The festival runs August 4-7 in East Hartford, CT and Louisa will conduct a Songwriting Master Seminar on the 6th and 7th. Subtitled From Inspiration to Stage, the seminar will be a group, workshop experience designed to help songwriters with the process of refining a song, with the goal of working with an artist toward arrangement and performance.
All seminar participants will also take part in a group song composition, with input from each and all. Talk about collaboration!
Branscomb has seen her songs recorded by such stellar artists as Alison Krauss and Dale Ann Bradley, and her most recent album, I’ll Take Love, was released last month on Compass.
Registration for the Songwriting Master Seminar costs $25 in addition to the festival admission charge. It will run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the 6th, and from 10:00 to noon on the 7th – followed by a performance of the group song on the main stage by Donna Ulisse during her set.
Space is quite limited; only 15 registrations will be taken. Contact Podunk to sign up.
Saturday’s edition of the New York Times included a feature on Sarah Jarosz, written by Andy Langer, one of her fellow Austinites.
They talk about her studying at Boston’s New England Conservatory, her upcoming sophomore CD, Follow Me Down, her roots in bluegrass and old time music, and questions about her genre-bending sound.
From the article…
“I grew up appreciating musicians that were kind of on the edge, coming from acoustic folk and bluegrass backgrounds, but also pushing the envelope,” said Ms. Jarosz, who has recently begun charting original music for string quartets, something she learned this semester in school and hopes to apply to her next record. “And because of that, I don’t feel tied down to any genre or history. And yet, I think there’s a difference between not worrying about purists and not respecting that history. I came from that world. But you can respect that world and not be tied down to it.”
While she’s comfortable poking at the ceiling a bit, Ms. Jarosz said she’s not in a rush to figure out just how far away she’ll eventually wind up from her bluegrass and acoustic roots. That “Follow Me Down” is sparking those kinds of discussions before its release suggests that maybe that story line will soon supplant the most obvious one: her age.
“I’m still 19, so I’d understand if people still want to talk about my age,” Ms. Jarosz said. “But here’s the thing: Even if nobody was talking about me at all, I’d still be doing this. School’s taught me so much already about how much I don’t know. It’s made me think about music in a different, deeper way. I think I’m still just scratching the surface.”
This Wednesday, Steve Martin and Steep Canyon Rangers will pay a visit to our nation’s capital, where they are scheduled to perform at the White House.
We heard this morning form Graham Sharp, who plays ‘second banjo’ on the Martin/Rangers show, who said that he just found out about the DC gig when he and the band made it back home from a California swing.
“I believe the event has to do with poetry and music and we’ll be playing a tune we call Auden’s Train. It’s a poem by WH Auden set to bluegrass, sort of in the Orange Blossom Special tradition.
I understand the President will be in attendance, so of course we’re all thrilled and honored at the invitation.”
Way to go guys! We are hoping to get some photos from their White House appearance to share on Thursday.
From October 1, 2010 through to the end of September 2011, we will, each day, celebrate the life of Bill Monroe by sharing information about him and those people who are associated with his life and music career. This information will include births and deaths; recording sessions; single, LP and CD release dates; and other interesting tidbits. Richard F. Thompson is responsible for the research and compilation of this information. We invite readers to share any tidbits, photos or memories you would like us to include.
May 8, 1928 Benjamin “Benny” Edward Martin Snr [fiddle] was born in Sparta, Tennessee. *
May 8, 1934 Bill Price was born in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina. **
May 8, 1955 Reunion of the Monroe Brothers (Charlie and Bill) at New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Maryland. The concert area was filled to capacity.
May 8, 1959 Rick Campbell was born in Sneedville, Tennessee. ***
May 8, 1968 George D Hay died in Virginia Beach, Virginia. ****
May 8, 2001 CD released – Bill Monroe Greatest Hits (Classic World Production CWP 1306) *****
* Benny Martin replaced Chubby Wise in January 1948 and stayed with the Blue Grass Boys through to 1949. He returned to fill the fiddle spot when Bobby Hicks left Monroe in 1959.
He participated in two recording sessions – cutting Sunny Side of the Mountain (in February 1952) and playing a second fiddle on Lonesome Wind Blues.
Also a video recording of Martin playing on Traveling Down This Lonesome Road and Raw Hide performed on stage at the 1965 Roanoke Bluegrass Festival was issued by Shanachie.
** Bill Price had two stints as a Blue Grass Boy, one in 1954, lasting five months, playing guitar shortly after Jimmy Martin left the band, and the other for a few months in 1956.
He was not involved in any recording sessions.
*** Rick Campbell filled-in, deputising for Robert Bowlin, on fiddle during July 1994.
**** An American radio personality, George D Hay was the founder of the original Grand Ole Opry radio programme, the WSM Barn Dance, which began in 1925. Two years later “The Solemn Old Judge” (he was neither solemn nor old), as Hay billed himself, announced, “For the past hour, we have been listening to music taken largely from Grand Opera. From now on we will present the Grand Ole Opry.” That name became synonymous with country music world wide and continues in use today.
He signed Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys to the Grand Ole Opry cast in October 1939.
In 1945 Hay wrote A Story of the Grand Ole Opry, and he became an editor of Nashville’s Pickin’ and Singin’ News in 1953. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966.
Hay moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he died in 1968.
***** Bill Monroe Greatest Hits, 12 tracks
Track listing – Orange Blossom Special, Uncle Pen, Footprints in the Snow, Bluegrass Breakdown, I Saw the Light, Shady Grove, Shenandoah Breakdown, Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8), The Prisoner’s Song, Blue Moon of Kentucky, Can’t You Hear me Callin’ and Nine Pound Hammer is too Heavy.
Frank Solivan, bluegrass singer, songwriter, bandleader and mandolinist, has posted a lovely Mother’s Day video tribute online.
Its a song of his called A Mother’s Hand, which he wrote several years ago. Frank is offering it to all mothers, sons and daughters, and those missing their moms on Mother’s Day 2011.
From October 1, 2010 through to the end of September 2011, we will, each day, celebrate the life of Bill Monroe by sharing information about him and those people who are associated with his life and music career. This information will include births and deaths; recording sessions; single, LP and CD release dates; and other interesting tidbits. Richard F. Thompson is responsible for the research and compilation of this information. We invite readers to share any tidbits, photos or memories you would like us to include.
May 7, 1983 Bill Monroe served as Grand Marshall for the Pegasus Parade in Louisville, Kentucky.
May 7, 1985 Recording session – Bill Monroe and Jim & Jesse recorded I’m on My Way Back to the Old Home and Mighty Dark To Travel. Also working at the session were Wayne Lewis [guitar], Blake Williams [banjo], ‘Tater’ Tate [bass] and Glen Duncan [fiddle] along with Jim McReynolds [guitar and lead vocals], Jesse McReynolds [mandolin and baritone vocals]. Later in the day Bill Monroe and the Seldom Scene recorded Remember the Cross. Lewis, Williams and Duncan assisted along with John Duffey [mandolin, lead and tenor vocals], Mike Auldridge [Dobro(R) and baritone vocals], ‘Tater’ Tate [bass vocals] and Emory Gordy, Jr. [bass]. The producer at both sessions was Emory Gordy, Jr. *
May 7, 2005 Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys: The Definitive Collection, a newly released digest of their most important work, released on Decca/Chronicles/UME, made its debut at # 7 on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums chart this week.
* I’m on My Way Back to the Old Home and Remember the Cross are included on the LP Bill Monroe and Stars of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame (MCA-5625), which was released on August 19, 1985.
James R ’Jim’ Peva, a tireless worker at Bean Blossom and a long-standing friend of Bill Monroe’s shares his observations –
“The Bill Monroe I knew was a perfect gentleman, not very talkative but very polite, whose favorite words during most conversations were, ‘Yes Sir,’ ‘No Sir,’ and ‘Is that right?’
As I got to know him, I realized that he was basically a shy person (except when performing on stage), and that his eyesight was not very good. Sometimes he would not recognize people because of this disability, and that was mistaken by some people who thought he was ‘distant’ or impolite.
He sometimes spoke of himself in the third person, such as ‘Bill Monroe will be at that show,’ rather than, ‘I will be there.’
Even in later years when his health was not very good, he could transform himself from a sick old man offstage into the vigorous young Bill Monroe of 1945 the minute he got on stage to perform. I never saw him vary the quality or energy of his performance because of a small audience, and he would give the same energetic show to a small group of 15 people that he would to a crowd of several thousand.
He communicated with the members of his band without words, by a glance, striking a chord on his mandolin, and by other ‘body language’ that they soon became very aware of. He was very competitive on stage, and to him, each member of his band, when they took a ‘break’ on their instrument, was challenged to outdo each other member of the band — but nobody could outperform the mandolin player!
Bill’s favorite descriptive term was ‘powerful,’ a word that actually described him and his music.
He was one of a kind. The world will never see another Bill Monroe.”
We posted last month about the scholarship that had just been announced to allow a budding young resonator guitarist to attend the annual ResoSummit in Nashville this Fall. The scholarship was created in the memory of Houston Caldwell, a talented young bluegrass musician and outstanding young man who was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident in 2010.
Earlier this afternoon at the HoustonFest in Galax, VA – held as a memorial for Caldwell – Rob divulged the name of this first recipient, Bea Brackin, 17, of Dalton, GA. She will attend ResoSummit free of charge November 10-13, and thanks to the additional support of an anonymous benefactor, her meals and housing during the 3 day reso-extravaganza will be covered as well.
Bea was selected from among the many applicants for this award, based on videos of her picking Josh Graves’ Flatt Lonesome, and Reso Fandango from Tut Taylor. She has been playing less than two years, and developed her passion for resonator guitar after watching Megan Lovell playing in the studio. That chance encounter led to regular lessons with Megan, and a fine start on a life-long fascination with the instrument.
In accepting the scholarship, Bea explained a bit about what attracted her to the dobro.
“I love the dobro because it is such a versatile instrument and very vocal. I enjoy bluegrass as well as new grass music, and hope to grow as a better player in many different styles of music. I hope to learn a lot more technique and ways of playing at ResoSummit. I believe that being around others who share my love of this instrument will give me new insight in how to play.
I am so honored to receive the Houston Caldwell scholarship, and I am incredibly thankful for this chance to grow as a dobro player!”
Congratulation Bea, and hats off to ResoSummit for extending this opportunity to young musicians!
From October 1, 2010 through to the end of September 2011, we will, each day, celebrate the life of Bill Monroe by sharing information about him and those people who are associated with his life and music career. This information will include births and deaths; recording sessions; single, LP and CD release dates; and other interesting tidbits. Richard F. Thompson is responsible for the research and compilation of this information. We invite readers to share any tidbits, photos or memories you would like us to include.
May 6, 1983 Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys headed a strong cast at the First Annual ‘May On The Mountain’ Bluegrass Festival on the occasion of the grand opening of the Louvin Brothers’ Music Park, Henagar, Alabama.
May 6, 1985 Recording session – During an afternoon session at the Sound Stage Studio Bill Monroe and the Country Gentlemen recorded Lord, Protect My Soul. Also working at the session were Wayne Lewis [guitar], Blake Williams [banjo], ‘Tater’ Tate [bass] and Glen Duncan [fiddle] along with Charlie Waller [guitar and lead vocals], Jimmy Gaudreau [mandolin and baritone vocals] and Bill Yates [bass vocals]. Later in the day Bill Monroe and Mac Wiseman recorded Travelin’ This Lonesome Road. Lewis, Williams, Tate and Duncan assisted along with Wiseman, who sang lead and played guitar. The producer at both sessions was Emory Gordy, Jr. *
May 6, 1997 Bill Monroe was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as part of the early influence category. * *
* Both these recordings are included on the Bill Monroe and Stars of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame album (MCA-5625), which was released on August 19, 1985.
** Ricky Skaggs and Emmylou Harris were Monroe’s presenters.
With Bill Monroe’s induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame (in 1970), the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (1971) and the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame (1991) his induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame makes him unique.
One of the more successful recent entries in the online world of string music instruction has been the Tony Trischka School of Banjo. Using a combination of prerecorded lessons and video exchanges between Tony and his many enrolled students, the school manages to combine the private lesson experience with the benefits of classroom instruction.
The secret is in making all lesson materials available to all students. When student A posts a video of themselves tackling song X, and Tony posts a response video with critique and suggestions, all other students have access to those exchanges, much like a traditional master class. It has morphed into something of a full time job for Tony, and the success of the venture has led to a major expansion of the concept which is scheduled to launch in June.
ArtistWorks Academy of Bluegrass will combine the Trischka School of Banjo with similar, interrelated systems for mandolin, flatpick guitar, fiddle and upright bass. An all-star faculty will be on board offering instruction for players at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels.
Tony tells us that he has been delighted with the evolution of his online teaching portal, and is looking forward to its integration with the Academy.
“I’ve been teaching through the Tony Trischka School of Banjo for over a year and a half now, and it’s been extremely exciting and gratifying to see everything expand…..new faces, new lessons, new interviews, new video exchanges. It’s a whole banjo world with a lot of wonderful people under one cyber roof.
Now the roof just got a lot bigger with the creation of the Academy of Bluegrass. TTSB will almost be the same….just better. With the addition of Mike Marshall on mandolin, Bryan Sutton on guitar, Darol Anger on fiddle and Missy Raines on bass, you now have the chance to double on another instrument, with some of the greatest acoustic players in the world. You’ll also be able to interface with folks on the other sites to find other players in your area.
I’m thrilled beyond words that the Academy of Bluegrass is just about a reality.”
There will be separate registration and tuition for each instrument, but all students and faculty will be able to mingle in a central social community. ArtistWorks describes it as the Academy’s online student union building.
While new students can’t enroll until June, there is a good deal of information about the Academy of Bluegrass online now, including a video overview and introduction.
We’ve had occasion to mention WDVX a number of times on Bluegrass Today, typically with respect to Blue Plate Special, their noontime live performance program that airs weekdays at 102.9 FM out of Knoxville, TN.
They feature a healthy dose of bluegrass and old time music in their programming, but we want to highlight WDVX today for their support of the Banjer Marching Band, who took part in the April 29 Dogwood Parade in Knoxville. Imagine a couple dozens banjo pickers marching along the parade route… that would be hard to ignore!
Jack Hatfield, who manages Hatfield Music in nearby Pigeon Forge, was brought in to lead the bluegrass folks, and Matt Morelock, one of the hosts of Blue Plate Special, managed the old timey pluckers.
The station posted a few photos online; does this qualify as cruel and unusual?
