As promised, here are more of Frank Baker’s photos from last weekend’s Loudoun Bluegrass Festival. This batch captures the competition, the barn dance and the overall Loudoun vibe. This weekend, Frank will be snagging images at Gettysburg. Look for those next week.
Lynn Morris, a national champion banjo player and award-winning vocalist, is this year’s winner of the Washington Monument Award, presented by the D.C. Bluegrass Union.
Lynn is best known as the leader of the Lynn Morris Band and as a first-rate vocalist. She was once voted IBMA’s female vocalist of the year and was named traditional female vocalist of the year seven straight times by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America. She also won IBMA’s song of the year award for her rendition of Mama’s Hand. That song was written by Hazel Dickens, a previous winner of the Monument trophy.
But Lynn was a true pioneer of the banjo. In 1974, she became the first woman to win the national banjo championship, and she repeated the feat in 1981. As she continues to recover from a stroke, Lynn has become a top-shelf sound engineer. She lives in Winchester, Va., with her husband and musical partner, bass player Marshall Wilborn.
The award will be presented at the fourth annual D.C. Bluegrass Festival, being held Feb. 22 and 23 in suburban Washington. Prior winners, in addition to Hazel Dickens, were Bill Emerson, Tom Gray and Eddie Adcock.
This remembrance of a prominent figure in the Dutch bluegrass community is a contribution from Pieter Groenveld.
Bé Holdtman: 1943 – 2012
I’m very sorry to report that one of the most productive bluegrass concert organizers in Holland, Bé Holdtman passed away on December 8, after a battle with cancer.
Bé was a government worker for the counsel of Emmen, Netherlands. His department was in control of road and water works. He retired from this job only a few years ago.
In the music scene, Holdtman was mostly known his many always-sold-out old-time country and bluegrass shows at the Muzeval theater in Emmen, from 1985 to 1998. Among bands that performed there were the Good Ol’ Persons, White Mountain Bluegrass, High Country, Traver Hollow, Laurie Lewis and Grant Street, Lynn Morris Band, Bill Clifton & Pick of the Crop, Robin and Linda Williams and their Fine Band, Bob Paisley & Southern Grass, Kate McKenzie Band, Liz Meyer & Midnight Flyer, Chris Jones and the Night Drivers, Amy Galatin & Stillwaters, Charlie Louvin & Charles Whitstein, and many others.
Bé worked closely together with Rienk Janssen who was largely responsible for the many USA bands touring Europe during that time. I was the lucky sound guy during all these shows, and some classic ‘Live in Holland’ albums were recorded here at the Muzeval theater, as Bob Pailey and The Southern Grass, Robin and Linda Williams & Their Fine Group, and Charlie Louvin & Charles Witstein’s “A Louvin Brothers Celebrations.” Bé’s Dutch (local) buddies The Alabama Country Boys were always part of the concerts.
Bé will be greatly missed by his family, and many friends in the USA and Europe. Thank you Bé, you sure were special
We are fortunate that Richard F. Thompson has agreed to continue his look at the history of bluegrass with an ongoing series of occasional pieces entitled, On This Day.
On this day in 1948 …..
Lynn Morris was born.
A music lover from an early age, Lynn Morris grew up in the little rural west Texas town of Lamesa, where from the age of 12 she learned to play the guitar.
It wasn’t until she went to university in Colorado that she took an interest in bluegrass music and began to play the banjo. After graduating with an art degree, Ms. Morris turned her full attention to finding work as a professional musician, but it was still in an era when many bluegrass groups resisted women members. Her first professional job was performing at a local McDonald’s restaurant for $10 a day.
While a member of the Denver-based City Limits Bluegrass Band, she won the national banjo championship at Winfield, Kansas (in 1974), making her the first female victor. A later win, in 1981, made her the first person to earn the Winfield banjo title twice.
The band released two LPs on the Biscuit City label, one of which, Live! At the Oxford Hotel, provides an insight into what the trio was like at the time.
During the first half of the 1980s Ms. Morris was a member of the Pennsylvania band Whetstone Run, who toured widely, including a visit to Europe. While with the band she helped with the recording of the LP No Use Frettin’ on the Red Dog label.
After a short stint with Laurie Lewis and Grant Street (1987), in 1988 Lynn Morris organized her own band, recruiting Marshall Wilborn, David McLaughlin and Tom Adams, each of whom had just left the Johnson Mountain Boys upon that band’s break-up.
The Lynn Morris Band has recorded five albums for Rounder. Each was greeted with critical acclaim and enthusiastic comment from fans.
In 1996, her peers recognised her recording of the song Mama’s Hand (written by Hazel Dickens and released on the CD Mama’s Hand, Rounder 0328) was voted Song of the Year at the IBMA Awards. To emphasise the point they also elected her as the IBMA’s Female Vocalist of the Year, an accolade that she won again in 1998 and in 1999.
Sadly she suffered a stroke in 2003 three days after having knee surgery. That hampered her ability to sing – she suffers from aphasia, a condition that affects her ability to communicate with words, both speaking and listening, and reading and writing – and her playing still does not have the precision that it once had. Nevertheless, she has been making a slow recovery, but her improvement has surpassed doctors’ expectations allowing her to return to the stage, playing at the Apple Blossom Bluegrass Festival in May, 2011.
She is an animal activist, adopting many abandoned animals, and is sponsored by SPAY/USA, an organization that provides affordable spay/neutering services for house pets. Her involvement in animal welfare includes the recording of a jingle Spay Your Pet that has been played throughout the United States and Canada.
As well as being a pioneer among female banjo players, Ms. Morris was the first woman to be elected to the board of directors of the IBMA and in 2010 the organization presented her with a Distinguished Achievement Award. She has been named SPBGMA’s Traditional Female Vocalist seven times also.
Currently she resides in Winchester, Virginia, where she has lived since 1986, with the love of her life, husband Marshall Wilborn, and several cats.
Her star as a full-time musician may have fallen, but nothing will diminish her fighting spirit and the radiance of her smile.
Happy Birthday, Lynn!
Discography: The Lynn Morris Band (Rounder 0276), The Bramble and the Rose (Rounder 0288), Mama’s Hand (Rounder 0328), You’ll Never Be The Sun (Rounder 0458) and Shape Of A Tear (Rounder 0509).
Today’s Quiz Question: Apart from Lynn Morris, who are the band members on the Whetstone Run LP No Use Frettin’?
Yesterday, Lynn Morris demonstrated the indomitable nature of the human spirit when she returned to the stage after an eight year absence at the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, VA.
Just as she was enjoying her greatest success as s singer, recording artist and bandleader, Lynn suffered a devastating stroke in 2003 three days after undergoing knee replacement surgery. It left her with reduced facility on the right side of her body, and a verbal aphasia that limited her ability to communicate.
This Spring, after many years of intensive therapy and hard work, Lynn and her husband Marshall Wilborn felt like the time was right, and scheduled a reunion performance including a number of former members of the Lynn Morris Band. Tom Adams played guitar, Ron Stewart banjo and Jesse Brock mandolin. Marshall was on bass, and Lynn took turns on both guitar and banjo.
Ace photographer Dean Hoffmeyer was on the scene, and sent these lovely pictures of Lynn enjoying her triumphant return to the stage.
Dean also shared a few words about the performance, telling us that Lynn’s voice was not as strong and assured as it was before the stroke, but that it has the same sweetness it always did.
“You could have heard a pin drop, in spite of the huge crowd that had gathered to listen, during sound check. It seemed everyone was holding their breath, and Marshall, who never looks nervous, did. About the time she told Marshall to move his mic stand, she reminded everyone that this was the Lynn Morris Band.
They started with an instrumental, but she sang on the second song, and after the first line the audience roared their approval.”
What a wonderful moment that must have been for everyone concerned! Congratulations to Lynn and Marshall, two of the finest people you will ever meet.
UPDATE 9:15 a.m. – Marshall just sent along a note about Sunday’s show…
“We all had a great time, and it was quite a big step for Lynn. Thanks again to all of you who have been so supportive through her recovery. We are most grateful!”
A very special, one-time reunion of The Lynn Morris Band has been arranged for Sunday, May 1, the final day of the festival. She will be joined on stage by her husband Marshall Wilborn on bass, Tom Adams on guitar, Jesse Brock on mandolin and Ron Stewart on banjo – all former members of Lynn’s Band.
They were a prominent touring and recording act until Lynn suffered a stroke in 2003, which left her with limited ability to speak, or sing. The group disbanded at that time and the various members, Morris excepted, have pursued their careers – and achieved success – in other ventures.
But after these 11 years, during which time Lynn has continued a variety of therapies to help her regain her speech, she finally feels ready to perform. There are no current plans for her to return to an active career in music, but she and Marshall are eagerly looking forward to this reunion, and Lynn’s return to the stage.
Marshall, Tom and Jesse are members of Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, and Ron works now with The Boxcars. Both acts are scheduled for the Apple Blossom Bluegrass Festival, enabling this special reunion to occur on May 1.
This will be a memorable event, and we hope to be able to attend.
This afternoon, I had a lovely chat with Lynn Morris and Marshall Wilborn. Longtime bluegrass fans are well familiar with Lynn’s many years as a performer, bandleader and friend to our music, and we all felt a great loss when she suffered a stroke in Match of 2003, keeping her off the road and out of the studio.
We’ve heard from many readers since then asking how she is doing, and we are happy to share that she is doing fine, and continuing to make progress in her struggles to recover. Lynn suffered her stroke 3 days after what was expected to be a routine knee replacement procedure (due to a blood clot), leaving her with a substantial reduction in facility on her right side, and a frustrating aphasia that restricts her ability to communicate verbally.
As we spoke today, Lynn’s language issues were apparent, but she takes it all in stride with good humor and an enduring spirit. Marshall, her husband and former musical partner, joined us in the conversation, and would pop in to help whenever Lynn was unable to complete a thought or find the word she was after.
She has been working with a speech therapist, and is making progress in dealing with her aphasia.
“I found a teacher in DC, Darlene Williamson – I can write a letter now. She works with stroke survivors, and has all the knowledge.
My talking is not exactly right, but I’m good. I’m a strong woman.”
Marshall explained how Williamson came into their life…
“Darlene has been working with Lynn for a while, and it’s a very positive thing. The two of them have become great friends. Darlene is one of many angels that have come into her life.
Our friend Esther Meckler (from Connecticut) found Darlene for us. Esther is the head of SpayUSA, and we became friends through Lynn’s association with ASPCA and her animal welfare activities.
About 3 years ago Esther was visiting DC, and we met her for dinner and talked about Lynn’s aphasia. Within a day or two after that, Esther had done the one thing that had never occurred to me to do – get on the Internet and Google aphasia – and she found this place about an hour from where we live called the Stroke Comeback Center, Darlene’s practice.”
I think I first heard Lynn Morris in the mid-1970s when she was the banjo picker and vocalist with the City Limits Bluegrass Band, based in Denver, CO where she was in college. She made quite a splash as a banjo picker – at a time when female pickers were much rarer than today – winning first place at the prestigious National Bluegrass Banjo Championship in Winfield, KS in both 1974 and 1981.
She and Marshall soon appeared together in a Pennsylvania-based group called Whetstone Run. Though they had met previously and jammed together, this was the first time they had worked regularly together.
“Lynn and I met in my home town, Austin, TX, in the spring of ’82. She was in the midst of talking about joining Whetstone Run. When she took the job, and moved to Pennsylvania, we kept in touch, and when the bass player gave his notice, Lynn told them that I was the guy for the bass job. They, solely on her recommendation, offered me the job, and I packed up and moved to PA.”
They had a good run in the ’80s, even making a TV appearance on The Nashville Network (now CMT) for their popular Fire On The Mountain program in November of 1983. Lee Olsen (now with Keith Case & Associates) was on mandolin, and Mike Gorrell (now with Northwest Territory) was on guitar. Lynn played both banjo and guitar.
The Lynn Morris Band debuted in 1988, and over the years utilized the talents of such noted musicians as Tom Adams, Rob Ickes, David McLaughlin, Ron Stewart and Jesse Brock. Lynn would play either guitar or banjo, as her personnel dictated, and Marshall always held down the bass duties. She and Marshall were married in 1989.
During this time, she also recorded a clawhammer banjo video for The Murphy Method, now available on DVD. The Lynn Morris Band continued to be a top draw at festivals and concerts – also winning awards for their stellar recordings – until her stroke in 2003.
Lynn said that she is able to get out again, and is currently running sound on shows for Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie. She isn’t quite ready to return to performing, however.
“I don’t sing – I can, but I don’t want to yet. Almost ready – just not yet.
My left hand is great – right hand is not good. Banjo playing is slow, slow, slow…
I can’t write either – letters are hard now. I know everything fine, but I can’t bring them out.”
She also expressed affection for the many folks who encourage her return to the stage, and is grateful for their support.
“I love these people… I had a stroke, but I’m living, and every day (God… thank you so much for every day!) I am thankful for them all.”
Lynn Morris is a rare gem who will be long-remembered should her musical contributions all be behind her, but what a treat it would be to hear from her again.
This afternoon, I had a lovely chat with Lynn Morris and Marshall Wilborn. Longtime bluegrass fans are well familiar with Lynn’s many years as a performer, bandleader and friend to our music, and we all felt a great loss when she suffered a stroke in Match of 2003, keeping her off the road and out of the studio.
We’ve heard from many readers since then asking how she is doing, and we are happy to share that she is doing fine, and continuing to make progress in her struggles to recover. Lynn suffered her stroke 3 days after what was expected to be a routine knee replacement procedure (due to a blood clot), leaving her with a substantial reduction in facility on her right side, and a frustrating aphasia that restricts her ability to communicate verbally.
As we spoke today, Lynn’s language issues were apparent, but she takes it all in stride with good humor and an enduring spirit. Marshall, her husband and former musical partner, joined us in the conversation, and would pop in to help whenever Lynn was unable to complete a thought or find the word she was after.
She has been working with a speech therapist, and is making progress in dealing with her aphasia.
“I found a teacher in DC, Darlene Williamson – I can write a letter now. She works with stroke survivors, and has all the knowledge.
My talking is not exactly right, but I’m good. I’m a strong woman.”
Marshall explained how Williamson came into their life…
“Darlene has been working with Lynn for a while, and it’s a very positive thing. The two of them have become great friends. Darlene is one of many angels that have come into her life.
Our friend Esther Meckler (from Connecticut) found Darlene for us. Esther is the head of SpayUSA, and we became friends through Lynn’s association with ASPCA and her animal welfare activities.
About 3 years ago Esther was visiting DC, and we met her for dinner and talked about Lynn’s aphasia. Within a day or two after that, Esther had done the one thing that had never occurred to me to do – get on the Internet and Google aphasia – and she found this place about an hour from where we live called the Stroke Comeback Center, Darlene’s practice.”
I think I first heard Lynn Morris in the mid-1970s when she was the banjo picker and vocalist with the City Limits Bluegrass Band, based in Denver, CO where she was in college. She made quite a splash as a banjo picker – at a time when female pickers were much rarer than today – winning first place at the prestigious National Bluegrass Banjo Championship in Winfield, KS in both 1974 and 1981.
She and Marshall soon appeared together in a Pennsylvania-based group called Whetstone Run. Though they had met previously and jammed together, this was the first time they had worked regularly together.
“Lynn and I met in my home town, Austin, TX, in the spring of ’82. She was in the midst of talking about joining Whetstone Run. When she took the job, and moved to Pennsylvania, we kept in touch, and when the bass player gave his notice, Lynn told them that I was the guy for the bass job. They, solely on her recommendation, offered me the job, and I packed up and moved to PA.”
They had a good run in the ’80s, even making a TV appearance on The Nashville Network (now CMT) for their popular Fire On The Mountain program in November of 1983. Lee Olsen (now with Keith Case & Associates) was on mandolin, and Mike Gorrell (now with Northwest Territory) was on guitar. Lynn played both banjo and guitar.
The Lynn Morris Band debuted in 1988, and over the years utilized the talents of such noted musicians as Tom Adams, Rob Ickes, David McLaughlin, Ron Stewart and Jesse Brock. Lynn would play either guitar or banjo, as her personnel dictated, and Marshall always held down the bass duties. She and Marshall were married in 1989.
During this time, she also recorded a clawhammer banjo video for The Murphy Method, now available on DVD. The Lynn Morris Band continued to be a top draw at festivals and concerts – also winning awards for their stellar recordings – until her stroke in 2003.
Lynn said that she is able to get out again, and is currently running sound on shows for Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie. She isn’t quite ready to return to performing, however.
“I don’t sing – I can, but I don’t want to yet. Almost ready – just not yet.
My left hand is great – right hand is not good. Banjo playing is slow, slow, slow…
I can’t write either – letters are hard now. I know everything fine, but I can’t bring them out.”
She also expressed affection for the many folks who encourage her return to the stage, and is grateful for their support.
“I love these people… I had a stroke, but I’m living, and every day (God… thank you so much for every day!) I am thankful for them all.”
Lynn Morris is a rare gem who will be long-remembered should her musical contributions all be behind her, but what a treat it would be to hear from her again.
The Lynn Morris Band website has some photos of Lynn at last month’s SPBGMA Convention in Nashville, where she both performed with the band and accepted the 2006 Grand Masters Gold Award. This award is given to artists who have won any award from SPBGMA ten times, and Lynn has been their Female Vocalist Of The Year (Traditional) the requisite number of times.
As many of our readers may know, Lynn suffered a stroke during knee replacement surgery a few years ago, and was unable to perform for quite some time. She has been making a slow but steady recovery ever since, and her husband Marshall Wilborn has this comment posted on their site:
Lynn does indeed continue her recovery in a very positive way. Thanks so much, once again, to all of you for your good thoughts, prayers, and well wishes over these last three years. You can’t imagine how much it’s meant to us!
We look forward to seeing you at the festivals.
The site also indicates that cards and notes can be sent to Lynn at:
