Tag: Country Current

Haley Stiltner, USN, to appear with Wynonna on TV tonight

Since 1923, the annual lighting of the National Christmas Tree has been a highlight of the holiday season in Washington, DC. Each year a magnificent tree is brought in to the capitol for placement at the White House, where it is decorated and lit at a gala ceremony for invited guests.

Traditionally, the Christmas decorations at the White House are under the direction of the First Lady, who since 1954, has also opened a section of her and the President’s home to citizens, decked out in its holiday finery. Trees representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five US territories also grace the White House lawn, decorated by representatives of their local residents.

In recent times, the lighting of the national tree has been televised as a celebration of American music in its many forms, with participation from a variety of entertainers, but always including a contingent of US military performers. This year, the US Navy Concert Band has been chosen, with a special spot created for the Navy’s new banjo player, Haley Stiltner.

Haley, a graduate of the ETSU Bluegrass, Old Time & Country Music Studies program, is a member of the the Navy’s Country Current band, a group launched by Bill Emerson of Country Gentlemen fame in 1989. She serves as the first female banjo player in the Navy, and began her tenure this year following the retirement of Keith Arneson. Ever since her teen years, Haley has been recognized as an exceptional banjo player and songwriter, with one of her compositions, It’s Never Too Late, being recorded by Rhonda Vincent.

Another of the featured artists on the show, Wynonna Judd, requested a banjo player for her portion of the program, and the Navy had just the thing. Country Current shares facilities with the Concert Band, and Stiltner quickly found herself included. That’s quite an introduction into the limelight!

The Tree Lighting actually occurred last Thursday, but the program was taped to be televised tonight on the Hallmark Channel at 7:00 p.m. (EST). Also appearing will be Kathie Lee Gifford and Dean Cain as hosts, with music from Craig Campbell, The Beach Boys, Boys II Bow Ties, The Texas Tenors, Manheim Steamroller, Jack Wagner, Steve Gibson, and Us The Duo.

Congratulations Haley – we’ll be watching!

Keith Arneson’s final gig

Twenty-four years after Keith Arneson and his banjo walked out of boot camp, he played his final gig in uniform Friday night with the U.S. Navy band, Country Current.

It was a bittersweet moment for Arneson, and for a few dozen chilly fans who caught the performance at Circa Blue Fest in Martinsburg, WV. By the time the final notes sounded on the Navy’s fight song, Anchor’s Aweigh, and Arneson walked off the stage in his Navy whites, there were few dry eyes in the house.

When asked what was next, Arneson, who must have been class clown in high school, quipped, “I know I’m not going to get a haircut in two weeks.” But he was somber and mellow, for the most part, as he recalled his tour of duty in interviews before and after his last set.

“I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said. “I saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime chance.” The gig took him to 49 states (“I never got to Hawaii”), the Grand Ole Opry, a halftime show at a National Football League game in New Orleans and the White House. “I played for four presidents (Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump). Three of them were two-termers, so it’s time for me to go,” he said, punctuating the sentence with a wry grin.

Arneson was 30 when he signed up, the oldest guy in boot camp. With a wife and family, he was looking for work. “My ideal job was a music job with benefits,” he noted. “This was perfect.”

“It’s kind of bittersweet,” he said before the set. “I’ll miss the guys and the traveling and playing. The haircuts, the workouts, all that; it hasn’t sunk in yet that I don’t have to do that anymore.”

Arneson has already announced that he’s rejoining former Navy Band colleague Wayne Taylor, and he’s been playing in the Washington, D.C., suburbs in a banjo-guitar-bass trio with Shannon Borges and Shelly Howard. He’s also been working up melodies for new songs.

“It was the greatest job in the world,” Arneson said. But he started thinking about retiring when he realized the band’s soundman was born the year he joined the band. “It’s kind of like I’m getting out of velvet handcuffs.”

He came in as a First Class Petty Officer and retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. Remarkably, Arneson is just the second banjo player in the band’s 44-year history. He replaced the legendary Bill Emerson. Bassman Danny Stewart will fill Arneson’s banjo slot until the permanent replacement finishes boot camp.

Shortly after he walked off stage, Arneson was engulfed in hugs from his bandmates and members of Danny Paisley’s band as they prepared to hit the stage. Then Arneson walked, alone, down a long hallway and into civilian life.

A few minutes later, he popped out of the dressing room, clothed in several layers of tie-dye shirts and jackets, his trusty five-string slung over his shoulder.

Keith Arneson’s watch was over.

Country Current plays bluegrass at Nats Park

Last week the Washington Nationals invited US Navy Band Country Current to the ball park to take part in a Navy celebration day. Guitarist and vocalist Kenny Ray Horton sang the national anthem at the start of the game, and the band played a bluegrass version of God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch.

Country Current is the only dedicated bluegrass outfit in the US military music program, a band that was formed around banjo picker Bill Emerson when he joined the Navy in 1973. Though they also are part of a larger country music group, the band performs bluegrass regularly around the DC area at ceremonial functions and for good will and recruiting appearances at schools and other community gathering places.

The crowd came alive for the bluegrass in the park, as you can see in the video below. Keith Arneson is on banjo, Danny Stewart is on bass, Pat White is on mandolin, and Horton and Joe Friedman are on guitar.

Stay tuned for more news about Country Current in the next few weeks. They have brought in two new members of the band, who will be announced when they complete basic training in about six weeks.

Navy Band still hunting a banjo picker

We heard again this week from our friends with US Navy Band Country Current, saying that they are still on the hunt for a banjo player to join their group.

The position also requires that the successful applicant double on rhythm guitar and harmony vocals, with a starting salary of $58,960-$65,656, plus benefits including 30 days of paid leave.

Amazingly, Country Current has only had two banjo players assigned to the band since 1973. Bill Emerson was the first, and spent 20 years defining the role, and Keith Arneson has filled that gig since Bill retired in 1993. Now it’s time for Keith to step aside, and the band is eager to find a young musician ready to start their adventure in the Navy.

If accepted, the new banjo picker will need to complete basic training, which shouldn’t be too tough for anyone in good physical condition.

Here is video of Country Current performing earlier this summer at Wind Gap, including a plug for the banjo opening.

 

To be considered for an audition, contact the US Navy Band by phone (202-433-2840) or email. More details about Country Current or the US Navy Band program can be found online.

Banjo spot opens up in Country Current

US Navy Band Country Current is on the hunt for a new banjo player, with Senior Chief Keith Arneson set to retire next spring. Country Current is the Navy’s only band dedicated to bluegrass and country music, and they demand high levels of musicianship and professionalism to become a member.

This banjo spot, and the founding of Country Current, traces directly back to five string legend Bill Emerson, who was the original leader and banjo picker with the band in 1973. They perform regionally from their home base in Washington, DC at ceremonial, community, and recruiting-oriented events, and also travel to appear at bluegrass festivals around the US.

Other prominent past members include Wayne Taylor and Frank Solivan. Arneson had succeeded Emerson in the band, so they have had only two banjo players over the past 43 years.

Keith says he has enjoyed his time in the Navy, and recommends than any pickers who need a steady gig should give it a thought.

“It’s been a heck of a ride. It’s given me a good life, and health care benefits for the rest of my life. I’ve gotten to play for Presidents, Kings and Queens, and high ranking military officials.

I came in to the band in 1993. I was 30 years old when I applied for the position, working a day job with a wife, kids, and a mortgage.

Next thing I knew I was doing push-ups at basic training in Illinois.

But this is a young man’s gig. Now they are musicians in the band younger than my kids.”

So… if you are a capable young banjoist looking for a dependable gig with a regular paycheck plus substantial benefits, this could be the job for you. The starting salary for the successful candidate ranges from $57, 461 – $62,815, including 30 days of paid leave.

The job requires that you also can double on acoustic guitar and background vocals, and pass a military physical and FBI background check. And get through 9-11 weeks of boot camp.

But Keith says that basic training is infinitely survivable. And he also notes that once accepted into Country Current, the new banjo picker will be guaranteed that their entire term of service in the Navy will remain in DC. There is some band travel, but no re-assignments or temporary duty stations to be worried about, something important for young families.

To be considered for an audition, contact the US Navy Band by phone (202-433-2840) or email. All application materials must be in by June 27, with auditions scheduled for July 22 in DC.

Arneson says he will be on hand for the auditions to help choose his replacement.

“I’ll be a technical writer at the auditions for my replacement, offering suggestions on the various applicants, but I won’t actually have a vote.”

As for Keith, he says he’s retiring from the military, but not from playing banjo. He has been teaching banjo since he was 18 years old, and plans to take on more private students. He’ll also be working with Wayne Taylor again in his group, Appaloosa.

He also said that anyone considering applying for his position is welcome to contact him on Facebook for more feedback.

More details about Country Current or the US Navy Band program can be found online.

Anchors Aweigh for Danny Stewart

Danny Stewart has been around bluegrass all his life. His dad, also Danny Stewart, and his granddad are bluegrass pickers, and young Mr. Stewart studied the music in the Bluegrass, Old Time & Country Music program at East Tennessee State University.

While also serving as bass player for The Larry Stephenson Band, Danny has been an adjunct faculty member at ETSU this past three years, teaching several bluegrass instruments and leading ensembles.

But now he’s made a major career change. He’s not leaving music, but has enlisted in the US Navy in order to play with Country Current, the Navy’s bluegrass band based in Washington, DC. In so doing, he is following the career path of a number of other illustrious bluegrass artists, starting with Bill Emerson who helped found Country Current in 1973, and more recent alumni Wayne Taylor and Frank Solivan.

We caught up with Danny yesterday, and he shared some details about his transition from civilian to military life.

“I first found out about the potential bass position opening for US Navy Band Country Current last Fall, and decided to inquire about an audition. After sending in my audition packet which included live recordings of myself playing, I was invited to a live audition along with the band in DC at the Washington Navy Yard in late January 2014.

This was my first time on a military base, and to say I was nervous is an understatement.

Everything went rather well, and I found out a few weeks later that I had gotten the job. The next step was to ‘swear in,’ get signed up with a Navy recruiter in my hometown, and start to get prepared for boot camp!

I went to Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois (Navy boot camp) on June 4 and FINALLY graduated from there on August 1. Wow, that was a good day! Both my parents and my wife Ashley were able to come out to see the graduation ceremony which was nice.

I’m very excited to be playing with one of the best groups in bluegrass music. I’ve been extremely familiar with Country Current growing up, going to bluegrass festivals in the Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey area, and am excited about playing with this power house, high energy band. I’m playing upright bass with the bluegrass band, and electric bass with the country band.

It was a difficult decision to make the change and the move to do this, but I’m extremely thrilled for the future opportunities that lie ahead with the US Navy Band Country Current, getting involved with the music scene in the DC area, and turning the page to the next chapter in my wife (Ashley Stewart) and my life.”

Stewart comes in as a Musician First Class (MU1), an E6 position. Not too shabby!

We’re sure he’ll be a credit to the band, the Navy, and his fellow ETSU grads.

Sa…lute!

Country Current salutes the troops

Kudos to Ted Lehmann, bluegrass blogger extraordinaire, for shooting and posting this video from the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival a week ago.

He captured US Navy Band Country Current performing their popular service anthems medley, which is a high point of all their shows. The guys put aside inter-service rivalries to salute all members of the military in this collection of instrumental bluegrass versions of their songs.

 

Whenever they perform this number, the band asks current or former members of each branch to rise and be recognized when their anthem is played.

All the members of Country Current are enlisted members of the US Navy, stationed in the DC area. Former members include Frank Solivan and Wayne Taylor, plus banjo legend Bill Emerson who help start the group in 1973.

Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa

While bluegrass listeners are becoming increasingly familiar with the music of Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa, which formed in 2008, newer fans may be unfamiliar with Wayne’s background.

With his earliest recollection of music occurring at the American Legion where his father used to take him to hear music on the weekends, it seems that Wayne’s life in music has simply fallen into place over the years. At the mere age of nine there is no way Wayne Taylor could have known what lay in store for him when he learned his first guitar chords at the Legion Hall from a guitarist named Clyde Costner. Now 50 years later, and having served almost 25 years in the Navy, Wayne is just beginning a new chapter in his life’s story.

Taylor has always found his passion in music. Early in his career, Wayne studied music therapy, earned a music degree from The Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, worked within a Community Readiness Training Program, and was also employed with Probation and Patrol at a minimum security prison in Catawba County, North Carolina. As a CRT instructor, he began teaching music to groups of inmates (who graduated every six weeks), with an end goal of them performing as a part of the graduation ceremonies. While seeking to continue a career which involved music, it wasn’t long before he obtained a position within the Navy bluegrass band Country Current, where he served as guitarist and lead singer.

For the past four years, Wayne has performed with his band Appaloosa. Besides having success with their latest project, It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Day, Wayne and company are now excited to perform for the first time at events such as the 10th annual Bluegrass on the Beach at Lake Havasu State Park in Arizona, and the Steve Kaufman Guitar Kamp in Maryville, TN, where Wayne will appear as a guitar instructor.

Perhaps the most exciting upcoming event for Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa is their new festival, fittingly taking place over Veteran’s Day weekend (11/10) at the Maiden High School auditorium in Maiden, NC. This one day festival, which will get underway at 10:00 a.m., will feature five acts: Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band, The Bluegrass Brothers, The Cockman Family Band, the US Navy Band Country Current, and Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa. As the festival is hosted by Cindy Baucom of Knee Deep in Bluegrass, there’s even the potential to see her hubby, the Duke of Drive, make an appearance.

With the recent release of their third album and a holiday release planned for this year as well, Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa are doing quite well for themselves. As a matter of fact, they plan to begin recording again this next month and will be making their third tour of Europe in July 2012 where they are scheduled to perform in Norway and Holland, and will complete the 13-day tour with several performances at The Guildtown Bluegrass Festival in Scotland.

For more information regarding Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa or Wayne Taylor’s Homecoming Veteran’s Day Weekend Bluegrass Festival, visit them online.

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