Author: Richard Thompson

The late Jean Ruth Ritchie was born in the tiny hamlet of Viper, in Perry County, Kentucky, on December 8, 1922, already immersed in the folk music process; that of searching for and the oral handing down of songs. Ritchie’s paternal

Steve Waller, mandolin player, of the Sawtooth Mountain Boys passed away on Friday, June 26, 2015, following a massive heart attack at his partner, Carol Justice’s, home in Cornelius, Oregon. He was 69 years of age. The band was named after

On this Day …. On Monday June 24, 1985, a group of interested individuals gathered in the board-room of BMI’s Nashville headquarters for two days of discussion to explore the possibilities of forming a trade organisation in support of bluegrass music. Initiated

On this Day ….. On June 11, 1952 Nancy Ann Blake (nee Short) was born in Independence, Missouri. She took up cello at the age of 12 and moved to Nashville, where she played the instrument with the Nashville Youth Symphony. In 1972

Ireland’s first and longest running bluegrass music festival at Athy, County Kildare, celebrates 25 years of bluegrass music during this year’s festival over three days from July 10 to July 12, 2015. For the first seven years (1991-1997) the work of

Jean Ritchie, folk singer and dulcimer player, passed away on Monday June 1, 2015, at her home in Berea, Kentucky. She was 92 years old. She is noted for bringing centuries-old Appalachian ballads to the attention of international audiences. Ritchie, who grew

Richard Eddy Watson, guitar-playing grandson of Doc Watson and son of the late Merle Watson, has passed away. He died on Monday evening June 1, 2015, due to a heart attack. Watson’s death came three years and two days after the

On this Day ….. On May 28, 1927, John Palmer, bass player most noted for his time with Don Reno and Red Smiley, was born in Union, South Carolina. He was a World War II veteran. He worked with Don Reno in the

Ralph Sylvester Peer is recognized for his part in the July/August 1927 Bristol, Tennessee, recording sessions which introduced Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family to the world. In Ralph Peer and the Making of Popular Roots Music, Barry Mazor relates the

On May 15, 2015, Kari Estrin – the founder of SERFA (Southeastern Regional Folk Alliance) – presented Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton Levy and Bill Nowlin (the Rounder Founders) with a special award honoring their work. Also presented awards were Alice