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A publication by the Southwest Bluegrass Association SWBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Bluegrass Soundboard STAFF President Vice-President Terry Brewer Marc Nelissen Managing Editor Terry Brewer 661-364-9321 909 289 8730 661-364-9321 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Associate Editors Treasurer Secretary Sheila Brewer, Mark Shutts Paula De Bie Missy Lyn Gibson 951-934-3478 774-248-4128 Regular Contributors [email protected] [email protected] Eric Nordbeck,Terry Brewer, Jeanie Stanley, Membership Connie Tripp Bert Luontela. 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VISIT US ON THE WEB AT Neither the Southwest Bluegrass Association nor the people involved in providing information on this website can be held responsible for www.southwestbluegrass .org any result stemming from errors in information found on the Southwest Bluegrass Association website. Please check with the actual venue before traveling long distances to bluegrass events. Views expressed in these pages are not necessarily those of The Bluegrass Soundboard, Southwest Bluegrass Association, it's Board of Directors or the Editorial Staff. The Southwest Bluegrass Association, is dedicated to the preservation Pickers and grinners promoting Bluegrass and promotion of Bluegrass music, has been designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Contributions are deductible for music and those involved in it. Federal or State income tax purposes. As they say, don't touch your face, wash your hands often, practice Social distancing, stay at least 6 feet apart and we are all in this together. Will Bluegrass music survive? Absolutely, even if it comes to huge jam circles with masked pickers and grinners sitting 6 foot apart, Lets Pick! Stay Safe and God Bless ~ Terry Brewer SWBA Membership Hello Southwest Bluegrass Association members and friends, I hope this Hope everyone is staying safe. newsletter finds you safe and well. Just a quick word on Memberships. For the last year I have been mailing letters out to members who are past due and When the SWBA Board of Directors met the first week of April to discuss the no longer will be receiving the soundboard. We’re going to upcoming SWBA event Super Jam our Annual change that. On the next round instead of sending the letter, Membership meeting and campout held in May. We were On the back of the soundboard instead of "Please renew" it unsure if we would be able to hold the event. So, we will have "Last issue". We are trying to save anywhere we decided to wait until May 12th to cancel or postpone can. Also, when you do renew please supply self- stamped Super Jam. address envelope, this will get you your Membership card. In May there was really nothing we could do but We will no longer send a membership card without the postpone Super Jam and our Annual Membership envelope. Also, on this soundboard please check your exp meeting until October 22nd - 26th, 2020. This date is date on your address label and see if you need to renew. If normally for our Fall Campout, and hopefully by then we dated Feb 2020 or March 2020 this is your last issue. will be able to safely gather as a large group and enjoy If you renew online you will receive a One-time email letting each others Company. you know you are expiring. As of May, the Southwest Bluegrass Association as had an a very good year. Membership is still growing, but And lastly please Print. with the COVID-19 pandemic, the coming months are Thanks to all of you for your continued support Sheila Brewer unclear, and I hope this does not affect our membership. UPDATE FROM SUMMERGRASS May 30m, 2020 With several of our members affected by the stay at home recommendations and business being forced to To our Summergrass fans, close, affecting several with the loss of income. The We are still hopeful that Summergrass will proceed as SWBA Board decided to extend memberships that were planned, but we are moving our opening date for ticket sales expiring in April and May through June. to June 15th. The Coronavirus has caused festivals to cancel or This additional time enables us to assess the COVID-19 postpone dates and music venues to close. This has situation as we consult with government and health officials. also left the bands and artist with canceled gigs. In March, several artists have started online workshops and With the heightened awareness and public concerns Facebook live feeds for tips via PayPal, from touring regarding the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the bands like Sideline and So. Cal bands like The Get Down Summergrass board wants to assure you that we are carefully Boys, Chris and Celeste Cerna and others. monitoring this situation. The CBA’s COVID Artist Relief Fund, Turn Your Radio Your health and well-being at Summergrass is our OnLINE features several artists and an online action paramount concern. every Saturday until June 20th via the CBA Facebook With tour postponements and cancellations, many artists are page or online at www.turnyourradio.online experiencing unexpected financial hardship and need your Recently I was contacted by Sammy Passamano about love and positivity more than ever. We've posted our stellar the Bluegrass Music Tv Facebook page. After a short 2020 Summergrass lineup and provided links to their phone conversation, I volunteered to help, and since that websites so you can directly support them by buying their day I have become more involved, and sent out invites merchandise and music. Please support these folks who for several of you on Facebook to like the Bluegrass make our world go ‘round. Music Tv page. With several people and businesses involved from the bluegrass music industry and a mission We will issue further statements with more information for to promote bluegrass music and those involved in it. If our patrons. Thank you for your patience as our dedicated you are on Facebook check it out. staff and board work through our plans for the 2020 Summergrass festival! With the SWBA kids school program cut short this year, Picking and Jamming America on hold and COVID-19 With big hugs and very clean hands, being a jam buster April and May have been down right The Summergrass Team depressing for sure! BLUEGRASS On The Beach Bottom Feeder’s camp a very lively place to hang out…life …served up after hours with “Angeline is good and the weather was great! With the camp all set The Baker” and “Home Grown up it was time to schmooze, walk around and get Tomatoes”. acquainted with the neighbors. Jerry from Neenach, CA was camped just north of us and he’s always a hoot to talk By Bert Luontela with and as retired PD has some great stories to tell. We If you’ve not attended the musical soiree caught a couple of stage acts, played a little music and just at Windsor Beach on the Arizona side of Lake Havasu it’s generally hung out around the camp. the perfect time to atone for past transgressions and Friday evening was the pod people’s potluck. It’s now amend your ways by marking your social calendar and become a tradition, as I’m sure it is with many. When you putting multiple reminders on your i Phone. The 18 annual have a bond with friends that you don’t get to see all that festival is over…but wait there’s more! The 19th Annual often it’s always nice to share a meal or two, the breaking Bluegrass On The Beach, held in early March 2021, awaits of bread so to speak. It’s a time to eat but perhaps more with a powerhouse lineup including Doyle Lawson & importantly a time to catch up, to share family events and Quicksilver, The Po Ramblin’ Boys, Ralph Stanely II & The happenings, that common human thread that binds us Clintch Mnt Boys, Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, and much together as people and as families, the shared experiences more. The camping grounds on the beach, surrounding of life. the beach, and up on the blacktop fill up fast. Drop those Saturday morning I got lip hooked and led like a trout hum drum city winter blues and head for Lake Havasu through the shallows into the fly fisherman’s net. The where the desert meets the blue waters and the dulcet fisherman was one of the vendors. Early morning I took a tones of tight harmonies and hard driving bluegrass, not walk to the stage area near the beach. Along the way I ran to mention the Bottom Feeder’s camp. into the fisherman who was dangling free bait, I really We arrived on Thursday but next year we’ll arrive on should have known better as there really is “no free lunch” Wednesday as the place fills up and we needed multiple but the bait was oh so tantalizing, “Ok, I’ll try just one piece, adjacent sites for the pod people. Andrea, our de facto, no wait, come back, I’d like another”. social director had recruited more adjunct members and No more funnel cake, well at least, until the next time. We we put five rigs into three spaces and called this gypsy finished breakfast and headed over to the main stage, caravan home for three plus days. Circling the wagons, so Patty and Scott had brought their paddle boards and were to speak, provided an inter sanctum, bluegrass style, for heading off for an adventure on the water. Kody Norris and pick’n, eating, storing of stuff including critter pens for the company were on stage along with the freshly minted Mrs. four legged bluegrass aficionados, as well as, a place for Norris, Mary Rachel Nalley, playing fiddle and mandolin. a Friday evening potluck. We’ve always enjoyed their performances put the Bluegrasser’s are an interesting lot, a musical kind of interactions and bantering betweenPhoto Mr.by Ritaand LuontelaMrs. Norris Jekyll and Hyde, passing them selves off as just ordinary, added a delightful new dimension to the show. We stayed common, folk working their jobs, minding their business, for the rest of morning acts until the lunch break. cutting their lawns and obeying the speed limit…until, until, No more funnel cake, well at least, until the next time. We there’s a bluegrass festival and then, heaven can wait. finished breakfast and headed over to the main stage, That “honey do list” well it’s gone, so is the oil change on Patty and Scott had brought their paddleboards and were the truck and the tenant that called about the leaky faucet, heading off for an adventure on the water. Kody Norris and well too bad, no time for that now. Time to pack up the company were on stage along with the freshly minted Mrs. trailer, fill the prop tank, buy some vittles’, grab the Norris, Mary Rachel Nalley, playing fiddle and mandolin. instruments and put the peddle to the metal… and so it We’ve always enjoyed their performances put the goes from one festival to the next and that day job, well it’s interactions and bantering between Mr. and Mrs. Norris just a respite to recharge the wallet and yet again ignore added a delightful new dimension to the show. We stayed the honey do list. for the rest of morning acts until the lunch break. Scott and Patty shuttered the doors on Thursday afternoon Saturday lunch breaks are a euphemism for foregoing and the San Diego contingent said bon voyage to the day lunch when there are music workshops to attend and jobs as well. It’s a long pull from San Diego or LA to Havasu anyway that funnel cake did tide me over just fine. The when you have to deal with LA basin commuter traffic. mandolin workshop was held by Wayne Benson of IIIrd Bluegrass on the Beach shuts the gate at eight; any Time Out, I never miss and opportunity to learn something. arrivals thereafter park outside the gate until it opens in Wayne illustrated the importance of learning the various the morning. Scott and Patty got there after eight and part scale positions on the mandolin and how they can be used of the San Diego contingent spent the night at a truck stop to enhance a tune. As an example if the song, in the cord in the Mojave Desert someplace past Barstow. of G, is a typical bluegrass ballad of she done me wrong Friday morning the little trailers started sprouting up like so I murdered her on the mountain, you might play it in a mushrooms on the south side near the channel beach not low G, but if it’s a fast tempo happy song then you might too far from where Terry Brewer, Ron and Connie Tripp want to play an octave or two higher up the neck. He also and other SWBA members had set up camp, all within easy illustrated the use of 3rds and 5ths. It was all good stuff walking distance of the stage and within ear shot of the but well above my pay grade for now. Saturday evening a group of us went to Danny Stewart’s Marc Nelissen had invited us to a jam at Frank and jamming tent. I took my mandolin for a walk and stayed well Patsy’Abrahams camp so Brad Rowland could help Reta back of the song circle. Unlike some of the promoted with some banjo cords. When we arrived there Reta sat evening jams where band members participate and the next to Brad in the circle. Me, I just wanted to be a fly on pick’n graduates to crazy fast, Danny’s jam was more like the wall and keep time so I sat way back near Marc and something out of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, “not too his bass. Everyone was very cordial and friendly, a great hot, not too cold, just right”. Andrea, Scott and Patty where group of people, all very good musicians many I in the main circle, I noticed Debbie outside the circle and recognized as members of Back Porch Bluegrass band joined her. When it was Andrea’s turn she played Angeline that had played a set at SWBA’s Super Jam. the Baker, darn that sounded good almost like twin fiddles. When the song circle turned to Marc he picked a whimsical I turned to look at Debbie as she was softly playing along. song, Homegrown Tomatoes by Guy Clark, (in the key of Earlier in the day I had heard twin fiddles in our camp, good D) not many would have chosen it, but then again, not for them they had both picked up a new tune. That night as many have farming background. I went to sleep my mind was once again obsessing, now how did that go, Da-Da-Da-D--Da-Da-D--or something like Ain’t nothin’ in the world that I like better that. Than bacon & lettuce Later that evening there was a jam at our camp we had & home grown tomatoes planned on attending but in the meantime I was busy Up in the mornin’ out in the garden scratching down some notes while Reta fell asleep on the Get you a ripe one don’t get a hard one bed. I could hear the jam was about to begin and look over Plan’em in the spring at Reta deep in slumber head resting gently on the pillow. eat’em in the summer Should I wake her up or not? The more I looked at her All winter without 'em's blissfully sleeping, not a care in the world, the more I thought a culinary bummer maybe the jam can wait, maybe she had a better idea, I forget all about there’s always tomorrow. I turned down the lights and made the sweatin' & diggin' my way to my side of the bed, night-night. Everytime I go out What’s a bluegrass festival without a Sunday morning and pick me a big one gospel set or jam? In this case it was a Jam & Sing-along Homegrown tomatoes lead by emcee, Gregg Bird. There was no shortage of home grown tomatoes pickers and voices as the attendees sang along and the Wha'd life be without pickers took their breaks, great fun. homegrown tomatoes I missed their Friday show but made a special point of Only two things money can't buy seeing their performance on Sunday. We love their That's true love and homegrown tomatoes traditional style, the harmonies and how clean their performances are not to mention the nice suits. Beyond that It’s been a long winter, a musical bummer without festivals I had an ulterior motive. followed by a very short musical spring. Given the impact Living on the Arizona side of the Colorado River for years of Covid-19 and its consequences, both social and I’ve long considered this neck of the desert to be equivalent economic, festivals and performances have been to an astronomical black hole as it relates to bluegrass. With cancelled or postponed as a result there will be no musical the exception of the festival, the music, the people, the homegrown tomatoes ripe or otherwise in the near term. notes, the licks, everything bluegrass that enters Mohave If the opportunity arises please support the bluegrass County, like a black hole, is pulled into the event horizon, community through these difficult times especially the artist into the vortex down to a point of singularity and never ever and venders whose livelihood depend on these events. heard from or seen again, gone, vanished probably into an alternative universe. My astronomy friend, who lives about Stay healthy and be safe, Bert a mile from us, told me that my description of a black hole had some merit but the analogy was all wrong. His neighbor plays in a professional bluegrass band and is credited with writing a song. No that can’t be, what’s his name? Pete Lorenz, bassist for Flinthill Special, he responded. After their set I made a point of meeting Pete who told me that their guitarist, Buzz Sawyer, also lives in the county. Imagine that, two photons of bluegrass light beaming out of what was once thought to be a bluegrass black hole of no return. We where fortunate as we could decamp on Monday given Join Terry Brewer as he brings The Bluegrass Cafe it’s a short drive home. By Sunday night the place was pretty to the airwaves, Sundays 3 - 6 PM Pacific with a mix quiet and somber with the exception of some jams by the of Bluegrass and Bluegrass Gospel. Live from the hard core, some with the luxury of time on their side, others Streets of Bakersfield California Only on perhaps viewing their day jobs as a necessary nuisance to be avoided at all costs if possible. www.TheBluegrassJamboree.com “Jimmy Brown the Newsboy” A historian by trade, I recently became interested in the origins of “Jimmie Brown, the Newsboy. Here’s what I By Wayne Erbsen nativeground.com learned. The year was 1875 and popular music was strongly As a young man of 16, I was thunderstruck titled toward utterly nostalgic and sentimental themes. the first time I heard the magic fingers of Earl Songwriters (then called “songsmiths”) gloried in creating Scruggs on the 5-string banjo. The drive and songs that tugged at the tender heartstrings of a nation that passion I heard on my first Flatt and Scruggs album had recently gone through the trauma of the Civil War, where whacked me upside the head with such force that it forever pitiful scenes of dying soldiers and little drummer boys changed the direction of my life. It was 1961 when I got my populated the songs of that era. The songwriting industry was just getting under way, and publishers were vying to see hands on my first bluegrass record, Country Music by Lester who could make people shed the most tears. Nothing was off Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys. Even limits. Popular songs portrayed impoverished widows and though I later realized what an awesome band they were, barefooted orphans begging for bread, while others were left at that time I only had one thing in my sights – the way Earl to die cold and alone in the ice and snow. While songwriters played the banjo. In fact, I was so fixated on his banjo like Charles K. Harris, Gussie L. Davis, and Stephen Foster playing that I was completely oblivious to the talent of the were writing songs that would later be called “tear jerkers,” rest of the band. To me, they might as well have been the brilliant young William S. Hays stepped to the forefront chopped liver. It was likethey were only there to back up and eventually became the most popular songwriter of late Earl and that fancy banjo. 19th century America. Here’s his story. As soon as I first laid my ears on Earl’s banjo playing, I William S. Hays (1837-1907) grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, knew I had to learn that instrument. That week I headed with three great passions: newspaper reporting, riverboat over to McCabb’s Guitar shop in Santa Monica, California piloting and songwriting. From an early job as a clerk on a and picked up a second-hand Kay open-back banjo. Where riverboat, Hays worked his way up the ranks and eventually I lived in California, we didn’t have woodsheds, but I spent became captain of his own riverboat. During the Civil War, practically every waking moment practicing the banjo. When and in the years that followed, he piloted his boat on the Ohio I found out there was an earlier Flatt & Scruggs LP from and the Mississippi rivers. Despite the rigors of being captain 1957, I dashed off to my local record store. With three of a riverboat, Hays managed to find time to write poems and dollars clutched in my hand, I was itching to take home Flatt songs. Lots of them. During his lifetime, he churned out at & Scruggs’ Foggy Mountain Jamboree album. This record least 350 songs, most with highly nostalgic and sentimental only added fuel to the fire. I was eating it for breakfast, lunch themes. In 1873, it was estimated that his publisher had sold and dinner. Nestled among the stunning instrumentals a staggering 2,688,000 sheets of 71 of his songs, no small (“Flint Hill Special,” “Earl’s Breakdown,” “Foggy Mountain potatoes in those days. Special,” “Shucking the Corn,” “Randy Lynn Rag and After the fall of Vicksburg in 1862, Hays navigated the Grey “Foggy Mountain Chimes”) was one song with no banjo, Eagle on the Mississippi River between Vicksburg and New “Jimmie Brown, the Newsboy.” My first thought was “where Orleans. On one of these trips, he was arrested and locked is the banjo?” Strangely, my second thought was also up in a New Orleans jail for writing the song, My Sunny “where is the banjo?” Southern Home, a tune that angered General Benjamin It wasn’t until my older sister, Bonnie, mentioned that she “Beast” Butler, commander of Union troops in New Orleans. loved “Jimmie Brown, the Newsboy,” that I gave it a second Hays' short imprisonment had less to do with the subject chance. “Hmmmmm,” I thought. “That guitar playing is pretty matter of this harmless song, and more to do with the fact good. Danged good, as a matter of fact.” I assumed Lester that Hays was a staunch Democrat who later supported such Flatt was doing the fancy guitar picking, because he was Democratic candidates such as George B. McClellan, holding a guitar on the cover of the LP. It was only later I Samuel Tilden and Grover Cleveland. learned that Earl was a killer guitar player who played not Hays, whose mother died when he was just ten years old, only in the “Carter Scratch” style of Maybelle Carter, but composed a rich store of mother songs: Mother's Parting at also in the fingerpicking style of Merle Travis. the Gate (1884), Take This Letter to My Mother (1873), Is Mother There? (1875), Call Me No More, Mother (1864), I Am Since I had been learning guitar, I slowed the Foggy Dying Mother, Dying (1865), Kiss Me Goodnight, Mamma Mountain Jamboree record to half speed, and taught myself (1874), Papa, Stay Home, I'm Motherless Now (1872, What a decent version of “Jimmie Brown, the Newsboy.” At that Will I Do, Mother is Dead (1869), The Mothers of the West. time, I had been taking a few guitar lessons and I proudly showed my teacher the way I played that tune. Not being a More to the point, even though the name William S. Hays touchy-feely kind of a guy, he was not the least bit delicate may be unknown to modern bluegrass musicians and fans, on my fragile ego and said it was all wrong. He then many of his original compositions have become well-worn proceeded to show me the “right” way to play it. I was evergreens. Some of his songs that were later done in seriously confused because I thought I had faithfully learned old-time or bluegrass style are “We Parted by the it from the record. My teacher and I butted heads because Riverside,” (1866), “Little Old Cabin in the Lane,” (1871), we both insisted that we were right. It was only later that I “Molly Darling,” (1871), “You've Been a Friend to Me,” realized that about eight years after their initial cut of (1879), “I'll Remember You Love in My Prayers,”(1869) “The “Jimmie Brown, the Newsboy, Flatt & Scruggs recorded it Faithful Engineer,” (1869), “Nobody’s Darling on Earth” again on Songs of the Famous Carter Family. This time, (1870), “Take This Letter to My Mother” (1873), “Shamus Earl changed the way he played it. Finally, I realized that O’Brien,” and last but not least, “Jimmie Brown, the Paper we both had been right. Boy” (1875). Here are the original melody and lyrics as composed by Will S. Hays. The Carter Family recorded the first commercial recording Family version also omits Hays’ last two verses. I think it’s of “Jimmie Brown, the Newsboy” in Atlanta, Georgia, on fair to assume that they did not have access to the original November 25, 1929, although it wasn’t released until June sheet music when they learned it. Instead, it is more than 19, 1931. Below, you’ll see the lyrics that were sung by Sara likely that A.P. Carter collected it from one of his many Carter on their only recording of this song. It was only natural informants in southwest Virginia or Tennessee. It’s also that the Carter Family record “Jimmie Brown, the Newsboy” possible he learned it from Leslie Riddle, the ace guitar player since their repertoire was populated by such sentimental and who traveled the backroads with A.P. collecting songs and nostalgic songs as “Bury Me Beneath the Willow,” “Poor was a major influence on Maybelle Carter’s guitar style. Orphan Child,” “The Dying Soldier,” “I Have No Loving Mother Adding further evidence that the Carters didn’t learn the song Now,” “Darling Little Joe,” “The Dying Mother,” “Faded Coat from the original sheet music is the fact that their melody was of Blue,” “Grave on the Green Hillside,” “I Have an Aged completely different from that of the original. Mother,” and “Poor Little Orphan Boy.” “Jimmie Brown, the Newsboy” was also the perfect vehicle to showcase Maybelle’s virtuosic guitar skills. Although it was far from a big seller for Victor Records, “Jimmie Brown, the Newsboy” was later picked up by Flatt & Scruggs, who recorded it for Columbia on May 9, 1951. With Lester singing lead, it became one of their most requested numbers. Earl’s outstanding Maybelle Carter style guitar playing certainly helped to put the song over the top and helped pave the way for a revival of the music of the Carter Family. Beyond that, Earl’s playing was an early example of fancy lead guitar work at a time when most bluegrass guitarists stuck timidly to playing rhythm. When I went back and compared the Carter Family lyrics with those of the original sheet music by Will S. Hays, I found some important differences. Jimmie Brown the Newsboy Original Lyrics by William S. Hays, 1875 What really shocked me when I compared the lyrics of I’m very cold and hungry, sir, my clothes are worn and thin, “Jimmie Brown, the Newsboy” as recorded by Flatt & Scruggs I wander on from place to place, my daily bread to win; on June 11, 1951 with the original lyrics and those by the But never mind, sir; how I look, don’t sneer at me or frown, Carter Family is that two additional mystery verses were I’m selling papers for I am, the newsboy Jimmie Brown. somehow added. Chorus: I sell the morning papers sir, my name is Jimmie Brown Most ev’ry body knows I am the “poor boy of the town.” My father died a drunkard, Sir, so I’ve heard mother say, Before he died, how oft for him I’ve heard her weep and pray; But I am helping mother now, I journey up and down, To sell my morning papers, for I am the newsboy, Jimmie Brown. My mother tells me every night to kneel with her and pray, She says if I’ve an honest heart, I’ll be all right some day; And when she’s gone to heaven, sir, to wear a starry crown, She’ll wait up there to welcome home the newsboy of the town Jimmy Brown the Newsboy Carter Family Lyrics 11/25/1929 I'm very cold and hungry, Sir, my clothes are worn and thin, I wander about from place to place my daily bread I win. But never mind, Sir, how I look, don’t swear at me or frown, I sell the morning paper, Sir, my name is Jimmy Brown. I sell the morning paper, Sir, my name is Jimmy Brown, Most everybody knows I am the newsboy of the town. My Father was a drunkard, Sir, I’ve heard my Mother say, But I am helping, Mother, Sir, as I journey on my way. I sell the morning paper Sir, my name is Jimmy Brown Most everybody knows I am the newsboy of the town. The first three verses of the original lyrics and those of the Carter Family are identical. But on verse 4, the second line of the Carter’s version strayed from the original. The Carter Flatt & Scruggs’ lyrics were first published in their 1951 These two mystery verses sparkle with charm. In particular, song folio entitled Songs and Picture Album. In their 1962 the “Morning Star” verse with a tender message from Mother, songbook, Folk Music with an Overdrive, a full page was is among the best of the entire song, as recorded by Flatt and devoted to “Jimmie Brown, The Newsboy,” as published by Scruggs. The “Gospel News” verse was nothing short of a Peer International, who held the copyright of all the Carter stroke of genius because it tied the whole song together by Family songs. By the way, the catchy phrase “Folk Music creating a unifying and meaningful ending where Jimmie is with Overdrive,” was the creation of Alan Lomax, who selling his newspapers in heaven. The big question to ponder published it in Esquire Magazine October 1, 1959. On is “Where in the heck did those two mystery verses come Peer’s sheet music, take special notice of the song credits from?” The finger points at the two most likely suspects: A.P. – “Words and Music by A.P. Carter.” Carter (who is credited on Peer International’s sheet music) and Lester Flatt, who recorded this exact version. Both men Here is my transcription of the exact way Flatt and have their champions and detractors. Scruggs recorded it on the Foggy Mountain Jamboree A.P Carter certainly had the songwriting ability, but not the album. apparent motive, to add new lyrics to the song as recorded Jimmie Brown the Newsboy by the Carter Family in 1929. But why bother to rewrite a song Flatt & Scruggs Lyrics 5/9/51 that was not an especially good seller when there were no I sell the morning paper, Sir, my name is Jimmy Brown, plans afoot to rerecord it? It was not among the songs A.P. Everybody knows that I’m the newsboy of the town. and Sara later recorded in the Acme sessions of the 1950s. It’s possible, but unlikely, that Ralph Peer or Roy Horton, who You can hear me yelling Morning Star, running along the street worked alongside Peer, pressured A.P. to go back and brush Got no hat upon my head no shoes upon my feet. up the lyrics by luring him with the promise of future royalties. Never mind, Sir, how I look, don’t look at me and frown, Perhaps they convinced A.P. that the Carter Family would I sell the morning paper, Sir, my name is Jimmy Brown. eventually get the recognition they deserved, so his I’m awful cold and hungry, Sir, my clothes are mighty thin, “investment” in polishing up the song would be rewarded. If I wander about from place to place, my daily bread to win. this was their vision, it came true in spades because Flatt & Scruggs’s success with their own recordings of “Jimmie My Father died a drunkard, Sir, I’ve heard my Mother say, Brown, the Newsboy” played a part in bringing the music of I am helping Mother, Sir, as I journey on my way. the Carter Family back into popularity. Remember that Flatt My mother always tells me, Sir, I’ve nothing in the world to lose, & Scruggs’ second version of the song on their 1961 album I’ll get a place in heaven, Sir, to sell the Gospel News. Songs of the Famous Carter Family, came out at a time when the Folk Music Revival of the early 1960's was taking the country by storm. Lester Flatt had every reason to brush up the lyrics of “Jimmie, the Newsboy.” During the ‘50s and ‘60s, Flatt & Scruggs were riding high with their own syndicated TV show on WSM, regular spots on the Grand Ole Opry, and a strong sponsor in General Mills, producers of Martha White Flour. Their records were flying off the shelves, which was a strong incentive to polish their songs to a high gloss. Lester certainly had the songwriting chops to rewrite “Jimmie Brown, the Newsboy,” if that’s what he did. He had already crafted such songs as “Little Cabin Home on the Hill,” “My Little Girl in Tennessee,” “Get in Line Brother,” “I’m Gonna Sleep with One Eye Open,” and countless others. Beyond that, Lester soon recorded another deeply sentimental song that originated in the late 19th century, “Over the Hills to the Poorhouse.” But the question remains, if Lester added the two additional verses, why didn’t he copyright his arrangement and take credit for it in his and Earls’ own 1962 songbook? In fact, in the same Flatt & Scruggs songbook, writing credits for “I’m On My Way to Canaan’s Land” listed "Words and Music by A.P. Carter, What stands out is that there are two additional verses in Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.” We can only speculate that Peer International’s sheet music (which Lester and Earl Lester and Earl did not want to upset Maybelle Carter, since faithfully rendered) but NOT in the Hays’ original composition they had become close friends, and even recorded an album from 1875 nor in the Carter Family recording of 1929. together, Songs of the Famous Carter Family. Not to throw The Two Mystery Verses cold water on this theory, but Earl’s wife, Louise, who was Lester and Earl’s savvy business manager, was no pushover. You can hear me yelling Morning Star, running along the street, I cannot imagine how she would have shied away from Got no hat upon my head, no shoes upon my feet. claiming copyright credit and royalties if Lester and Earl had, My mother always tells me, Sir, I’ve nothing in the world to lose, in fact, added two words to the song, not to mention two I’ll get a place in heaven, Sir, to sell the Gospel News. verses! Now, let’s get busy and learn a version of “Jimmie Brown, the Newsboy” on the guitar. Below is a simplified tab from my new book, Easy 2-Chord Songs for Guitar
Let me say a word about the tab. Instead of using Note: On writing this article, I have gained valuable numbers to represent the string and the fret, I invented information and guidance from numerous friends, an “improved” tab where the actual name of the note including Dr. Thomas A. Adler, Penny Parsons, is used. A single line sprouting up from a note is a Wayne Seymour, Pete Peterson, Darren Moore, Ken quarter note, two notes grouped together are each Landreth, Brody Hunt, Charles Pennell, Stephanie P. eighth notes and a double line poking above a note is Ledgin, Jordan L. Laney, Barry Mazor, Charlie a half note. Walden, Dana Ward, Annie Erbsen, Katrina Ohstrom, Barbara Swell and Tim O’Brien. Thanks, folks! be happy. Until the pandemic, Dave was playing SO CALIFORNIA regularly with his own newly formed group. BEAT I checked in with Dennis Caplinger, who’s alive and well, producing, recording, doing studio work. He was By Ann Smith playing regularly in Ramona at DiCarlos with son Zach It seems like forever since Bluegrass – again, until the virus hit. on the Beach happened. With about 8,500 others, I got I decided it was time to to enjoy Lake Havasu in early March. Lake Havasu was refocus on one of our favorite the last live event, in our region, to take place. According So. California musicians, Eric to Larry Baker, founder of Bluegrass on the Beach Uglum. We had a nice (along with wife Sondra), about 35% of the festival conversation from New Wine attendees are from California. I asked him how Danny Recording & Mastering, his Stewart’s participation in the festival has influenced the studio in Apple Valley, CA. choice of bands. “For the most part, it hasn’t. It’s only Eric is a favorite among been two years and predominately, we’ve worked aspiring and developing together. We’ll continue to work together and I don’t regional and national acts. He anticipate changes.” Unlike the progressively oriented began playing at 13 when he got his first guitar. At 21, Huck Finn Festival in Ontario (So. CA), the Havasu he won West Coast Flatpicking Guitar Championship. festival does not see large numbers of millennials. While From there, he’s played in numerous bands (Weary Larry admits to wanting to see some changes in the Heart, New Wine, Copperline, Chris Stuart & lineup, he understands regular attendees love and Backcountry, Lost Highway) and has collaborated with anticipate hearing traditional bluegrass. “This festival Sean Watkins, Ron Block, Allison Kraus, Ralph Stanley. has a lot of snowbirds from all over the country that want He has been fortunate through this pandemic to stay to hear traditional bluegrass”. He and Danny managed busy. He’s developing a Nashville relationship for to infuse some bands that weren’t traditional bluegrass. recording, mixing and mastering. He has a new project A couple of the bands fell somewhere between in the works with Joy Louise Williams and they’ll be traditional and newgrass. A surprise winner was the touring nationally. The Vintage Martins are also Friday night performance featuring The Malpass recording with him. Eric’s niche is primarily acoustic. You Brothers. This is basically a country tribute band with can find him at ericuglum.com or [email protected] some incredible musicians and entertainers. The hour and a half show brought standing ovations and cheers I don’t think I have to introduce from even the most diehard traditionalists. Jams many of you to singer/songwriter abounded with some great out of state players. and SWBA volunteer, Paul Hass. Paul uses great melody A close up with the dominant So. California bluegrass lines and lyrics to his songs. He associations tells me what’s happening presently, began writing music about 40 nothing! Festivals, campouts, jams are all dead in the years ago, as a hobby. “I had to water. Thank goodness for Facebook. Lots of "tip jar" write….I was forced to because concerts from various bands. I'm grateful for it and doing I got bored with the stuff I was my best to contribute. Some bands aren't gonna make hearing and playing.” He never it through and you'll likely see musical chairs with various intended to record. Over time, he became pretty players and bands. proficient at writing and recently teamed up with fiddle Wayne Rice continues to host (KSON FM 103.7) player and producer Chris Murphy of Santa Monica. Sunday 10pm-midnight, continuing his focus on So. They produced an album, which was supposed to go California bluegrass. Summergrass Bluegrass Festival public early April. The pandemic hit and delayed the is taking a “wait and see” approach to its end of August release. The album consists of ten originals. I got to hear bluegrass festival. Online ticket sales are postponed until bits and pieces of it a couple of weeks ago. I loved it. He June 15th. Another board meeting will determine what could not have gotten hooked up with a better guy that will happen with Summergrass 2020. District 7 Old Time Chris. This will not be his only recording. Fiddlers (San Diego) and District 8 Old Time Fiddlers Hopefully, by the end of June (if not sooner), we'll start (Ventura/Santa Barbabra) are on hiatus. seeing more jams (yes there are a few house jams taking Remember Dave Richardson? He recently moved his place, all under-ground). Hopefully, the restaurants that recording studio from Altadena, CA to Longmont, CO. survive this pandemic will be able to bring in some He still maintains his residence in Altadena (for now) but music. is busy recording. According to Dave, there are no Cross your fingers. Stay cool and keep picking. recording studios in the Longmont area. He’s got it made and is happy with the move. I guess when you have Pete Wiernick living right down the road, that’s one reason to Spring as come, and with it the I’m broke but I’m home return of Bluegrass Haiku my family cries out with joy “stop playing fiddle!” Posted on March 25, 2020 By Chris Jones Bluegrass Today's Opinion / Humor time for my livestream bluegrasstoday.com I’ll just do it the one time Spring just always seems to inspire me until next Thursday to write in haiku form, since there’s no This one contains the traditional haiku seasonal baseball and bluegrass festivals are cancelled for a while. reference: We’ve covered this short form of poetry, which originated come warm july breeze in Japan, in columns past. Some of my haiku history may can’t wait to get back on stage have been a little fuzzy (read: “inaccurate”) before, so let but six feet apart me offer a new but brief summary: my plan is simple The haiku began in Japan as the “hokku” which was the play cripple creek over and beginning of a longer poem with linked verses. It was over and over Masaoka Shiki who introduced the independent hokku, which in stand-alone form was renamed “haiku,” which the next time we meet beat out the other proposed names: “haikum,” “hukai,” I’ll be the guy with chapped hands and “Governor Al Smith.” and Pete Rowan hair For this reason, Shiki is referred to as “The Father of starting to go mad Haiku.” He and his brother Charlie Shiki wrote poetry Wagon Wheel stuck in my head together for a while as a duo, but found they didn’t get time for ten push-ups along at all. Masaoka Shiki was made a member of the honestly I’m fine Grand Ole Opry in 1939, based on his exciting I say talking to myself performance of The Mule Skinner Blues in haiku form: is today tuesday? good morning captain no mother or dad do you need a muleskinner? sounds more poignant than ever I didn’t think so when sung through a mask The more traditional Japanese form of haiku contains I’m washing my hands three lines of 17 syllables in a 5-7-5 sequence, contains while singing pearl pearl pearl twice a seasonal reference and what is referred to as a “cut” it’s a cry for help or “break” (this is generally when CDs are sold). They About the Author contain no capital letters and use little or no punctuation, Chris Jones wears many hats in his bluegrass career. In making them not unlike some bands’ press releases. addition to leading his own band, with whom he tours Modern writers of haiku in the west are less concerned and records, Jones is an award-winning broadcaster and about the 17-syllable form. Jack Kerouac explained: “A songwriter. Visit him online : www.chrisjonesgrass.com ‘Western Haiku’ need not concern itself with 17 syllables, since Western languages cannot adapt themselves to the fluid syllabic Japanese. I propose that the ‘Western Haiku’ simply say a lot in three short lines in any Western language.” Mind you, Kerouac also said, “Avoid the world, it’s just a lot of dust and drag and means nothing in the end.” With apologies to Kerouac, though, I’m going to stick with the traditional 5-7-5 pattern and present a few bluegrass haiku for this highly unusual (and infectious) spring of 2020: our gigs are all gone at last some home time so are you my wife? so much I can do write songs and clean the garage or just binge-watch crap the quarantine life a time for self-reflection and putting on pounds FOR YOUR BILL MONROE Here is a rare photo taken of Bill proudly displaying this Tut case in 1973 (already FOR BREAKFAST showing wear) at the Troy, NC Bluegrass By Tom Isenhour Festival. Bill Monroe owned several mandolins but he is most noted for his 1923 Gibson F5 he bought used in 1945.
After constant daily use of the case that carried it , it suffered severe wear and a tear on it. It was a shaped case not the normal oblong case that came with the F5 model.
In 1963 master dobroist, Tut "Tall Bottle" Taylor noticed Bill's case was so worn he used black electrical tape in multi layers to hold it together.
So in late 1963 Tut ordered a new Gibson F5 case and hand painted his name in block letter on the top lid. He put a silver shape of the F5 mandolin with a crown in the center to denote Monroe was "King of Bluegrass". Under that it said "Original Bluegrass Music Since 1927" which we know not to be true but it was when Bill had started his professional career playing barn dances with his Uncle Pen in his hometown of Rosine, KY.
Tut then presented the case to Bill as a gift in early 1964 and he carried his famous 1923 F5 in it until 1982 when the Bluegrass Boys presented him with another custom made leather bound case for his birthday.
Bill then used the Tut case for his 2nd Loar and the case resides in the Bean Blossom, IN Museum today. Tut Taylor did a 2nd identical case and it resides in a Museum in Salisbury, NC. 2020/2021 SWBA Board of Directors Ballot VOTE FOR UP TO 9 Board Member Nominate a SWBA Member for the Board OR Volunteer on the write in line You Spouse Paul Haas Marc Nelissen Sheila Brewer Paula De Bie
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Please return ballot By mail No later than July 20, 2020 to: SWBA Board Elections C/o Tabitha Lievanos 3815 Columbus St #63 Bakersfield, CA 93306 Thank you for voting, Your participation is very much appreciated!
Newhall, Ca: Every 2nd Sunday BASC Jam from Noon to 4PM Vincenzo's 24504 Lyons Ave Newhall CA Arroyo Grande CA: Tuesdays Bluegrass Jam 1-4pm. Heritage San Diego, CA: 3rd Monday 7 - 8:30 PM SDBS Bluegrass Slow Square Park (sm Gazebo behind lg Gazebo between the Historical Jam Learning session, Our Savior Lutheran Church (in the back) Library and Museum Buildings 126 S Mason St., Contact: Yael 4011 Ohio St, San Diego, CA [email protected] Gott (805) 450-7571. Please bring a folding chair. San Diego, CA 4th Tuesday 6:30 – 8 pm SDBS, Open mic and Arroyo Grande CA: 1st Thursday Branch Street Deli 3-6 p.m. pick up bands 8 – 9 pm Featured Band Lots of jamming outside 203 E. Branch St.,Arroyo Grande Village; Contact: Yael (805) Boll Weevil Restaurant 9330 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego 450-7571 San Diego, CA: San Diego Bluegrass Society's 3rd Monday Arroyo Grande CA: Lightning Joe's Guitar Heaven: 2nd Saturday instructed Slow Jam, 7:00-8:30pm at Our Savior's Lutheran of the month 1-4 PM in the village. Plenty of stools but bring music Church 4011 Ohio St. more info: [email protected] stands. Go up the stairs to the left of Lightning Joe's. 100 East San Diego, CA: Walt Richards SLO Jam 6:20 PM 3rd Friday Branch Street, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 San Carlos Recreation Center, 6445 Lake Badin Ave., 6:30PM- Arroyo Grande CA: 1st Sunday Nipomo Community Presbyterian 9PM SDBS Open Mic, Pickup Bands, Featured Band Church 5:30 PM. 1235 N Thompson Rd, Arroyo Grande, Ca 93420 San Juan Capistrano: SJC Bluegrass Pickers meet every Bakersfield, Ca: 1st Monday of the month, 6-9 PM, Rusty’s Pizza, Saturday under the Oak trees 9 am – 12-noon at Historic Town 5430 Olive Drive contact: S. C. "Slim" Sims [email protected] Center Park 31852 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, CA 760-762- 6828 Santa Margarita CA: 2nd & 4th Wednesday The Porch Cafe Covina, Ca: Open mic night, 1st Saturday of the month, 8PM, The 22322 El Camino Real, (805) 438-3376 http://theporchcafe.com/ Fret House Music Shop, 309 N Citrus. Entrance fee is $2.00. Call host: The Toro Creek Ramblers & the BMSCC (626)339-7020 Santa Monica CA: 4th Wednesday Finn McCool's: The Bill Covina, Ca: 3rd Sunday every other month from 2-5pm at The Cheatham Bluegrass Jam / Chris Murphy. 8:30 PM. Finn McCool's Fret House Music Shop, 309 N. Citrus Ave., Covina. (626) 2702 Main Street Santa Monica 339-7020. René Baquet jam host Temecula CA: “The Third Jam"6:30-9 PM every Third Tuesday Encinitas, Ca: Thursday nights, 6-9 PM, Round Table Pizza, hosted by Bill Frisbie. Come join the fun at Round Table Pizza 1321 Encinitas Blvd. behind McDonalds near El Camino Real 27644 Ynez Road Temecula, CA Escondido, Ca: 3rd Wednesday of the month 6 PM San Diego Temecula CA: Third Tuesday of every month 6:30 pm to 9:00 No. County Bluegrass & Folk Jam, Round Table Pizza, 1161 E pm Burgers & Beer, 41577 Margarita Rd Suite 101, Temecula, Washington CA 92591 No admission charge, all levels welcome. Fresno CA: Santa Fe Basque Restaurant: The Fresno Folklore Contact: Bill Frisbie, (631) 804-0146 [email protected] st Society has a weekly jam. It's the friends of Kenny Hall Memorial Torrance, CA: EL CAMINO College Bluegrass Jam, 1 Sunday jam at the Santa Fe Basque Restaurant every Wednesday from of the month 1-3 PM 16007 Crenshaw Blvd, Jam Host - Phoebe 5:30 - 7:30 pm. 424-903-6892 [email protected] Fountain Valley CA: Every Saturday 10 am - noon+ Bluegrass for West Hills CA: Acoustic Jam 1st Sunday of the month Noon - 3 Beginners, Mile Square Park 16801 Euclid St. Fountain Valley, pm Guitar Merchant 22807 Saticoy St. Hosts Norman and Oleeta CA 92708, Lot A on the left side of the park road, about 300 ft Igar 18-884-5905. All levels invited. West Hills, CA: 4th Sunday, Jam 1-5 PM The West South of the Euclid entrance. Valley Music Center, 24424 Vanowen St. 818-992-4142, Henderson, NV: Tuesday Night Bluegrass & Old Time Music Jam, Everyone Welcome! Join the Jam or just listen 5-8 PM, Heritage Park Senior Facility, 300 Racetrack, Henderson 702-267-2950 . For details call Betty Bess (702) 564-1630. Yorba Linda, Ca: Thursday Jam 6-9 PM Main Street Restaurant, 4902 Main St., (714) 777-9427, Jan host Barney Barnhouse. Huntington Beach Ca: 4th Sunday jam, 1-5 PM, Shutts nd th Fabricators 15481 Electronic Lane, Unit C, Huntington Beach, CA. Ventura, Ca: 2 & 4 Wednesday, Grapes and Hops Wine Bar. 92649 (562) 432-4648 SWBA Jam Host Mark Shutts 454 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93003 Contact: La Mesa, Ca: SDBS Open mic & jam, 2nd Tuesday of the month [email protected] 805-340-2270 6:30-9 PM Fuddrucker’s, 5500 Grossmont Center Dr., For info Vista, CA : Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum stage at the call Fuddruckers at (619)589-6144 or SDBS info line at (858) big green lawn is usually available for jamming. For jam days, 679-4854 Sponsor - San Diego Bluegrass Society times & updates visit northcountybluegrass.org Las Vegas, NV: Thursday night Bluegrass Jam, 6 - 8:30 PM, NW Tucson AZ: 1st Sunday, 4 pm Year-round Saddlebrooke Mountain Crest Park Community Center, 4701 N. Durango Rd., Clubhouse Jam Agave Lounge howardjamesk@gmail 64500 E. call Vera Vann-Wilson (702)875-3579. Saddlebrooke Blvd. Tucson Loma Linda, Ca: Jam American Traditional Music Tuesdays, 7 Apache Junction AZ: 1st & 3rd Sundays October – April Elks PM, Loma Linda University,Patio Pantry, Anderson St. at . Call Club Jam 2455 N. Apache Trail. all skill levels. Galen at Galen Don Hergert (909) 796-8812 for info & directions. at [email protected] Lonpoc, Ca: 2nd and 4th Wednesday Southside Coffee Co 105 Tempe AZ: 1st & 3rd Monday 6-8 pm year-round Bluegrass & So. H St 7-9 PM: LOMPOC: evening jams, 7-9 PM for more info American Roots Music Inter.- Advanced Shalimar Golf Course 2032 call Bill at (805) 736-8241. E. Golf Ave. Rich Ment [email protected] Long Beach, Ca: Tuesday’s Soup Jam 7PM, 2420 Gundry St in Peoria AZ: 1st & 3rd Tuesday 6 pm Peoria Library Jam 8463 Signal Hill , Contact: Don Rowan (562)883-0573, open to Monroe St. Robert White [email protected] everyone (this jam is held in an industrial building) Sun City AZ: Last Tuesday 6:30 pm First Christian Church 14001 Long Beach, Ca: Open Bluegrass Jam 2nd Thursday of the month N. Thunderbird Blvd. Paul Wilson 623.341.9417 7-10 PM Red Leprechaun 4000 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA Willcox AZ: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 2 – 4 pm Studio 128, Wilcox [email protected] Theater 134 N. Railroad Ave. Ned Robbins [email protected] Long Beach CA: Every Saturday 10 am - noon+ Bluegrass for Glendale AZ: 2nd Thursday 7- 9 pm ABA Workshop jam Fray Beginners, Recreation Dog Park 5201 E 7th St, Long Beach, CA Garces Columbian Hall 8066 N. 49th Ave Rick Rhodes 90804 [email protected] Back Porch Bluegrass Old Blue Band Old Blue Sound Phelan CA 760-868-2850 Littlefied AZ 970-260-7873 Old Blue Inc.. 520 S 9th St Grand Junction, CO 81501 facebook.com/BPBluegrassBand oldblueband.com (970) 260-7873 Oldbluesound.com Bill Dempsey Music Out of the Desert Shutts Fabricators San Juan Capistrano CA Las Vegas NV 702-521-5615 15481 Electronic Lane, Unit C, Huntington Beach, CA. 92649 949-357-7333 facebook.com/outofdesert (562) 432-4648 Siteshuttsfab.com billdempseymusic.net Kentucky Blue Susanville Bluegrass Festival Billy Proulx & Tommy Too Arimo, ID 208-251-0575 Lassen County Fairgrounds Claremont CA 909-268-9878 portneufgap.com 195 Russell Drive Susanville, CA facebook.com/Billy-Proulx (530) 251-8900 www.lassencountyfair.org Blue Creek Band Sagebrush String Band San Diego CA 760-659-0094 Las Vegas NV 702-373-1926 Support Our SWBA Member hfacebook.com/Sagebrush-Stringband bluecreekband.com Bands and Businesses Shinbone Chris Cerna Band or Business Membership in the Southwest Bluegrass Association Covina CA 626-337-0071 And The Bluegrass Republic brings with it many benefits. These include; a listing in this publication Highland CA 808-782-1275 Sideline and on the SWBA website southwestbluegrass.org, targeted mailing facebook.com/Chris-Cerna Raleigh NC 919-398-0366 lists, eligibility to participate in SWBA sponsored contests and events. Sidelinebg.com Referrals to the public, booking agents and promoters. Edgar Loudermilk Band 706-768-1503 Stillhouse Road Classifieds edgarloudermilk.com St. George UT 435-674-1226 Stillhouseroad.com Lessons Frequent Flyers Guitar, Banjo & Harmonica: Bill Dempsey, San Juan Capistrano Blue Diamond NV Sweet Tidings Gospel Jam (949)357-7333. 02-875-3579 Loma Linda CA 909-796-8812 Banjo lessons: Bill Purcell, Bluegrass banjo all levels Riverside CA facebook.com/Sweet-Tidings-Gospel-Jam Grasslands (951)231-7321 [email protected] Fountain Valley CA The Brombies Fiddle lessons by Shelah Spiegel, Fountain Valley CA, (714) 454- 714-454-1976 Los Angeles CA 323-874-0583 1976, e-mail: [email protected] grasslands-socal.com thebrombies.com Through The Ages Fiddle lessons with Phil Salazar: Ventura, CA (805) 701-2508 Grinder Country fiddlelessonswithphilsalazar.com Orange CA 714-865-9729 Hesperia CA 760-953-4429 facebook.com/GrinderCountry facebook.com/throughtheages Guitar & Banjo lessons: Pete Roehling, teaches most styles of Virtual Strangers guitar, flat & finger picking, old-time & bluegrass banjo. Luthier HAWAIIANS @ HEART Poway, CA 858-386-8459 & instrument re-pair man Redlands CA (909) 794-6125 Washtub Band virtualstrangers.ipower.com Old time banjo & Mountain dulcimer: Doug Thomson Ranco Corona CA 951-372-8266 Cucamonga CA (909) 987-5701 cornbreadentertainment.com Wimberley Bluegrass Santa Ana CA 714-538-8321 Repairs High Lonesome Wimberleybluegrassband.com Block's Musical Repair Lake Elsinore, CA 951-283-8955 Tucson, AZ 571-212-3100 blocksmusicalrepair.com highlonesomebluegrassband.com The Bluegrass Soundboard Highview is made possible by Classic String Repair Hesperia CA 760-949-2266 SWBA Membership Barstow CA 760-953-8520 Folk Music Center Claremont CA 909-624-2928 Thank You! Honey Buckets McCabe’s Guitar Shop Santa Monica CA 310-8284497 Pickers and Grinners Rancho Cucamonga CA promoting Bluegrass music Roll Over Beethoven’s Music Store Hesperia CA 760-244-8822 909-957-8470 And those involved in it. honeybuckets.band Sorensen Mandolin & Guitar Co Santa Clarita, CA 661-345-6684 Lilies of the West The Fret House Covina CA 626-339- Anaheim CA 714-635-5834 musicbypatty.com/lilies-of-the-west Mohavisoul San Deigo,CA 619-379-3288 mohavisoul.com Murphy Family Band Culver City CA 310-559-3095 facebook.com/Murphy-Family-Band Aug 24th-29th Mansfield JamFest in Mansfield, Ohio. Aug 27th- 29th Bluegrass In The Pines in Rosholt, Wisconsin. Aug 27th-30th Lakes Bluegrass Festival in Pine River, Minnesota. Always verify dates and times, sometimes scheduled events September change or we may not have listed everything correctly. For more Info on events listed below and others visit Sept 4�� – 6�� North Cascades Bluegrass Festival in Bellingham, WA southwestbluegrass.org for one click links Sept. 4�� -6�� Four Corners Folk Festival in Pagosa Springs, Colorado Sept. 18�� through the 20�� Pickin in the Pines in Flagstaff, Arizona Based on daily changes in the status of the coronavirus Sept 17��-20�� McCloud Mountain Bluegrass Festival in McCloud CA. pandemic and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Sept 22ⁿ� – 27�� Berkeley Old Time Music Convention Berkeley, CA. Control as well as state and local governments. Most Sept 29�� - Oct 3�� World of Bluegrass 2020 Raleigh, North Carolina events, festivals and jams have been canceled or October postponed. While I'm rying to stay up with the changes for Oct 2ⁿ� and 3rd Wide Open Bluegrass Raleigh, North Carolina the events and jam pages it has became a huge task. Oct 2ⁿ� through the 4�� Viva Las VeGrass– Mt Charleston, Nevada Bluegrass Festivals The Bluegrass Soundboard June 27th and 28th Prescott Bluegrass Festival in Prescott Arizona. is made possible by July July 11�� - 12�� Frankfort Bluegrass on the Green in Frankfort Illinois. SWBA Membership July 16�� - 18�� Mich & Cindy’s Bluegrass Festival in Cortland, Ohio. July 17�� through the 19�� Pickin’ on the Plains in Colby, Kansas. Thank You! July 19�� - 25�� Marshall Bluegrass Festival in Marshall Minnesota July 23��-25�� Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Pickers and Grinners Convention in Jefferson, North Carolina. promoting Bluegrass music July 23��- 26�� GorgeGrass Festival in Stevenson, Washington. July 24th - 25�� Bluegrass Along the Harpeth in Franklin, Tennessee. And those involved in it. July 24th - 26�� Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival in Hamilton, Montana. July 23��- 26th RecFest Bluegrass Festival in Milaca, Minnesota. 23��- 26�� Midsummer Bluegrass Music Festival Manitowish Waters WI July 31�� through Aug 1�� 7 Mile Bluegrass Fest in Greenfield, Ohio. Jul 30�� - Aug 1�� PreddyFest Bluegrass Festival in Franklinton, NC Jul 31�� - Aug 1�� 7 Mile Bluegrass Fest. in Greenfield, Ohio. Jul 30�� - Aug 1�� PreddyFest Bluegrass Festival in Franklinton, NC Jul 29��‐ Aug 2ⁿ� Appalachian String Band Music Festival Clifftop WV August Aug 4�� through the 8�� Pickin in Parsons in Parsons, West Virginia. Aug 5�� through the 8�� Milan Bluegrass Festival in Milan, Michigan. Aug 1�� -2nd Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival in Keystone CO Shutts Fabricators Aug 6�� - 8�� Mandolin Farm Bluegrass Festival in Grayson Kentucky WE BUILD COOL STUFF! Aug. 5��-8�� Hyden Citizens Bank Osborne Brothers Hometown 15481 Electronic Lane, Unit C, Festival in Hyden, Kentucky. Huntington Beach, CA. 92649 Aug 6�� - 9�� Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival Hebron, Connecticut. Aug 7�� - 9�� Lake Itasca Family Music Festival in Lake Itasca MI (562) 432-4648 www.shuttsfab.com Aug 6�� - 9�� Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival Richmond MI Aug 7th and 8th Bluegrass in the Park in Henderson, Kentucky. Aug 13th-15th LarryFest in LaFarge, Wisconsin. Aug 14��-16�� Summergrass Bluegrass Festiva San Diego CA Aug 13th - 16th Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival in Gettysburg, PA Aug 15th-17th North Carolina State Bluegrass Festival in Marion, NC Aug 13th-16th Winding Creek Bluegrass Festival in Russiaville IN Aug 13th-16th SEMBA Summer Bluegrass Festival in Houston MI Aug 14��-15�� Wyoming State BBQ Championship & Bluegrass Festival Worland WY Aug 14th-16th Bowers Mansion Bluegrass Festival in Reno, Nevada. ARTIN PRESS Aug 15th and 16th Laurel Hill Bluegrass Festival in Somerset PA PRINTING AND DESIGN SOLUTIONS Aug 20th-21st Central City Bluegrass Festival in Central City Iowa. Quality pr inting for today's fr eshest designs Aug 20th-23rd Pickin’ in the Pasture in Lodi, New York. 958 N. Grand Avenue, Covina, CA Aug 21st- 22nd Ocean Lakes Bluegrass Festival in Myrtle Beach SC 626-915-4255 www.artinpress.com Aug 27th-30th Blistered Fingers Bluegrass Festival in Litchfield MA
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List me in the SWBA Directory (must sign)______
I want to receive my newsletter c US Mail Only -OR - c E-mail Only
Please Indicate c $25.00 1 year single, married, family c $50.00 2 year single, married, family c New c $30.00 1 year band or business c $60.00 2 year band or business c Renewal c 1st class postage Add $10.00 for 1 year c 1st class postage Add $20.00 for 2 years c Change Mail to: SWBA Membership PO Box 55 Mira Loma CA 91752 Please enclose a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope Make checks payable to Southwest Bluegrass Association Office Use: Date Issued______[ ] Cash [ ] Check #______Amt $______Southwest Bluegrass Association Bluegrass Southwest Note: There will be a $25.00 charge for any returned check.