Curly Seckler continues to progress well with his recovery from triple bypass surgery on April 5. He sends his thanks to all who sent a card or email, and appreciates all the encouraging messages.
On May 23 Seckler made his first public appearance since the operation when he attended Mac Wiseman’s 85th birthday party at the Texas Troubadour Theatre in Nashville. The event was hosted by Eddie Stubbs and broadcast live on WSM Radio. Several hundred people attended, including Jesse McReynolds, Bobby Osborne, Del McCoury, Ronnie Reno, Larry Cordle, Carl Jackson, Ramona Jones, Jean Shepard, Jim Ed Brown and many more of Wiseman’s friends from bluegrass and country music.
More recently, on June 24, Seckler traveled to Owensboro, Kentucky, to attend the Pioneers of Bluegrass Gathering at the International Bluegrass Music Museum for River of Music Party (ROMP).
He performed two songs as a guest with Mac Martin & the Dixie Travelers in the afternoon, then toured the museum, where his mandolin has been on display for the last year. During the Legends Supper, Seckler was presented with a poster, made by Hatch Show Print, commemorating his 75th anniversary in bluegrass music and a letter of congratulations from U.S. Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee.
A copy of the limited-edition poster is available from his web site.
During the Legends Concert that evening, Seckler sang two songs with The Whites and received a standing ovation. Later he visited for a few minutes with Doc Watson backstage before Watson’s own on-stage performance and enjoyed spending time with his old friend Ramblin’ Tommy Scott, who was celebrating his 93rd birthday.
Photographs picturing Seckler at the event can be viewed at Darwin Davidson’s web site.
On July 10 Seckler joined another old friend when he helped Jesse McReynolds celebrate his Birthday Bash at the Pick Inn, Gallatin, Tennessee. He was among the many performers at the two-day festival celebrating McReynolds’ 81st birthday.
On Saturday, July 31 at 6:00 p.m. (EDT), UNC-TV will broadcast Seckler’s performance on the Song of the Mountains program. The show, taped in May of 2009 at the Lincoln Theatre in Marion, Virginia, features Seckler along with the great young North Carolina band, Constant Change.
If you live outside of North Carolina, please check your local listings for the broadcast date on your PBS station. Further information can also be found at www.songofthemountains.org.
