pleased to report Bill Emerson of the Country Gentlemen, is recovering from a gun shot wound in the right arm. Bill was shot by an unknown assailant in the parking lot of the Red Fox Inn, in Bethesda, Md., on February 8th. The doctors report no nerve or muscle damage and Bill is expected to be back at the banjo in about 6 weeks. . . . |
Vol. 7 No. 10 - April 1973Herman Harper, General Manager of the Don Light Talent Agency, reports that the Lewis Family, have already been slated for twenty bluegrass festivals for the summer of '73 . . . The University of Illinois has already started booking for another bluegrass show in the fall. The show held February 3rd was a great success . . . . Pittsburgh's Dixie Travelers will be getting some national television exposure this Spring. The National Educational Television Network's award-winning "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" show, produced at WQED, has expressed an interest in bluegrass and the Dixie Travelers taping was February 12th and viewing will be April 12th . . . . A tri-state talent search for country, bluegrass and gospel music acts is being set in motion by the Mountaineer Opry House, in Milton, West Virginia. Anyone interested in writing for an audition form should write; Paul King, Promotions Department, Mountaineer Opry House, Milton, West Virginia, 25541. . . . A settlement between Arthur (Guitar Boogie) Smith and Warner Brothers, over the sound track from "Deliverance", has been reached and the original "Dueling Banjos" will soon be available on Monument, with Smith on tenor banjo and Bobby Thompson on the 5-string banjo . . . . Scotty Jackson, Jesse Riley, Roger Howard and Archie Stinson, of the Appalachian Opera have added a fiddle player to the group, Ellis Sturgill from Kentucky. Their new album on the Rome label is due to be released May 1st . . . .Roland White will be replaced by Curley Seckler on The Lester Flatt Show. Curley will play guitar and Marty Stewart will take over the mandolin playing . . . . Roland and Clarence White will begin cutting an album for Warner Brothers in the near future. They plan to do some shows and possibly a few festivals this summer. . . . The Bailey Brothers, Charles and Dan cut an album for Rounder Records at Syntar Studio in Knoxville, Tenn., March 3rd. This is the first time they have recorded together since 1953. Also on the session were banjoist Larry Mathis, Tater Tate, fiddle and Jake Tullock on bass. All were former members of the Happy Valley Boys Band . . . . Jake Tullock formerly of the Lester Flatt Show is now a police dispatcher in Etowah, Tenn. . . . . While visiting Washington, D.C., Bill Monroe made a surprise visit to the Red Fox Inn to sit in with The Seldom Scene . . . . On March 17th, The Osborne Brothers are scheduled to appear on a program with the Merle Haggard Show at the White House for President Nixon . . . . Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys' recent tour in California included performances with some special guests. Picking with Bill on some sets included Pete Rowan, Richard Greene, Dave Grisman, and Billy Ray Latham . . . .MCA's "Father and Son" album featuring Bill Monroe and James Monroe has finally been released . . . . Soul music has made its entry into the bluegrass field with what is called "Black Grass" . . . . Del Reno, another son of Don, made his first stage appearance with his dad and the Tennessee Cut-Ups recently in Washington, D. C. After being introduced by his dad, he walked out on stage, gave a confident "Howdy" and sang "I Know You're Married." This was followed with "Down Yonder" on guitar . . . . Brush Arbor's new single and album on Capitol is considered a MUST programming for several country radio stations. "Brush Arbor Meeting" is credited with excellent material and performance by the grouP . . . . Mac Wiseman is talking about dramatic changes for his July festival. His plan is to stage six days worth of music and entertainment, start a little earlier in the day and extend the evenings a little . . . . Additional instruments for the Del Reeves Show include dobro, banjo, and fiddle! This new dimensions to his act have resulted in placement on several bluegrass concerts this year . . . . One of Capitol Records new March releases is "Banjo Player" spotlighting Carl Jackson . . . .To commerate his appearance in Boston, Kevin White, Mayor of that city, declared Sunday, March 11th, "Bill Monroe Day." The concert was sponsored by The Boston Area Friends of Bluegrass and Old-Time Country Music . . . . The Bluegrass Blackjacks recently announced plans for a recording session on Puritan Records . . . . The Appalachian Music Makers will be featured in the Frontierland section of the Carowinds Amusement Park near Charlotte, North Carolina. The Carrowinds have plans to produce albums by the "Appalachians" . . . . In order to clear up some confusion concerning LEMCO recording company . . Cecil Jones (of LEMCO) informs us that he is NOT going out of business. However, the two LPs "Bluegrass Holiday" and "Ramblin Boy" are no longer available through the LEMCO label . . . . The Country Gentlemen Festival in Massachusetts may not be held at Webster this June as originally scheduled. The Gentlemen are trying to keep the dates and are looking for another location in the Northeast . . . .Country Gazette, sometimes known as The Flying Burrito Brothers, just returned from a very successful tour to Holland and England. They have already been booked for a return engagement to those countries in the Fall. Country Gazette's single--KEEP ON PUSHING is a Top 20 hit in Holland, and their album has been released in Belgium, Sweden, Japan, England and Holland . . . . Several of the forthcoming Briar albums have been scheduled for release in England, Holland and Japan. The Dillards will be going to England on tour in May.
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Vol. 7 No. 11 - May, 1973Bill Monroe recently played to a sell out crowd at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City. This is a first for pure bluegrass. . . . ln a recent radio interview Minnie Pearl was asked what her favorite music is, without hesitation she answered "bluegrass music". . . . Smokey Greene's Tavern a bluegrass haven in northern New York, was recently destroyed by fire, but Smokey's radio show on WBZA-FM is more popular than ever and plans for his Bluegrass Festival, August 17-19 are well under way . . . . Joe "Red" Hayes, champion fiddler and song writer (Satisfied Mind) died in England while on tour with Faron Young. Red also recorded with Bill Monroe. He passed away March 2. Vern and Ray have been bringing bluegrass to many big rock audiences with such groups as the Chamber Bros. and Copperhead. Vern and Ray play unelectrified instruments and are enthusiastically accepted by all who hear them. . . . Joe Stuart is no longer playing guitar with Bill Monroe. His replacement is Bob Fowler. originally from Montgomery, Alabama, but played on the west coast with Styx River Ferry. Butch Robbins has joined the New Grass Revival. The other members remain the same. . . . The ll Generation has added a fiddle to their group. Jeff Wisor formerly with Liz Meyer is the new addition . . . . lf one drops in The Old Time Pickin' Parlor you may see some outstanding "thrown together" bands. Recently the band on stage consisted of John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) on banjo, Charlie Collins (Roy Acuff's band) on guitar, Bob Fowler (Blue Grass Boys) on guitar and singing lead and Vassar Clements on fiddle . . . . The Evergreen State College in Washington will have a coordinated studies program beginning fall '73 entitled: "America's Music". All phases of American music will be dealt with, with particular emphasis on jazz, musical theatre and bluegrass. . . . The Bluegrass Travelers are back in the market after a brief respite and anxious to start picking. Anyone wishing to book the group may contact Randy Hawkins, 203-564-3549 . . . . Rual Yarbrough's festival in Muscle Shoals, Alabama has been canceled, as well as the White Springs festival in Florida . . . . Melvin Goins is looking for a young, preferably single, bass player to work with the Goins Bros. full time . . . . Jimmy Martin's recording of "You Don't Know My Mind" and "Sunny Side of The Mountain" on "Will the Circle Be Unbroken Album" have been receiving much national and international exposure. MCA promotional directors report the selections have instituted "Jimmy Martin Mini Programs" . . . . Hal Neeley of Starday-King records, announced that the King offices have been undergoing heavy rebuilding and construction. The facility will include in-house art department, record clubs, sixteen track studio, three guest houses for their acts and a special rehearsal room . . . . A new album on the Old Homestead label by Red Rector includes Doug Green on guitar, Buck White on lead guitar and Vic Jordan on banjo . . . . It is rumored that Tut Taylor and Brother Oswald are going to record together . . . . "Mary Ann" is the title of a new song recorded by Jimmy Martin . . . ."Payday", a movie about a country/western singer includes music by Bobby Smith and the Boys from Shiloh . . . . The McLain Family Band will be on tour for a month with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, June 19 to July 19, giving what are called Mini-Festivals in at least 10 cities in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. The McLain's have also cut a record for their own label, Country Life, which should be out in May . . . . Guy Stevens, formerly with Jimmy Orchard's Ozark Bluegrass Boys is now playing bass with Bill Monroe . . . . Missouri continues to be among the leaders in bluegrass music events - some of them very unique. Recently the Governor of the state, Christopher (Kit) Bond, was given a surprise birthday party by his wife at the Governor's mansion. The entertainment was furnished by Jimmy Orchard and The Ozark Bluegrass Boys, The Band and The Bluegrass Association. The Governor is quite a bluegrass music fan and the whole state is alive with festivals, contests and the like throughout the summer - and even winter months. It ranks third in number of traditional music related events behind only Virginia (No. 1) and North Carolina (No.2). Much of the credit must go the Missouri Area Bluegrass Committee headquartered in St. Louis. (See Now Appearing: Bluegrass Music for further details) . . . . One of the biggest surprises of last year in the record department was the "Something Different" LP by Kenny Baker (on guitar!) and Buck "Uncle Josh" Graves on Dobro. A 2nd LP is in the wind. Flatpickers better be on their toes. . . . Speaking of flat-picking; one of the highlights of the lndian Springs Bluegrass Festival near Hagerstown, Maryland - June 1,2, and 3, will be the first festival appearance of Clarence White. Clarence is judged by many to be one of the best flatpickers in the business and we are glad to have him among the bluegrass musicians again . . . . Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys have had their current group together approximately a year now and have really been impressing people at recent shows. Vic Jordan on bano; Jim Brock, fiddle; and Jim Brock, Jr. electric bass along with Carol Johnson on vocals is the fine band. . . . Bluegrass in the oddest places Dept. . . . The Grasscutters from Richmond, Virginia recently performed at a "topping out" ceremony of a high-rise office building in Richmond. They played an extended, extended version of "Dueling Banjo's" as the last beam was lifted into place. . . . Willie Burns is playing bass and singing tenor with Bobby Smith and the Boys Boys from Shiloh. Bobby's most recent single release "Tractor for Sale" was the subject for a news piece on a local Nashville TV station. The song, which is about the plight of the farmer during rising prices, was very relevant so the station thought, during the recent meat boycott. , , , , Ronnie Reno is no longer playing with the Osborne Brothers. Ronnie is going out on his own. His replacement will be Dale Sledd who played with Sonny and Bob about a few years ago . . . . A Washington, D.C. newspaper recently ran an ad for a large department store which read . . . . "Bluegrass Festival people will love this easy-to-wear top" . . . . The latest group to appear on the scene is The New Kentucky Colonels. Roland and Clarence White along with brother Eric White and Herb Pederson (formerly with the Dillards) make up an all-star band. . . . Bill Knowlton reports his Sunday evening radio show on WCNY-FM received so many cards, letters and phone calls the management added thirty minutes to the program . . . . Louisville, Ky. will have a bluegrass festival in the Downtown River City Mall. Bluegrass musicians will perform free, and the public will be encouraged to take part in jam sessions. . . . ln a recent issue of Record World, four bluegrass albums were in the c & w top fifty best selling list . . . . Earl Scruggs has done the musical score for a new movie "Where the Lilies Bloom" . . . . Kanawha Records has moved from its Florida address to Box 2o72, Dayton, OH 45429. . . . A new club in Columbus, Ohio, the “Bridle Path” will be booking modern bluegrass. Anyone wishing more information should write: D. Gene Hurd, Box 71, Wellston, Ohio 45692 . . . .Mac Wiseman made an appearance March 17th in Williamson, W. Va., an area hard hit by floods at the time. A local contemporary bluegrass band called the Out Door Plumbing Company, were cut off by high water. Instead of canceling their show they obtained several rowboats and transported themselves, their instruments, and sound equipment to the show on time . . . . Ronnie Prevettes is now with Joe Greene. Jimmy Martin has not announced who will replace Ronnie with the Sunny Mountain Boys . . . . Ray Edwards. formerly with the High Country Boys, is now with the Owen Family of Nashville, Tenn. Ray has moved to Nashville where he also works recording sessions with various artists . . . . New additions to James Monroe's Midnight Ramblers is Marc Pruett of North Carolina on banjo and Earl Garner on fiddle. . . . Joe Stuart on fiddle and Jim Phillips on mandolin are newest members with the Sullivan Family . . . . Don Light Talent Agency has announced the signing of Buck White and the Down Home Folks . . . . Another new group Breakfast Special has been working some of the coffee house and college campus circuit. Members are: Jim Toiles, guitar (formerly of Goose Creek Symphony); Kenny Kosek, fiddle, Andy Statman, mandolin and saxophone!, Tony Trischka, banjo and pedal steel guitar; Stacy Phillips, Dobro and Roger Mason, bass. . . . The Country Gentlemen's Bluegrass Festival has been moved to a new location. The dates remain the same, June 22-23 & 24 but it will be moved to Stepping Stone Riding Stables in Escoheag, Rhode Island. Correction.... ln our festival listing published in the April issue we listed a contest to be held in Roanoke, Virginia July 6-8 at Victory stadium. The event will not be held in July but August 3-5 at the same location. Birthday’s this month: Maybelle Carter ( Story (29th), Mac Wiseman (2 the same location. Birthday's 1Oth), Benny Martin (8th), Carl 3rd).
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Vol. 7 No. 12 - June, 1973We were saddened to learn of the passing of Mrs. Lucy Stanley, mother of Ralph and the late Carter Stanley. Mrs. Stanley was 86 years old . . . . Another loss to the bluegrass world was Ellis Padgett, bass player for the Tennessee Cut-Ups . . . On a happier note, Lester Flatt is the proud owner of a new Golden Eagle Bus . . . The Goins Brothers have assembled a new band with Mike Smith on bass, Ralph Meadows, fiddle; and Harley Gabbard, dobro . . They have a new album out titled, "A Tribute to the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers" . . . . Carl Story has a new band also. Harold Austin, guitar; Doyle Neikirk, mandolin; Bud Rose, banjo . . . . Doyle Neikirk was the writer of Jimmy Martin's hit Tennessee. . . . . Watch for a new Rebel recording by The Shenandoah Cut-Ups . . . . The Bluegrass Blackjacks will have a gospel album out on Pine Tree Records in about two weeks and another album on Puritan the first part of June . . . . We are sorry we erroneously reported that Ronnie Prevette had left the Sunny Mountain Boys to play with Joe Greene. We are glad to now report Ronnie is still a member of the Sunny Mountain boys and was just helping out Mr. Greene while home on vacation . . . . A new single out by Rufus Krisp on "Land of Shire Records" features an original tune "Loveland Pass" from the TV soundtrack and "Tunnel Under the Sun". Shire Records has undertaken to retire the large hole in the 45's and a copy of this record includes a brief history of the large hole. IVatch for this goup in a comedy western called, "Brothers O'Toole" . . . . Akira Otsuka, former mandolin player with Bluegrass 45 has joined Cliff Waldron and the New Shades of Grass. Dave Auldridge will remain with the band on second guitar and singing tenor . . . . The Denver Folklore Center is now in the process of compiling information for its 197 4 Almanac of American Folk Music, Blues and their Derivatives. They need information on recordings, books, periodicals, instruments, festivals, coffee houses, folk clubs, and other related services, Send information to: Denver Folklore Center, 608 E. 17th Ave., Denver CO. 80203 . . . . Donna Stoneman is now working as a single, singing gospel songs and painting. She had her own art show in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in May . . . . Jim McCall, Jr. Macintyre and the Appalachian Grass have signed with Creek Gypry Productions for management and bookings . . . . Boatwhistle has been on the sick list for some time, but is now back playing and recently made a guest appearance with Red Allen on Jamboree USA, in Wheeling, West Virginia . . . . Bill Monroe is scheduled to tape a segment in June for the show that will be the summer replacement for Dean Martin . . . . The May issue of Mademoiselle Magazine included an article titled, "Across America: Pickins and Places". They were kind enough to include BU, The Bluegrass Club of New York and The Boston Area Friends of Bluegrass. The article had many other items of interest listed . . . . Showing on the best selling charts is the "Father and Son" album by Bill and James Monroe. The Greensboro Daily News, Greensboro, N.C. carries an article each sunday called "Soundings". Features include Pop, Rock, Jazz and Bluegrass. The circulation of 100,000 is very impressive . . . . Thanks to staff writer Ed Davis for his interest in bluegrass . . . .In the article on Rual Yarborough and The Dixiemen, John Morris said James Bryan's fathers name was Joseph, when in fact it is Jae. He also stated Mr. Bryan was an old-time fiddler, this is also incorrect. We appologize for the errors . . . Buck White is the new mandolin player with the Stonemans, When The Downhome Folks are booked on the same show as the Stonemans, Buck will play with both groups . . . . Del McCoury and The Dixie Pals recently made two guest appearances at the Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, Md., where they received numerous encores . . . . Bear Creek Canyon formerly from Colorado, will now be working out of Lexington, Ky., however they will still be booked by Athena in Denver and also Associated Artists Management in Lexington . . . . Rounder Records is still trying to locate the following old-time artists: Buster Pack, Whitey and Hogan, Shannon Grayson, John Reedy, Hobo Jack Adkins, The Kelleys, Estill Stewart, The Wright Brothers, The Caudill Family, and Ronnie Knittel. Anyone having information on them should contact The Rounders, at 65 Park St., Somerville, MA 02143 . . . . Details on our mention of Black Grass music. The LP is on Paramount Records and is titled Black Grass Music by Bad Bascomb. The release number is PAS 6048. It is a unique approach to say the least but still coming across as an ill-fitting graft of two styles . . . .Eric Weissberg of Dueling Banjo's fame is one of the new darlings of the major appearance circuit. Promoters of shows featuring Weissberg are trying to have banjo pickers challenge Eric to a "duel" as part of the show. . . Don Reno and Bill Harrell are scheduled to do an interview with the Voice of America.... Also just released is Earl Scruggs' Dueling Banjos on Columbia . . . .Colorado will be having their first Bluegrass Festival this year thanks to the efforts of Bill Monroe and the Colorado Bluegrass Music Society. August 24-26 are the dates and it will be held just outside of Denver. . . . Birthdaying this month: Dave Akeman Stringbean (17th), Lester Flatt (28th), Eddie Adcock of II Generation (21st).
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Vol. 8 No. 1 - July, 1973WKEX in Blacksburg, Va. has been running a contest on their Sunday morning program. The bluegrass group receiving the most cards and letters during the week are featured for l5 minutes from 11:15 to 11:30. Some of the recent winners have been, The Seldom Scene, The Country Gentlemen and The Osborne Brothers . . . . Among the unique happenings of Frank Hamilton's Third Annual Montgomery Bluegrass Festival last May was a parade downtown, with Bill Monroe driving a stagecoach drawn by two horses. In the coach was Miss Montgomery for 1973. . . . Rufus Krisp played for the record industries largest yearly convention. This resulted in several major record companies approaching them with contracts . . . . Charlie Waller has added a new banjo player to the Country Gentlemen to replace Bill Emerson who joined the Navy Band. Mike Lilly is the new member . . . . Unfortunately the North Carolina Music Festival Park has had to cancel their festival at the last minute. The festival had been scheduled for July l3-15th. All artists previously scheduled for that week-end are now available . . . . The Pretzel Bell in Ann Arbor, Mich., is fast becoming a mecca for bluegrass lovers. The P-Bell which regularly features the R.F.D. Boys, has also hosted many other top names in bluegrass recently . . . . Watch for a new album by the Bluegrass Alliance on the Bridges label. The Alliance is fast becoming one of the most active young groups, with a 10 state tour scheduled in 1973 along with their busy festival schedule . . . . The National Folk Festival will again include bluegrass and old-time in its program. This years representatives will be Ralph Stanley and Kenny Hall and The Sweets Mill String Band. . . . Curley Lambert is now playing mandolin with Charlie Moore and Johnny Dacus is playing fiddle . . . . The Lucas and Harmon Brothers have just released a new album entitled "People Trains and Things in Bluegrass" . . . . The bluegrass festival in Heber Springs, Ark. has now been rescheduled for August 3-5. We had previously announced this festival would be canceled . . . . WPSX, the Pennsylvania State University Educational Station is preparing a 4 or 5 part series on bluegrass music. Plans include a lot of picking and some educational and instructional material. Also included will be a week-end at a bluegrass festival with emphasis on parking lot pickers . . . . As of September 1973, Howard "Rusty" Marshall will become the director of Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame. Mr. Marshall is an accomplished mandolinist and a devotee of bluegrass music. This means the Hall of Fame will become more aware of bluegrass music via Rusty Marshall . . . . Tommy Hunter is the new banjo player with The New Tradition, (Keith Whitley & Jimmy Gaudreau) . . . . Carl Story has moved to Germantown, Ohio and may now be reached for bookings at;206 McCall Road, Germantown, Ohio 45327 or call 513-855-4002 . .. . Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington on its celebration of graduation has bluegrass as its commencement music with the Snake Oil Bluegrass Band . . . . James Monroe's Midnight Ramblers have had Randall Collins on fiddle on their recent shows . . . . Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys always seem to have one more trick up their performance sleeve. The latest is Curly Ray Cline's dance that he does while Ricky Lee plays Tennessee Stud. . . . MCA Records was present at Bill Monroe's Bean Blossom, Indiana festival recording the events for an LP to be released in the near future. One of the many highlights was twelve fiddlers at one time and they really "cooked" . . . . Many of the hero's of the bluegrass past have been reappearing to the delight of the fans. Most recent re-discoveries was Francis & Harley Bray the banjo and bass musicians with the Bluegrass Gentlemen. They performed at Oliver Smith's Bluegrass Festival in Knoxville, Illinois over the Memorial day weekend.
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Vol. 8 No. 2 - August, 1973Bill Emerson's recent induction into the U.S. Navy has put the Navy Band strongly into the contemporary music scene. Country Current, the group from the Navy Band that Bill Emerson has joined, with the full Navy Band will be presenting the First Annual Country-Bluegrass Festival to be held in the Sylvan Theatre at the base of the Washington Monument September 14 and 15. For further details contact the U.S. Navy Band, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. 20374. 202-433-2394. . . . Gloria Belle is now playing banjo and mandolin with Charlie Monroe. Karen Spence helped out on bass at the festival at Berryville, Va. . . . .'73 has been the year of the new bus. Those with new vehicles are Lester Flatt, James Monroe, Don Reno & Bill Harrell and The Lewis Family . . . . The Phantoms of the Opry, from Marin County San Francisco, California area were winners of the band contest at Bill Monroe's 7th Annual Bluegrass Festival in Bean Blossom, Indiana this year. One of the many highlights of the fine group was the lead singing from Pat Enright . . . . The University of Tennessee at Nashville will conduct a 6 week course on "Fiddlers and Fiddlin'.".Some of the instructors will be Howdy Forrester, Roy Acuff, Kenny Baker, Vassar Clements, Johnny Gimble, Ramona Jones, Ed Hyde, Doug Kershaw and Mac Magaha. The course will run from July 19 thru August 23. Topics will include hoedowns, breakdowns, folk tradition, bluegrass, western swing, cajun and jazz styles . . . . Gordon Terry has brought bluegrass and brass together on his Kajac label. His first release, a single, produced by Glen Campbell, features the Bill Monroe tune "Uncle Pen" by Gordon Terry And The Bluegrass Brass . . . . Jimmy Arnold on banjo is back with The New Tradition (Jimmy Gaudreau & Keith Whitley) . . . . Earl Taylor is playing again at Aunt Maudie's in Columbus, Ohio. Anyone wishing to book Earl may do so by calling, 513-351-8868 . . . . As part of the job training program at Colorado State Prison they have a radio station for training men to be d.j.'s and one of the shows is a bluegrass-country show with J. W. Keil. Anyone wishing to help out may send records to: J. W. Keil No. 40395, KCSP, Box 1010, Canon City, Colorado 81212. . . . Bill Poffinberger, fiddler for Cliff Waldron's New Shades of Grass is retiring from the music world. Cliff has not announced a replacement at this time . . . . The James Monroe Fan Club, which had recently announced it would disband has decided to continue under the leadership of Mary Ruth Stamey. Anyone wishing to join this club may do so by writing to Mary Ruth at: Route 2, Brevard, N.C. 28712.... After a meeting to decide whether to drop their formal structure the Denver Friends of Folk Music decided to elect new board members and come back stronger in the fall. Anyone interested in this group may write to them at P.O. Box 775, Denver, CO 80201 . . . . The familiar voice you hear singing "Wild Bill Jones" on the New Vassar Clements album is none other than Fred Bartenstein . . . . The legendary Bailey Brothers, Charlie and Dan, made their first festival appearance at White Oak Campground, during the recent Quarryville, Pa. festival, one of the few times they have appeared together since disbanding the act in 1957. Those attending the festival were afforded a rare treat when Ted Lundy and the Southern Mountain Boys joined the Baileys on stage for some fine gospel trio and quartet singing. . . . Top names in Country, Western and bluegrass are appearing daily at Opryland through September 3. Artists representing bluegrass are; Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Lester Flatt, Jim & Jesse, Osborne Brothers & Earl Scruggs . . . . Del McCoury & Frank Wakefield will be presenting a benefit concert for the Leesburg State Prison, Leesburg, N.J. Officials at the prison, a national model for penal rehabilitation technique, will allow members of the news media to attend the concert . . . . Joe lssacs is now working with Lillimae & The Dixie Gospelaires. He replaces Junior Stennett on guitar. . . . One of the highlights of the Monroe Homecoming Bluegrass Festival to be held this Sept. 14 - 16 at the old homeplace of Rosine, Ky. will be the unveiling of a memorial to Uncle Pen Vandever. Bill Monroe gives much credit for the early ideas that became bluegrass. music to his Uncle Pen and has taken this avenue to show his respect for the man who gave Bill his early inspiration.
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Vol. 8 No. 3 - September, 1973Another first was recently achieved by the Monroe Doctrine when the Milwaukee Symphony announced that it will do its first concert with an acoustic band on March 23, 1974 . . . . Sonny Osborne made the mistake of sitting down on stage at the Renfro Valley Festival and before he could get up to take his banjo break, Little Roy Lewis was out in front taking over . . . . While restrictive ordinances are being passed in Virginia faster than home made biscuits, it is interesting to note the Virginia State Fairwill place emphasis on traditional music. . . Bill Clifton is still one of the most active performers in Europe and England with a September tour scheduled for Kenya and Malawi . . . . The Bluegrass Gentlemen, of Asheboro, North Carolina officially changed their name to Rocky Run on July 21, 1973. Rocky Run members are: Nick Hancock, guitar; Jeff Whittington, banjo; Michael Auman, lead guitar; Joel Lentz, mandolin; and Stan Brown, bass. . . . A new fan club is now organizing for Carl Story. Those interested should write, Ron Wiggins, Rt.5, McLains, Newton, Kansas 67114....Ray Edwards, formerly of the High Country Boys, has replaced Tommy Neal on banjo with Cliff Waldron's New Shades Of Grass . . . . The Fiddle & Banjo Booster Club of Roanoke, Va. have about 200 LPs left that they would like to sell, so they may start on a new record. Anyone interested in helping out should write: P.O. BOX 2058, Roanoke, Va. 24OOg . . . . Perhaps one of the most unusual versions of Muleskinner Blues was performed at the Round Springs Festival when, Buck Tanner & Co. sang it in their native Cherokee language. . . . The Western Pennsylvania Bluegrass Committee has been running a series of articles on the evolution of bluegrass to its present form. Many of you may be interested in joining this group just to receive the newsletters. lf so write to: P.O. Box 10223, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15232. . . . The Denver Friends of Folk Music are now including words to songs in their newsletters. These are written on separate sheets so they may be "tossed in your guitar case," another reason why you should join one of these clubs or if your a real fanatic, all of them . . . . After several years of less activity, Stoney Cooper is back "full steam" appearing at festivals and getting more attention on college campuses. A recent release by pop artist Lou Christie, concerns the careers of Stoney & Wilma Lee. The record is on the Three Brothers label. This might be a good song for a bluegrass group to cover.... Gary Hopkins, former banjoist with Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys and Red Allen has joined the "Owen Family Show" in Nashville, Tenn . . . . Randy Wood of the Old Time Pickin' Parlor in Nashville, Tennessee is in the process of putting a new fret board on Bill Monroe's mandolin. Bill left instructions to "Take it home and sleep with it if you have to, but don't let it out of your sight . . . . August 4th was Lester Flatt Day in Heber Springs, Arkansas with Mayor Herman Clark presenting Lester with the key to the city. September lst is the tentative release date for Lester Flatt and Mac Wiseman's third album together on RCA. . . . Bill Box from Muskogee, Oklahoma has joined Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys as lead singer and guitar player, replacing Bob Fowler. Greg Kennedy is the new bass player replacing Guy Stevens. . . . Paul and Colleen Trenwith from New Zealand (the pretty fiddle player that visited the U.S. 2 years ago) of the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band are taking a short time off to welcome a son into the world. Paul says he's sure he will be a tenor singer . . . Carl Selman is now playing banjo with the Butler Brothers. . . . The University of Missouri press will be publishing a book in the near future titled, The Old Time Fiddler's Repertory. The book will include the scores for traditional tunes as played by 33 different fiddlers from nine states. There are many more interesting features that should interest anyone interested in fiddle music . . . . Walter & Jim Hensley have been kept busy this summer playing festivals and shows. Anyone wishing to book this group should write: Jim Hensley, 7817 Scholar Rd., Baltimore, Md. 21222, or call 301-288-3354. . . . Carl Story will be moving back to Greer, S. C. in September we will print his new booking address next month . . . . Bill Blaylock's Modern Sounds of Bluegrass is now known as Bill Blaylock-Clay Willis and the Travelling Band. They are booked by One Niters, lnc. of Nashville and record for J E D records. Watch for their new record, "Boulevard Sue" b/w "Loner's Dream" . . . . Another new promotional idea C. B. Herndon of United Music World Recording Studio in Columbia, S.C. has come up with is offering free studio time as part of the prizes to winners from the many fiddle-banjo-mandolin-band contests and conventions held each year. Promoters of these type of events can get details from Mr. Herndon at United Music World Recording Studio, Rt. 2 Overland Drive, W. Columbia, S. C. 29169. 803-794-9102. . . . Leon Russell, the rock superstar has released a single under the guise of Hank Wilson. It features straight country version of Hank Williams' "l'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and a driving bluegrass cut of "Roll ln My Sweet Baby's Arms." . . . . Johnny Dacus has rejoined Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain Boys on fiddle. Johnny was a member of the group along with J. D. Crowe, and Paul Williams during the fifties. . . . Keith McReynolds, son of Jesse has joined the Virginia Boys playing electric bass. Duane "Hoot" Hestor is playing fiddle with the group also. . . . Tut Taylor has purchased the assets of the Grammar Guitar Company. He has not bought the name. He will be moving the booming operation of his Tennessee Dulcimer Works into the building at 500 Arlington Ave. Nashville, Tennessee. Bob Givens, from the west coast have moved to Nashville to join Tut in the operation of the business. They are planning on producing Bob's [V'laster lVlodel and also Artist model mandolin mandolins. On the drawing board is a banio which will be patterned after the 1937-1940 top-tension model . . . . The Country Gazette have to get the award for most unequaled album title this year in their forthcoming (Sept. 17th) LP. The title. . . "Don't Give Up Your Day Job." Their festival we are sorry to report has been cancelled. See the details elsewhere in this issue.. .. The number one tourist attraction for a single event in the entire state of Oklahoma is the Hugo Bluegrass Festival. Last year's event at Hugo was the subject of a feature story in August 1973 issue of Southern Living Magazine complete with a picture of BU's man on the road Cliff Provo . . . . The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band have been awarded a gold LP signifying sales of $1,000,000 for their "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" album. . . . Bobby Osborne and Dale Sledd of the Osborne Brothers group were involved in an auto accident on the morning of Sept. 14th in Morristown, Tennessee.Bobby's hand was injured and Dale had multiple injuries and is now in intensive care at the hospital . . . . Butch Robins, five-string banjo picker has just finished a four week engagement in Las Vegas appearing with Harry James and Phil Harris - remember the big bands? . . . . Norman Blake has left Red, White and Blue (Grass) to work as a single . . . . Thanks to the increased interest to bluegrass music in the Washington metro area, the staff of WAMU-FM have invited Gary Henderson to produce a four hour program each Saturday morning from 7-11 a.m. beginning September 1st. The listener supported station at 88.5 mhz will increase its power to the maximum 50,000 watts sometime this fall . . . . Midland, N.C. which is approximately 21 miles east of Charlotte will host an Old Time Fiddler's Convention Oct. 5-7. The event will have a rather unique aspect in that it will be the vehicle for a planned feature film on the history of country and bluegrass music with the admission being divided equally among the film cost, the musicians performing and charity. Details may be obtained from John Clifford,4221 Waterbury Drive, Charlotte, N.C. 28208.704-523-6636 . . . . A one hour TV special The Bluegrass Revolution will be shown on the Metromedia outlet in Washington September 16th at 7 p.m. The show will feature the Country Gentlemen, Seldom Scene, Ralph Stanley, and the Grass Menagerie. Producer is Dick Cerri and it will be hosted by John Lyon. Hopefully it will be successful enough to warrant presentation over the other Metromedia outlets in New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Cincinnati and maybe develop into a regular TV series . . . . Birthdaying this month - Bill Monroe (13th), Clyde Moody (19th).
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Vol. 8 No. 4 - October, 1973Dale Sledd continues to recover satisfactorily from an earlier automobile accident. He is out of the hospital and at home.... the Shenandoah Cut-Ups Fan Club has been discontinued . . . . the November issue of Esquire magazine features a story about banjo pickers including a picture of Snuffy Jenkins and Pappy Sherrill and an American Eagle banjo loaned for the ocassion by collector Harry West of the Bronx . . . . other publications paying attention to the bluegrass scene include Cavalier Magazine for October and Rock Magazine for September with quotes by Don Reno, Sonny Osborne and Mike Lilly on their likes and dislikes in banjo strings, etc. . . . Brothers O'Toole, a movie with Rufus Krisp broke all box office records in Richmond, Virginia last month; presently, the band is working on plans for a tour of Britain and Holland next May . . . . among the rvell received groups at the recent National Folk Festival in Washington, DC was Lillimae and the Dixie Gospel-Aires . . . . Carl Story has moved back to South Carolina, his address is P. O. Box 1094, Greer, S.C. 29651, phone: 8031877-'1210 . . . . WGTV, Channel 8 Athens Atlanta, Ga. features Betty Fisher and the Dixie Bluegrass Band on October 16th at 9:00 PM . . . . Mrs. J. E. Mainer informs us that she has most of the late J. E. Mainer's albums for sale, write her lor details at 264 Poplar Tent Rd., Concord, NC 28025 . . . . Is there a Bluegrass Club with more than 1,000 members, you ask? Yes. the Oklahoma Bluegrass Club is now shooting for 2,000 members after having reached the 1,000 mark at the Hugo Festival . . . . The Dixie Travelers made their first recording without Mac Martin, who left the group last September, material on the album is primarily traditional with some modern touches and a few original tunes. . . . another good, clean, family type bluegrass festival has been established near Norman, Okla. in a large grove of pecan trees; the first festival, held last Aue. l7-19 was well attended and enjoyed by all . . . . using three fiddles. The Bluegrass Alliance does an enjoyable version of the Bob Wills favorite "Faded Love," along with the group's leader, Lonnie Peerce, it features Chuck Nation and Garland Shuping . . . . the Western Pennsylvania Bluegrass Committee informs us that their History of Bluegrass series will be put out in booklet form in the spring . . . . a new fan club is being organized for The Spirits Of Bluegrass, interested parties should write to Connie Crigger, R.D. 3, Manheim, PA 17545 . . . . The Country Grass will be the name of a new group being formed by Hershel Sizemore and Wesley Golding, both are former members of the Shenandoah Cut-Ups; already returned to the Cut-Ups is Billy Edwards on banjo with Gene Burrows expected back on mandolin; thus, the group will be made up of the original Bluegrass Tennessee Cut-Ups who played with the late Red Smiley . . . . having acquired the Strom Banjo Company, C. C. Richelieu will soon announce the new Richelieu "Chieftain" line of banjos, establishment of a neu manufacturing location is now in process. . . . "Red, White & Bluegrass" is the name of a new film shot on location at Union Grove . . . . Governor Edwin Edwards, of Louisiana proclaimed the month of October as Bluegrass Music Month in the State of Louisiana . . . . American folklorist, Bascom Lamar Lunsford, passed away on September 4 at age 91; known as the "Minstrel of Appalachians," Mr. Lunsford lived for years at South Turkey Creek, N.C., Some of his recordings were the first to be included in the collection when the Archives of American Folksong of the Library of Congress was established in 1928. He also co-wrote "Mountain Dew". . . . The festival scheduled for October 12, 13, 14 at American Heritage Park, McCordsville, Indiana has been canceled . . . . Peer-Southern presented Earl with a gold book award representing one million dollars in retail sales for "Earl Scruggs And The Five String Banjo" written by Earl Scruggs and widely regarded as the bible of banjo playing. . . Are you trying to define bluegrass for your friends? Academicism has come forth with a printed answer in the Second Edition of Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language, Copyright 1972: blue.srass n. l. any of a large genus (Poa) of temperate and arctic forage grasses, as Kentucky bluegrass 2.(ff.) (often B-) Southern string-band folk music. . . . the Bluegrass Travelers had the good fortune of taping a segment on the pilot shorv of Kenny Roberts TV show at Lake Misnock, R.l. Labor Day. It will be aired in New England on various stations and perhaps go network later . . . . How many readers noticed that in recent Miss America Competition, Miss Texas played a fine version of "Orange Blossom Special" on the fiddle. She has our vote for "Miss Bluegrass America" anytime . . . . Anyone who may have seen the NBC network TV program "Perspective" which was aired late last month, dealing with a history of the C. & O. Canal, also heard the Seldom Scene of Washington, D.C., who did the sound track for the program . . . . speaking of the Seldom Scene, their new single is out:"Hail To The Redskins". The record promises to be a smash hit - we only hope the Redskins do as well in their regular season play . . . . joining Benny & Vallie Cain as banjo player is 16 year old Bill Wheeler. Country Gazette is returning to Europe this month for a tour which will take them to England, Sweden, Holland, and Belgium, and their brand new album on United Artists which was released in September is due to be released immediately in Japan . . . . "Murder or Mercy Killing?" is the title of an article about Ryman Auditorium printed in the May issue of Nashville Magazine . . . . Tut Taylor and Butch Robins played on the new Leon Russell album "Hank Wilson Is Back" . . . . another first, WLAC TV in Nashville teatures trvo original bluegrass numbers on the 10 o'clock news by The Tennessee Travelers, Tut Taylor, charlie collins, and Butch Robins . . . . Jake Landers has left Rural Yarbrough's Dixiemen; replacement is reported to be Joe Stuart . . . . joining The Country Store on banjo is Bobby Bryant . . . . for his birthday Bill Monroe was presented the three and a half acre homestead of Uncle Pen Vandiver near Rosine, Ky., the gift was from son James Monroe . . . . The Bay Area Friends Of Bluegrass, 760 Market St., San Francisco, cA 94102 informs us that their recent bluegrass concert with Vassar Clements and Buck White and the Down Home Folks was another success tbr Northern California . . . . new banjo player for the Down Home Folks is former Blue Grass Boy, Jack Hicks; thus, Jack now can be with his wife, Sharon, guitar player for the group . . . forty Russian visitors to the United States on a cultural tour attended a concert sponsored by the Bluegrass Club Of New York . . . . October 5 is the date NBC-TV airs Mac Wiseman on The Dean Martin Show . . . . Mac Shields and the Edisto Bluegrass Boys and Ed Hurt and the Cross Country Cut Ups have joined together to form The Cross Country Cut-Ups, the group plays in the Augusta, Georgia and Aiken, South Carolina area . . . . October birthday's include: Bill Bolick (28th) Stoney Cooper (16th), Grandpa Jones (20th), Sonny Osborne (29th) Uncle Dave Macon (October 7, 1870, died March 22,1952).
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Vol. 8 No. 5 - November, 1973Perhaps the youngest person to ever attend a bluegrass festival is Heather Mariah Sullivan, the new granddaughter of Margie and Enoch Sullivan. She was two weeks old. Little Heather was at the festival held in Chatom, Alabama . . . . The Library of Congress has issued a two record album entitled The Hammons Family. The album is a study of West Virginia Family's traditions, the results of a project undertaken by Alan Jabbour and Carl Fleischhauer . . . . New members of Roy McMillan's High Country Boys are: Ronald Smith, banjo;Roy Norton, guitar; Ferrel Blakely, bass. Roy and the band have four albums planned for The Rebel Recording Company in the '74 season, one of which will be a gospel album . . . . While on a very successful tour of Great Britain, Mac Wiseman taped appearances on the first two shows in a new BBC television network series called "Country Hoedown" . . .. Support is needed to urge senators and congressmen to pass a bill to establish an American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress. It is intended to preserve our folk culture, to help us retain the crafts, the music and the customs which belong to the American people before it is too late and the practioners of these folk traditions and their knowledge are gone. For more information and a complete copy of the bill, contact the committee office, 209 National Press Building, Washington, D.C. 200M. . . . A bluegrass television series has been completed by J. David Betts, Executive Producer of WPSX-TV State College, Pennsylvania State University, to be aired locally in December 1973.It will then be offered to the regional and National Networks, EEN & PBS in the spring . . . . A new folk and bluegrass club has begun in New Haven, Conn., called the "Pickin' Parlour". Music is offered live Tuesday through Sunday evenings . . . . The Dillards have been signed to an exclusive long term recording contract by United Artists Records. They will be released in the U.S. on UA's Poppy hbel. They are currently completing their first Poppy album entitled, "Tribute to the American Duck" . . . . Red, White and Blue (Grass) just released an album on GRC with the help of Norman Blake on dobro and the Atlanta Symphony!! . . . . Governor George Wallace has joined many others in recognizing bluegrass music by proclaiming September bluegrass music month in Alabama . . . . Bill Monroe has for the second year in a row, featured "Hall of Fame" day at his park in Bean Blossom, Indiana. This year the response was so great to see Bill Monroe, Roy Acuff and Ernest Tubb it looks like it will become an annual event . . . . Lester Flatt has taped a "Hee-Haw" show to be aired between December and February . . . . The Seldom Scene will soon have to change their name to Always Seen. They recently played the sound track for a NBC-TV documentary on the Washington C&O Canal and on November I 1, they will be playing during the half time at the Washington Redskins football game . . . . No Fish Today is the only club in downtown Baltimore, Maryland offering bluegrass music. The Back Alley Boys regularly featured there on Tuesday nights were payed a surprise visit by The Country Gazette who stopped in to play a few numbers before leaving for Europe . . . . After many, many years with Joe Val, Herb Applin is now with Don Stover's band and Dave Dillon has moved from Don's band to Joe's . . . . Rufus Krisp cancelled all dates in October and put all their effort in to a demo tape for Columbia and Epic Records . . . . Don Harmon of the Kattail Grass Band of Richmond, Va. has written the theme song for "Bowman Body Shock Theatre" which is viewed on WXEX-TV channel 8 in Richmond-Petersburg, Va. The song is also available on record with Devil's Dream on the other side . . . . Helen Cline has recently formed a fan club for Chubby Wise. Anyone interested in joining the club should write to: Helen Cline, 7208 Karen Drive, Ft. Worth, Texas 76118 . . . . The Country Gazette's new album "Don't Give Up Your Day Job" on U-A was chosen as a Top Pick for the week of October 1 in Billboard magazine . . . . The June Apple Organization will soon be starting its own bluegrass magazine in Japan. Those interested in subscribing or contributing should write: June Apple Organization, P.O. Box 149 Shiba, Tokyo 105-91 Japan . . . . Waynesboro, Virginia proclaimed October 21, as Mac Wiseman Day to honor their native son. The daylong tribute was part of the community's Fall Foliage Festival . . . . More news on the Country Gazette. . While in England on their tour last month, they did a T.V. show with the Rolling Stones . . . . A great new television show is being seen in the Los Angeles area on the CBS station KNXT-TV. Hosted by Bob Baxter, the show is called "Guitar Workshop" and has featured artists to date: Mason Williams, John Hartford, and Clarence White. To be seen on future programs are, Doc Watson, Byron Berline, Alan Munde and many others in this 16 week series . . . . Step in the Right Direction Department: WPIK/WXRA-FM Alexandria-Washington, D.C. area started an all bluegrass show Saturday 9-10 P.M. on their FM with a repeat on both AM and FM Sundays from 12-1 P.M. The title of the show is Inside Bluegrass with long-time friend of bluegrass music Red Shipley. The station joins the growing number of major market country stations who have started programming bluegrass on a regular basis. The show, by the way, has been completely sold out for the next thirteen weeks after its second airing. Stations are also finding out that bluegrass sells . . . . Gee Whiz Department: RCA artist Dckey Lee has released a new single "Sparkling Brown Eyes". Many of the country stations are playing it as the follow-up to his recent hits. They are crediting the tune's source to the Webb Pierce - Wilburn Brothers' hit of the '50's but it is a virtual carbon copy of Jerry and Sky's version, complete with yodel of the mid 1940's. The late Bill Cox (Bill Cox-Cliff Hobbs) is given credit for composing the song. . . . The Monroe Bluegrass Talent Agency has been activated by Bill & James Monroe. They will offer help in securing bookings for all artists and may be reached at Box 654, Madison, Tenn. 37115. . . . The National Observer of October 6,l973has a lengthy article on bluegrass by Bruce Cook headlined "A-Pickin' 'n' A-Changln' . . . . Little Roy Lewis of the famous Lewis Family has had his Gospel Banjo Lp in the final Nominees of the Gospel Music Association's 1973 Dove Awards. It is in the Best Backliner Notes category. The notes were done by James H. Sandlin . . . . September 30th a bluegrass benefit show was staged to help defray medical costs for long-time bluegrass friend and musician Johnny Johnston from Alexandria, Va. The event was held at the Partners II restaurant in Centreville, Va. Over twelve bands were in attendance to donate their services for Johnny who has had a number of serious heart attacks over the past years and most recently was a victim of a serious fire. Close to $1000 was raised at the show for the benefit of his family. Johnny passed away October 6th . . . . Featured in a recent (October) issue of the U.S. Navy Band's promotional magazine Fanfare is Country Current the group which has as its Musical Director, Bill Emerson . . . . Our cover picture of Norman Blake on the October issue was taken by contributor Doug Green . . . . Birthdaying this month: Earl Bolick (Blue Sky Boys) (16th) Curley Fox (9th), Scott Wiseman (8th).
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Vol. 8 No. 6 - December, 1973The very talented Bluefield has recently moved from Texas to Nashville, where things are happening for them. They have already been booked on a six week tour with Mickey Newberry. Bluefield was formerly known as the Scruggs Brothers . . . . New member of the Country Gentlemen is banjo picker James Bailey, of Virginia . . . . A speedy recovery and get well quick to Bob Goff and Charlie Moore, both under the weather and in the hospital this month . . . . James Bryan, 19 year old fiddler for Rural Yarbrough's Dixiemen, won the Tennessee Valley Fiddling championship at the Athens, Ala. convention . . . . The Indiana Friends of Bluegrass report their radio program is a big success, however records are still desperately needed. Send to: Frank Overstreet, 4709 Karen Dr., Indianapolis, Ind. 46226 . . . . Bill Blaylock - Clay Willis & The Traveling Band, have just returned from a 22 day tour of Greenland. The entire band ventured out onto one of the largest glaciers. Sounds like a good title for their next album . . . . New banjo player with Lester Flatt and the Nashville Grass is Kenny Ingram, and joining the group on bass is Johnny Montgomery . . . . Jimmy Martin has added Marc Pruett on banjo to the Sunny Mountain Boys . . . . Sounds like musical banjo players this month . . . . The National Convention of Realtors was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Washington, D.C. the middle of November and the music chosen to represent the state of Virginia was bluegrass. Appearing on the program in two concerts was the Cabin Hill Grass Band from Fredericksburg, Va. . . . . Wayne Erbsen is now teaching bluegrass and old-time banjo and guitar at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina. His new instruction book - designed for beginners - is called "A Manual on How to Play the 5-String for the Complete Ignoramus" . . . . Ida Records of Robbinsville, N.C. has released "Muleskinner" b/w "Snowbird Mountain" by Bill & Wilma Millsaps. On the record is their part-time bass player Jake Tullock, formerly with Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs for many years . . . . Another book on the market is "Appalachian Fiddle" by Miles Krassen, Its content ranges from how to adjust a fiddle to choosing the correct strings and bow. It is published by Oak Publications, 33 W. 60th St., N.Y. 10023. . . . The ABC Television network announced last month the re-airing of a sixty minute TV special scored by Rufus Krisp. In addition they indicated the show will be the recipient of the Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco Film Festival . . . . A television special done by Betty Fisher and the Dixie Bluegrass Band, viewed on WGTV Athens, Atlanta, Ga. channel 8 was so well received they have been asked to do another to be aired December 24that 9:00 PM . . . . Larry Johnson formerly banjoist with Carl Story has joined the Outdoor Plumbing Company, playing mandolin . . . . Lillies Ohlsson, Editor of Kountry Korral magazine of Sweden is in need of pictures, bio's and review material. Anyone wishing to contribute may send material to: Lillies Ohlsson, Box 8014, Vasteras 8, Sweden . . . . Peter Wernick's instruction book bluegrass banjo will be published by Oak Publications this February. It will be about 160 pages long and include reprints of banjo articles and a 15 minute record. It will cost $4.95 . . . . Randall Collins is now associated with Atteiram Productions in promotion and production. They have recently signed James Monroe exclusively to a record contract . . . . Country music star Stoney Edwards will soon release a concept album on Capitol records. The single from the album "Daddy Bluegrass" is getting a lot of attention on some of the major country music stations. The LP is Stoney's tribute to Bill Monroe . . . . The latest word is that the first Opry show from the new Opry House at Opryland USA is scheduled for March 16,1974. This will be the Saturday night show and will be held for audience of prominent people in the music industry. It will still be open to the general public as well as the VIP's. Friday's Opry on the l5th will be the last show at the Ryman Auditorium where the show has been held since l941 . . . . Other notice that Nashville has been awakened to the appeal of bluegrass music is the presentation by WENO radio and The Bluegrass lnn's first Bluegrass Festival held in the Nashville area October 28th. Bobby Smith & The Boys From Shiloh, Hubert Davis, The McCormick Brothers among others were on hand for the event . . . . The Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (Channel l3 in Oklahoma City and Channel l1 in Tulsa) are scheduled to run four half-hour programs on bluegrass this fall and to be rerun during the winter. Bill Monroe will be featured in one of the programs, The Bluegrass Tradition, another show will highlight interviews with people who worked for Bill, a third will feature amateur groups from the Oklahoma area and the final show will be on the bluegrass music listener. Check with local stations for exact air time . . . . Also on the tube is a series of programs titled PATCHWORK. Hosted by Laura Weber who did a long series on NET called Folk Guitar. One of the programs will be devoted to bluegrass music and feature a number of the groups in the St. Louis area . . . . Joining with the number of record companies in the United States who produce traditionally based music is Folk Variety Records and their subsidiary company CMH, 2800 Bremen, Box 1l0142,West Germany. The CMH label is devoted to reissues of older records and has available records by Hylo Brown, Jenks "Tex" Carman, early Hank Snow, and early Carter Family and The Farmer Boys. A complete catalogue is available from the above address . . . . San Francisco station KSAY has been featuring an extremely successful program three hours live on Saturday afternoons. Mick Seeber has been hosting The Great KSAY/San Francisco Saturday Afternoon Bluegrass Experience for the past ten months. The location is at San Francisco's famous Orphanage Theatre/Restaurant which has been locally known as the buie club for Bay fuea superstars Van Morrison, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and John Stewart among others. Ralph Stanley, Vassar Clements and others have appeared on the show and according to the popularity ratings the show outpulls both AM rock stations in one of the categories during its time period as well as being sold out since it went on the air . . . . Ivan Tribe, who authored the November BU article on Clarence "Tater" Tate, is interested in discographic details on any single recordings on which Tater is known to have played especially sessions with lesser known artists either country or bluegrass. Contact Mr. Ivan Tribe, Department of History, University of Toledo, Ohio 43606 . . . . Connie and Babe and the Backwoods Boys are back in the studio again cutting another record for Rounder. The first LP haS just been released. The second record will feature new cuts of their early legendary recordings . . . . Coca Cola has been lured onto the bluegrass bandwagon by signing a contract to help finance the presentation of a series of bluegrass festivals. The shows will be produced by Southern Productions of Nashville and are scheduled for a number of college campuses beginning in January. The Don Light Agency is handling the talent packaging . . . . Birthdaying this month: Jim Eanes (6th), John Hartford (30th), Lulu Belle (Wiseman) (24th), Bobby Osborne (7th), Red Rector (15th), and Melvin Goins (30th).
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Vol. 8 No. 7 - January, 1974The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys will be adding Dick Kimmel (of Keen, Kimmel & Co.) on mandolin and baritone. They are to begin a tour for the New York Coffee House circuit in January . . . . The Country Gazette's new album "Don't Give Up Your Day Job" will be released in Japan in January on the Toshiba label. Their first album has already been released there . . Another musician spending some time in the hospital in December was Cliff Waldron . . . . Don Reno has also been on the ailing list recently . . . . We hope . all our sick are back on the road to recovery real soon . . . . Tommy Jackson banjo player for Betty Fisher did a good job of filling Don Reno's place at the festival in Myrtle Beach, SC . . . . John Denver will be producing a bluegrass album for RCA featuring Liberty of Aspen, Colorado . . . . The Country Gazette played to a sell-out crowd of over 9000 fans at the Anaheim Convention Center on December 8 . . . . Dobroist Skip Conover from Los Angeles can be heard picking in the Burt Reynolds movie, "White Lightning". . . . Byron Berline and Alan Munde of Country Gazette will be seen and heard sometime in the spring as actor-musicians on an ABC-TV Movie of the Week probably titled "Children of God", co-starring, Michael Parks . . . . Wesley Huffman mandolin picker for J.C. and the Border Strings, set what must be a new record when he broke ten strings in one evening at the Storefront Congregation . . . . Rufus Krisp played a part in the spectacular production that took place in the Gates Planetarium Chamber. The program lasted six nights and was called "A Celebration for the Comet Kohoutek" . . . . The Bluegrass Alliance started taping the first of six pilot TV strows at WHAS in Louisville, Ky. in December. Any bluegrass group that would like to appear on the show should contact: Chuck Campbell, 4577 So. First St., Louisville, KY 40214 . . . . A new bluegrass club in Louisville, KY booking bluegrass music is The Great Midwestern Development Company . . . Jim & Jesse have signed with Opryland Records. Opryland is part of the WSM/ Grand Ole Opry complex . . . . A team of detectives made a four day tour of three northern cities and returned to Nashville with what we hope will be valuable clues to the murder of Dave "Stringbean" Akeman and his wife Estelle . . . . Johnny Cash will host a 90-minute "Saturday Night Special" on NBC-TV to be telecast February 23rd. Appearing with Cash will be Maybelle Carter, and the Carter Family and Bill Monroe And The Blue Grass Boys . . . . "Masters of Bluegrass" is a new touring group put together by Don Light. The three most prominent members are Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt and The Osborne Brothers. The show will appear in colleges across the country . . . . The Boston Area Friend Of Bluegrass & Old-Time officially opened their new season with a jam session Oct. 28th. Appearing were Don Stover & The White Oak Mt. Boys with Don Stover on banjo, Herb Applin on guitar, Jack Tottle on mandolin, Carl Rebello on fiddle, and Bob Denincourt on bass. A surprise visit was also made by Star Spangled Washboard Band . . . . On the planning board for August 74 is a J.D. Crowe tour of Japan . . . . Robert Tanaka is now exclusive distributor of King Bluegrass Records in Japan . . . . Scheduled for completion in April 1974 is a major motion picture "Poor Pretty Eddie", filmed by Michael Thevis, President of General Recording Company (GRC), and Modern Films of Georgia. Starring in the movie are Shelley Winters, Leslie Uggams, Michael Christian, Ted Cassidy and Slim Pickins. fusisting on scoring the theme song and several compositions used within the feature film are GRC recording artists, Grant and Ginger Boatwright, members of Red, White & Blue(Grass). R, W & B's latest single, "The Lovin's Over" will be heard in the film . . . . “Straw Hat Pizza Palace", Manhattan Beach, California held its second bluegrass festival of the year Nov. 25ft. Hosting the event was Corn Bred bluegrass group. So successful was the event 5,000 attended, another is planned for the near future . . . . Recently released in Japan by MCA, a four volume set "Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys (1950-60) . . . . The traditional wedding ceremony organ has again been replaced by a bluegrass instruments. The recent exchange of vows by WKEX Disc Jockey Chet Rhodes and Patricia Ann Champaign in Blacksburg, Virginia was done to the music of the McPeak Brothers . . . . the Bluegrass Unlimited group name of the month award goes to Gus Meade and his Rye Straw Chit Tickers . . . . The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover's album "Holiday in Japan" has just been released. Also available is their Japan picture album book, at $3.00 each. For information contact Everett I illy, Vice President, Towa Kikaku & Company, Inc. - Bluegrass Music Center U.S.A., Rt. 1, Box 161-E, Beckley, WV 25801. In Japan contact Towa Kikaku & Co., lnc. - Bluegrass Music Center U.S.A., 6-1 5-1, Honkomagome, Bunkyo-Ku Tokyo, Japan . . . . Good news for those of you who enjoyed the summer Dean Martin show replacement, "Country Mu3fc U.S.A.". A new version of the show is slated to appear as a weekly music series beginning Jan. 17 on NBC-TV, 10-11:00 P.M. Est., every Thursday. Lester Flatt and Mac Wiseman have already taped segments for the series . . . . Long time BU contributor Doug Green has actively returned to performing having assembled The Doug Green Band, consisting of Bruce Nemerov on banjo, Fred LaBour on bass, Bob Fowler on lead guitar, James Bryan on fiddle, and Doug on guitar . . . . Last month Penn State Television presented a four-part color series about bluegrass music. Hosted by Fred Beil and The Nittany Mountaineers, the guests included Charlie Monroe, Jimmy Martin, Eddie Adcock, The Seldom Scene, The Bluegrass Rounders, Karl Dieterichs (Buck's County Folk Music Shop) and Carlton Haney. . . . Lester Flatt has taped three appearances for the CBS Television Network's "Parade of Hits" scheduled to air in January. Watch your television guide for details . . . . Birthdaying this month: Earl Scruggs (6th), Ray Goins (3rd).
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Vol. 8 No. 8 - February, 1974In an effort to combat the high cost of fuel, the Don Light Agency has scrapped plans to increase fees for acts they represent. Light and the artists agree some positive action must be taken to cope with rising costs . . . . After 21 years in the Air Force, Les Hall has retired and will be MC at sorne of the larger festivals this year. Les, also reports the Mastertones, (his band) will be recording for Round Robin Records, with a single to be released in January. An album titled "Kentucky Parkway" will be out in February . . . . Norman Blake has been filling in with the Misty Mountain Boys at the Old Time Pickin' Parlor in Nashville, while their regular mandolin player is ill . . . . While playing the festival at Myrtle Beach, S.C., during the Thanksgiving holidays, Bill Monroe was inducted onto the Grand Strand Honor Roll. The Grand Strand Honor Roll is a tribute for outstanding personages who have participated in a major civic event and whose names and presence have been used for the furtherance of community activity . . . . Earl Scruggs composed the bluegrass score for a new movie "Where The Lillies Bloom". The movie is about four children living in the Blue Ridge Mountains after the Death of their widowed father . . . . New banjo player for Larry Sparks is Dave Evans of Columbus, Ohio. Dave will also be doing some tenor singing with the Lonesome Ramblers . . . . A 30 ft. dogwood tree has been donated to Opryland USA by the Tennessee Department of Transportation to be used as a living memorial to the late "Stringbean". Unfortunately no further progress has been made in solving the murder . . . . Randy Wood owner of the Old Time Pickin' Parlor in Nashville, Tennessee, has designed his own style acoustic guitar and mandolin to his satisfaction and plans are now underway for production of both instruments . . . . Old Homestead Records will soon release a new album by Charlie Moore. The album will be a tribute to Clyde Moody. We are pleased to learn Charlie Moore is out of the hospital and able to be back playing again . . . . Mike Lilly and Wendy Miller have formed a new band and are ready to work the summer festivals. Anyone interested may contact them through Old Homestead Records, Box 100, Brighton, lvlich. 48116. . . . Pruett Brothers in Asheville, N.C. is where you will find banjo player Marc Pruett working, although Marc has also been helping Jimmy Martin on some of his shows . . . RFD No. 2 is the title of the new album by The RFD Boys of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The album to be released on their own label should be available soon . . . . Bluegrass awards have been making the news in recent years, however the awards at Grant's Oklahoma Blue Grass Festival will be for the amateur and senri-professional only . . . . Washington, D.C. has always been known as the bluegrass capital of the world, however New York has to be the winner for the month of December which featured appearances by, Jimmy Martin, Jim & Jesse, Ralph Stanley, The Country Gentlemen, New Lost City Ramblers, The Seldom Scene, Reno And Harrell and Roger Sprung . . . Reno and Harrell have been chosen to be the first bluegrass group to be regulars on the Arthur Smith TV Show. Taping was done on December I l th, with the group doing two numbers on each show. Airing will begin in mid-January, running thru October and will be seen on 32 stations in the south and Los Angeles. Anyone wishing to book Reno And Harrell may do so by contacting: Doug Tuchman, Box 1b417 East 89 St., New York, N.Y. 10028 . . . . The Country Store is back in business after a brief rest with two new members. Dick Smith, of New York will be playing banjo and Chris Stifel of Maryland, will sing lead and play guitar . . . . Jed Records of Nashville, Tenn. has released a new single by Bill Blaylock & Clay Willis, Titled Yankee Doodle Hop and Tennessee (You'll Never See The Back of Me Again) . . . . After not recording and being in semi-retirement for many years, Lulu Belle and Scotty will be making an LP for Old Homestead Records . . . . At the December 22 meeting of the Fiddle and Banjo Club, in Roanoke, Va., The Virginia Gentlemen received an award for the best vocal group of 1973 in that area . . Mac Wiseman is recovering from surgery at his Nashville, Tennessee home, however, he is expected to be back performing by the first of February. Anyone wishing to send a get well card, rnay do so at P.O. Box 1300, Nashville, Tenn. 37202 . . . . Multi-talented Buck White is filling in on piano with country artist Barbara Mandrell . . . . Since the early winter months are usually slow for artists, many are spending their tinte in the studio cutting new albums. Two we are looking forward to are Jim & Jesse on Opryland and Earl Scruggs Revue on Columbia . . . . Newest member of Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain Boys is Tommy Hunter on banjo . . . . The Annual J. E. Mainer Memorial Fiddler and Bluegrass Convention held at Denver, N.C. will expand to two days this year, April 5 & 6. They will also add a circus tent to accommodate the growing crowd . . . . Red, White and Blue(Grass) is currently on a 30 day tour of colleges and universities across the rnid-west . . . . A new bluegrass group on the scene is Sweet Sunny South, featuring Bob Dalsemer, guitar; John Glik, fiddle; Lamar Grier, banjo: John Kluge, accoustic bass; Dick Staber, mandolin . . . . We were sorry to learn of the death of James L. "Jim" Harmon of the Lucas and Harmon Brothers Band. Jim was the lead singer and guitar player for the group and also composed many of the songs on the last album he recorded, "People, Trains and Things in Bluegrass" . . . . Mike Seeger will take a brief rest from his performing activities to assume a teaching position at the University of California at Fresno . . . . The McLain Family Band will be going back overseas to England in the month of February and behind the Iron Curtain in March. They will be playing in Romania and most likely Poland, Hungary and Austria. April dates are lining up in Spain and Scandinavian countries. They will be returning to Kentucky via Iceland. Raymond McLain graduated from college recently, just two days before his 20th birthday and the rest of the family, including Dad will be taking a semester off to make the trip . . . . Lester Flatt has filed suit in the aurount of $500,000 against Esquire magazine for referring to him as "The late Lester Flatt" in an article in their November issue . . . . Fans of The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys will be happy to know they didn't go out of business, they just shortened their name to Mountain Grass . . . . The author of the story on Buck Ryan is Jim Stegall who is a staff writer for the Blade magazine which is seen throughout Ohio. The article originally appeared in the October 28th issue of the Blade. . . . Birthdaying this month: Wilma Lee Cooper (7th), Jim McReynolds and Charlie Moore (13th), Don Reno (21st), and Ralph Stanley (25th).
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Vol. 8 No. 9 - March 1974The University of Missouri Press now has available the "Old Time Fiddler’s Repertory", which includes 245 traditional folk tunes. The book sells for $12.50 per copy, however there is a special offer at $10.00 if ordered before March 75,1974. The address is: 107 Swallow Hall, Columbia, MO 65201 . . . Ralph Stanley's March 10th concert at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., will be broadcast live, nationwide, by most member stations of the National Public Radio Network . . . . In between college concerts, Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals, battled a snowstorm in February to present an all hymn concert at a New Jersey church. The performance was scheduled for 45 minutes, but the overwhelming response kept the group singing for 2 hours . . . . The Country Store has just completed recording an album at the Rome Recording studios. The album to be released in the near future will be on the Rebel label . . . . Also in the studio for a new Rebel album were Herschel Sizemore, Wesley Golding, Wayne Golding, and Tom McKinney collectively known as The Country Grass . . . . Emory Shover of the Cabin Hill Grass Band reports they did a ½ hour TV show in Fredericksburg, Va., in January with such success that there are future plans for a regular show for the group . . . . Marvin Jones of Rome Recording Studio in Columbus, Ohio is recovering from major surgery . . . . Also on the sick list this month is Johnnie Whisnant. Johnnie entered the Newton D. Baker Hospital in Martinsburg, W. Va., on February 18, for eye surgery. Anyone wishing to send a note to Johnnie may do so at Box 12, Ashburn, Ya. 22011 . . . . Wendy Miller is back with Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers and also adding to the group is Fiddling Ralph Joe Meadows . . . . Another bluegrass publication of note is "Bluegrass Special". It is the publication of Blue Grass and Variety String Band, Inc. from Rosemead, California. Anyone interested may write 3047 North Brighton, Rosemead , CA91770. Subscription is $5.00 a year . . . . We were saddened to learn of the passing of D.W. "Silverspur" Ragsdale on November 15th. "Silverspur" was very much a part of the festival at Bean Blossom and will be missed by his many friends . . . . Eddie And The Mueller Brothers, a group formerly located in Eastern Pennsylvania, recently moved to Tennessee and were pleasantly surprised to find their new home borders a farm owned by Bill Monroe. They also did a ½ hour TV Show on WLAC-TV in Nashville recently . . . . Bluegrass Ramble, Bill Knowlton's very successful radio show on WCNY in Syracuse, N.Y. recently celebrated its first anniversary with a live simulcast on WCNY-TV. Appearing on the show were, Tom Hosmer, The Cranberry Lake Pickin' And Singin' Society, The Klaben Brothers, The Cato County Drifters, The Down City Ramblers, Jim & Sue Kelly, The Blue Ridge Country Ramblers and the Teachout Family's Salmon River Boys . . . . Recent guests on the Cas Walker TV show in Knoxville, Tennessee were, Tom Morgan, Bobby Sims and Johnny Ray Powers. Regulars on the program are, Red Rector & Fred Smith, Dan Bailey, Claude Boone, Larry Mathis and "Honey Wild". . . . Randy Wood cares enough about his bands and customers to have installed in his Old Time Pickin' Parlour one of the best P.A. systems and recording studios to be found in any club . . . . The Bluefield bluegrass band, now living in Nashville, has recently finished cutting an album with Gary Paxton, an independent producer. They have also just concluded backing Leon Russell on his latest recording session.... Byron Berline of Country Gazette was back in the studio to record with Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones and also Arlo Guthrie. All this in addition to his movie career. (Can Ellen Be Saved, ABC-TV Movie Feb. 5) . . . . Williarn E. McEuen presented a gold record to Jimmy Martin for his part on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken". Jimmy had part on six of the numbers . . . . Women continue to infiltrate the bluegrass world and the latest group is Feminine Grass. Brenda Pierie, banjo; Suzy Misfeldt, guitar; Sue Neal, mandolin; and Eileen Mader, bass . . . . Frontierland in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is headquarters for the Sandy Valley Boys, Nelson Young, Jimmy Fee, Toby Stroud and Billy Gordon . . . . Governor of Kentucky, Wendell Ford, recently added two new members to his list of honorary Kentucky Colonels. Ralph Stanley and Curly Ray Cline . . . . Harry and Jeannie West are accepting show dates again after a brief time-out. The group includes Harry & Jeannie, Joanie West, whose specialty is gospel songs, Artie Rose, Dobro;and Dave Magrum, banjo. Anyone wishing to book them may contact: Ed Solomon, 170 72nd St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 1L209 .. . . James Deal informs us the Bluegrass Sounds of Indianapolis, Indiana are no longer working together . . . . Folkways recording company has just released a new album by Roger Sprung. This album, with mostly old-timey tunes, will be followed soon by two additional albums.... Dottie Rambo of the singing Rambo Family has just written and recorded a bluegrass gospel song. Dottie says she has always admired Bill Monroe and since she has written every kind of gospel song she thought she would try bluegrass . . . . The Sullivan Family is the latest group to sign with the Monroe Bluegrass Talent Agency. Bill Monroe and Chuck Campbell announced that they will be flying to Houston, Texas later this week for conventions and conferences connected with booking . . . . Stoney Lonesome, a local bluegrass group from the Cambridge, Mass., area, opened a series of Wednesday evening concerts at the Zircon in Somerville. The show and future Wednesday concerts was sponsored by UFO. (United Folk Organizations). . . . Frank Buchanan, former guitar player with the Blue Grass Boys in the early 60's is spending some time in the hospital and would like to hear from some of his friends and fans. You may write to him at: 4 South, Room 403, V.A. Hospital, Oteen, N.C. 28805 . . . . The West Virginia Bluegrass Association, Inc., a group that endeavors to promote bluegrass music and lesser known bluegrass bands in the state of West Virginia, announces their own recording studio and record company. The label is Carpenter's Records. Their address is 2 South Stonewall St., Sutton, West Virginia 26601 .... The Hallmark Agency who have become very active in promoting bluegrass talent recently are working on the final preparations for a bluegrass television series. The show is to be coordinated and distributed by Eugene Frank of The Experience Group, Ltd. of New York. Bob Best of Hallmark will be executive producer of the show. Gene Frank of Experience produces the Jim Smoak TV series on banjo instruction. The show will be taped in the Washington, D.C. area. Details can be secured through the Hallmark Agency, Box 31218, Washington, D.C. 20031 . 301 -736-0088 or 301 -868-5268 . . . . The Florissant Valley Community College, Ferguson, Missouri recently sponsored five courses in bluegrass music. Traditional Flat-pickin' guitar, taught by Bob Abrams, 5-String Bluegrass Banjo taught by Dub Crouch, Bluegrass Music taught by Adena Cook, Mandolin by Thayne Bradford and Bluegrass Dobro with instructor Bob Breidenback. The courses were another due to the efforts and activities of the Missouri Area Bluegrass Committee . . . . The January 26th issue of The Cincinnati Post featured a group of fine articles on the bluegrass music scene in general and Cincinnati's fine groups in particular. Spotlighted were Earl Taylor, Jim McCall-Vern Mclntyre, and Lou Ukelson manager of the Jimmie Skinner Music Center and many other notables around the area. John Eliot was the writer . . . . Asheville, North Carolina played host to a highly successful benefit recently for banjo picker Ervin Penland from Asheville. Ervin, who is a deputy sheriff had been seriously injured in an auto accident while on duty. He is a member of the Asheville based group, The Stoney Creek Boys. The benefit, which was presented within a two week period following the accident, gathered $6000.00 for the injured officer and musician . . . . Bluegrass music will be featured during June, July and August each Thursday night at The South Street Seaport Pier in New York City. Details can be secured through Doug Tuchman at Bluegrass Club Of New York,4l7 E. 89th St. Box lb, NYC 10028. . . . Doug Green, our long time staff member living in Nashville, Tennessee, will be joining the staff of the Country Music Foundation as Oral Historian. It will be a part time occupation for Doug who will be devoting as much time as possible to his main career of musician and bandleader . . . . One of the groups very active in the New Grass circuit is Bottle Hill. The group had been together for three years playing many of the colleges and universities in the Northeast. They can be reached at RDI Box 203, Prattsville, NY 12468. 518-299-3251 . . Jimmy Martin and Paul "Moon" Mullins with The Nu-Grass Pickers recently appeared at a highly successful show at the University of Cincinnati. It was another of the number of events that the Bluegrass Committee at the University has sponsored. A local Flea Market owner in Cincinnati has tentative plans for a festival to be held the last of May. Long-time stalwart of the bluegrass scene in Cincinnati Earl Taylor now has members of the Stoney Mountain Boys Jeff Campbell, banjo;Charlie Haskins or Tom Ewing, guitar; and Gary Bushhorn, bass. He also has a new/old release on VETCO. Earl is being booked by Creek Gypsy Productions, 2220 Eureka Terrace, Cincinnati, Ohio 513-381-7321 . . . . Charlie Moore is back actively playing music again after an extended stay in the hospital. He may be contacted at Box 254, Piedmont, S.C. 29673 . . . . Recent departures from the radio scene are bluegrass music promoters Jimmy Tugwell, from WSJC in Macee, Mississippi and Tony Ullrich from KPFT in Houston, Texas. Let's hope that both will be back on the air soon . . The June Apple Organization who have a bluegrass music magazine slated for Japan soon will be engineering a tour of the bluegrass festivals this summer with approximately thirty friends from Japan. The tour is being planned around their arrival in time for Bean Blossom which is scheduled for June 8-16 this year . . . . Birthdaying this month: Howdy Forrester (31st), James Monroe (15th), John Duffey (4th), Wendy Thatcher (23rd), Doc Watson (3rd).
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Vol. 8 No. 10 - April, 1974Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals say they’ve had no problems with the fuel shortage, banjo player Bill Runkle owns a service station . . . . Back in the studio for another LP in March were, Red, White And Blue(Grass) . . . . The Appalachian South Folklife Center is opening a library this spring and would appreciate donations of all materials pertinent to Appalachia. A full description of the centers work may be found in July 1972, National Geographic. Address materials to : T. Schlesinger, Library Staff, The Appalachian South Folklife Center, P.O. Box 5, Pipestem, W.V. 25979 . . . . March was a very active month for Lester Flatt. He recorded a live album at Vanderbilt and then began a tour of Canada, Virginia and back to Vanderbilt . . . . Although this was not a good year for snow, Banjo Dan And The Mid-Nite Plowboys have been playing many resorts around Vermont. Anyone interested in booking this group may write, Peter Tourin, Duxbury, VT or call 802-244-5557 . . . . After seven consecutive years on WECT-TV, Wilmington, N.C., Red White has contracted one-half of his thirty minute bluegrass gospel show to one of the leading life insurance companies . . . Ola Belle Reed has put together a song book of lyrics to folk songs to be printed and published by the Zeta Nu Upsilon sorority at Goldy Beacom College in Wilmington, Delaware. The cost of the book is $1.00 and may be ordered from: Zeta Nu Upsilon Sorority, Goldy Beacom College, l0 and Jefferson Sts., Wilmington, Del. Also enclose 25c for handling. . . . The Normal Brothers Bluegrass Band has done much to create an interest in bluegrass in the Great Southwest. Recently they were given three hours of radio time on Saturday afternoon to play records by different artists and discuss the music in some detail. The radio station KDKB in Phoenix, Atrz., reaches nearly 100,000 people . . . . The Stringbean String Band is getting ready for a busy festival season with their appearance at Valley View Park in Hallam, Pa., May 18 & 19. . . . Band members continue to change and the bands always seem to get better. The latest to add new members is Cliff Waldron. Cliff's newest are Billy Wheeler, banjo and Steve Wilson, Dobro Akira Otsuka is also back from Japan to play mandolin . . . . The Shenandoah Cut-Ups have also added new members. Udell McPeak, guitar and Gene Burrows, mandolin . . . . Another female group is making great sounds in bluegrass. Buffalo Chips from Syracuse, N.Y. Anyone interested in booking the group may reach them at, 327 Westcott St., Syracuse, N.Y. 13210. 315-416-7294 . . . . The Butler Brothers have out a new album called, "Sixteen Tons of Bluegrass", on the Carpenter label . . . . Plans are now being made for the United States Bicentennial celebration which will be held for the most part in Washington, D.C. The Smithsonian Institution will be holding its Folklife Festival for the entire summer of 197 6 as part of the celebration . . . . The Monroe Talent Agency has signed Eddie And The Mueller Brothers to its booking roster. The Mueller Brothers recently made a guest appearance on the Ernest Tubb Midnight Show after the Opry . . . . Many benefits for Neal Allen have been arranged. The first was in Dayton, Ohio on March 3. Another was in Boston, Mass. March 17, and still another is planned for April 30th in Fairfax, Va. Some of the artists appearing on these concerts are, The Country Gentlemen, The Allen Brothers, Red Allen, Apple Country String Band, Breakfast Special, Jimmy Cox, J.D. Crowe, Don Stover, Joe Val, Charlie Moore, Star Spangled Washboard Band, Bill Hall, Green Mtn. Boys, Rick And Loraine Lee, Alan Stowell, Steve Watt and many others. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to: 1819 Catalpa Drive, Dayton, Ohio 45406 . . . . Spending time in the hospital this month were, Lamar Grier and Red Shipley. We wish them both a quick trip on the road to good health . . . . Red, White & Blue(Grass) performed a benefit concert for the prisoners at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary . . . . The Grand Ole Opry featured an Old Timers fete in February when many of the older artists were invited to appear. Among them were DeFord Bailey, Pee Wee King, Bradley Kincaid & Curly Fox . . . . The Annual Country Music Fan Fair, the convention for the fan, will be held again this year June 12-16. The registration fee is $25.00 and checks should be sent to: Box 100, Nashville, Tenn. 37203. Separate checks should be made for tickets to the Opry and mailed to the same address. The Opry ticket is $4.00 . . . . Bill Monroe's album, "Bean Blossom" is enjoying a spot on the top 50 charts, which makes two bluegrass albums on the charts at this time . . . . Lester Flatt recently taped a segment on the Dinah Shore Show, to be aired the week of April I . . An article in the Bradford, Pa. newspaper, informs us Randy Bethune is playing his banjo while touring with the Doc Williams Show. Randy also made a recent appearance on Jamboree U.S.A. in Wheeling, W.Va. . . . . Informed Sources is a new bluegrass band in Washington, D.C., made up of newspaper men . . . . Defendants in a suit filed in U.S. District Court in New York are MacMillan Publishing Co., and Dennis Cyporyn. The $150,000 copyright infringement suit was brought against the defendents by Red River Songs and Johnny Bond for songs which appeared in the Bluegrass Songbook . . . Bill and James Monroe are negotiating with officials of Amtrak, hoping to book bluegrass talent on the railroad . . . Lucky Saylor has formed a new group called the Bluegrass Strings. Lucky Saylor, guitar; Lamar Grier, banjo; Danny Curtis, mandolin; Blaine Sprouse, fiddle and Jim Keller bass. Anyone interested in booking the group may do so by contacting, Boyce Productions, 15733 Ashland Dr., Laurel, MD 20810, or call 30I-725-7472 .. . . Winning a Grammy award for "Country Instrumental Performance" was "Dueling Banjos" by Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell . . . . A first in bluegrass for a long time will be the guest appearance of Bill Monroe on Lester Flatt's new album "Live at Vanderbilt" . . . . Monroe Doctrine's long awaited first album has been recorded and copies will be available no later than May l. Recorded at Viking Studio in Denver, the Album, "Falls River Road" was produced by Les Thompson, formerly of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band . . . . Also going back to the studio for another album is The Seldom Scene . . . . Jimmy Martin will be honored during homecoming day in Sneedville, Tenn. on May 4th. The ceremonies and a concert by Jimmy and the Sunny Mountain Boys will be held in the Hancock County High School at 8:00 PM . . . . Union Grove will be seeing its 50th Old Time Fiddlers Convention this Easter week-end, April 11 through 13th. At the first convention there were 150 people and six bands and Mr. Van Hoy thought he had a crowd. Last year there were 200 bands and uncounted numbers of people . . . Banjo Newsletter is a new publication devoted to "banjo Talk" and instructions by Hub Nitchie. Hub you may remember is the gentlemen that did tablature for BU in the past. Anyone interested may write: Banjo Newsletter, 1310 Hawkins Lane, Annapolis,MD 21401 . . . . Bill Knowlton continues to do great things for bluegrass at WCNY-FM, Syracuse, N.Y. Bill plays records, however he will also accept tapes of bluegrass and old time bands; 7 1/2 IPS; stereo if possible; reel at least 5 inch. Cassettes will be accepted. Send them to Bluegrass Ramble, WCNY-FM, Liverpool, NY 13088 . . . . Bluegrass continues to get into the advertising market. Red, White & Blue(Grass) recently did an advertising campaign for the National Bank of Georgia . . . . Bluegrass musicians should be aware of the hazards involved when playing electric instruments. Unless proper precautions are taken a lethal shock may be sustained without any warning. Positive protection against the danger is available from a device called a ground fault circuit interrupter. The unit is manufactured by Pass & Seymour, Inc., Syracuse, N.Y. and may be purchased at your local electrical distributor for $89. Reasonable insurance . . . . The Grammy award for "Ethnic Traditional Recording" was "Then and Now" by Doc & Merle Watson . . . . Johnny Dacus has become a new member of James Monroe’s Midnight Ramblers . . . . Birthdaying this month are: Hylo Brown, Bill Clifton (5th), Bill Rawlings (12th), Bill Yates (30th), Cliff Waldron (4th), Sam Bush (l3th), Doyle Lawson (20th), Roland White (23).
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Vol. 8 No. 11 - May, 1974The McPeak Brothers, who have been recording for the Major Recording Company of Waynesboro, Va. has just been signed to a recording contract by RCA in Nashville, Tenn. . . . . James Monroe has a new band together for his busy summer schedule. They are: Bill Holden, banjo;Johnny Dacus, fiddle and Doug Hall, bass . . . . If you are in the Dayton, Tennessee area, stop in to see Tom Morgan and his new repair shop on highway 30,7 miles West of Dayton. Tom's shop is open for the repairing and building of instruments or just plain pickin' and singin', or if you wish just stop in and say hi . . . . Ray Goins is back at work again after a brief time off to rest an ailing back. The Goins Brothers have added another brother Conley Goins to the group on bass and George Portz will be switching to fiddle . . . . Jimmy Martin received another award Saturday March 9 in King's Mountain, N.C. The award was given to JimmY bY festival promoter Tom Brooks for his outstanding contributions to bluegrass music . . . . The Indiana Friends of Bluegrass has filled a big vacuum for the devoted fans of their area by getting together the second Sunday of each month to pick, rather than once a year at Bean Blossom. Anyone interested in joining this active group may do so by contacting, Ron Nolan,8302 Geffs Dr., Indianapolis, Indiana 46239 . . . . Mac Wiseman was back in the studio in March for another album on RCA. This one promises to be a blend of the traditional and contemporary idioms . . . . Earl Scruggs recently attended the premier in Cincinnati, Ohio of the film "Where the Lillies Bloom" which was scored by Mr. Scruggs. A soundtrack album has just been released by Columbia Records . . . . As bluegrass continues to grow in popularity, many of the local newspapers are featuring articles on groups in their areas. Recently featured in the Detroit Sunday News were Roy McGinnis and the Sunnysiders. The Springfield Virginia Times did an article on Benny & Vallie Cain and the Washington Post did an article mentioning BU . . . . Linda Ronstadt will be featured on the new album by The Seldom Scene and the Seldom Scene will do a few numbers with Linda Ronstadt on her new Capitol album. Also on the new "Scene" album will be Bob Williams playing mouth-harp, Ricky Skaggs, fiddle and Paul Craft . . . . The Morgan Brothers have cut a new album for Appleton Records of Appleton, Wisconsin. Members of the group are: John Parrott, guitar; John Stiernberg, guitar and banjo; Don Stiernberg, mandolin . . . . During the opening of the new Opryland a George D. Hay award was announced. The award, in honor of Judge Hay, is meant to recognize and pay special tribute to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of country music. The recipients announced thus far are: Roy Acuff, Chet Atkins, Owen Bradley, Edwin D. Craig (founder of WSM), Jack Stapp, Bill Monroe & Cohen T. Williams (chairman of Martha White Flour) . . . . Bill Blaylock & Clay Willis & the Traveling Band have a new album out called, "A New Day is Dawning" . . . . Bill Knowlton of WCNY-FM's Bluegrass Ramble Show is now adding to his already numerous activities by publishing a newsletter with all the activities pertaining to Old-Time and bluegrass music in the Syracuse, New York area .. . . Recently, in many of the trade publications, an article appeared about Experience Group, LTD's involvement with the Hallmark Agency in regard to a television show. Due to a misunderstanding this information was erroneously reported, however the Hallmark agency does plan to go ahead with the TV show . . . . Larry Sparks and his group have just recorded a new album for Lemco and we understand banjo picker, Dave Evans of Columbus, Ohio has a tremen' dous "Stanley" type voice. Something to look forward to . . . . After a brief absence, Ace Snell, lead singer and guitar player has rejoined the Monroe County Bluegrass Boys . . . . Again this year the Smithsonian Institution will present it's Fiddlers Convention as part of the Eighth Annual Festival of American Folklife. Anyone interested in this event may call 202-6284422 for additional information . . . . Mac Wiseman just returned from a two week tour in England where he attended the Wembly Festival. Mac has been so well received by his appearances overseas, plans are already underway for another trip in September . . . . The Western Pennsylvania Bluegrass Committee is looking for bluegrass music enthusiasts in the tri-state area. Anyone interested may write to them at: P.O. Box 10223, Pittsburgh, Pa. I 5232. . . . A new group on the bluegrass circuit is The Black Star Mountain Boys of Cincinnati, Ohio. Members of the group are: Ted Comstock, guitar; Walter Lynge, dobro; Ted Redington, banjo and Connie Voris, vocals and guitar . . . . Don Reno went to Baltimore, Md. recently to visit with his son, Ronnie Reno, the front man for the Merle Haggard show. Much to the delight of the audience Don was invited on stage to play for half of the performance . . . . The Last Resort was the scene of a live taping by Mountain Grass, in Morgantown, W. Va. This show will be included as part of their new album . . . . The Department of Anthropology at George Washington University, in cooperation with the National Folk Festival Association is again offering an intensive three week seminar and workshop course covering the various aspects of traditional cultures in the United States. Application Forms and additional information may be obtained by writing: Victor K. Golla, Dept. of Anthropology, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 20006 . . . . Don Reno & Bill Harrell have been picked to appear at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, on August 23rd. They are also scheduled to tape another series for the Arthur Smith TV Show, in mid-April . . . . Charlie Moore is scheduled on many of the festivals this summer and he has Henry Dockery back with him on a full time basis . . . . Larry Stephenson and the Newgrass recently taped a TV program at WHFV in Fredericksburg, Va. for a show called, "Close Up"' It will be aired May 12th at 10:00 pm . . . . John Chick of KTUL-TV in Tulsa, Oklahoma invites any of the bluegrass artists traveling through his area to stop by and appear on his early morning TV show. Current surveys show he has a listening (or viewing) audience of over 60,000 . . . . Fly By Night has it made through the rough Vermont winter and they are touring town halls and other activities in that area. Anyone interested in booking the group, they may do so by writing: Greg Humphrey, Box 387, Middlebury, VT. 05753 . . . . Bluegrass concerts have not been excluded from the recent art of "streaking"' Naturally everyone claims to be first, however we will not get into that. Those sharing the honors of being streaked were: The Country Store, Eddie and the Mueller Brothers, and Apple Country . . . . The Country Store had the honor of receiving lifetime memberships to the Adirondack Bluegrass League while playing to a standing room-only crowd iriingl performance in Schuylerville, N.Y. . . . Eddie and the Mueller Brothers were hired to play Happy Birthday to a pretty redhaired lady at work in Nashville's Chrysler Credit Office. However, by the time the song ended theY had drawn a large crowd throughout the building . . . . The Original Musical Instrument co., of Long Beach, California has just published a beautiful four color brochure of their products and latest prices. One of their most popular products is the Dobro Ampliphonic Guitar . . . Andy Rucker, Dave Lowe, Clark Witt, John lreson and J.D. Crowe and the New South staged a benefit concert for the Veteran Administration Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Andy Rucker & Dave Lowe also performed between acts for the Madison County 4-H Talent Show in Richmond, KY. All time and talent was donated for these worthwhile events . . . . The McLain Family Band is on the last few weeks of a very successful tour of England, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Spain, Sweden, Norway and Finland. They have been away for ten weeks and they will end their tour with 3 days in Iceland and return to the United States for a busy summer schedule with many stories to share . . . . For the last year and one half WPDH, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. has featured 4 ½ hours of bluegrass the first Saturday of each month with the Arm Brothers. This talented group consists of: Timmy Duran, mandolin; Jerry Oland, banjo; Dan Del Santo, guitar; Texas Bob Pool, bass; Fred Gumaier, drums and Ralph Smith, electric lead guitar. Anyone wishing to book this group should contact: Terry Lickona, WPDG Radio, P.O. Box 416, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12601 . . . . On the drawing boards is a unique concept for a gathering to feature bluegrass music combined with crafts, displays, etc. It is to be called Aunt Maudes and will be under a tent on highway 17 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The idea man behind the concept is Tony Maner of John L. Baker and Associates. They are planning on having two bluegrass groups to entertain at all times. Groups and crafts people may get details by contacting Ton7 Maner c/o John L. Baker and Associates, Box 1247 , Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577, 803-4484446 . . . . Another group recently in the studio is Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys for MCA Records. They have cut a number of the standards in bluegrass . . . . The Smithsonian Institution's Touring Performance Service is in the process of scheduling their 1974-75 touring schedule. The Service was established in 1968 as an extension of the Division of Performing Arts activities in Washington, D.C. It's basic goals are to bring programs of cultural significance to the community at-large. Among the artists of interest to the traditional music devotee who will be appearing through the Service this season are the Highwoods Stringband and Mike Seeger plus a number of other performers of interest to people interested in the many avenues that folk culture takes. Details may be obtained from Mark Mason, Touring Performance Service, Division of Performing Arts, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560 ot 202-628-4422 . . . . Birthdaying this month are: Maybelle Carter (10th), Benny Martin (8th), Sam McGee (1st - 80 Years Young), Buck Ryan (9th), Paul Warren (17th), Carl Story (29th), Mac Wiseman (23rd), Patsy Stoneman, John Palmer (28th), Miggie Lewis (22nd)
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Vol. 8 No. 12 - June, 1974A much slimmer Mac Wisemen recently taped nine segments of the newly instituted "Bluegrass Corner" for the Arthur Smith syndicated series in Charlotte, North Carolina....Raymond W. Mclain is host of "Kentucky Blue", a 'radio program consisting mainly of tapes and records along with commentary. The program is presently heard over twenty radio stations throughout Kentucky with its home base in Lexington. Stations interested in carrying "Kentucky Blue" should contact: Don Wheeler, KBKY Radio, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentueky 40506....Eddie and The Mueller Brothers recently signed to record with Music Mountain Productions, in Lebanon Junction, Kentucky. Their first album should be out in time for the summer festival season....A new group to move to the Washington, D.C. area from Southwest Virginia is Bob Purkey and The Blueridge Travelers. The group consists of Bob Purkey, guitar; Delbert Purkey, banjo; Diana Purkey, mandolin and Roy Corvin, bass. Anyone wishing to book the group may do so by calling, Bobby Purkey, 703-765-4691....Thanks to a classified ad in the March issue of BU, Charlie Malec of Narzerth, Pennsylvania has joined the Morgan Brothers on bass. A new album titled "Mixing It Up Good" is do to be released soon....Jimmy Martin has added a new member to his Sunny Mountain Boys. Freddie Harris is the new mandolin player....The Bluegrass Texans, a well known group in the Great Southwest are expanding their activities to include a booking agency. Any band that would be interested in information about booking through the agency may write: Texans Bluegrass Booking Agent, 3031 Harlan, Mesquite, Texas 75149...... Keith Russell, former staff member and photographer for BU and bass player, was named Handicapped American of the Year by the President's Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped. ...The live Lester Flatt album which includes Bill Monroe on a few numbers also has emcee T. Tommy Cutterer helping on the harmony singing....James Bryan former fiddler with Rual Yarbrough's Dixiemen is part of a folk-bluegrass group appearing at Opryland....Randy Wood has equipped the Old Time Pickin' Parlor in Nashville, Tennessee to produce live recordings..... Mrs. Red Smiley held a small memorial service at the gravesite of the late Red Smiley over the Easter week-end. Although Mrs. Smiley has not been well, she welcomes all their old bluegrass friends that may be passing through Bryson City, North Carolina this summer or they might write her at: 15 Florida Place, Asheville, North Carolina 28802....Barry Martyn of the Grassroots from London, England would like more information about bluegrass in the U.S. Anyone wishing to be a penfriend may write to: 14 Hill End, Shooters Hill, London S.E. 18, 8NH. England....The Barton Brothers of Southwest Virginia are currently on tour throughout Virginia and Kentucky. They also have a new 45 RPM titled "Hey Bartender" on the Starr record label....The winners of the 1974 Billboard/Record and Radio Mirror Country Music awards were revealed during the Saturday evening concert at Wembley, England's Sixth International Festival of Country Music. Of interest to the bluegrass world was the award given to Country Gazette for the top U.S. group....Little Roy Lewis' "Bells of St. Mary's" taken from his gospel instrumental album, "Gospel Banjo" is the favorite theme song on the Palava Hut Program over EIWA, Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa....The Gospel Ramblers, a talented gospel group from Indianapolis, Indiana will be recording for the Old Homestead Records in the near future. They are available for bookings thru Jim Clark, 2420 Lafayette Street, Anderson, Indiana....Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper recently signed a booking contract with the William Morris Agency in Nashville, Tennessee. They have a few week-ends open this summer and would be glad to hear from promoters needing more talent....Suppertime Frolic has been doing benefit shows for the V.F.W. Hospital in Richmond, Virginia and recently appeared at the 10th Annual Richmond Rugby Tournament. Bookings are through Alvin Reynolds, 8 N. Rowland Street, Richmond, Virginia The Country Music Fan Fair will officially begin June 12 with a bluegrass concert at the new Opry House. Among the performers scheduled are Lester Flatt, Bill Monroe, Country Gentlemen, Boys From Shiloh, Mac Wiseman, Don Reno-Bill Harrell, Jim & Jesse, and Ralph Stanley....Keith Whitley is the new lead singer and guitar player with the Clinch Mountain Boys....Folk music collector John A. Lomax, Jr. and banjoist-singer Tony Ullrich, are back on the road to entertain. Anyone wishing to contact them may do so at: 522-2104 in Houston, Texas....Ken Davidson of Kanawha Records announces the release of three new albums. Kanawha Records was previously located in Florida, however they now work out of Dayton, Ohio....The trial of the three men charged with the slaying of Dave "Stringbean" Akeman and his wife Estelle is set to begin July 15th, in a Iocal Nashville, Tennessee criminal court....Bluefield has recently been on tour with Jeannie C. Riley....The Doug Green Band is in the recording studio again. Their album will consist of original and unusual material....The Jimmy Martin Day recently held in Sneedville, Tennessee was such a success that it has now been planned as a yearly event....Bob Fowler, Marty Lanham, Bob Smith, and Jim Bornstein have recently opened up a bluegrass club in Nashville. The club, The Station Inn, is located at 28th and West End, Nashville....Birthdaying this month are: Lester Flatt (28th), Eddie Adcock (21st), Bobby Sloan (13th), Mom Lewis (20th), Frank Wakefield (6th), Gloria Belle (9th), Jimmy Arnold (11th), Bill Poffinberger (23rd), Haskel McCormick (23rd), Kenny Baker (26th).
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Vol. 9 No. 1 - July, 1974PROS LONG BEFORE BOSTON: THE ENTIRE CAREER OF THE LILLY BROTHERS
TECHNICAL ARTICLE ON THE BANJO OR HOW TO BE “NOT TOO SHARP” OLD-TIME MUSIC FESTIVALS LOVE AFFAIR WITH A TATERBUG (A CHRONOLOGY) BOBBY THOMPSON: THE CALM AT THE EYE OF THE STORM |
Vol. 9 No. 2 - August 1974NELSON YOUNG and the SANDY VALLEY BOYS with SUSAN HATFIELD, entertain Disney World visitors with bluegrass music daily in the Magic Kingdom's Frontierland....While visiting the U.S. and working a few festivals, BILL CLIFTON took time out to record a new album for County Records. Helping out on the recording session were JOHN DUFFEY, KENNY BAKER, WALTER HENSLEY, RED RECTOR, TOM GRAY and MIKE SEEGER....The LEE BROTHERS band recently did a thirty minute local TV show while playing Ocean City, Maryland. They were also interviewed by Helen Motto, station personality....... Kentucky Blue, the very successful radio program, hosted by RAYMOND McLAIN, is now available to other stations through the courtesy of station WBKY manager, Don Wheeler. Anyone wishing to obtain the show may write to Mr. Wheeler, c/o WBKY, UniversitY of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky....The Second Annual BLUEGRASS RAMBLE picnic will be getting underway at noon, on August 4. WCNY-TV will videotape the event, which is free to the public and all bluegrass and old-time pickers are invited to join in the fun. The location is at the VFW Post 5380 Camp Grounds, Routes 104 and 3, Hannibal, New York....RUFUS KRISP is presently in California auditioning for prospective recording labels. After recently signing with the CMA booking agency, this progressive bluegrass act is looking forward to a busy season....The nationally known artist Ron Rae, did the "Open Up" cover for the newly cut SUNNYSIDER LP. The SUNNYSIDERS, under contract to Jessup, cut an instrumental entitled The Instrumental Side of The Sunnysiders. Dennis Cyporyn, Editor of The Bluegrass Songbook, wrote two of the new numbers, "Festival Time" and "Clinch Mountain Top"....The Public Radio Network will be taping all the Herman Smith's Michigan Bluegrass Festival for one, perhaps two, one hour specials to be broadcast on nation-wide radio. We'll be advising you of dates and times when they are announced. They also taped the Indian Springs Festival for national distribution....Both Folkways and Showcase Records are planning to make 8 track tapes of ROGER SPRUNG, HAL WYLIE & THE PROGRESSIVE BLUEGRASSERS. ROGER has just completed recording his 36th LP....Record collectors should save their money. New records due out hopefully this month are: BLUEGRASS ALLIANCE, THE CALLAHAN BROTHERS, RED RECTOR, CHARLIE MOORE, LARRY SPARKS, RUAL YARBROUGH, JOE MEADOWS and VERN & RAY, on the Old Homestead Label. Also THE SELDOM SCENE, COUNTRY STORE, CLIFF WALDRON, RALPH STANLEY, COUNTRY GRASS, BUCK RYAN, ROY McMILLAN, and CURLY RAY CLINE, for the Rebel Recording Company....FAY McGINNIS continues her very successful show on WMUZ-FM in Detroit, Michigan at 5:45 Monday thru Friday and 1:00 each Saturday. This show, known as Mountain Echoes, may be heard as far south as Cleveland, Ohio and north into Canada. Anyone wishing to have their records played may send them to Mrs. McGinnis at: 1156 21st St., Wyandotte, Michigan 48192..... The OSBORNE BROTHERS new album will include three original tunes written by JAKE LANDERS....MASON WILLIAMS is completing months of work on original music for bluegrass band and symphony orchestra, to be performed this summer under the title, Festival Americana. The concept behind the work is the total integration of the symphony and bluegrass musicians. Williams has also adapted several traditional bluegrass pieces to be incorporated into the presentation...The DILLARDS have announced that stand-up bass player, front man, MITCH JAYNE, who has been a DILLARD since the beginning, has retired to his home in Salem, Missouri to write. Replacing MITCH JAYNE will be IRV DUGAN who will pIay electric bass in keeping with the ever increasing emphasis on rock in the DILLARDS' bluegrass sound....North Carolina Governor James E. Holshouser, Jr., took time out of his work at the National Governors' Conference to proclaim Saturday, June 29, as LESTER FLATT DAY in North Carolina....Another lady fiddler to be added to the list is MAUREEN RILEY of Williamstown, New York. Miss Riley, working for a bank this summer, is attending Syracuse University on a classical violin scholarship. Recently she was named Best New York State Lady Fiddler........ MARSHGRASS has pulled up roots from Savannah, Georgia and will now be booking and playing out of Atlanta, Georgia. Current personnel includes: DAVE HODGE, banio; ALAN RALPH, mandolin; JOHN POWERS, bass; DEANE BOGGAN, Dobro; JOHN BOGGAN, guitar....SENATOR BIRCH BAYH of Indiana, displayed some additional talents by getting on stage and singing a few numbers at the Bean Blossom Festival....The LEE BROTHERS BAND has moved from Washington, South Carolina, to Richmond, Virginia and will be booking through the Hanover Music Company in that area. . . . ROY McGINNIS and PAUL MULLINS joined LEE ALLEN and The DEW MOUNTAIN BOYS in Dayton, Ohio for a recording session. LEE wrote a tribute to his life long friend, ROY LEE CENTERS and asked friends PAUL and ROY to help on the record....The SANTA CLARA VALLEY FIDDLERS ASSOCIATION wishes to invite all musicians and music lovers to attend their monthly fiddling and bluegrass jamboree, which occurs the first Sunday of each month, except September when it is the second Sunday. The jamboree consists of a staged event inside and much jamming outside. They start at 1:30 with a jam on stage. Anyone wanting further details may write to the association at: 967 Ferreira Drive, Santa Clara, California 95051.....Taking off a few days before leaving on a month's tour with THE COUNTRY STORE, JIMMY GAUDREAU, a rather good golfer, made a "hole in one"....DEL McCOURY has made some additions and changes in his DIXIE PALS and the group now consists of BILL POFFINBERGER, fiddle; DON ELDRETH, mandolin; DEWEY RENFRO, bass; and BILL RUNKLE, banjo....J.C. & THE BORDER STRINGS have been so successful bringing bluegrass to Anchorage, Alaska, they are moving further north to Fairbanks...."The Dobro Nut" is a new bi-monthly newsletter published by BEVERLY KING. Dobroists are invited to send in appearance dates and collectors, dealers and repair shops will be listed free. Subscriptions are $3.00 per year. Write Beverly King, Revere, Pennsylvania 18953....FREDDIE HARRIS, who sang tenor and pIayed mandolin with JIMMY MARTIN and the SUNNY MOUNTAIN BOYS has joined the R.F.D. BOYS in Ann Arbor, Michigan where their regular appearances at the Pretzel Bell continue to draw record crowds....ROY CLARK has become the first member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is to be constructed in a Virginia Country Music Association Park near Crewe, Virginia....RED RECTOR, just completed his second album for OId Homestead. Helping RED out on the session were VASSAR CLEMENTS, JACK HICKS, and BUCK and CHERYL WHITE....The bluegrass pickers turned movie stars, BYRON BERLINE and ALLAN MUNDE of COUNTRY GAZETTE are at it again. They will be appearing in another motion picture titled Summer Row, also starring Steve Gillette....RAYMOND McLAIN helped out on the latest record by DON RENO and BILL HARRELL, "Rivers and Roads,” which was taped in Lexington, Kentucky....DON RENO has been spending some time in the hospital recently undergoing extensive tests, however at this time no conclusive reports have been made on the findings. Friends and fans may write DON at: Box 474, Riverdale, Maryland 20840....Ken Clark has moved his Bluegrass Special Country Music Park from Lawtey, Florida, to Middleburg, Florida. The new location is a larger park. The next scheduled event will be the 3rd Annual Florida State Bluegrass Music Convention, October 4,5, and 6....Several benefit shows have been staged for the family of ROY LEE CENTERS. One in Louisville, Kentucky on very short notice drew a crowd of over 400. The BLUEGRASS ALLIANCE and J.D. CROWE helped make the event a financial success....Another benefit was held at Todd's Fork in Morrow, Ohio with artists RALPH STANLEY, BILL MONROE, LARRY SPARKS, THE McLAIN FAMILY, APPALACHIAN GRASS and RED ALLEN, making it very successful. Mrs. Centers was left with three small children and mounting legal fees, so we suggest supporting any event of this nature in your area....A new Washburn guitar brochure is available with many color pictures of the products available by this company. Washburn is distributed by Beckman Musical Instruments, Inc., 2925 South Vail Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90040. . . . LARRY SPARKS will be holding his first festival in Brookeville, Indiana August 23, 24 and 25....The Library of Congress, as part of the program to celebrate the Bicentennial of American Independence, will issue an anthology of American Folk Music on 15 LP's....Joseph C. Hickerson has been named as Head of the Archive of Folk Song at the Library of Congress. Joe, for many years, has helped compile the extensive festival list published by the Library of Congress and used in part by almost all magazines using such a list....Happy birthday this month to: JIMMY MARTIN(10), BRUCE JONES, J.D. CROWE (27), HERSCHEL SIZEMORE (6).
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Vol. 9 No. 4 - October 1974"5 String Breakdown: Basic Banjo" a 13 part series on how to play the banjo is being telecast on WGTV, Channel 8, the public television station of the University of Georgia. The course is being taught by Buddy Blackmon, an experienced banjo picker who has co-authored banjo instruction books with EARL SCRUGGS. For more information concerning the series write: Banjo Series, WGTV, Channel 8, Athens, Ga. 30602....THE CARROLL COUNTY RAMBLERS were booked at Havre de Grace, Marlyand Art Festival in August and were privileged to have Gov. Marvin Mandel of Maryland and state comptroller Louis Goldstein on stage singing with them....LONNIE PEERCE had to spend some time in the hospital recently to recover from serious injuries received when he fell on slippery pavement in Louisville, Ky. Friends may send get well wishes to Lonnie at: 4577 S. 1st St., Louisville, Ky. 40214....Max Mandel and Al Hayward have formed a new organization called "Campus Grass". Their offices located in North Brunswick, N.J. will assist campuses in all aspects of presenting bluegrass....Another new album to be released in the near future is "The Great American Music Band" featuring RICHARD GREENE and DAVID GRISMAN....BILL BLAYLOCK & CLAY WILLIS were awarded a silver album for their LP "A New Day Is Dawning", by the Elanco Products Co. In addition to store sales Elanco used several thousand copies as promotion. Elanco manufactures herbicides for farming. They were also awarded honorary citizenship awards from Tennessee Gov. Winfield Dunn for their single release "Tennessee"....A complete discography of BILL MONROE & THE BLUE GRASS BOYS is now available from the Country Music Foundation Press. The work contains 120 pages, with many pictures for $3.50. To order write: The Country Music Foundation Press, 700 16th Ave., S., Nashville, TN 37203....LOIS CONSTABLE, promotor of the WNC Bluegrass Festival proved she is also a very talented singer when she appeared on stage at that festival and sang some nice duets with CHARLIE MOORE....THE SALT CREEK BLUEGRASS BOYS have appeared on local TV talk show, "The Dick Vance Show" Channel 51 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and were well received. They are also planning an album in the near future....Bluegrass Unlimited's own contributing editor and former editor DICK SPOTTSWOOD, has been appointed by the Librarian of Congress as Project Coordinator in the Archive of Folk Song for a Bicentennial Album of American Folk Music. This series of 15 LP records will be concerned with various areas of the American experience as they have found their way into music, including British-American, Afro-American, American Indian and other rural and urban ethnic traditions... THE R.F.D. BOYS played recently at the Howell Melon Festival in Howell, Michigan. When visiting Michigan two things every one should sample are Howell's melons and the good music played by the R.F.D. BOYS....DICK MUELLER of the MUELLER BROTHERS BAND recently became another Nashville picker to endorse Black Diamond New Country Bluegrass Strings....The Board of County Commisioners, Dade County, Florida proclaimed Friday, September 13th, BILL MONROE'S birthday as BILL MONROE DAY and the week beginning September 8th as Bluegrass Music Week in Dade County....Those D.J.'s attending the D.J. Convention October 16-20 will again find the opening event the Early Bird Bluegrass Show, which will feature most of the big names in bluegrass........ CHARLIE MOORE has made some new band changes and the group now consists of LARRY JEFFERSON, mandolin; BILLY CONSTABLE, guitar; JIMMY ARNOLD, banjo; HENRY DOCKERY, bass; WARREN BLAIR, fiddle....When THE LILLY BROTHERS return to Japan in December for their second tour they will take along special guest, BILL MONROE. At this time the tour is planned for December 9-15....The Storefront Congregation, a very active bluegrass club in Louisville, Ky. has changed its' name to the BLUEGRASS RENAISSANCE. The new owner Bobby Wiley promises to continue with good bluegrass Thursday thru Sunday . . . . . . . TOMMY JACKSON former banjo player for BETTY FISHER has now joined JIM & JESSE AND THE VIRGINIA BOYS....TED BELUE, formerly of the Friends of Bluegrass in Tampa, Florida is the new banjo player with BETTY FISHER AND THE DIXIE BLUEGRASS BAND....WQLN, public radio and television in Erie, Pa., will be auctioning off albums by DEL McCOURY AND THE DIXIE PALS as part of their fundraising program....As the outdoor festival season begins to slow down we have many good indoor activities reactivating. We hope you will support any of these shows in your area, which are good places to take the whole family for an evening....Dr. & Mrs. Taylor Hill are promoting Smokey Mountain Jamboree, each Saturday night in the Capitol Theatre, Maryville, Tenn., with a variety country show....There is a bluegrass jam session at the Glenmore Opry House, Greenbay, Wisc. The Opry House, run by Fred and Marie Tiede, is located on HWY 141, South of Green Bay. For more information call: 863-6815....E.J. and Claudine Spence are again having shows each Saturday night at the OId Lucketts School, Lucketts, Va. (near Leesburg). Regulars on the show are the GRASS REFLECTION, however other bands interested in working are invited to call 703-437-4168....LAWRENCE LANE, KEITH LANE, BILL RATLIFF, And RADFORD VANCE are the group that presently make up the KENTUCKY GRASS of Ohio. Any group wishing to work with the KENTUCKY GRASS at The Liberty Bell may call 614-383-1960 for more information....CLYDE MOODY is another artist on the sick list this month. We wish them all a speedy recovery....At the Little River Bluegrass Festival in Norman, Oklahoma, GEORGE "WOOGIE'' WATCHETAKER, a member of the Comanchee Indian tribe did a "fair weather" dance which worked. Rain was reported all around the show but not at the festival site....THE GOINS BROTHERS with the help of BOBBY OSBORNE and JIMMY MARTIN among others, are hoping to stage a LONESOME PINE FIDDLERS reunion concert at next years Mountain State Bluegrass Festival ....MOLLY O'DAY and LYNN DAVIS have been playing an hour of country and bluegrass gospel records daily on WEMM-FM in Huntington, W. Va. with good response....The management and patrons of the Country Palace in Columbus, Ohio have been taking up a collection to but a tombstone for the grave of the late PEE WEE LAMBERT, the legendary STANLEY BROTHERS sideman who died a few years ago....Birthdays this month are: STONEY COOPER, (16th ) ; GRANDPA JONES, (20th); BILL BOLICK, (28th); SONNY OSBORNE, (29th).
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Vol. 9 No. 5 - November 1974COUNTRY COOKING has reorganized. Russ Barenberg and John Miller have left to pursue other kinds of music. The new band will emphasize singing in addition to picking. The new group members are: ALAN SENAUKE, guitar; HOWIE TAVNOWER, mandolin; PETER WERNICK, banjo; NONDI LEONARD, vocals; PEGGY HAINE, bass....Dayton, Ohio's newest bluegrass group is THE BLUEGRASS SPECIAL. The group consisting of JOHN LIPOT, guitar; JOHN NOFTSGER, guitar; TONY LEWIS, banjo; BOB BUSKIRK, mandolin; JOE KARNS, bass, will be recording their first record in the near future....A discography of more than one hundred albums featuring the dulcimer has been prepared by JASON PATE of Havre de Grace, Maryland. The listing includes album title, label and label number and artist....CHARLIE MOORE was in an automobile accident in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, however we are happy to report he was not seriously injured and was traveling alone at the time....RUFUS KRISP has been commissioned to score a sixty minute ABC-TV special to be aired in February, 1975. The program called "Santiago's America" will be a pilot for a children's series....Country Music from Nashville to Nashua was the theme of the Nashua, New Hampshire Public Library for the month of October. Evening concerts included, bluegrass by the LOST RIVER RAMBLERS, square dancing and other related music. On display were all books, magazines and records, as well as lists of radio stations and clubs that feature country music..... GRASS ON-THE-ROCKS is a new multi-talented group to form in the Pennsylvania-Maryland area. The group features TOMMY NEAL, banjo; BILL POFFINBERGER, fiddle; DAN CURTIS, mandolin; BOB ARNEY, guitar; JERRY McCOURY or DEWEY RENFRO, bass....The Fiddle and Banjo Booster Club of Salem/Roanoke, Virginia has a new mailing address. All future correspondence should be sent to: Mrs. Margaret Worrell, 304 Union Street, Salem, Virginia 24153. May we also urge anyone in that area that enjoys good bluegrass to go out and support and enjoy their Saturday night shows...BOB OSBORNE, owner of Rocky Top Music has signed a contract with KENTUCKY SLIM and MIKE PAXTON for rights to "Bluegrass Blues". MIKE PAXTON is a DJ at WLSI in Pikeville, Kentucky and many will remember KENTUCKY SLIM most recently as lead guitarist with the GOINS BROTHERS.......The R.F.D. BOYS continue to make bluegrass available to new audiences in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area. Most recently the group played a benefit concert for Child Care Action Center.... RED, WHITE & BLUE (GRASS) go to college in Atlanta to conduct an evening class in bluegrass music as part of the Emory University campus program. Additional bluegrass musicians to lecture were TUT TAYLOR, BILL BLAYLOCK and RALPH RINZLER. The course is one of 56 non-credit courses offered by the University and one section of the class will center on a discussion headed by DOUG GREEN, director of the oral history project of the Country Music Foundation and writer for many bluegrass and country music publications.....EDDIE AND THE MUELLER BROTHERS are recording some new material for Raven Records of Sacramento, California....FRANK NECESSARY is the latest artist to join the roster of the Wes Holland Booking Agency in Nashville, Tennessee....Many new stores are opening up this winter with emphasis on bluegrass. BILL BLAYLOCK'S North Georgia Music Store in Marietta, Georgia will be opening November 1, with parts, accessories, instruments and a limited number of banjo students. . . .Liberty Banjo Company will open their new store on November 1, featuring instruction, instruments, parts and buying and selling new and used instruments....ALICE GERRARD has been replaced on guitar by CHIP NASEMORE in the group headed by DICK STABER, YONDER CITY....Bluegrass is alive and well in the Northeastern part of New York state. Smokey Greene's festival attracted record crowds in August and Nick Barr held an open house in October which was so successful he plans to have them monthly....LARRY STEPHENSON and the NEW GRASS have a new electric bass player with the group. KEITH SULLMN, bass; LARRY JETT, banjo; EDWIN STEPHENSON, guitar and LARRY STEPHENSON, mandolin make up the current group....JlM & BETTY STONE operate a non-profit business called Betty's Bluegrass Shows. The service is prerecorded bluegrass segments for radio stations in the Ashland, Kentucky area. At the present time they are having a difficult time obtaining enough records to keep the shows going and ask for any donations. They will show no preference to little or big names and will accept any records, new or used, 45,78 or Lp's. Send to: Betty's Bluegrass Shows, 1012 Belmont St., Ashland, Kentucky 41101....The new COUNTRY GENTLEMEN Vanguard album is due out soon and some of the songs featured will be the Ballad of King of Spades, written by Gina and Joe Alexander of Virginia about a race horse in that area that met with a freak accident....BILL TRIMARCO, a New York City Dobroist has left for Europe to tour with Bill Haley and his Comets as lead guitarist....Birthdays this month are: SCOTT WISEMAN, (8th); CURLY FOX, (9th); and EARL BOLICK, (10th)
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Vol. 9 No. 6 - December 1974With this issue we bring to a close perhaps one of the biggest years for bluegrass music. From each of the artists and the staff of BU may we say THANK YOU....PAUL SHAPIRO bass player for the R.F.D. BOYS has entered medical school at Michigan State University, however he will continue to play bluegrass and commute to from East Lansing to Ann Arbor each week-end....PETER OSTROUSHKO, mandolinist for the MIDDLE CREEK SPUNK BOYS is leaving that group to tour with Dakota Dave Hull as back-up guitarist. Other members of the MCSB are, RUDY DARLING, fiddle; AL JESPERSON, guitar; JERRY FLYNN, bass, and ALAN STRUTHERS, banjo... A new group around the Asheville, N.C. area is the ROUND TOWN MOUNTAIN BAND. Current members are: MARC PRUETT, banjo; EARL COWART, guitar; MIKE HUNTER, mandolin; BUDDY DAVIS, bass and WAYNE CARTER, guitar....The Spare Room, a new bluegrass club near Rutgers and Princeton Universities in New Brunswick, New Jersey, is looking for bluegrass bands to play on shows each week-end. Since September they have been drawing capacity audiences for a series of bands. For information on booking contact: Geoff Berne, The Spare Room, 700 Hamilton, St., Somerset, N.J. 08873 or phone, (201) 247-5281....... EDDIE AND THE MUELLER BROTHERS, provided the bluegrass portion of the CMA's Pro-Am Golf Tournement to start the D.J. convention in Nashville in October. They later appeared at the Country Wax Museum Lounge....THE COUNTRY GAZETTE just recorded a live album at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, California on November 8 & 9. It should be ready for release in early 1975 and is being produced independently by the Gazette's manager, EDDIE TICKNER, and his partner JIM DIXON....Larry Sandberg and Dick Weissman are preparing an extensive catalog and review of materials related to the folk music of North America, which will be published in the summer of 1975. Materials included will be books, recordings on blues, folk, country, ragtime and also instruments, such as banjo, dulcimer, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, etc. Materials will be listed or reviewed at the discretion of the authors. Anyone wishing to submit material may send it to:2557 Ash Street, Denver, Colorado... Stewart-MacDonald Manufacturing Co. is now offering their 5-string banjo kit Left-Handed, as well as right-handed. There is no difference in the price for the left-handed model; open back, the kit sells for $99.00, with a resonator and flange, the price is $138.50. No power tools are required to finish the Kit....BILL & WILMA MILLSAPS & THE SNOWBIRD MOUNTAIN BOYS have just completed their first album for the API records. Helping out on the session was JOE STUART....VASSAR CLEMENTS will be making an extensive tour through November and December with Richard Betts. Vassar is currently featured on three albums on the charts. "Highway Call", with Betts, "Stars and Stripes Forever" with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and "Pickin' Up" with RED, WHITE AND BLUE (GRASS)....CARL STORY is the most recent artist to join the evergrowing list of talent at the Monroe Bluegrass Talent Agency....MIKE JOHNSON, formerly rhythm guitar player for LARRY SPARKS has left the group to get married....THE BLACK MOUNTAIN BOYS have a new album to be released in the near future called, "Talk of the County"....Billy Lineberry of WKEX radio in Blacksburg, Virginia has been running a contest on his Sunday morning program with the bluegrass group receiving the most cards and letters during the week being featured for a full fifteen minutes. Recent winners have been, JIM & JESSE, THE SELDOM SCENE and BILL CLIFTON...WAYNE ERBSEN, banjo player for the BLACK MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS BOYS has just finished a new book called "Starting Bluegrass Banjo From Scratch," to be published by Carl Fisher, Inc....BOB GOFF has added some great musicians to his BLUEGRASS BUDDIES. They are: CURLEY LAMBERT, bass; KEITH MORRIS, mandolin and BOBBY BRYANT, banjo....A special treat during the appearance of DON RENO AND BILL HARRELL at Lucketts (Virginia) Jamboree was the playing of Don's two young sons. DON WAYNE RENO bass, DALE RENO, guitar and friend JIMMY BOWMAN on banjo played some very good music....JOE AND CLARA BALL were crowned Bluegrass King and Queen at a show in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The show produced by ROY McGINNIS and the SUNNYSIDERS and LEE ALLEN and the DEW MOUNTAIN BOYS felt the award long overdue to two people that have long promoted music in that area....JIM EANES backed by BOY McGINNIS and the SUNNYSIDERS finished an album for Jessup Records which should be out in the near future....Also in the studios working on albums have been, THE GRASS REFLECTION, JOHN STARLING, and TONY RICE....THE BUTLER BROTHERS are planning 3 or 4 festivals in the West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio areas this summer of '75. The purpose of their festivals will be to promote lesser known bands. Non-professional bands wishing to participate should contact: Homer Butler, R.D. 2, Proctor, West Virginia 26055. Phone: 304-899-6017 or Ken Corder, Gassaway, West Virginia 304-364-5331.... FERTILE DIRT is a new bluegrass group from the Newark, Delaware area. The members are: JERRY LUNDY, fiddle; AL MOODY, banjo; BILL GRAYBEAL, bass; KAREN GRAYBEAL, mandolin; LENNIE HIRT, guitar; and GEORGE COULSON, mandolin. Recent appearances for this group have been Pat's Country, a cable TV show and the Olde City Sunday Festivities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....My apologies to JIM STONE AND BETTY CLAIR. Betty and Jim are not related as I had indicated in the November issue. They are just working partners on Betty's Bluegrass Shows. Anyone wishing to send records for Air play should send them to: Betty's Bluegrass Shows, Radio Productions, 1012 Belmont Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101....John Brown and his twenty-one year old cousin, Marvin Douglas Brown, convicted of slaying DAVE "STRINGBEAN" AKEMAN and his wife ESTELLE have received two ninety-nine year sentences for the first degree murders....October was bluegrass month at WAMU-FM, American University, Washington, D.C. A seventeen hour bluegrass marathon was broadcast featuring seven bands including COUNTRY GAZETTE. The station in addition held a benefit concert featuring the SELDOM SCENE. The packed concert combined with the station's annual fund drive raised over $36,000. As of January 1st, WAMU will increase bluegrass programming to a total of fourteen hours per week with a new 2 hour show Monday through Thursdays form 10 PM to 12 Midnight. The regular segments are 8 AM to 12 Noon on Saturdays and 9 AM to 11 AM on Sundays. The hosts Gary Henderson and Katy Dailey ask record companies and artists to send discs to Gary Henderson, WAMU-FM, American University, Washington, DC 20016. Visiting bands are invited to appear for "live" or taped programs and/or interviews. Saturdays the number is WAMU-FM 202-686-2690 or during the week, 301-587-7169 or 703-893-6723...... We are very sorry to report CHARLIE MONROE is very seriously ill in the Moses H. Cone Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina. Get well wishes may be sent to Charlie at Moses H. Cone Hospital, Room 4551, P.O. Box 13227, Greensboro, North Carolina 27406........ Birthdaying this month are: JIM EANES (6th), BOBBY OSBORNE (2th), RED BECTOR (15th), LULU BELLE [WISEMAN] (24th), MELVIN GOINS and JOHN HARTFORD (30th).
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Vol. 9 No. 7 - January 1975THE LEWIS FAMILY completed one of their busiest years yet by recording another album for the Canaan Record Company. This is the 10th record and perhaps one of the best. We're especially anxious to hear the MOLLY O'DAY song that POLLY LEWIS sings so well....Mel Bay Publications now has one of the most complete selections of instruction books currently available with the latest addition, Country Dobro Guitar Styles. Others you will find at your local music stores are: Bluegrass Fiddler; Folk Fiddle; Frailing the 5-string; Basic Folklore Banjo Method; Country Blues Guitar and Merle Travis Guitar Style....After a brief late summer lay-off, the PINE RIVER VALLEY BOYS from Michigan have regrouped and are now open for a busy season. PAUL KIRSHNER. formerly with the BACK PORCH BLUEGRASS is now playing banjo and original banjoist DON PRIEST is doing the guitar work....The Shamrock Restaurant in Washington, D.C., for years the home of the COUNTRY GENTLEMEN and other noted bluegrass groups has recently been sold. The Shamrock was "the" place to hear bluegrass in the Washington area for many years….. MARTIN TOWNSEND has left the BLUEGRASS ALLIANCE and is now working with LILLIMAE & THE DIXIE GOSPELAIRES. The group will have a new album out on the Rome label in the near future....CLYDE & MARIE DENNY have recently added young JEFF DALTON to the KENTUCKAINS to play mandolin. . . . EDDIE AND THE MUELLER BROTHERS are now under the personal management of Rainbow Management Associates in Hendersonville, Tennessee....The FLOWER CITY RAMBLERS, a very active bluegrass group in the Rochester, New York area, have really been making things blossom in their fair city. Present members of the group are: BOB OLYSLAGER, banjo; AL HOPKINS, mandolin;JOHN HOPKINS, guitar; ANDY HOPKINS, bass....PRO-GRASS from upstate New York recently completed a very successful 13 week engagement with Playboy bunnie, "Miss July centerfold, Carol Vitale". They even had her singing bluegrass before it was over....The LILY BROTHERS & DON STOVER, part 3 has been released on Towa records in Japan. This is another live album recorded while the LILLY BROTHERS and DON were on tour there last year. They are currently enjoying another trip with guest star BILL MONROE and hopefully we'll get some real good recordings from this trip....THE BLUEGRASS REBELS, LASTER BOWLING, banjo; BILL COOMER, guitar; REMINE MUNSEYON, lead ; LEE BOWLING, fiddle ; GLADYS COOMER, Dobro and GLEN RAWLINGS on bass, have been very busy in the Kentucky-Ohio area. They have recently recorded an album with LARRY SPARKS helping out on mandolin....TED LUNDY & THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN BOYS with new mandolin player, EMERY LEDFORD, played at the wedding of Jerry Correll and Sue Blanchard in Baltimore, Maryland....After a few months of changing, BETTY FISHER has a new band together. DALE TILLEY, on banjo; MARVIN TUCK on mandolin; TOMMY FISHER, bass and of course BETTY FISHER, guitar. The group will be recording for the Atteiram label in the near future....Bluegrass is flourishing in State College, Pennsylvania and one of the reasons is the BUFFALO CHIPKICKERS. The group consists of BOB DOYLE, guitar; JOE DIETRICH, banjo; MATTHEW GUNTHARP, fiddle and mandolin and HUGH JOHNSON, bass....BUFFALO GALS are another group recently in the studios. PETER WERNICK produced their album on the Revonah label....Marie Boykin, the very busy fan club president for BETTY FISHER and the BLUEGRASS TARHEELS has doubled their membership in the last month. Anyone wishing to join these clubs may write Marie at: 2466 Savannah Hwy., Charleston, S.C. n107....Jeff and Adena Cook, founders of the Missouri Area Bluegrass Committee and the couple that made that area one of the most popular bluegrass areas around have decided to move on to new untouched bluegrass territory. I am sure all the bluegrass fans around Falls City, Idaho will welcome them because they are going to be hearing a lot more bluegrass in the future. The Missouri Area Bluegrass Committee will continue under the able leadership of Fran Greco, Ramblin's Editor and Bill Klug, chairman. Anyone interested in the MABC may write to: Bill Klug, 220 St. Marys, Bethalto, Ill. 62010....Carol Dickerson has started a fan club for CHARLIE MOORE. Anyone interested in joining may write to Carol at: 5750 Leland Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105....Nobuharu Komoriya has just published a beautiful book of pictures taken while he visited the U.S. in 1973 and 74. Some of the highlights are pictures of the recording of the Bean Blossom album, the KENTUCKY COLONELS, with CLARENCE WHITE and candid photos too numerous to mention. The book may be ordered from: BOM Service Ltd., 6-5-18 Kawamo, Takarazuka, Hyogo 665, Japan. The cost of $8.50 includes postage....For the second year in a row the FREE STATE STRING BAND has taken part in the International Children's Festival, sponsored by the U.S. Forestry service. The group was permitted to play any standard bluegrass song as long as they included "The Ballad Of Woodsey Owl".....EARL TAYLOR and his STONEY MOUNTAIN BOYS are back at Aunt Maudie's, one of the main clubs for bluegrass in the Cincinnati, Ohio area.....The Ruby Banjo Co., of Toronto, Canada recently co-sponsored two shows which featured LEON MORRIS, WALTER HENSLEY and LARRY SPARKS. The company hopes to promote more shows in the future....RED RECTOR will join the ranks of world travelers when he joins BILL CLIFTON in February for performances in Scotland, England, Germany and Holland. . . . . . . . JAMES MONROE has a few new members in his group the MIDNIGHT RAMBLERS. ED KUNTZ and JIM BROCK play twin fiddles, while GORDON REID, banjo and DOUG HALL, bass make up the rest of the group....Some fo the most complete lessons available may be found at McCabe & Baxter Music School in Santa Monica, California. Beginning mandolin and banjo are taught by JOHN ZEHNDER, Beginning fiddle, teacher MICHAEL SALSBURG, Intro to flat picking and finger picking by BOB BAXTER, Old-time banjo by JACK ALDRICH, Intro to bluegrass banjo by PAT CLOUD, Fiddle workshop by RICHARD GREENE, Advanced finger picking & blues by BOB BAXTER, and Advanced flat picking by PHIL BOROFF. For a complete list write: McCabe's Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, California 90405....BILL HOLDEN is the new and very capable banjo player with the COUNTRY GENTLEMEN....BUTCH ROBBINS has left the NEWGRASS REVIVAL to work with TUT TAYLOR in the instrument repair business and perhaps a few road shows....MELVIN & RAY GOINS recently in the studio to record an album for the Rebel company. Helping out on the session along with MELVIN, RAY and brother CONLEY were JIMMY GAUDREAU, mandolin, BILL RAWLINGS, bass, and JOE MEADOWS fiddle.....JIMMY MARTIN will be taking a tour of England in January. Going along with Jimmy and the SUNNY MOUNTAIN BOYS which include RAY MARTIN, bass; GLORIA BELLE, guitar; DWIGHT DILLMAN banjo and BLAINE SPROUSE, fiddle.....BOB BLACK is the newest member of BILL MONROE's BLUE GRASS BOYS, playing barjo. He joins RALPH LEWIS, guitar; KENNY BAKER, fiddle; and RANDY DAVIS, bass....THE CAFFREY FAMILY just returned from a 10,000 mile tour that took them from California to Connecticut playing several well know TV and radio shows as well as their scheduled festivals and college concerts....Campus Grass announces the formation of a new group called, THE GOOD OLD BOYS. The group features DAVID NELSON and FRANK WAKEFIELD with a very talented back up group. They plan to play hand-clapping bluegrass....RUFUS KRISP is running a contest to select a new name for the group. The winner will get a date with guitar player, SLIM CHANCE along with other prizes....The McLAIN FAMILY BAND will be leaving February 1st on a trip that will take them through Alaska for 72 programs in 28 communities and then around the world with performances in Japan, the Phillipines, Indonesia, Laos, Burma, Afganistan, Iran, Turkey, Romania, Egypt, Tunis, Spain, France and Poland. The scheduling is not completed but the group expects to return sometime in June 1975.....THE MORGAN BROTHERS, after recording their first album in a folk vein have reassessed their values and have made a firm commitment to bluegrass. They are looking forward to the summer season when they can leave Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the festivals....The Smokey Green Bluegrass Festival which has been held in Corinth, New York for the past two years will be moved to Ft. Ann, New York where it will be held for the next five years. The reason for moving the festival was to have a shaded entertainment area and improved facilities over the years....LESTER FLATT has purchased the Jomeokee Campground, located at the foot of historic Pilot Mountain in Pinnacle, North Carolina. The major objective of the purchase was to provide a permanent home for LESTER FLATT'S Annual Mount Pilot Festival held the last Thursday, Friday and Saturday in June....THE BACKWOODS VOLUNTEERS of San Antonio, Texas were booked into the Astro Hall as part of a big country music fair. They were well received by the 20,000 fans that came to see mostly country performers....The Jim Halsey Talent Agency has announced the signing of MAC WISEMAN and the II GENERATION to its talent roster....Amoung the groups with new records in the works or just released are L.B. SILER AND THE ROUND MOUNTAIN BOYS on Jalyn, WELLS FARGO on Brut, and THE R.F.D. BOYS. BASHFUL BROTHER OSWALD and CHARLIE COLLINS, who are members of ROY ACUFF'S SMOKY MOUNTAIN BOYS recently cut for Rounder....J.B. MORRISON who regularly plays mandolin with LIZ MEYER AND FRIENDS returned from an extended overseas tour with BILL KEITH and JIM ROONEY playing in Scotland, England, Switzerland, France and Belgium. The group backed up DOUG KERSHAW and HERBIE MANN. J.B. will be recording in the near future with flutist MANN as well as JIM ROONEY....FRANK BUCHANAN, well liked and respected guitarist and singer is back in the hospital. Messages may reach him in care of Orthopedic Hospital, 1 Rotary Drive, Asheville, NC 28803....A new organization, The Southwest Blue Grass Club, has started to serve bluegrass in the greater Southwest area. Further information on the group may be obtained from the president, J.W. DAVIS Rt. 6, Box 569, McKinney, Texas 75069 Birthdaying this month: RAY GOINS, (3rd), EARL SCRUGGS,(6th), CHARLIE WALLER,(19th), and POLLY LEWIS,(23rd).
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Vol. 9 No. 8 - February 1975The new year started with BU moving to its new office in the country. After a little confusion we are now settled and ready for business, so note our new address: Box 111, Broad Run, Virginia 22014. Phone: (703) 361-8992......Bluegrass and old-timey banjo playing went up-town with JOE BETHANCOURT playing with the Phoenix Pops Orchestra in Arizona in January.....THE BLUEGRASS EXTENSION SERVICE have begun their third year at the Frank 'N Stein's Restaurant in Lansing, Michigan. The restaurant has also been booking some of the bigger name bands this winter, so when in the Lansing area drop in for Bratwurst and bluegrass...... McROY GARDNER AND THE BLUEGRASS KATS announced a new member in December. DANNY STANLEY will be singing lead and playing guitar.....While the R.F.D. BOYS took some time off to record their third album the fans of Ann Arbor enjoyed the talents of RUAL YARBROUGH and the DIXIEMEN, which included JOE STUART and RED RECTOR for that week-end.....A Southern Bluegrass Promoters Association was formed in Florida in December. The association is open to promoters only, and for details write the secretary, Marcine Clark, 9232 Parman Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32222 for more information......BILL MILLSAPS of the SNOWBIRD MOUNTAIN BOYS is willing to arrange a show in the Robbinsville, N.C. area for any band if they will arrange a show for his group. Anyone interested should write: Box 85, Robbinsville, North Carolina 28771....... THE INFORMED SOURCES, a bluegrass group made up of people from the news media have been forced to replace two of their finest musicians and friends of BU, HAL BRUNO and HANK TREWHITT. However, the Washington area is never short of musicians so the group has taken GREG SNYDER, a multi-tatented gentlemen to replace them. The group now consists of BARBARA BRIGHT-SAGNIER autoharp; JOHN BELL, mandolin; GREG SNYDER, banjo; HENRY HUBBAR' guitar; CHRIS KLOMAN, bass and THIERRY BRIGHT-SAGNIER, Dobro ' ....The II GENERATION has just come out of Track studios with a new album down on tape and scheduled for release in February. This is their second LP for the Rebel Company and is tentatively titled "Grass"......NONE OF THE ABOVE began studio work on their first album in January with a spring release date planned.....A new bluegrass club has been formed in the Oklahoma area, titled the GREEN COUNTRY BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION. The association which will cover Northeast Oklahoma, Northwest Arkansas, Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas will sponsor monthly shows and jam sessions through the winter. Anyone in that area wishing to join should contact: Dell Bostic, Route 2, Box 109, Claremore, OK 74017.....JIM SHAFER and DAN PAISLEY have been filling in for BOB PAISLEY of TED LUNDY'S SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN BOYS while BOB recovers from a long illness....Since MARSHGRASS moved to the Atlanta, Georgia area, they have been doing a lot of pickin' and have built a strong following in that area. They are looking forward to an appearance at the Atlanta Civic Center in May....At the December 28th meeting of the Fiddle and Banjo Club of Roanoke, Virginia, The Booster Club gave out trophies in eleven different catagories. But Paul Colley received the best award of the evening when he married Patricia Horne on stage at 10 PM. Paul is a DJ at WSLC and is the featured MC at the clubs' regular monthly meetings....CARL "PUDGE" WARFIELD, Iead guitar player for the SOUTHERN SOUNDS OF GRASS will be entering the Winchester, Virginia Memorial Hospital for major surgery. Friends may send get well wishes to “PUDGE" at; 711 Buxton St., Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401....CHARLES ROEHRIG of the R.F.D. BOYS recently accepted the honor of performing in the musical dramatization bf "This is The Town That Was" in celebration of Ann Arbor, Michigan's Sesquicentennial music night. Charlie played lead guitar....While appearing at the Pretzel Bell in Ann Arbor, Michigan, LARRY SPARKS and the LONESOME RAMBLERS took time out to record another gospel album for the Old Homestead Company. The new album will be titled "Thank You Lord"....A new capo converter which fits Dobro and Hawaiian guitars has been produced by the Jim Dunlop Company. It also allows conversion of regular acoustic and electric guitars without the expense of purchasing another instrument. For further information write: Box 821, Benicia, California 94510.....An honorary degree was recentlY given to the MONROE DOCTRINE band by the University of Wisconsin/River Falls to show their appreciation of the music the group has brought to the college campus. The MONROE DOCTRINE'S new album has been receiving considerable airplay in the Progressive FM markets....RUAL YARBROUGH was in the studio while playing the Pretzel Bell in Ann Arbor, Michigan to record another album for the Old Homestead label. Scheduled release date at this time is March....The Village School of FoIk Music announces a full instruction schedule for the winter months including classes in 5-string banjo, autoharp, mandolin, fiddle, Dobro and many folk instruments. For a complete 1975 folder contact: Miss Lana Rae, 631 Deerfield Rd., Deerfield, Illinois 60015.....While playing a concert in Canada, LARRY SPARKS added a Dobro to the group for the occasion, played by his Canadian friend ROGER SPENCE. The LONESOME RAMBLERS, WENDY MILLER, MIKE LILLY and ART WYDNER put on a good show and we recommend you see them if they come to your area...BILL MONROE returned from Japan very excited about the warm welcome the group received while playing there. MR. MONROE played to sellout crowds at every performance and was treated like a king everywhere he went. We could all take Promotion lessons from our Japanese friends, as part of their promotion they publish a complete color booklet about each star they invite to their country......NEIL EFFIRD is the new banjo player for THE SNOWBIRD MOUNTAIN BOYS, replacing GORDON REID who is now playing for JAMES MONROE.....Unfortunately not enough people wrote to their Congressional Representatives and the Folklife Bill has again been postponed. Actually there was little opposition to the establishment of the Folklife Center, but Representatives were concerned about the state of our economy. However there is high hope the next Congress will act, so get busy and write your letters now. As folklorist Archie Green said: "Our government has been fantastically generous in the support of high culture. Over the last four years this support through endowments, has increased 800%. Now it is absolutely imperative that Congress accepts its responsibility to folk culture"......We are indeed sorry to report the Passing of HOWARD G. (JOHNNY) JOHNSON, bass Player for the LESTER FLATT SHOW since 1971. JOHNNY died of a heart attack at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, December 30. Pallbearers included BILL MONROE...... SAM HOBBS recently joined OLIVER RICE and the BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN BOYS their fiddle player......JACK HICKS, well known banjo player will be the new bass player with the LESTER FLATT SHOW.....The many friends of CLIFF WALDRON will be dissappointed to learn CLIFF has decided to retire from the music business in favor of a career with the National Park Service. We wish CLIFF much success in his new endeavor.......The MIDDLE CREEK SPUNK BOYS will be making a television appearance on WCCO-TV on "This Must Be The Place", Saturday February 8 at 12:30 AM. WCCO, Channel 4, is located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota area......DOUG GREEN has been named as Editor of the Journal of Country Music. The publication is a production of the COUNTRY MUSIC FOUNDATION in Nashville, Tennessee.......RCA has activated their Bluebird label complete with the buff and blue colors of its original issue. The release schedule will be re-issues of double LP's from the '30s and '40s. DOUG GREEN of the Country Music Foundation will be working on releases by the MONROE BROTHERS and the BLUE SKY BOYS and BOB PINSON, also of the Foundation, is working on BILL BOYD AND THE COWBOY RAMBLERS..... Among the highlight radio programs to be broadcast by National Public Radio through their over 160 member stations in the FOLK
FESTIVAL U.S.A. series during February, of interest to bluegrass fans will be the 3rd National Guitar Flatpicking Championships from Winfield, Kansas, Pipestem, West Virginia Festival, The San Diego Folk Festival and the West Virginia Bluegrass Festival (Capon Bridge). Check your local listings or call your local public broadcasting station for exact time of airing in your area.....A new group based in Nashville, Tennessee has been raising quite a few eyebrows in Music City. The group is HIGH AND LONESOME with PAT ENRIGHT, guitar; JOHN HEDGECLOTH, banjo; BOB FOWLER, mandolin and JAMES BRYAN, on fiddle. . . . . . TRAVIS LEWIS (Wallace's oldest son) has started playing bass fiddle on the LEWIS FAMILY'S TV shows.......THE LEWIS FAMILY have been taping the Huff-Cook Gospel Sing programs a good bit Iately. The show is syndicatied throughout Virginia and shown on Sunday mornings........The Louisville, Kentucky based BLUEGRASS GENERATION have just completed their third LP for Atteiram Records. The record will be the first featuring their newest member DANNY JONES. DANNY was formerly with the BLUEGRASS ALLIANCE and BILL MONROE'S BLUE GRASS BOYS....A new group in the Atlanta, Georgia area is BUZZARD'S ROOST appearing in Underground Atlanta. Members are HUGHIE WYLIE, mandolin; SCOTT FULLER, banjo and Dobro; DAVID PEARSON, bass and GARY LOOPER, guitar and fiddle.....Newest "Kentucky Colonel" is guitarist and lead singer of RALPH STANLEY'S CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS, KEITH WHITLEY....THE SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF BLUEGRASS MUSIC IN AMERICA ISPBGMA] presented their Second Annual Bluegrass Convention and Awards Banquet at the Lodge of The Four Seasons, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri December 13th through 15th this past year. This was a National Amateur Awards Banquet and seven states were represented.....BASHFUL BROTHER OSWALD and CHARLIE COLLINS of Roy Acuff’s band, with the help of NORMAN BLAKE and SAM BUSH and CONNIE and BABE have recently completed new LP's for Rounder....RALPH LEWIS, guitarist and lead singer with the BLUE GRASS BOYS has been recuperating from an operation recently. JAMES MONROE has been filling in for RALPH in the meantime..... Birthdays in February: CLARENCE “TATER” TATE (4th), WILMA LEE COOPER (7th), MERLE WATSON (8th), RED ALLEN (12th), JIM McREYNOLDS and CHARLIE MOORE and JANIS LEWIS (13th), DON RENO (21st), LITTLE ROY LEWIS (24th) and RALPH STANLEY (25th). |
Vol. 9 No. 9 - March 1975It won't be long now before we can get out our campers or camping gear to see what will be necessary for the first festival of the year.....Southern Appalachian Circuit-Antioch College, reports their most popular class there this quarter is "Bluegrass Music" taught by EVERETT LILLY...JERRY TAINAKA HAS ISSUED ANOTHER INSTRUCTION MANUAL, THIS TIME A MANDOLIN BOOK. JERRY has also made some changes this time in printing this book in English. Those interested may order from: Everett Lilly, Route 1, Box 161-E, Beckley, WV 25801. The price is $7.00 postpaid.....JIM & JESSE announced the release of a double album by Columbia Special Products. These are the first two albums they recorded for Epic and they are from the original masters. The albums will sell for $8.00 plus 50 cents postage and may be ordered from: Jim & Jesse Show, P.O. Box 304, Gallatin, TN 37066....TED MUELLER of EDDIE AND THE MUELLER BROTHERS BAND is making custom cases in between engagements. He is producing double fiddle, mandolin and fiddle-mandolin and microphone cases at his home in Hendersonville, TN.....WKCW Radio in Warrenton, Virginia staged a radio bluegrass festival on January 5th and what started out to be a four hour show turned into five hours and forty-five minutes because of the request load. The station manager Mr. Stu Brooks decided to make this an annual event one week before the Super Bowl....Nominations are now being accepted for the J.E. MAINER Memorial Trophy which is presented annually at the Old Time Fiddler's and Bluegrass Convention at Denver, N.C. The award is presented each year to some deserving individual for their outstanding contributions to old time and bluegrass music. Anyone desiring to nominate someone worthy of the MAINER Memorial Trophy should contact Terry Brotherton, P.O. Box 131, Denver, N.C. 28097.......THE BACKWOODS VOLUNTEERS played at a party in San Antonio, Texas attended by the officers and directors of the Country Music Association. Although many of the big names in country music were on the show, THE BACKWOODS VOLUNTEERS were very well received....LESTER FLATT & THE NASHVILLE GBASS, MAC WISEMAN and THE II GENERATION are now being booked exclusively by the Jim Halsey Agency, Nashville, Tennessee.....THE BLUE RIDGE COUNTRY RAMBLERS, JIM & SUE KELLY, THE BUFFALO GALS, THE CATO COUNTY DRIFTERS, THE DOWN CITY RAMBLERS, THE SAL. MON RMR BOYS, and THE CRANBERRY LAKE PICKING & SINGING SOCIETY were just a few of the groups that helped Bill Knowlton celebrate his second year on the air with his show "Bluegrass Ramble", WCNY-FM, Syracuse, N.Y. Bill has spent many hours of his own time to promote bluegrass in his area and I'm sure he was pleased to know so many planned to help him through another year.....J.C. Moore of Frankfort, Kentucky announces he will now be booking RUAL YARBROUGH AND THE DIXIEMEN. THE DIXIEMEN now consist of RED RECTOR, mandolin; JOE STUART, guitar; RUAL YARBBOUGH, banjo; and JOHNNY MONTGOMERY, bass........CABBAGE CRIK has recently recorded a new album which will be released this spring.....Major improvements are underway at the park site of LESTER FLATT'S Mount Pilot Festival in Pinnacle, N.C. The park was recently re-named LESTER FLATT'S Bluegrass Park and the first festival is planned for June 26, 27 and 28....A new bluegrass picking session has been formed in Borden, Indiana. Picking sessions and shows will take place in the Museum building.....Newest member of the ORANGE BLOSSOM BLUEGRASS is CHUBBY ANTHONY of STANLEY BROTHERS fame. Other members of the group are STAN BAILEY, guitar; BOB PRUE, mandolin; GENE DALRYMPLE, banjo; and OSCAR SINGLETON, bass.....The Fiddle and Banjo Booster Club of Roanoke, Virginia still has records and tapes available. Anyone interested may order them from, Margaret Worrell, 304 Union St., Salem, Virginia or Mary Freeman, 902 Onley Rd., Vinton, Virginia. The price is $5.00 each plus 50 cents postage......DAVID EVANS has recently been named record and film review editor of the Journal of American Folklore. Records and other materials may be forwarded to : Dave Evans, Dept. of Anthropology, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92634.....BILL BOX, guitar player for BILL MONROE for a large Portion of last year has reformed his old group the DIXIE DRIFTERS and will be playing many of the festivals this year...."Bluegrass: People & Pickin' ", a ninety minute look at a bluegrass music festival will be aired Sunday March 16th on Jerseyvision, the four channel public television network in New Jersey. The program which provides back-stage and on-stage glimpses of the Third Annual Old-Time Bluegrass Festival in Glasgow, Delaware, will be shown over UHF Channels 23, 50, 52 and 58 beginning at 8:30 PM. Besides serving all parts of New Jersey, the network's television signals extend into eastern Pennsylvania, northern Delaware and portions of New York.....A National Bluegrass Hall of Fame is to be established at Central State University at Edmund, Oklahoma. ...BILL WHEELER is the COUNTRY STORE'S new banjo player GARLAND SHUPING is playing banjo with JIM & JESSE'S VIRGINIA BOYS...The HEIGHTS OF GRASS announce they are now being booked through the Virginia Bluegrass Music Association, president Linda Watson. The group recently appeared on "Showcase" a local TV show in Richmond, Virginia....LESTER FLATT has settled his lawsuit against Esquire Magazine for an undisclosed amount of money.....The Central Kentucky Bluegrass Music Association headed by Mrs. Joan Cornett is the latest group dedicated to promoting bluegrass music. Anyone in that area interested in more information may contact Mrs. Cornett at: P.O. Box 27 2, Georgetown, Kentucky 40324....We are glad LONNIE PEERCE is doing well after his recent operation. Hope to see you back fiddling real soon LONNIE...... The recent tour by the COUNTRY GAZETTE, to England, Holland, Sweden and other European countries found them playing to packed houses at each engagement.....the 4th Annual Fan Fair celebration held in Nashville, Tennessee each year has been set for June 11-15 this year. A celebrity softball tourney will be the first attraction. Registration fee this year will be $25.00. All checks should be made out to Fan Fair and mailed to: P.O. Box 100, Nashville, Tennessee 37202.....THE NEW GRASS REVIVAL’S new bass player is JOHN COWAN, who replaces BUTCH ROBBINS.....The MILLSTONE VALLEY BOYS, who worked to help launch the Spare Room bluegrass club in Somerset, New Jersey, have added a new banjo player, KEN BROWN. Other members of the group are: DAVID KOHUT, fiddle; DOUG CRAIG,bass; ELLEN FABER, mandolin; and LARRY SUPP, guitar....We are sorry we reported PETER WERNICK produced the album for the BUFFALO GALS. Actually PAUL GERRY did the producing and PETER WERNICK assisted with the mixing.....The BLUEGRASS CLUB OF NEW YORK has bluegrass scheduled every Thursday during June, July, August and September at the South Street Seaport Museum Pier....JIMMY MARTIN is scheduled for a tour of Japan early this month....Amoung the highlights of National Public Radio's FOLK FESTIVAL U.S.A. this month will be the 1974 programs at the West Virginia Bluegrass Festival at Capon Bridge, West Virginia, The National Folk Festival at Wolf Trap Farm park, Vienna, Virginia, the Kerrville, Texas bluegrass and Country Music Festival Part II and BU's own Indian Springs Bluegrass Festival. Check with your local public radio outlet for exact broadcast date and time.........DEL MCCOURY will have a new album forthcoming on the Revonah Records label. Also planned for an early spring release on Revonah is LARRY HALL AND CLINTON KING with TATER TATE on fiddle, as well as an album by the ORIGINAL VOICES OF BLUEGRASS, which featured GENE JOHNSON, mandolin; JEFF WISOR, fiddle; DICK SMITH, banjo; ROY MATHEWS, bass and STEVE WALKER, guitar. Ten of the numbers are original tunes written by STEVE.....Happy Birthdays go out this month to: DOC WATSON, (3), JOHN DUFFEY (4), JAMES MONROE (15), WENDY THATCHER (23), HOWDY FORRESTER (31).
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Vol. 9 No. 10 - April 1975 |
Vol. 9 No. 11 - May 1975Although cold rainy weather plagued the first festivals of the year, things seem to be getting into full swing now with plans for an exciting season.....MIKE O'ROARK & THE FREE BORN MEN have just signed an exclusive contract with King Bluegrass Record Company. Their first release "Picking With Feeling" should be out soon....BOB FOWLER, banjo; HERMAN TOWLES, fiddle; MARTY MILLS, guitar; ROBERT FONVILLE, bass; JACK STEPP, mandolin; FRANK MURPHY, guitar; and CINDY MURPHY, guitar, make up a new group in Greenville, South Carolina called the Palmetto Nu Grass.....BILL KEITH & JIM ROONEY will be touring Switzerland between the 13th and 27th of May.....THE COUNTRY RAMBLERS of Switzerland have just recorded their third LP on the BASF label entitled "Daybreak" which should have been released in April....We are happy to hear the latest word from LONNIE PEERCE'S doctor is that a full recovery is expected. THE BLUEGRASS ALLIANCE, MARTY WILSON, guitar; GLEN LAWSON, mandolin; BILL MILLIT, banjo and MARSHALL BILLINGSLEY, bass and LONNIE, fiddle, have been booked for many festivals this summer.....The "Final Exam"a formerly all rock and country rock club in Morristown, New Jersey is starting regular Sunday bluegrass shows, with BOTTLE HILL and THE MILLSTONE VALLEY BOYS scheduled to play.....The second European appearance of the COUNTRY GAZETTE proved beyond a doubt that they are the most popular bluegrass group in Holland and England. They appeared in eight halls in Holland and every hall was sold out days before the concert was scheduled.....Elderly Instruments will start their spring classes with about three-hundred and fifty people learning the basic bluegrass instruments. Anyone in the East Lansing, Michigan area wishing more information may contact them at: 541 East Grand River, East Lansing, Miehigan 48823.....Bluegrass fans in the Orlando, Florida area will be happy to know they will find a large selection of bluegrass records and tapes at Rose's Discount Store....April found RED, WHITE & BLUE[GRASS] back in the "Sound Pit" studios for another recording session.....Folklore in America, an extensive three week summer seminar from Jrrne 16th to July 15th, at Blandy Farm, Virginia is part of the University of Virginia's School of Continuing Education. Topics covered are to be presented from historical and contemporary points of view....NOBORU “SHIGA” MORISHIGE is now playing fiddle for EDDIE AND THE MUELLER BROTHERS.....When mandolin player BOB ARTIS recently rejoined the DIXIE TRAVELERS after a nine month absence, while writing a book about bluegrass, the band decided to make some changes, starting with a change of name. They are now called STEEL CITY BLUEGRASS BAND. They still appear at Walsh's in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and they invite everyone who comes to see them to take time to talk with them and express your comments about the quality and content of their music.....This year more than ever we find many of the major groups making tours overseas. May 2 and 7, JIM & JESSE will play Tokyo, Japan. LESTER FLATT and the NASHVILLE GRASS will be in Japan in June, J.D. CROWE and the NEW SOUTH will visit in August and EARL SCRUGGS will appear there in October.....MARSHGRASS is still picking around the Atlanta, Georgia area and now have a weekly radio show on WRFG-FM, 83.9 in Atlanta. Two new members of the group are STEVE HOLLOMON, bass and BILLY McKINNLEY on banjo....The "World's Largest Midget" [RED RECTOR] has just returned from a very successful trip overseas (Europe) where he played with BILL CLIFTON. They were very well received by large crowds. BILL CLIFTON is coming to the U.S. in the spring to play festivals with RED.....Michigan has a new bluegrass band, although some of the members are no strangers to bluegrass music fans. THE ACME BLUEGRASS CO. started playing regularly at Little Ceasars in Westland. The group members are DENNIS CYPOBYN, banjo; SCOTT HERMANSON, Iead guitar; MARY CYPORYN, mandolin; MIKE MOREY, guitar and MARTHA MOREY, bass....... Bluegrass is alive and well in Vermont with the PINE ISLAND STRING BAND playing all over the state this past winter. The group consists of GORDON STONE, banjo; DAVID GUSAGOF, fiddle; DANIEL MAHONEY, Dobro; SUSAN LONGAKER, guitar and JAMES McGINNIS, bass.....The Annual Country Music Fan Fair will take place in Nashville, Tennessee June 11th through 15th. Of particular interest to bluegrass fans will be the JIM & JESSE Fan Club Banquet on Tuesday, June 10th, in the ballroom of the Hermitage Hotel at 6:30 PM. Anyone wishing more information about this event should contact: Mrs. Jean S. Osborn, President, 404 Shoreline Drive, Tallahasse, Florida 32301....GEORGE PORTZ has recently joined the NORTH COUNTRY BLUEGRASS BAND as a fiddler. Other members include, MERLE LAWSON, banjo; DEVRA LAWSON, bass and GEORGE COLCLASURE, guitar...MONROE DOCTRINES' album on "Falls River Road" has sold over 13,000 copies and is going into its' fifth printing....THE SULLMN FAMILY has just recorded their first album for the Atteiram Record Company of Marietta, Georgia....DAVE BLOOD of EDDIE & THE MUELLER BROTHERS BAND recently won a Dart Tournament at Heron, Ohio sponsored by Stroh's Beer. They will also be doing some radio and TV commercials for that company in the near future along with other bluegrass groups.....The Western Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Bluegrass Committee is looking for new members in their area and also people that would like to attend several events they sponsor in Pittsburgh. Anyone interested should send their name and address to WPBGC, P.O. Box 10223, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 75232.....Bucks County Community College, Newtown, Pennsylvania had their Iargest turnout for any musical event with the appearance of DEL McCOURY and the DIXIE PALS and HICKORY WIND. Similar shows are now being arranged by Max Mandel for other schools.....BETTY FISHER and her band recently played for the wedding of Ernie and Susan Mitchell. Among the two-hundred and fifty guests many were bluegrass fans and enjoyed a square dance and sang along with the group on some songs....Governor Richard Lamb of Colorado has commissioned MONROE DOCTRINE to play for the oncoming bi-centennial celebration in Colorado....A spring concert of folk music will be presented at Village School of Folk Music in Deerfield, Illinois on May 18th. This concert features the students and staff of the school....SOUTHBOUND has been talking with Dick Freeland of the Rebel Recording Company in hopes that a contract with that company will soon be forthcoming....Another album soon to be released on the Atteiram label will be BETTY FISHER AND THE DIXIE BLUEGRASS BOYS. A contract was also signed at this session for future recordings.....A new bluegrass committee has been formed in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. Interested persons should contact: Ralph Schumann, 1537 Cedar Lane, Waukesha, Wisconsin 53186 or call (414) 542-8345....The long awaited return of one of bluegrass music's favorite banjo players is now a reality. SMITTY IRWIN is now a regular member of GRACIE WILLIAMS AND THE VIRGINIANS band....BYRON BERLINE has had no time for rest since leaving the COUNTRY GAZETTE. BYRON has been in the recording studio playing in the band backing EMMY LOU HARRIS. He has also been working with his own band comprised of friends, JOHN HICKMAN, banjo; DAN CRARY, guitar; ALAN WALD, mandolin and JACK SKINNER, bass....MONROE DOCTRINE will be appearing in England and Austria this summer as part of The Colorado State Agronomy Commission.....The new fiddle player with COUNTRY GAZETTE, singing lead and tenor, is DAVE FERGUSON. DAVE most recently played with the STONE MOUNTAIN BOYS of Texas and has also played with Willie Nelson. COUNTRY GAZETTE'S new album recorded live, is due to be released in the U.S. soon.....J.D. CROWE and the NEW SOUTH are slated to be playing with the Lexington Philharmonic at a Pops Concert in Lexington, Kentucky April 26th. The expected crowd is to be in excess of 15,000.....The Nashville, Tennessee based MISTY MOUNTAIN BOYS will be appearing in a new movie titled "Nashville" to be released by Paramount Pictures. It is scheduled to premiere in New York June 21st.....JOHNNY WILLIAMS has joined the Richmond, Virginia group THE HEIGHTS OF GRASS playing mandolin. The group is working on an album to be released in the near future....The BLUEGRASS TARHEELS recorded for Vetco in Cincinnati recently. Also in the studio was TONY RICE with BILL KEITH, KEN KOSEK AND DAVID GRISMAN.....JACK TOTTLE, whose Oak Publication of "Bluegrass Mandolin" is selling extremely well - the correct price is $5.95 not as in the Oak ad from the April issue. Oak has made the correction and it will appear in all future, ads - and long-time contributor to BU has put together a new band aptly called the TASTY LICKS and are now performing around the Boston, Massachusetts area. Members include JACK TOTTLE, mandolin; CAL EVANS, fiddle; PAUL SILVIUS, banjo; MIKE SCAPP, guitar and ERIC LEVENSON, bass.....Celebrating birthdays this month include: SAM McGEE (1), PAT WHITE (2), BENNY MARTIN (8), BUCK RYAN (9), MAYBELLE CARTER (10), PAUL WARREN (17), MIGGIE LEWIS (22), MAC WISEMAN (25), PATSY STONEMAN (27), JOHN PALMER (28), and CARL STORY (29).
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Vol. 9 No. 12 - June 1975Congratulations to Sing Out magazine on their 25th anniversary.....THE McLAIN FAMILY BAND will be returning to the U.S. just in time to play The Festival of the Bluegrass in Lexington, Kentucky. Their tour which started April 2, took them to fifteen countries including Prague, Czechoslovakia, a country added while they were enroute.....BANJO DAN & THE MIDNIGHT PLOWBOYS recently appeared at the Chelsea House Cafe in Brattleboro, Vermont and played to a large enthusiastic audience that was not used to hearing bluegrass. Their album "Snowfall" has now been released.....BLADES OF GRASS, GILL ROARK, Dobro; RANDY BELL, guitar; C.T. PERCIFILED, mandolin; JOHNNY CHEEK, banjo and BEBE ROARK, bass, had the pleasure of opening the Brown County Jamboree Park in Bean Blossom, Indiana May 4th.....Nashville Entertainers, Inc., is the name of the new booking agency and personal management corporation for BOB & SONNY OSBORNE and LESTER FLATT. LANCE LEROY, personal manager for LESTER FLATT for the past five years has been named General Manager. Mailing address for booking will be P.O. Box 647, Hendersonville, Tennessee 37075......Bluegrass fans visiting the Fort Worth, Texas area should be sure to stop at Ye Old Spaghetti Feed Mill, 408 West Kellis. You will find bluegrass music and a delicious plate of spaghetti on the menu.....a 4th album will soon be released by our friend Robert Tainaka in Japan. This one featuring EVERETT ALAN LILY AND DON STOVER will be titled "Down Home Guitar" and was recorded in Boston….. WZAP Radio in Bristol, Virginia sends out an S.O.S. for more bluegrass records immediately. This station is now programing bluegrass weekly and would more often if the can get records. Send to: John Bee, WZAP Radio, P.O. Box 1038, Bristol, Virginia 24201.....The Voice of America begins a new Saturday night show called "Country Music USA". The weekly half-hour program in English will be beamed to listeners in East Asia and the Pacific, South Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Producer and host Phil Irwin
says he plans to play country classics, bluegrass, western swing and gospel along with today's favorites.....THE GRASS STRINGS currently have a TV show on WTAJ-TV 10 in Altoon, Pennsylvania. Check your local listing for time..... Zero Manufacturing Co., of Burbank, California is now making aluminum musical instrument containers (cases).' The case, which comes in buffed silver or anodized gold, is equipped with a neoprene gasket to eliminate water seepage, dust and odors. A jam-proof piano hinge permits easy access and a combination lock allows personalized codes such as an address or birthdate....... Banjo player JAKE LESTER has rejoined BENNY & VALLIE CAIN and the COUNTRY CLAN.....A benefit bluegrass music performance in Cincinnati, Ohio April 12th for BOB DALTON, banjo player for the TENNESSEE BOYS was very successful. Bob was severely injured while donating his services as a carpenter to help build a church in his home town of Farmer City, Illinois. Artists offering their time and talent were; LEE ALLEN and the DEW MOUNTAIN BOYS, DAVE WOOLUM & THE LAUREL COUNTY PARTNERS, BLACK STAR MOUNTAIN BOYS, JIM HARDIN & THE BLUEGRASS STATEMEN, THE NEW GRASS REVIEW, THE BLUEGRASS REBELS, and JOHN MIRACLE AND THE TENNESSEE BOYS.....SOUTHBOUND (the original one, from Delaware) has completed a tour of bluegrass, folk and country showplaces in the North East including the Spare Room in New Jersey and the Town Crier in Poughkeepsie, New York. They will be appearing weekly in Philadelphia's leading night spot, Grendl's Lair, Thursday evenings 10 PM to 1 AM. Personnel include: REGAN NEVILLE, vocalist; JOE HAFTL, mandolin; TROY SPENCER, banjo; TOM MYLET, lead guitar; CARL GOLDSTEIN, rhythm guitar and BRIAN DUFFY on bass….. Barcus-Berry has introduced a new series of string instrument transducers which offer amplification for violin (fiddle) and string bass. The transducer provides true acoustic sound without feedback or distortion.....Opryland is now undertaking the massive cleanup operation to get the park back in shape after a flood which hit there March 29th. The American Music Theatre fared the worst requiring a major renovation on the inside. NevertheIess, the park should be ready for Fan Fair and all the usual summer visitors.....BILL and JAMES MONROE opened their Bluegrass Musicland Park on May 9th. The park is located in Beaver Dam, Kentucky near the sight of the Log cabin of Bill's Uncle Pen where he grew up. BILL and JAMES plan to make the park a showplace and museum with country, bluegrass and gospel shows there twice a month.....THE BUTLER BROTHERS have just finished a recording session for the Carpenter Record Company. The album should be released by the first of June.....THE GOOD OLD BOYS, which include FRANK WAKEFIELD and DAVID NELSON as part of the group have just completed an album titled Pistol Packin' Mama" for the Round Record Company. The album, which was produced by JERRY GARCIA, also featured special guests DON RENO on banjo and CHUBBY WISE on fiddle........ With the United States being one of the few countries in the world that does not have a national dance, there is now a bill pending in Congress to make square dancing the National Folk Dance of the United States. It is said to be this country's largest participation recreation.....FERTILE DIRT, consisting of AL MOODY, banjo; JERRY LUNDY, fiddle; GEORGE COULSON, and STEVE WARINGTON, guitars; BILL GRAYBEAL, bass and KAREN GRAYBEAL, mandolin reports a large and enthusiastic audience at the Bottle 'N Cork nightclub in Rehobeth Beach, Delaware. It was a first for bluegrass in that area which has been entertained for years by rock alone. FERTILE DIRT expects to play there regularly this summer........DELBERT SPRAY and his son JOHN were responsible for a successful benefit show April 20th at Kahoka, Missouri. The event was to raise money to send a paralyzed young man to radio broadcasters school in Texas.....THE JONES BROTHERS and the LOG CABIN BOYS brought bluegrass music to the World 600 Stock Car Race in Charlotte, North Carolina, May 24th...... BOBBY JENKINS, lead guitar player and tenor singer has just joined ROY CROOK AND THE NEW GRASS PARTNERS, of Indianapolis, Indiana. Other members of the group are: RAY CROOK, guitar; BOBBY JOHNSTON, fiddle; PAUL ENGLAND, banjo and DUDE LESTER [C.D. McCLABY], bass.....EDDIE & THE MUELLER BROTHERS have been asked to provide the bluegrass portion of the Fan Fair Softball Tournament on June gth in Nashville, Tennessee. MAC WISEMAN had the honor in 1974….. BENNY & VALLIE CAIN and FRANCINE VON BERNEWITZ conducted a mandolin workshop at the Northern Virginia '75 Folk Festival and bazaar in Arlington, Virginia in May......ROBERT McDOUGAL, formerly of the BLUEGRASS TARHEELS has moved to Florida and formed a new band called TALL TIMBER BLUEGRASS. Current members of the group are BILL DeMARCUS, banjo; KEIL BAILEY, guitar; RUSS BAILEY, fiddle; CARL YOUNG, guitar; HAZEL YOUNG, bass. Of course ROBERT plays mandolin and sings tenor.....Another good musician moving to Florida is EARL TAYLOR, who is playing with CHRIS MONTGOMERY, guitar; JEFF ROBERTS, banjo; GARY BUSHORN, bass. Sorry we didn't get the name of the group.....FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS is a new group in Columbus, Ohio, however the members CAROL BROWNING, guitar; LARRY DANIEL, mandolin; TOM DEW, banjo; TOM EWING, guitar; and MIKE SNYDER, bass are not new to bluegrass....Correction: BROTHER OSWALD's Tennessee release "Banjo and Dobro", Tennussee NR 4990 (see review in May 1975 issue) is available through Tut Taylor's Tennessee Record Company, 500 Arlington Ave., Nashville, Tennessec 37270.....BYRON BERLINE recently returned to California after recording the sound track in Alabama tor a new movie.....Most all of the early bluegrass festivals have reported record crowds so the season is shaping up to be bluegrass music's biggest yet......Starday Records has been purchased by Gusto Records in Nashville......ROSE MADDOX made one of her rare personal appearances at the San Diego Folk Festival in April. She was assisted by several good musicians including KENNY WERTZ on banjo....... At the recent festival in Cement, Oklahoma, THE LEWIS FAMILY got a real scare when a tornado was sighted in the area of the festival. Luckily enough the twister missed the festival grounds but it took quite a while before anyone ventured off the bus.....Happy Birthdays go out this month to: FRANK WAKEFIELD (6), GLORIA BELLE (9), JIMMY ARNOLD (11), BOBBY SLOAN (13), MOM LEWIS (20), EDDIE ADCOCK, BILL POFFINBERGER (21), HASKEL McCORMICK (23), KENNY BAKER (26), and LESTER FLATT (28). |
Vol. 10. No. 1 - July 1975LARRY STEPHENSON and the NEWGRASS will represent radio station WNNT of Warsaw, Virginia in the Grand Ole Opry Talent search in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, later this summer....Michigan based PINE RIVER VALLEY BOYS have just recorded their first album for the Old Homestead label, to be released late in June. Helping out on this album were DAVE ARNOLD of East Lansing on Dobro & DON LOOMIS on mandolin......The Boston Area Friends of Bluegrass and Old-Time Music will be moving to a new address. All future correspondence should be addressed to BAF, c/o Nancy Talbott, 36 Lancaster St., Cambridge, Mass. 02140....A new bluegrass group has formed in the Washington, D.C. area with the name APPALACHIAN SPRING. Current members are: ROB BRAGER, guitar; GARY FORD, (no relation) banjo; TOM GERY, mandolin; JIM QUEEN, fiddle and TOM SCULLEN, on bass fiddle.....SOUTHBOUND continues to spread the good bluegrass sounds around Savannah, Georgia playing frequently at The Other Inn. They will also be playing many of the festivals in the Southeast..... COUNTRY COMFORT from Kingsport, Tennessee is now being booked by S.R.O. Productions in Nashville, Tennessee. Their album, Old Grass/New Grass has completely sold out, however plans are now being made for a second pressing. A new album is planned for the fall of '75....Special plaques were presented to Mrs. J.D. Chrisco and Calvin Robins at the Montgomery County Bluegrass Festival by FRANK HAMILTON in appreciation of their support of bluegrass music. The event was held in Troy, North Carolina May 16-18.....KINFOLK was so well received at a recent concert at the U.S. Naval Academy, another concert was planned for this fall. In the mean time they will be working on an album for the Davis Unlimited Iabel.....BLUE DENIM recorded their first album for Old Homestead Records of Brighton, Michigan, which should be released in the near future.....JOHN HARTFORD, singer-composer-musician-riverboat man, will be special guest host for five days of fun and music August 17-22 on the Bluegrass Festival Cruise aboard the Delta Queen from St. Louis to Cincinnati, Ohio.....Victor Musical Industries, Inc. of Japan has recently released a set of the Monroe Brothers' complete record collection. The set, which is actually six albums, will sell for approximtely $30.00 in the United States, and includes all the material recorded by the brothers....GRANT BOATWRIGHT of RED, WHITE & BLUE[GRASS] is developing his talents in yet another direction. Although he is best known for his lead singing and guitar playing, he will be producing some of the GRC recordings....Over 200 country music pioneers have been invited to the Country Music Foundation Reunion Show. Some of the Special guests will be: THE BAILES BROTHERS, THE BAILEY BROTHERS, BONNIE LOU & BUSTER, PETE KIRBY [OSWALD], ALEX CAMPBELL AND OLA BELLE REED, JIM EANES, SAM McGEE, LONNIE GLOSSON, SHOT JACKSON, RAMONA JONES, ZEKE AND WILEY MORRIS, LULA BELLE & SCOTTY WISEMAN and many other country performers of years past. After the show they will be invited to dinner at the Country Music Hall of Fame and then they will attend the Grand Ole Opry and the Fan Fair activities.....ROBERT TAINAKA, the gentleman responsible for inviting so many bluegrass artists to Japan may soon be heard on the Old Homestead label.....COUNTRY GAZETTE is making plans to again tour Europe, with a stop in Switzerland....The third Annual WCNY Bluegrass Ramble Picnic which has been so successful in raising money for that public radio station will move from Hannibal to Cato, N.Y. The picnic this year will be co-hosted by the Cato Masons, Lodge 141. The new site is located 7 miles west of Baldwinsville on Rt. 370.....THE OUTERSPACE BAND that had the priviledge of playing for Susan Ford's class prom claim to play “Music ranging from rock to bluegrass" according to the official press release….. Mandolin player D.C. BLOOD of EDDIE & THE MUELLER BROTHERS WiII be endorsing the new Aria mandolins. The company provided Dave with their new model....THE BARTON BROTHERS have a new 45 rpm record out entitled "Hobo Boy" and “Someone New". They have been offered recording contracts from three companies and will sign with one of them this month.....LILIMAE & THE DIXIE GOSPELAIRES just Purchased a Silver Eagle with all the fancy trimmings.....DAVE NORMAN is the new banjo pIayer with NONE OF THE ABOVE. The Washington D.C. group is making many friends at festivals this summer.....The British Broadcasting Co., has just finalized a deal to do two hours of bluegrass as part of a sixteen part series on Almerican music they are filming. One hour will feature Lucy Opry, another half hour will highlight Lakeland's World Championshipi Bluegrass Festival, which will be held August 15-17....Cheryl Lynn is the new president of EDDIE & THE MUELLER BROTHERS fan club. Anyone interested in joining this club should write to Cheryl at: Box 792, Hendersonville, TN 37075.....Outstanding music was performed at the Millbrook Festival in Alabama by PAT ENRIGHT, NOBOBU “SHIGA” MORISHIGE, BOB FOWLER' JOHN HEDGECLOTH, LARRY BASSMORE, HIGH AND LONESOME, THE GROSSMAN BROTHERS and THE CAMPBELL TRIO.....With a large scale reorganization LONNIE PEERCE is very much back on the personal appearance circuit with the BLUEGRASS ALLIANCE. Current members of the group are: BILL MILLET, banjo; MARSHALL BILLINGSLEY, bass; GLENN JAMSON, mandolin; MARTIN WILSON, guitar, and of course LONNIE on fiddle....The Guitar Workshop, a non-profit organization based in Roslyn Heights, New York, is one of those low-profile groups of dedicated people who have done much in their area to further interest and exposure of traditional folk music and related string instruments through classes, concerts, singing and study of the people and history through music. For further information on their concerts and complete program write The Guitar Woikshop, Box 326, Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 11577. 516-621-7910.....One of the newest bluegrass hot spots is the new Pick 'N Grin operation in Knoxville, Tennessee. They offer lessons, instruments and many other extras including the legendary RED RECTOR as one of their mandolin instructors. They are also excited about the OId Time Pickin' Contest to be held Saturday, September 6 starting at 10 in the morning with finals at 6 PM. Details may be obtained by writing Old Time Pickin' Contest, c/o TVA & I Fair, P.O. Box 6066, Knoxville, Tennessee 37914.....BIG FIG AND THE NEWTONS are a new bluegrass group in the Rochester, New York area. Current members of the group are: BUTCH HERNAN [BIG FIG], bass; DALE HARRIS, guitar; CARLISLE WILEY, fiddle; JEFF HAY, banjo and DEAN ROETS, on mandolin.....GRASSROOTS are still going strong in England and will be recording an album in the fall....THE JONES BROTHERS and the LOG CABIN BOYS were featured artists of the day on WLTC in Gastonia, North Carolina May 21st. Bruce Jones visited the station for a bluegrass day with THE JONES BROTHERS.....EDDIE & THE MUELLER BROTHERS are now under the personal management of Murray Becker of Roy Radin Associates in Hampton Bay, New York....THE BLUEGBASS SPECIAL has just finished a series of radio shows for WELX-WHBM in Xenia, Ohio. The stations area an affiliate of the mutual black network. The "SPECIAL" has also formed their own record label, Jodelt and are interested in finding other groups to record....Native Americans will be the theme of the Festival of the American Folklife held in Washington, D.C. June 25-29 and July 2-6. 26 of the 72 Indian tribes east of the Mississippi will be represented as well as representatives of Working Americans, Old Ways in the New World and Regional America. Music of these cultures will be presented during the evening concerts..... The legendary fiddler CLARK KESSINGER suffered a stroke on June 4, 1975 at his home in St. Albans, West Virginia. He passed away at 11:00 PM. Condolences can be sent to his wife Rosie at 3176 Kanawha Terrace, St. Albans, West Virginia 25177.....DOUG TUCHMAN has taken over the DJ chores on the Moonshine in the Morning show over WKCR 89.9 khz from 10:30-1:00 PM Saturdays in New York City.. GEORGE "SPEEDY" KRISE (see BU Muy, 1975) was the recent victim of a heart attack but has now recovered. He and his son along with a couple of other musicians from Akron went over to the Kent State University TV and Radio operation and taped an hour or so of bluegrass and old-time picking a short while ago.....A couple of the unsung heroes who have been promoting bluegrass in their area for many years are JOHN STUMP and BILL ADAMS of the Conneaut, Ohio area. John has an advertising contract with one of the local stations and the agreement calls for four remotes a year from John's showroom and the music presented is always bluegrass......United Artists is once again availing themselves of the many talents of BYRON BERLINE. This time it is U-A's motion picture division with their lates film "Stay Hungry", directed by Bob Rafelson who has "Five Easy Pieces" and other hit movies to his credit. Starring in the movie besides Byron are Jeff Bridges, Sally Field, Joanne Cassidy, R.G. Armstrong, Fanny Flagg, and Scatman Crothers. Byron recruited the serviees of other musicians to play and act, such as BENNY THOMASSON, RUAL YARBROUGH, JOHNNY MONTGOMERY and eight year old JOHNNY WATTS. Another in the cast is the current "Mr. World", Arnold Swartzenegger, who does a little fiddle playing in the movie in addition to looking muscular. "Stay Hungry" is being filmed in Alabama and most likely will be ready for release in late 1975 or early 1976.....The University of Delaware recently produced a TV documentary on banjo player TED LUNDY tracing the growth of his music. Hopefully the program will be made available in other areas of the country.....The excellent fiddler BENNY MARTIN has just completed an album for the Flying Fish Record Company from Chicago, Illinois. Helping Benny out were some super pickers including LESTER FLATT, JOHN HARTFORD, CURLEY SECKLER, KENNY INGRAM, CHARLIE COLLINS, BUDDY SPICHER and ROY HUSKEY.........Lately the COUNTRY GENTLEMEN'S loss has been J.D. CROWE'S gain. JERRY DOUGLAS, the fine young Dobro player has taken two important steps recently joining J.D. CROWE AND THE NEW SOUTH and getting married at the Little River Bluegrass Festival in Oklahoma to the former Vickie Perry.....Thanks to some bureaucratic foul-ups the booking agency formed by LESTER FLATT and the OSBORNE BROTHERS has had to sligirtiy change their name. The new operation will be known as Nashville Talent Serviee Inc. Their address will remain the same: Box 647, Hendersonville, Tennessee 37075......DOUG GREEN, Editor of the Country Music Foundation Press is excited about the forthcoming publication of a recently discovered autobiography of ALTON DELMORE of the famous DELMORE BROTHERS........JIM & JESSE, who just recently returned from a very successful tour of Japan have a brand new sacred LP out on Old Dominion....... Speaking of sacred LP's, LESTER FLATT just completed recording a sacred album for the Canaan record people. It is scheduled for release in August.....Also in the recording studio recently was the fine young fiddler MARK O'CONNOR. Helping Mark out on his session were JOHN HARTFORD, SAM BUSH, NORMAN BLAKE and ROY HUSKEY. Mark also played guitar and mandolin on a couple of numbers.......Rebel Records did some taping of the recent McClure, Virginia bluegrass festival of RALPH STANLEY'S for a festival package. There were some very interesting musical combinations with RALPH that hopefully will make it on to the record.....TUT TAYLOR has been commissioned to construct a bicentennial banjo and dulcimer.......LONZO AND OSCAR have opened a new club on Gallatin Road in Madison, Tennessee just outside of Nashville. It is aptly titled the Lonzo and Oscar Ranch House. BROTHER OSWALD and CHARLIE COLLINS are featured Wednesday through Sunday...... Another band regrouping has occurred with the new personnel of the MISTY MOUNTAIN BOYS drawing heavily from the now defunct HIGH AND LONESOME group. Members of the MISTY'S now are MIKE PEARSON, banjo; JAY GRIZZLE; guitar; BOB FOWLER, mandolin and JOHN HEDGECLOTH, bass.....Birthdays this month: KEITH WHITLEY (1), JIMMY GAUDREAU (3), CHARLIE MONROE (4), WALLACE LEWIS (6), JESSE McREYNOLDS (9), LONNIE PEERCE (14), RICKY SKAGGS (20), SARA CARTER (21) .
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Vol. 10 No. 2 - August 1975We are happy to report that LESTER FLATT is improving nicely after open heart surgery in Nashville, Tennessee July 11th. Get well wishes may be sent to Box 225, Nashville, TN 37202.....ROMA JACKSON and THE TENNESSEE PALS returned to their home town of Galax, Virginia recently to record an LP which will be out in the near future.....A non-profit organization for the promotion of bluegrass music has been formed in North Carolina and called The North Carolina Bluegrass Association. For more information write: Clarence Greene, President, Box 547, Hudson, NC 28638.....A new group has formed in Ogletown, Delaware called THE OTHER SIDE, which features LENNY HIRT, lead singer; CARL BOYD, banjo; BRUCE MAHAFFEY, guitar; STEVE GREGG, bass and BECKY FAUST, vocalist. Currently the group may be seen at Mr. Pizza Family Affair restaurant.....THE PIPER ROAD SPRING BAND has just signed an exclusive contract with Adamany & Toler of Madison, Wisconsin.. THE BLUEGRASS EXPERIENCE has been invited to participate in one of Europe's largest folk festivals, The Folk Festival of Kaustinen, held annually in Kaustinen, Finland. They have also recorded a new album to be released in the fall.....A new concert hall, called the 2nd City Center is now open in Spokane, Washington under the direction of Deborah Eugene. They will be offering a full spectrum of both traditional and contemporary music. Any group planning to make a trip to that area should contact Deborah Eugene, c/o 2nd City Center, West 605 First, Spokane, WA 99204 for more information....."Anchored in Love" a new book tells the life story of the now legendary CARTER FAMILY, MOTHER MAYBELLE, A.P., DOC, SARA and EZRA.....EARL TAYLOR'S 15 year old son BILLY drowned recently. BILLY was an aspiring guitar player and was to have played his first festival at Lawrence Lane's in Mt. Gilead, Ohio.....A new comprehensive brochure covering the standard line of Barcus-Berry electronic equipment and accessories is now available. For a free copy and further details write: Barcus-Berry Sales corp., 5782 East Second St., Long Beach, CA 90803.....We are sorry to report the passing of GLADYS (MRS. RED) SMILEY in Asheville, North Carolina..... John Morris of Old Homestead Records is evidently succeeding in his attempt to buy the rights to the six transcription shows of JOHNNIE and HOMER BAILES At KWKH in 1948-1949. There are about 20 numbers on these shows as well as a little of their theme song and and old Martha White jingle. Included are the BAILES BROTHERS rendition of "White Dove," "Tramp On The Street," and "I'll Shout
and Shine" as well as a fiddle version of "One Eleven Special" by HOMER BAILES. It promises to be a very good item with some instrumental help from ERNEST FERGUSON and SHOT JACKSON.....Bluegrass music is featured every day except Friday at Busch Gardens in Los Angeles, California. The BLUEGRASS CARDINALS the group currently featured performs ½ hour concerts each day between 2 and 8 PM.....A new group has been formed in South Florida called, THE LIMITED EDITION. The group consists of DAVE STYPE, banjo; BOB SHULER, guitar; BOB MIDDLETON, bass.....Another group in the Delaware area is THE MASON DIXON GRASS, whose members are, GEORGE FOUNDS, mandolin; FRANCIS ELLIOTT, guitar; MIKE O'FERRALL, bass and BILLY LEE COX, banjo.....We are sorry to hear ROGER WOOTEN, fiddle player with the WOOTEN BROTHERS, died of injuries sustained in an auto accident that occurred in May.....MARK O'CONNOR, thirteen year old fiddle player took time out from his tour of contests to make his second album in Nashville, Tennessee. As well as fiddle MARK will also play lead guitar and mandolin on the new record. Assisting on the session were JOHN HARTFORD, NORMAN BLAKE, SAM BUSH, CHARLIE COLLINS and ROY HUSKY.... YONDER CITY of York County, Pennsylvania has undergone some personal changes. The band now consists of CHIP NASEMORE, guitar; LARRY MARSHALL, banjo; TRACY SCHWARZ fiddle; DEE DEE DENLINGER, bass and DICK STABER, mandolin. Yonder City has started an old time barn dance held on the second Thursday of each month at the Colonial Valley Resort in Menges Mills, Pa. The caller is BOB DALSEMER of Baltimore, Maryland.....BOB LOWNEY of the Boston Area Friends of Bluegrass and Old Time Country Music has joined NANCY TALBOTT to lend a hand with the DJ chores on the B.A.F. Bluegrass show. The show is aired on Saturday mornings from 9 to 10:30 over WNTN 1550 khz, Newton, Ma .....WHETSTONE RUN is a new group playing in the State College, Pennsylvania area and I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot from them in the near future.....EMMETT SULLIVAN, banjo picker with the SULLIVAN FAMILY was a number one practical joker until JAMES MONROE recently pulled off a coup de grace at the Bean Blossom festival. It seems that EMMETT had the local law enforcement officials serve JAMES with a fake child support suit at the festival in Chatom, Alabama last year. In fact the officers were so good in the trick that they had JAMES quite concerned until the joke was revealed. Not to be outdone, JAMES had the secretary at the Monroe Talent Agency, Becky Galyon, dress up ts one of EMMETT'S girl friends and along with the help of the police officers in attendance at the festival served EMMETT with a fake paternity suit. When EMMETT realized that something was "in the wind," he jumped off the front of the stage and headed for the woods. He was apprehended quickly and returned to the “lady in waiting." After being handcuffed he and his "girl friend" were loaded into a police cruiser for the trip to the jail. The caravan almost reached the front gate before EMMETT was informed of the joke.....Congratulations to CHARLIE ROEHRIG, guitar player for the R.F.D. BOYS and his new bride, the former KAY THORNBY. The wedding took place while the group was in Washington, D.C.playing at the Red Fox Inn.....CORN BRED is hosting the 1st Annual Salt Lake Musicians & Friends Banjo-Fiddle Contest, August 30-31 at Saratoga Springs, Utah; south of Salt Lake City. This is to be a festival run by musicians, for musicians, with all profit going towards prizes & participating bands.....While the II GENERATION anxiously awaits their second album on the Rebel Recording label they are already busy working on an instrumental album.....Just released is a new album by CORN BRED called "It's Hot" on the Takoma-Briar label. Featured on banjo is JOHN HICKMAN.....A new book recently published by the University of Illinois Press is titled "Stars of Country Music" and was edited by Bill C. Malone and Judith McCulloh. The book is a collection of original essays on some of the most important country music performers past and present. Of interest to bluegrass and traditional country music fans are stories on UNCLE DAVE MACON, BRADLEY KINCAID. THE CARTER FAMILY, JIMMIIE RODGERS, ROY ACUFF, BILL MONROE, LESTER FLATT, and EARL SCRUGGS and many others. Also included are 16 pages of photos plus a discography. The book is 500 pages in length.....In the studio recently working on new albums were Larry Rice along with an impressive list of musicians including J.D. CROWE, RICK SCAGGS, BOBBY SLOAN, JOHN MCEWAN, JERRY DOUGLAS, FRANK GODBEY and Larry's brother TONY. THE BOYS FROM INDIANA have also completed a brand new LP. This group, featuring PAUL MULLINS, NOAH CRASE, HARLEY GABBARD, and the HOLT BROTHERS is one of the most exciting on the festival circuit. The new songs they have been coming up with are superb..... Other traditional musicians appearing with BYRON BERLINE in the new film "Stay Hungry" are fine fiddlers J.T. PERKINS and 8 year old JOHNNY WATTS.....A monument for UNCLE JIMMY THOMPSON, first fiddler on the Grand OIe Opry was unveiled and dedicated at the Laguardo, Tennessee graveyard on June 11. The drive to erect this monument was spearheaded by the TENNESSEE VALLEY OLD TIME FIDDLERS ASSOCIATION with the assistance of the Opry. The stone was designed by Jody Hall who designed the Uncle Pen and Clayton McMichen monuments.....THE HOBBS SISTERS & BOB GOFF JR. appeared on the Jamboree U.S.A. show from Wheeling, West Virginia July 5th and received a warm welcome for their fine performance. They were offered a regular slot on the Jamboree. Also in the works for the group is their first record album to be done in July or August when their fiddle player, AISUKE MATSUTGA, returns to the U.S. from his home in Japan..... Speaking of Japan, one of the visitors to the festivals this summer from Japan has been HICAL SUGIULA. Hikaro, as he prefers to be called, is one of the unsung heroes of the bluegrass world serving as translator for the many U.S. bluegrass bands touring Japan.....The Museum Of Modern Art on West 53rd Street in New York City hosted their first bluegrass show, June 6th and 7th with the NEW PINE HILL RAMBLERS. The show was a huge success with over 2700 people in attendance.....The SULLIVAN FAMILY are scheduled to appear on the Grand Ole Opry July 19th. Buses have been chartered from the Sullivan's native Alabama as well as Florida to see their performance.....Newest entry into the bluegrass festival schedule will be an event to be held in CARL STORY'S hometown of Lenoir, North Carolina October 9-12.....Long time stalwart of the traditional country music groups and especially CHARLIE MONROE'S KENTUCKY PARDNERS on fiddle and harmonica, SLIM MARTIN passed away of a heart attack at his home in Greensboro. North Carolina June 29th. He and his wife, Wilma, a fellow musician, had just returned from an appearance with Charlie in Elizabethton, Tennessee... LITTLE ROY LEWIS has a new toy. At Mac Wiseman's .Bluegrass Festival in Renfro Valley, Kentucky he was delivered a Martin ¼-28 guitar. Not much bigger than a ukulele it is one of the rarest models that Martin makes. Roy's is supposedly the second one that Martin has made. It even looks small on Little Roy.....And people always think that life of a bluegrass artist entertainer is nothing but pick and sing. Would you believe MAC WISEMAN at his festival slicing up country ham for ham biscuits to help out with the breakfast rush.....Bluegrass night spot in the New Jersey-New York area, The Spare Room was sold out in advance at the June appearance of BILL MONROE and the CAFFREY FAMILY. THE OSBORNE BROTHERS will be filling in for LESTER FLATT doing the Martha white morning radio shows during July and August while Lester is recovering.....One of the finest group of musicians seen this summer has been the GOINS BROTHERS' new group. CURLY LAMBERT on mandolin, CONLEY GOINS on bass, BUDDY GRIFFIN, fiddle plus MELVIN and RAY on guitar and banjo respectively.....During BILL MONROE'S trip to England and Europe this past May he was able to tour the area of Scotland where his ancestors were from. Coordinating the entire tour was BILL CLIFTON. While BILL MONROE was overseas his creative talents seemed to be overflowing and he came back with a number of new instrumentals. KENNY BAKER has been having to work overtime to keep up with "The Chief's" new tunes.....BILL CLIFTON has been in the states since the middle of June appearing at the Bean Blossom, Cosby and Lavonia feativals as well as recording a new LP with RED RECTOR. Bill's latest release on County "Come By The Hills" has been well received by all who have heard it. Helping on that session, cut last year when Bill was in the U.S., were KENNY BAKER, JOHN DUFFEY, WALTER HENSLEY, RED RECTOR, TOM GRAY and MIKE SEEGER.... KVOO Tulsa, Oklahoma a 50,000 watt clear channel station at 1770 has extended their bluegrass show to an hour each Sunday night. The host LEE RICHARDS is quite excited about the interest bluegrass has created for the station..... THE JONES BROTHERS and the LOG CABIN BOYS have just finished a new album for Pine Tree. They have also added a T.V. show on channel 17 Friday evenings from 6 to 6:30 in Atlanta, Georgia.....The Great Midwestern Bluegrass Music Hall at 118 W. Washington St. in Louisville, Kentucky will be opening August 1st. The club will feature nothing but bluegrass music and will be the home for the BLUEGRASS ALLIANCE when they are in Louisville. The club was previously known as the Great Midwestern Developement Co......"Fiddlin" CHUBBY ANTHONY has joined ROBERT McDOUGAL and the TALL TIMBER BLUEGRASS. The group just completed their first album. The group's guitar player is KEIL BROWN and not Keil Bailey as originally noted....BLAINE SPROUSE fiddler formerly with JIMMY MARTIN has joined the Viola, Illinois group THE LOST KENTUCKIANS..... JACK COOKE, bass player with RALPH STANLEY was presented with an oil portrait of himself at the festival in Bean Blossom, Indiana this year. Last year's recipient of a portrait was CURLY RAY CLINE. RALPH STANLEY is scheduled to receive one next year.....The Columbus Ohio group WHEATSTRAW is anxiously awaiting the release of their first album on OId Homestead.....Helping out on a recent RED ALLEN record were BENNY MARTIN and BUCK (UNCLE JOSH) GRAVES.....Vernon Mclntyre has reorganized the APPALACHIAN GRASS. New members are JEFF CAMPBELL, banjo; TED LOUGHREY, mandolin; DALEN JACKSON, bass; ALAN EISENMAN, fiddle and VERNON switching from banjo to guitar. They are back working Wednesday through Saturday at Kings Row in Cincinnati, Ohio.....Birthdaying this month are: HERSCHEL SIZEMORE (6), JIMMY MARTIN (10), BRUCE JONES (15) and J.D. CROWE. |
Vol. 10 No. 3 - September 1975A very special happy 70th birthday to POP LEWIS. POP will celebrate his special day on September 22nd and we want everyone to help him have a happy day by sending him a card at: Rt. 1, Lincolnton, Ga...... DICK MUELLER of the MUELLER BBOTHERS BAND has decided to try acupuncture in hopes of losing weight. He recently had a staple put in his ear to help ward off hunger. Brother TED says, "if this doesn't work we're having a zipper installed in his mouth!".....THE LIMITED EDITION, a South Florida based group, will be playing the Glenstone Lodge in Gatlinburg, Tenn. during the month of August with a promise of continuing September and October if the crowds are good. The group currently consists of BOB SHULER, guitar; DAVE STYPE,banjo; and BILL MIDDLETON, bass.....We are sorry to report CLARK KESSINGER of St. Albans, West Virginia died June 4. Friends and fans are getting together to erect a memorial to this great fiddler. Those wishing to contribute may do so by sending their contribution to: Clark Kessinger Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 2378, Dayton, OH 45429.....The FIRST STATE BLUEGRASS BOYS have been very active in Bi-Centennial celebrations in Delaware playing a concert for the city of Wilmington, Delaware and a private party for state officials..... BILL SAGE, BOB SAGE and "LITTLE SUSIE" of the FIRST STATE BLUEGRASS BOYS played parts in an episode of the television series, "Moving On" which was filmed in Baltimore, Maryland. The title of the episode is "Conrads Stowaway" and will be shown in September.....We are huppy to report LESTER FLATT is getting along very well after a short return to the hospital and should be back playing again by the time you read this report..... HERSCHEL SIZEMORE and AL WOOD have become partners and will be playing under the name COUNTRY GRASS. Other members of the group are: DARICE GREEN, bass and MIKE WOOD, guitar.....A new gospel group has been formed called, THE NEW GOSPEL SHIP. Members of the group are: JIM DUTTON, fiddle and mandolin; MARTIN TOWNSEND, banjo; DENNIS CRAMER, bass; JACK HAGER, guitar; and JUNE DUTTON, vocalist.....A new banjo player for THE BLUEGRASS RANGERS is JOHN LANEY.....The C.F. Martin Organization and Opryland U.S.A. have announced that Martin guitars and Vega banjos are now the official acoustic instruments of Opryland. As a part of the agreement, Martin will supply 12 fretted instruments and a set of Fibes drums for use by the entertainers in a wide variety of shows at the park. In keeping with Martin's policy not to give instruments in return for endorsements, all instruments will remain the property of C.F. Martin..... THE NEW RIVER BOYS, an interesting group made up of four coal miners and a doctor, are currently playing every Wednesday night at The Back Door, a pizza parlor in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Their first album is due out anytime on the June Apple label, which records mountain musicians who might not otherwise get a chance to record.....The BLUEGRASS ECHOES, GERALD CHURCH, guitar; RAY JONES, banjo; TOM HAGA, mandolin; and BILL HICKMAN on bass have just recorded two songs written by their mandolin player , TOM HAGA. The songs on a 45 rpm record are "Mama" and "It's You."..... LARRY McNEELY has just completed filming an episode of "The Waltons" entitled "The Breakdown" to be broadcast this fall. LARRY can also be heard on banjo throughout the sound-track of the new Walt Disney Movie, “Apple Dumpling Gang.".....Congratulations to DR. RICHARD and DR. MARY DIETERLE on the birth of their daughter, Caroline Elizabeth. DICK DIETERLE is the fiddle player with the R.F.D. BOYS.....A new fan club was formed reeently for the SUGARLOAF RAMBLERS of North Carolina. Anyone wishing to join should contact: Joan Smith, P.O.Box 61, Monroe, N.C. 28110.....The Bluegrass Ramble Picnic, which is held each year to raise funds for WCNY-FM radio in Syracuse, N.Y. was again very successful with about 5000 attending the festivities in Cato, N.Y. August 3rd. Many groups donated their time and talent and BILL KNOWLTON is now busy planning next year's picnie for the first Sunday in August.....THE MUELLER BROTHERS send greetings from the great northwest where they have been planting a little bluegrass in Montanna and Wyoming..... BLADES OF GRASS have re-organized and the group now consists of GILBERT ROARK, guitar and Dobro; BOB HICKS, banjo; JOHN HICKS, mandolin and guitar and BEBE ROARK, bass.....Barbara Zill, fan club president for the R.F.D. BOYS, had an opportunity to display bluegrass items during the Ann Arbor, Michigan Art Street Fair. The Art Display which is one of the largest of its kind usually attracts about 200,000 people.....THE SOUTHBOUND, a North Carolina based band, has recently undergone some member changes and they now have, JIMMY HALEY, guitar; LOUIS PYRTLE, banjo; DENNIS SEVERT, mandolin; and DOUG CAMPBELL, bass. As member changes have been very recent, they will not appear at some of their scheduled festivals..... Saturday July 26th was proclaimed CHARLIE MONROE DAY in Ohio County, Kentucky by Ohio county judge C.B. Embry, Jr. It was the first time CHARLIE had returned to his home town of Rosine in many years and he was welcomed by many friends and fans and a standing ovation when he stepped on stage. The First Charlie Monroe Bluegrass Music Festival will be held September 20-21at Windy Hollow Park and Recreation Area 10 miles southwest of Owensboro, Kentucky. He will appear at Rosine again Sept. 19.....Going To Market is a new club in Memphis, Tennessee run by ED HUBBARD, flute player with DOUG DILLARD, which offers a fantastic array of talent each Thursday through Sunday. The totally new concept for musicians with a beautiful concert pavillion and park offer a pleasant day of entertainment.....The BLUEGRASS UPRISING is a new group in Northern New Jersey. Current members are: MIKE FOSTER, bass; JOHN JOHNSTON, rhythm guitar; TOM BLATZ, fiddle; and ROGER MARKS, banjo..... JIMMY and CLEDA DRIFTIVOOD and BARBARA SANDERS have reorganized the Battle Music Company. They have started producing a new series of traditional music recordings and two that are now available are, "Aunt Ollie Gilbert Sings Folk Songs For Her Friends" and "Jimmy Driftwood - A Lesson In Folk Music." The records will be sold by mail order only and may be ordered from Battle Music Company, Timbo, AR 72680.....A new monthly newspaper devoted to traditional music in Maine is now available. Old Time Gazette will be available in stores and at shows in Maine, however others interested may write: Julia Littleton-Taylor, Editor, Box 5, Lincolnville, Me 04849.....The FREE STATE STRING BAND recently took part in a tree planting ceremony in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. What made the event special was the fact that the trees planted were raised from seedlings taken to the moon and back on Apollo 14. The group will play some special concerts in Vienna, Virginia as part of International Children's Week in support of the anti-pollution campaign sponsored by the Department of Agriculture.....Country Jamboree is a new music show held in a renovated movie theatre in Mathews County, Virginia. The COUNTRY TRAVELERS may be seen there each Saturday night. Members in that group are: JIM HATCH, guitar; BOB OERTEL, bass; DAVID ADAMS, banjo; BOB LEWIS, mandolin; and FRANK POPE, fiddle.... While here playing some festivals this season, BILL CLIFTON along with RED RECTOR, recorded a new LP in Roanoke, Virginia for Dave Freeman's County Records. Assisting on the session were TATER TATE, JOHN PALMER and BILLY EDIVARDS of the SHENANDOAH CUT-UPS..... JESS FREILEY, fiddle player with LAWRENCE LANE'S KENTUCKY GRASS passed away the victim of a heart attack on June 28th. He was a resident of Marion, Ohio. His replacement is RAY SPONAUGLE ....Another of the North Carolina based new groups, very active in the circuit this season is BLUE DENIM. Members of the band are JOE MAHAFFEY, guitar; JIM CONNELL,bass; DAREL WILES Dobro; WENDELL WILES, mandolin and R.C. HARRIS, banjo. The group was the subject of a feature article in a recent edition of the Mooresville, N.C. Tribune. The article was titled "The Best Bluegrass Banker In Creation" in reference to R.C.'s vocation as a bank executive with The Northwestern Bank in Mooresville. You just can't tell your pickers without a program anymore..... Among the books available on bluegrass music is a new edition of "Bluegrass Music" by Toru Mitsui. The book was originally published in 1967 and is written in Japanese. It is published in Tokyo, Japan by Bronze Ltd. One of the very interesting portions, which is partially in English, is a listing of the bluegrass records released in Japan complete with U.S. label and U.S. catalogue number.....The Japanese have also started to beat us at our own music. Winner of the fiddle category at the recent National Championship Country Music Contest in Warrenton, Virginia was AISUKE MATSUTGA who plays fiddle with the HOBBS SISTERS and BOB GOFF JR. ....Dick Freeland of Rebel Records is busily working at construction of a brand new building to house the record company in "wild, wonderful," Alderson, West Virginia.....LESTER FLATT is scheduled into the recording studio the 20th and 21st of August for an LP for the Flying Fish label out of Chicago.....Celebrating birthdays this month are BILL MONROE (13), CLYDE MOODY (19), and ROY [POP] LEWIS (22).
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Vol. 10 No. 4 - October 1975 |