Gr a c e No t e s Newsletter of the Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. Vol. 26 No. 8 • July 2010

It’s time for MSSI’s annual Ceilidh!

On Saturday evening, August 14, at 6:30 pm, the place to be is St. Luke Lutheran Church on North Germantown Parkway. According to the Concise Scots Dictionary, in the past a ceilidh was an informal gathering in which neighbors shared food and spontaneously performed songs, dances, and stories for each other’s entertainment. Now the evening’s Memphis entertainment is usually planned in advance, which sometimes makes it a bit like a recital. Well, folks, let’s do this one more like it was done Scottish “back in the day”. Society, Inc. Our potluck supper is the food that will be shared. This is your opportunity to show off a special summer treat with everyone. Think Board COOL! We don’t want anyone getting heatstroke from slaving over a hot stove! MSSI will provide drinks, ice, and paper products, and if you President need a little direction as what to bring, if your last name begins with the Sammy Rich letters A—J, bring appetizers or salads, K—P, bring desserts or breads, 272-7159 and Q—Z, bring main courses or side dishes. [email protected] Of course, a ceilidh must have entertainment, so bring your fiddle, guitar, dancing shoes, tin whistle, piano (just kidding, there’s a piano in Vice President the room), drum set, tuba, clarinet, or a good tale or two and entertain Allen Simpson your friends and families. If you have children or grandchildren who 388-7145 would like a chance to perform in public without being overwhelmed, [email protected] bring them as well! We’ve already got a few “ringers” lined up to get Treasurer the festivities started, but everyone is encouraged to join in and share George Malone your unique talents. 385-1938 Our Cielidh promises to be a relaxed evening of food, friends, and [email protected] fun.. I am counting on some help setting up around 5:30 and then with a bit of help we will break down and clean up and out of there by 9:00. Secretary This is a great way to introduce someone new to our society, so bring a David Corbett friend, or even an Englishman and we will make them endure all of our 233-2903 favorite ballads. We hope to see you there!!! [email protected] Members at Large Melissa Gibson 299-3170 [email protected]

Stevens Martin 763-2324 [email protected]

Barbara Campbell 662-781-4860 [email protected]

Tennessee Tartan. Created by the of Tennessee Scottish Celebration as a State tartan. Passed by Tennessee Public Acts 1999, Chapter No.82, Senate Bill No. 73. The source of the tartan 2526 was: Bill Bickford of the Tennessee Tartan Committee. Scottish Connection Paul McCartney once wrote, “When we were kids in Liverpool in the late ‘50s, we loved ‘Rock-n-Roll’, and we loved American artists, but the man who really started the craze for the guitars as far as I am concerned was Lonnie Donegan.” Lonnie Donegan, singer, songwriter, influential music stylist, and father of , had a Scottish Connection. In fact, he was born Anthony James Donegan in , 29 April 1931, the son of a professional violinist who had played with the Scottish National Orchestra. Said Donegan in a 2002 interview, “…We were separated from our tradition centuries ago and were imbued with the idea that music was for the upper classes. You had to be very clever to play music. When I came along with the old three chords, people began to think that if I could do it, so could they.” Lonnie moved with his family in 1933 to east London. He was called up for military duty in 1949. While stationed in , he came into contact with American troops and thereby gained access to records as well as the opportunity to listen to the American Forces Network radio station. cont. Page 3

Here is a picture of Lonnie Donegan celebrating “My Old Man’s a Dustman” being a million seller with a party of Public Hygiene Cleansing Operatives.

Ed i t o r i a l St a f f Gr a c e No t e s Mary Ann Lucas Editor, (901-725-1879) [email protected] Grace Notes is the official publication of the Mem- phis Scottish Society, Inc. It is published monthly. Sammy Rich Like the Society itself, the credo of Grace Notes is Publisher, (901-272-7159) “to foster education and promote understanding [email protected] of things Scottish.” to foster education If you have something of interest to readers Gavin Anderson and promote understanding of this newsletter, please submit a typewritten of things Scottish manuscript to the editorial staff. If the article or Circulation Editor, (901-485-8270) notice is very brief (30 words or fewer), e-mail [email protected] or just use the telephone. Grace Notes will accept and publish good quality photographs. Melissa Gibson Please address all correspondence to: The deadline for all submissions is the fourth Line Editor, (901-299-3170) Gr a c e No t es week of each month preceding the month of [email protected] The Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. publication. Please include a self-addressed [email protected] P. O. Box 770028 stamped envelope with each submission, if you Information, (901-757-4200) Memphis, TN 38177-0028 want the material returned. [email protected]

2 cont. from page 2 Various & Sundry Bits of Info With a washboard, a tea-chest bass, and a cheap acoustic guitar, Donegan entertained audiences with Memphis Scottish Society Golf Tournament. folk and songs by musicians such as legendary bluesman Leadbelly and folk artist . The plans to hold the initial tournament at Audubon Lonnie launched the Skiffle craze in the mid 50s. on September 12 have changed. The course is undergoing At its peak, there were estimated to be between thirty extensive upgrades including new greens. Their plans to and fifty thousand Skiffle groups n Britain. McCartney be open by September 5 are in doubt, so the committee reported, “Me and my mates followed his gigs with decided to postpone until next spring. More information interest. We all bought guitars in order to be in a Skiffle is forthcoming. Steve Martin group and it was this craze which swept the country.” McCartney and his fellow guitarist were Greetings Clansmen, part of a Skiffle group called Skiffle Group in 1957. (The group later changed its name to As president of the Celtic Society of West Tennessee, and rode the Mersey sound to greater fame I would like to invite you to participate in Celtic & fortune.) Fest 2010. This event will be held in Jackson, TN on Lonnie Donegan’s break out song was “Rock Island Saturday November 6th and Sunday November 7th on Line”. Said McCartney, “Lonnie was the first person we the grounds of the Casey Jones Village Amphitheatre. heard of…to get the coveted number one in the charts This is located on Interstate 40 at Hwy 45 Bypass near with ‘’ and we studied his records exit 80. avidly and even did a few of his numbers.” It would be an honor to have you join us for our Donegan worked early on with the then little-known biggest event yet, featuring international and national and went on to record sporadically during Celtic entertainment at no extra charge. Please feel free to the 1960s, including some sessions in Nashville with visit our Celtic Fest webpage for all the details we have Charlie McCoy, , and . in store - http://www.cswt.us/CelticFest2010.html (Yes, THOSE Jordainaires.) Our Hotel list has reduced prices exclusively for this In 1967, Donegan wrote a breakwater song. He event - http://www.cswt.us/Hotels.html recalled, “I wrote and recorded ‘I’ll Never Fall in Love If you are interested, Again’ with guitarist J. Currie. It flopped! Tom Jones please contact our Clan/ borrowed my record and recorded it immediately and Societies Chairman, on immediately it soared up the charts worldwide! What how you can participate. has Tom got that I haven’t? While Tom was working in He’ll be glad to help Las Vegas the great went to hear him, he you. loved our song and recorded it, beautifully.” Charles Viar Sr. , lead guitarist & chief songwriter of the Email sixtwentyfour@ band Queen, gave Donegan credit for being “the very att.net cornerstone of English blues and rock.” (Incidentally, Phone 731-286-5373 May earned a PhD in astrophysics in 2007 and is currently the Chancellor of John Moores University in Long live the Clans! Liverpool!) Donegan died of a heart attack in 2002 at age 71 Dena Shewmaker, while on tour & preparing for a concert with the Rolling CSWT President Stones and the Beatles’ . 731-784-1263 [email protected]. www.cswt.us Among his legacy of recorded songs are “Rock Island Charles, We would love to have you come to a Line”, “”, “Bring a Little Water, Sylvie”, monthly meeting and tell us a bit more about Celtic “Cumberland Gap”, “Jack o’ Diamonds”, “Midnight Fest. Special”, “Tom Dooley”, “Rock o’ My Soul”, “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It’s Flavor (On the Bedpost Over MAMA Concerts Night)” which he also wrote, “Battle of ”, Two house concerts featuring musicians from “I Wanna Go home (Wreck of the ‘John B’)”, “Michael, Ireland and : Michael Black (of Ireland’s Row the Boat”, “”, “Steal Away”, most famous musical family) on Oct 27 and Sarah “”, “Lemon Tree”, “ McQuaid (Scottish musician with a voice reminiscent Away from Home”, “”, “Wabash Cannonball”, of June Tabor’s) on Nov 9. We are greatly indebted “I Shall Not Be Moved”, “I’m Alabamy Bound”, “Frankie to Rhonda Test and Nancy Chase for hosting these and Johnny”, and “Wreck of the Old 97”. concerts. So, while you’re in the Meditation Garden at Graceland My personal experience tells me that the intimate on the 16th of this month, remember that E.P. owed a bit surroundings of the house concerts are well worth to Lonnie Donegan and his Scottish Connection. the time and money. Give it a try!!

3 AFFRAY AT THE REIDSWIRE (REDESWYRE)

Keith Gregson (Sunderland UK) is a regular or assertive (depending on your point of view or contributor to Grace Notes. He caught a reference to leaning). Forster was a March Warden, Carmichael the above ‘battle’ in the last edition and has adapted of lower rank (the Keeper of Liddesdale). Forster for us an article he wrote for a Scottish borders simply began to pull rank on the Scot then started magazine. to be extremely personal. I live less than a couple of hours drive south of The prevailing dark mood swiftly spread to the site of the Battle of the Reidswire and it fires my the surrounding men who entered into English imagination every time I wind my way up the long soccer crowd mode and began to hurl obscenity drag out of to the Carter Bar, the Scottish and counter-obscenity across the open ground. One border and the site in question. Reaching the top, particular chant must have been too much for the I inevitably get out of the car and take a long look English Borderers because their reply came in the across the scene where, in the late sixteenth century, form of a hail of arrows. a sort of battle took place. Then what some bystanders described as a Before turning to the details, a word or two pitched battle broke out. The administrators, about the Carter Bar which marks a real frontier. horrified at what was happening, attempted to The hills of lowland Scotland roll away endlessly in restore order but the English had begun their own front of you like a giant crinkled green cloth and it fun and games, cavorting in and around the tents is hardly surprising then that, centuries ago, local of the market and fair. At this very moment men administrators should chose a place near this spot appeared over the horizon. This proved to be a to discuss matters of common interest on a regular large group of Jedburgh men who had come to have basis. It was such a meeting, held in 1576, which led a case heard. Their arrival tipped the balance, the to a spot of almost amusing international ‘aggro’. scrap recommenced and when the dust settled the At the time, the Borders was a place where it was Scots ‘had the field’. They also had a number of wise to keep your head down and quietly get on dead bodies (including that of the Deputy-Warden with your own business, if this was at all possible. of an English March, Sir George Heron) and a host The Wardens of the Border Marches (three on each of respectable prisoners. side) oversaw what order there was. Reiving of The victors then left the field with their spoils. cattle, robbery, raiding and allied sports still found For the administrators, the whole affair was an favour in many quarters; thus the need for cross unmitigated disaster. They had been charged by border official meetings. those above them to keep the peace. Instead they In the summer of 1576, one such meeting was had created at the best a riot, caused a number of arranged close to the modern road. The two main deaths and now had a number of unwanted noble negotiators, Sir John Forster for the English Middle prisoners on their hands. March and Sir John Carmichael for the Scottish In the years intervening between the Reidswire Middle March gathered at the chosen spot on June 5 affair and today, some historians claim that the to discuss matters of common interest. Armed men debacle brought England and Scotland close to all- drawn from border family groups accompanied out war. Few now believe this to have been the case. both negotiators and a fairground and market were The English prisoners were well looked after then set up round the meeting place. On this particular quickly released. occasion most of the armed men came from the To the casual historian and tourist the Affray Redesdale/Tynedale area in the case of the English at the Reidswire must remain little more than and from around Roxburgh and Jedburgh in the an interesting almost comical episode yet, once Scottish case. discovered, it changes that trip across the Carter Bar The main aim of the meeting was to deal with forever. cross-border complaints. In most cases, the injured Thank-you for this submission Keith. I always party was more interested in compensation for the enjoy learning a new word. “Affray” caught me wrong than punishment for the wrongdoer. All was this time, but not again. I am always grateful for going well until the case of an English rogue came contributors on either side of the pond. Keith has to the fore. By this point observers reckoned that a keen perspective that provides us with unique much drink had been taken and that the English insights to events many of our readers may not representative, Forster, was becoming a little off- have heard of. For a bit more information check this handed, claiming that he didn’t know where the website: villain was and didn’t particularly care. http:www.oldandsold.com/articles32n/ In response, Carmichael was either aggressive northumbria-25.shtml SRich

4 ORKNEY BREWERY

About 963-976 a.d., encouraging violence and Thorfinn Einarsson, known binge drinking. Portman as Hausakluif (translated seems to have the power Skullsplitter) in Norse, to have sales stopped in was the 7th Viking Earl of the UK if its demands Orkney. The Orkneyinga are not met. Rebranding Saga doesn’t give much and relabelling for an detail about his rule, which established business may mean it was a peaceful would be at the least costly time, but he is established and could mean the end of as a connection between a product. the older Norse rulers Absence of with almost mythological weapons in the Viking’s stories and to those in more picture was noted by the later times with historical brewery. Skull Splitter is records from more sources. not marketed to youth, His descendants included not sold in supermarkets, St. Magnus. His wife was and not sold at a discount from Caithness, and, like price. Parent company many of the later Earls, Sinclair Brewery was Thorfinn may have spent commended as the first time on mainland Scotland small independent brewer as well as the islands, while to put new UK alcohol still having allegiance to consumption warnings on the Norse King.. its label. Mail and email A little over two poured in from around thousand years later the the world. Resolutions Orkney Brewery named came from the Scottish a new ale, their strongest, Parliament. The media Skull Splitter, continuing mocked the whole process. the use of island related Perhaps because of pubic names for their reaction, perhaps products like Northern because no evidence Light, Dark Island, Red could be produced MacGregor, and Raven showing that the ale Ale. Skulsplitter’s had been responsible awards include for inciting Viking- Champion Winter Ale like raids on of Britain, and a gold native villages, medal at the London the complaint International Beer was eventually Challenge. withdrawn. After 20 years A stout thank-you of building brand to Karen English for name recognition for submitting this article a product exported way back in February. throughout Britain I don’t know how it and internationally the got misplaced in the brewery is notified that process, but alas it has The Portman Group, turned up. Perhaps a consumer watchdog we should serve organization, has filed some at our Patrons’ a report claiming the Reception! srich name “Skull Splitter” with its Viking label is

5 Success for a Silent Auction

Thanks to Steve Martin, we are now armed with right now” response. With the economy as it is, some all the tools necessary to have businesses running to businesses can’t afford to give things away. Tell the us in droves, hoping to be part of our Silent Auction! person you’d like to try again, since this really is a Cold-calling is way out of most of our comfort zones worthwhile cause, with free publicity as a benefit. (except Steve, who thinks it’s fun …Hm….). Well, Take the pre-printed letters we give you and hand most of us may not go quite that far, except for those it to the person right away. When you hand someone fortunate enough to enjoy a challenge, but we can go something, it’s human nature to take it. It will out in search of those elusive gifts that are just waiting immediately give you legitimacy and they will have a to be claimed, with self-confidence and a light step. reminder on their desk when you leave. Thanks to Steve, we will. Practice your spiel. The more you practice, the Go right to the top! Don’t set yourself up for more comfortable you will be with repeating it to a repeating your plea, which will get more pathetic stranger. Be gracious if the answer is no – don’t burn with each telling, by starting with a lowly salesman. any bridges! See above… Ask for the owner or manager and charge in! You will encounter this quite a bit: “We don’t Identify yourself, both personally and in handle donations at this location. You’ll have to mail connection with the MSSI. Everyone wants to know any request to Corporate.” Ask for that address and with whom they’re speaking. The more you mention the person to whom you should direct your request. MSSI, the more familiar it becomes to the listener and You usually need to allow many weeks for a response, the more apt they are to respond positively. Even go so please start on this soon. so far as to wear a MSSI nametag, or, better yet, wear If a service, or a gift certificate is donated, ask if it a kilt. Everyone in the store will remember you, for can only be used at this particular store (Memphis has sure, and it’s hard to say “no” to someone in a kilt – many locations for many franchises). they’re so cute and I personally would send in the Ask at the places you usually frequent. You will male spouse/partner, to make a real impression! I feel comfortable asking them and they are apt to show know I have a hard time saying “no” to a guy in a their appreciation for your patronage by saying “yes.” kilt…. (oh – did I say that out loud?) If you feel generous, create a basket with a gift Be sure to tell the owner/manager where the certificate, with appropriate side items. I got a funds will go and what makes us really happy is certificate from Howard’s Donuts and put together a to encourage students of all ages to broaden their basket with coffee, mugs, spoons, etc. I also put Steak education. They will be supporting folks in the and Shake certificates in with their menus, items they Memphis area, helping right here at home, and we give to kids (hats, crayons, etc), and a couple of their will be honored to sing their praises to the skies. glasses. I even took the huge basket in, to show them Emphasize our relationship with the business. and they loved it! I have no doubt they will give Assure them that you and our members use their again, this year. goods/ services and we would like to support them further by advertising their support of our non-profit Have some fun with this, as Steve says, and don’t organization. Their ads will come in contact with the let a few “not now”s get you down. The “yes”s are hundreds of people who attend Burns’ Nicht and we worth the trouble and keep your eye on the end hand out the advertisements to the general public at result. Many thanks for helping us out with this. It community events such as ClanJamfry, Cooper Young takes a clan…. Sue Malone Festival, and the Bartlett Festival, etc. If you get a negative response, treat it as a “not

Scottish Children’s Book and Other Offerings from Ewan McVicar

You should know that it is rare indeed that I can promote one of our correspondents from Scotland, and even rarer that all three are in one of our newsletters, but we have done so this month. On the back page are some new publications that Gallus Publishing and Ewan McVicar are making available. From My personal experience I can tell you will not be disappointed with any of his productions. I own two of his books and have sung more than one song from his song book, “One Singer, One Song”. I have an order in for the whole set and will be displaying it at an upcoming meeting for your perusal and will arrange to place orders if there is any interest. So please stay on the lookout for these Scottish treats that will be coming your way. SRich

6 Calendar of Events Mondays Caledonia Chorale 7 pm Fridays Saturday, August 14 Holy Communion Episcopal, Contra Dancing: 7:30-10 pm, MSSI Ceilidh 6:30 - 9:00 Walnut Grove at Perkins, Idlewild Pres; 1750 Union Ave St. Luke’s Lutheran 725-1879 West Entrance - 274-1889 Thursdays Thursday, August 26 Sgt.Singleton Pipes & Drums Sundays -NEAC Pipes and MSSI Board Meeting 6:30-8:30 at Bethel Pentecostal Drums - 1:30-4:00 @ 1st Pres. 5:45 - St. Lukes Lutheran Church, Stage Road-Bartlett; SW Dr. Jonesboro, AR exit 45 2000 N G’town Pkwy call 386-2052 for info. Monday, August 9 Monday, September 6 Wolf River Pipes & Drums, MSSI Monthly Meeting Burns Nicht Comm Meeting 7:00-9:30 St. Luke’s Lutheran; Jason’s Deli-Poplar/Highland 5:30 - Republic Coffee House, 2000 N. Germantown Pkwy. Dinner - 6, Program - 7 Walnut Grove at Tillman 753-9494 for info.

Scottish - Celtic RadioShows

Sundays, 6-7 p.m. “The Thistle and Shamrock” WKNO-FM 91.1

Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 August 5: Little Windows weaving their melodies Meet Julee Glaub and Mark and rhythms together in an p.m.“Strands of the Celtic Weems who mix Appalachian and intoxicating blend. Knot” Robert Campbell, host Irish music and relish the beauty WEVL–FM 89.9 of two unaccompanied voices in September 2: Dáithí Sproule close harmony. Hear them weave “One of Irish music’s greatest Sun and Mon 6 p.m. and their timeless harmonies and talk guitar accompanists” - All Music Fridays, 7 p.m. about the power of communal Guide “The Thistle & Shamrock,” song. Meet one of the gentle architects WMAV–FM 90.3 of today’s Irish music sound. Join August 12: New Waves Fiona and the intimate audience Celtic music is constantly evolving gathered at the Swannanoa and finding new pathways. Join Gathering during its Traditional us for new music from the crest of Song Week to enjoy musical the wave. insights, conversation and song with Dáithí Sproule, as he talks August 19: One, Two… about working with Skara Brae, Enjoy this hour dedicated to some Liz Carroll Trian and Altan. of the great solo artists and duos whose craft is uncluttered, crystal clear acoustic music. September 9: What’s New ? Our Thistle mailbox is never August 26: …and Three empty. Join Fiona In guitar, fiddle, accordion trios as she opens and other three-way instrumental some of the recent combinations you can really hear deliveries and plays the interplay between artists. them on the radio This hour features classic and for the first time. newly formed musical threesomes

7 ORDER FORM BOOK TITLE BOOK DIRECT QUANTITY GALLUS GEN SHOP PRICE PRICE (including Gallus Publishing has a flying start with the publication of two p&p) books, and a third on the stocks. The new imprint will specialise Lang Legged Beasties £6.99 £5.00 in Scottish music and storytelling, mixing new works with Cod Liver Oil & The Orange £10.99 £8.00 republished works. Juice Lang Legged Beasties is a new finely illustrated collection for One Singer One Song £4.99 £4.00 children of retold old Scottish stories about animals, plus old and Tales On The Tongue CD £8.00 £5.00 new songs and rhymes. Scottish Songs For Younger £8.00 £5.00 Hamish Imlach’s autobiographical ‘Reminiscences of a Fat Folk Children CD Singer’, Cod Liver Oil & The Orange Juice, is republished for Traditional Scottish Tales For £8.00 £5.00 the first time since it was a Scottish best seller in 1992. There Younger Children CD will be a free non-ticketed event celebrating Hamish’s life as part Exploits Of Tortoise & Hare CD £8.00 £5.00 of the Edinburgh Book Fringe, 1pm on Monday 16th August in Word-Power Bookshop, 43-45 West Nicolson Street. I enclose payment of £ In One Black Isle Night, to be published in a few weeks, stories from the 1001 Arabian Nights are retold as stories from Ross- NAME shire 200 years ago. This will be followed by the republishing of the very successful POSTAL ADDRESS book for young people, Traditional Scots Song & Music, co- written by Katherine Campbell and Ewan McVicar. Another republication being considered is McGinn of the Calton, the story and songs of Matt McGinn.

EMAIL ADDRESS (to receive information about further releases)

One Black Pay to Gallus Isle Night at 84 High St, Stories from Linlithgow EH49 7AQ. 1001 Arabian Nights retold as Contact gallus publishing direct at stories of Ross-  [email protected] shire 01506 847935 by Ewan McVicar

Gr a c e No t e s

The Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. P. O. Box 770028 Memphis, TN 38177-0028

www.memphisscots.com