Rhythm Bones Player A Newsletter of the Rhythm Bones Society Volume 20, No. 3 2018

In This Issue:

How I Got To Play Executive Director’s Column Bones In An Opera My good friend and fellow Bone player, Yirdy ebony rhythm bones, but what I learned later Profile of Adam Machar, has passed! He was a true spirit, please see was rosewood, in a glass case mounted on the Klein our tribute to him starting on page 3. wall. Each one of the rhythm bones had silver More than 10 years ago I visited the Museum of caps on each end, and were decorated by musi- Yirdy Machar Obituary Our National Heritage in Lexington,Ma. to view an cians and other fi gures. On one was the inscrip- exposition of Banjo’s including a number of Banjo’s tion,” To Charles H. Atkinson from the Niagra Remembering from a friends collection, Jim Bollman. Walking Firemans Association.” I soon learned that the Yirdy Machar around the exhibit, it was clear there was a real rhythm bones were on loan from the Yale Uni- Johnny Bones - The connection to rhythm bones, as many of the original versity Musical Instrument Collection. Thinking Life Of A Busker photographs featured rhythm bones players along that I might try to reproduce them, I wrote the side Banjo players and other musicians. But I was Curator of the Collection asking among other A Set Of Presen- unprepared for what I saw when I turned a corner. things, the dimensions, and any idea of who tation Minstrel Bones There in a glass case were four what appeared to be Charles H. Atkinson (Continued on Page 7)

NEFFA Report How I Got To Play Bones In An Opera

Thaddeus ‘Tad’ Most of you folks know me as the Bones Playing I decided to do something more appearances. Goodson Opera singer, or the Opera Singing Bones Player. At one I sang the famous aria from Wagner’s More On Sweet The only opera I know of that offi cially includes Die Walküre, “Winterstürme wichen dem Georgia Brown, rhythm bones at all is my own piece, LEITHIAN, Wonnemond,” with the regular piano accom- Brother Bones where one of the orchestra percussionists must play paniment plus my rhythm bones, since that’s Arrangement rhythm bones. However, in 1997 I got to work my one of the few opera arias with a steady beat. Minutes Of The bones playing into another opera, SUSANNAH by (Wagner was many things, but he understood Board Meeting Carlisle Floyd, at the Central City Opera House in the power of repetitive rhythm and persistent Colorado. This is the tale of how that came to be. percussion.) Minutes Of The In 1996 I was hired to sing the Duke of Mantua My successful performances as the Duke, General Member- ship Meeting in RIGOLETTO -- this is the opera that features coupled with the full beard I showed up with -- the aria I sang while playing rhythm bones at the I had hiked the Grand (Continued on Page 4) Columns: Shepherdstown Bones Fest (see photograph in right column). While hiking in the mountains above Executive Director town with my best friend and fellow tenor Richard Editorial Troxell, we chanced upon a cow skeleton. I took the ribs back to town, and in the toolshop of the opera Letters to the company’s maintenance guy, used a vice, saw, fi les Editor and sandpaper to fashion several pair of very nice Bones Calendar rhythm bones. I then played two pair of them at one of the traditional after-opera gatherings in the bar adjacent to the opera house, called by the opera company “Après Opéra” -- but by one of the locals, a very literate fan of baseball and beer named Lew Cady (whose wife was the opera fan), “Post Op”. I did this because one of the veteran accompanists had complained that this gathering used to be a fun time for the stars to let their hair down and sing something NOT operatic, but that in recent years it had become a sing-off for the apprentices, all eager Adam Klein sings and plays rhythm bones to a song from to try out some ballbuster aria or other on the public. opera RIGOLETTO at Bones Fest XIX. Photo by Art Sands The Board sitting as the Nominating Editorial Committee nominated the existing mem- Rhythm Bones Player bers to run for the coming year. Rhythm Bones Society I join with others in this issue in Skeff Flynn had more RBS Brochures Volume 20, No 3 remembering Yirdy Machar. I met him printed and the motion was made and Third Quarter 2018 at the bones competition in Iowa and approved to reimburse him for that ISSN: 1545-1380 he came to Bones Fest IX staying at my expenditure. Editor house including a few days after the Fest. There was extensive discussion Steve Wixson I have a ball cap that he calligraphed with about Bones Fest XXIII. We received wixson@epbfi .com my name, and I save it for special occa- a proposal from Randy Seppala to hold sions. There was a Video of the Month in Executive Director a ‘Blues’ Bones Fest in Clarksdale, MS Stephen Brown September remembering Yirdy, and you and a proposal for a Bones Fest held at [email protected] can view it at http://rhythmbones.org/ the same time as the Abbeyfeale Fleadh video/YirdyMacharTributeVideo.mp4. and Bones Competition in Ireland. We Web Site Coordinator Bones Fest V was the fi rst Fest Adam Steve Wixson noted that we really would like a Fest in [email protected] Klein attended, and we were wowed Ireland, but unfortunately, the dates for by his operatic voice and rhythm bones both proposals are on the same weekend. Board of Directors playing accompanied by Constance We will contact Randy about changing Steve Brown, Executive Director Cook. Over the years he attended several Skeffi ngton Flynn the date and poll the members at the Sharon Mescher Fests and this year with his wife, Tami General Membership Meeting to see how Dennis Riedesel Swartz, an opera singer herself. His story many might attend each Fest. Bill Vits, Assistant Director of playing rhythm bones in an opera Steve Wixson, Secretary/Treasurer The meeting was adjourned at about Kenny Wolin begins on Page 1. 4:30 PM. Respectfully submitted, Steve I fi rst contacted the Harlem Globe- The Rhythm Bones Player is published trotters about the Sweet Georgia Brown quarterly by the Rhythm Bones Society. record in 2000. A man by the name of Minutes Of The Nonmember subscriptions are $10 for one year; RBS members receive the Player as part Governor Vaughn sent me Page 1 of a Board Meeting of their dues. history of the recording. I forgot about it The Rhythm Bones Players welcomes until lately, and when I contacted them The meeting was called to order by letters to the Editor and article on any aspect again they sent me a full copy. The story Executive Director, Steve Brown, on of bones playing. All material submitted for consideration is subject to editing and of how it became their theme song is on June 9, 2018, about 4:30 PM, in the condensation. Page 6. Governor’s Pavilion in Lincoln, NH. The The minutes from the Board and minutes of the last meeting were read Rhythm Bones Central web site: rhythmbones.org General Membership Meetings are a and approved as printed in the newsletter. reconstruction from the memories of the Steve Wixson presented the Treasurer’s Board. After BFXXII, I transcribed my Report noting we have a bank balance of Yirdy Machar notes of these meetings and emailed them just over $7,000. Steve Wixson presented to the Board for review. When I went to the slate of offi cers from the Nominating Obituary insert them into this newsletter, I could Committee, and Steve Brown opened Member Yirdy ‘MacBones’ Machar, not fi nd that email and the Board had to the fl oor for nominations. Being none aged 71, passed away Monday, July 9, reconstruct. This fact will be noted at the the motion was made and approved to 2018. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, meetings at BFXXIII. elect the following by acclamation, Steve and lived in many diff erent countries Brown, Executive Director, Bill Vits, As- before settling down in Denmark some sistant Director, Steve Wixson, Secretary/ Minutes Of The 35 years ago. He was divorced and the Treasurer, and Members At Large, Skeff - father of two children and was a grandfa- ington Flynn, Sharon Mescher, Dennis General Member- ther and a great grandfather too. Riedesel and Kenny Wolin. Since 1991 he lived in a wooden ship Meeting Steve Brown led a discussion about cottage under a large oak tree at the edge BFXXIII and a straw vote was taken to The meeting was called to order by Ex- of a forest near Kattegat on the island of see how many might attend in Clarksdale ecutive Director, Steve Brown, on June Zealand together with his soulmate Mette and Ireland. There was strong support 9, 2018, about 3 PM, outside the Gov- whom he met back in 1985. for both Fests. ernor’s Pavilion in Lincoln, NH with all As Yirdy’s father was a Naval Offi cer The meeting was adjourned at about members present except Dennis Riedesel and travelled a lot his schooling took 4:25 PM. Respectfully submitted, Steve and Kenny Wolin. The Minutes of the place in many diff erent countries. He Wixson, Secretary. previous Board meeting were approved was however fortunate enough to spend as printed in the newsletter. The Treasur- some time in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, er’s Report was read and approved. where he because of his then bad hand writing received special tuition from Tom

2 Gourdie who was a prominent Scottish onship in Iowa in 2002, and competed in had in common. Like, we were about the calligrapher, artist and teacher. the All Ireland Bones Contest a couple of same age (less than a year apart). And Yirdy left home at an early age and times. He attended Bones Fest XIX and we both attended a handful of elemen- joined the UK Armed Forces. He served won the hearts of attendees. There are tary schools (5 for me, 4 or 5 for Yirdy in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and also at also couple of YouTube videos featuring depending how you count them). We The Royal Air Force Station located in Yirdy. both left home and joined the military Leuchars, Fife, Scotland, where he was a His fi ne playing stays with us in the at a young age (me at 17, Yirdy even member of the Mountain Rescue Team. form of two CDs - ‘Mac Bones and the younger). Years later when much older, After moving to Denmark Yirdy B Band’ and ‘BoneZone - In Session’ we both won the NTCMA (National worked as a pub bartender in Copenha- - where Yirdy plays rhythm bones or Traditional Country Music Association) gen for some time until he got stabbed. spoons on most of the tracks. Bones Contest (Yirdy in 2002, me in Following that he devoted himself to the Yirdy ‘MacBones’ Machar will live 2004). And we both regularly rattled music and the calligraphy. on in our memories and hearts. Mette eight bones (distinctly diff erent grip Yirdy was a passionate rhythm bones Warming styles, but 8 bones nonetheless). I felt a and spoons player and loved entertaining special bond with Yirdy because of the audiences with his playing music, his Remembering life experiences we had in common. I’m singing and his story telling as well as sure a great many other folks had their giving workshops on rhythm bones and Yirdy Machar own special connection with Yirdy. spoons and other instruments. Like so many other RBS members who Yirdy was larger than life and a leg- Even in his last days he felt like knew him, I met Yirdy in 2005 at Bones endary bones player. We will dearly miss entertaining. He would crack jokes on Fest IX in Chattanooga, Tennessee. him. Scott Miller the staff at the hospital and on several Yirdy was a person you could hardly occasions he captivated the staff with his forget. For starters, there was Yirdy’s In 2002 I fl ew to Avoca, Iowa to com- rhythm bones playing. distinctive physique. He looked like pete in the National Traditional Country Yirdy was a gentleman with a capi- Santa. Yirdy himself admitted that he Music Association’s World Bones and tal G, a man of independent mind, an has “doubled as Father Christmas.” In Spoons Championship. It was a sudden honest man. He also taught the fi ne art of addition to his majestic appearance, decision for me and I hadn’t really made Calligraphy. Yirdy had an incredibly soothing voice. any accommodations. I arrived Friday He learned playing rhythm bones from Listening to Yirdy speak was mesmer- afternoon, and met a fellow competitor, his family and played a variety of other izing. He reminded me of a professor I Yirdy Machar, a Scotsman living in Den- instruments over the years including pipe had many years ago whose voice was mark, who had traveled all the way from band side drum, tenor drum and bass so soothing we could listen to him talk Denmark to compete. Yirdy was renting drum, bodhran, harmonica, concertina, all day long. And if you thought Yirdy’s a motel room with two beds, and quickly diatonic accordion - or button box as he speaking voice was marvelous, his sing- off ered to share. The next morning as preferred to call it - tin whistle, acoustic ing voice was even more phenomenal. we were preparing for our competition, bass guitar and mandolin. Women seemed to melt at the sound of it. I pulled out the whistle and played some A versatile musician who performed Well, my signifi cant other always went jigs. “Would you accompany me?”he with many diff erent bands as well as at gaga when I played Yirdy’s Mac Bones asked, “But of course!” I replied. It was myriad venues including pubs, clubs, and the B Band CD. And then there was a magical week end, hanging with Yirdy, concerts, cabarets, old-time music halls, Yirdy’s cheeky sense of humor. He was and the other rhythm bones players. radio & television broadcasts, variety lots of fun to be with. Yirdy was one of At the end of the week end we all fi ve shows, folk nights, and festivals around those folks who attracted people like a rhythm bones players pledged to go the world as well as in Denmark. magnet. You couldn’t help but be taken to Abbeyfeale and compete in the All Always carrying his favorite rhythm in by the guy. Ireland Bone Playing Championship, a bones and spoons with him in his ruck- RBS members at that Bones Fest might pledge only Yirdy and I were to keep. sack. He mastered two handed playing best remember Yirdy for the workshop he I would meet him again several times and would play anything from two to gave on his “Full House” method for rat- over the years, sharing another room four bones in each hand and for that tling eight bones. Or maybe it was Yirdy with him in 2004, and bunking at Steve matter all sorts of spoons. demonstrating the fi ne art of calligraphy. Wixson’s house in 2005. He was a true He used a variety of rhythm bones Or maybe it was Yirdy’s outstanding spirit, generous, open, supportive, and from various makers, Paddy Sport performance at the public stage show. a great friend. He came in fi rst that fi rst Murphy, Steve Brown, Nick Driver and But no matter why you remembered him, year in Avoca, and beat me soundly. I Victor Smith (a Shetlander living in Den- everyone’s life was brightened at Bones returned the favor in 2003, and 2004. mark) of Flatbush Stringed Instruments. Fest IX by Yirdy’s infectious congenial- But we were joyous competitors, always Victor Smith was the one who made ity. It’s no wonder that Yirdy was such a supporting the other. RIP Yirdy! Slainte the lovely pair of Brazilian Rosewood big hit that year. Mhath, As Aye. Yirdy MacBones. Steve Spoons for Yirdy. Personally, what endeared me most Brown He won the ‘World Bones Champi- to Yirdy were some life experiences we

3 (Continued from Page 1) Polk played rhythm bones while singing bones off and on ever since. Canyon with a friend prior to the start Jaybird with his sister Susannah on a Meeting Steve Brown at his table at of the opera gig, and hadn’t shaved in balmy summer evening, one day afore NEFFA in 2001 or so, he noticed some weeks -- earned me a return contract the elders done spied Susannah a-bathin’ more artistic shapes, which prompted a for the 1997 season, as Sam in SUSAN- in a stream they was a-scoutin’ out for a fl urry of radical design experiments with NAH. Artistic Director John Moriarty place for Preacher Blitch to baptize peo- the ultimate purpose of increasing the said he would never have thought of me ple - didn’t matter hit was the Polks’ own tonal range and varying the volume of for the role had I not arrived in Central property, didn’t matter hit was where the instrument beyond what one pair can with that beard, which the director of Susannah had always done her bathin’. be made to do. RIGOLETTO asked me to keep for the Let’s just say that the ending of the opera He has now settled on two main role of the Duke; but Sam is a bit of a bears no resemblance at all to the ending designs: Tree Ribs which more closely mountain man so the beard worked to of Footloose. imitate the changing curve of a rib: and get me the part, although by 1997 I was So, folks, there you have it: for eight or Klave Klakkers which give a recog- clean shaven again; no one minded. ten performances, at 8,500 feet above sea nizable musical tone rather than the Well, there’s this one little song at level, in 1997, in Central City, Colorado, traditional click, for play in ensembles the end of the fi rst act of SUSANNAH, I played rhythm bones, freshly made such as bateria, the Brazilian samba known as the Jaybird Song. For those of from a cow’s remains at 9000 feet, in an percussion tradition, and Latin music you who don’t know this opera, it’s an opera. The next time I did Sam was in in general, where the clave is the main American piece by the aforementioned 2014, with Utopia Opera in New York timekeeper. Floyd, who also wrote an opera based on City. I got to be the dialect coach but was Being a singer, he uses rhythm bones Steinbeck’s OF MICE AND MEN, and not asked to play rhythm bones. Thankee primarily as a song’s accompanying in- several others besides. The plot, based kindly for your attention. Adam C J Klein strument, but will happily jam on rhythm on the biblical tale of Susannah and bones with players of other instruments, the Elders, takes place in the fi ctitious Profi le of from dulcimer to Cajun band to African village of New Hope Valley, Tennessee, drumming ensemble. The one kind of a close-knit, closed-minded community Adam Klein music he won’t jam to is the prerecord- of mostly hypocrites. The three good ADAM C J KLEIN was born in Port ed kind: music for him is a community people are Susannah Polk and her broth- Jeff erson, Long Island in 1960 and grew activity. er Sam, and a simple-minded neighbor up split between nearby Setauket and His playing style, nurtured by Percy named Little Bat. Before everything world-away New York City. He is a self- Danforth and developed with fellow goes south, back home late one evening taught traditional music singer/player/ player Art Scholtz in the early 80s, has Susannah begs Sam to sing her favorite songwriter and an opera singer/composer grown more eclectic due to contact with song: the Jaybird Song. “Jaybird sittin’ with a Master’s degree from Indiana Uni- RBS members such as Steve Brown, Jim on a hick’ry limb, he winked at me and versity School of Music, Bloomington. Runner, the Meschers, Tim Reilly, Bill I winked at him, I picked up a brickbat By age 12 he was lining up diff erent Vits, Kenny Wolin, Skeffi ngton Flynn and hit him on the chin.... Looky here, sized terracotta plant pots to play like xy- and Jonathan Danforth, who along with little boy, don’tcha do that agin!” lophones, and at 17 he taught himself jaw all RBS members demonstrate to the So we come to the fi rst blocking harp, built his fi rst dulcimer and started world the astounding variety achievable rehearsal for this scene. (In stage-ese, a playing spoons after seeing a player by just banging two sticks together, and blocking rehearsal is where the director at the Carter Family Memorial Music who we hope in time will pull rhythm and singers fi gure out where to be and Center in Hiltons, Virginia; so when at bones out of their long obscurity back go on stage during the scene. In opera, age 18, having recently found a cow into the public consciousness where they sometimes this is the limit as far as char- skeleton in Frederick, Maryland, he fi rst can take their rightful place beside the acterization is expected to be developed, saw bones being played, by Jeff Warner, other amazing human inventions known but I’ve generally been luckier than that, accompanying Jeff Davis playing The as musical instruments. with directors who hope the singers will Falls of Richmond on the banjo, he fash- be real people up there. This was always ioned a pair from the ribs and fi gured out Bones Calendar the case in Central City.) Moriarty, also some rudimentary technique. the principal conductor of the company, After meeting Percy Danforth at the Bones Fest XXIII. May 2-5, 2019, in remembered my numbers with rhythm Croton Clearwater Revival folk festival Clarksdale, MS. Host is Randy Seppala. bones at Post Op the year before, and in 1981, it was all over: he then began See details on Page 8 and on our website. stepped way outside his purview by sug- making bones from wood, more or less NTCMA Bones Contest. August - gesting to the stage director that when I after Percy’s design. When he returned September, 2019 (dates not posted yet), sing Jaybird I also play rhythm bones. to Croton the following summer to show LeMars, IA. Bones Contest will likely be Michael Ehrman, however, a congenial Percy his creations, Percy wasn’t there, on Sunday. chap, took the suggestion easily, and so but people wanting bones were there for the fi rst time possibly in the history and he sold out the dozen or so pair he’d of this opera, or maybe any opera, Sam brought with him. He’s bade rhythm

4 colorful costumes that Johnny wears to weather and politicians), and other busk- Johnny Bones the attract attention on the streets of Tomb- ers trying to take his spot and seems con- Life of a Busker stone, Arizona. He can be seen and heard tent to do so for the foreseeable future. 6 or 7 days a week on Allen Street. He is Tombstone now seems comfortable I have told parts of this story several usually alone except on Monday when with having Johnny around. He is often times at Bones Fests. I was walking he is joined by the rest of the Silver King in parades for special events. The Silver down the street in Tombstone and heard Minstrels consisting of Joe Andrews on King Minstrels open the music for Wild the clatter of rhythm bones across the banjo, Burt Webster on guitar and vocals, West Days. We played at the annual street. There was Johnny Bones the fi rst and me on harmonica and rhythm bones. Christmas Charity Ball in Schieff elin rhythm bones player I had heard since When he is alone he has a boom box Hall built in 1881 with 1800s music and my grandfather died in 1967. He told me hidden inside an old carpet bag sitting costumes. Rhythm Bones and Johnny are about the Rhythm Bones Society and on an antique chair. It is fun for me to here to stay. Gerry Hines on-line lessons and off I went. Little did I watch various people’s reactions to him know that chance meeting would change and his costumes. Most people really get NEEFA Report my life. After practicing all summer back a laugh out of it and want their pictures in NY, I returned to Arizona and started taken with him. After 11 years he has Although it’s looked little like spring playing the rhythm bones with the min- become an institution on Allen Street and around here over the last month, one sure strels. In doing so I learned a lot about returning visitors will go out of their way sign of spring was seen last week end as busking and a very unusual individual. to look for him. A large poster picture the 74th New England Folk Festival was Most of the rhythm bones players I of him and a British tourist was at one held in Mansfi eld, MA much to the delight have met over the years are lovers of time on display in Heathrow Airport in of people interested in Folk Music and music and playing the bones. Many play England. Dance. And in the heart of it was rhythm other instruments and the rhythm bones Busking is a meager living at best but bones, as usual. Rhythm bones players are just part of their repertoire. Very few the people he comes in contact with can and would be rhythm bones players de- are musicians who make their entire make it worthwhile. He tells of a young scended upon the festival as more than 60 living playing rhythm bones. Johnny man with cerebral palsy being pushed people participated in the Rhythm Bones Bones has made his living entirely from past him in a wheel chair. His head was Workshop. busking while playing rhythm bones for down and he was unreactive until he Rhythm Bones Society members Bruno almost 11 years. heard the rhythm bones and music. His Giles, Ari Urlbaum, Skeff Flynn, Ron Starting life in Toledo, Ohio he worked head came up and he got excited and Bruschi, Tim Riley, Constance Cook, and various occupations: roofi ng, restaurants, clapped and tried to sing and dance. After Adam Klien, as well as long time rhythm a minstrel show performer on banjo the song his parents wheeled him on and bone player Tom Weldon provided teach- and actually played hard rock guitar for unfortunately he retracted back into his ing support as I attempted to describe the a while. He confesses to being a stunt former state. His mother told Johnny basic elements of playing rhythm bones. junky and loved performing in gunfi ght that was the fi rst time in two years he The audience was a mixture of local shows near Phoenix, AZ. Diving out of had reacted to anything. Another time a attendee’s and some from as far away windows, falling off roofs, being thrown couple walking with the woman’s mother as Denmark. Jessye Bartlett, co-host of over hitching rails were part of the fun. came by. The mother was a stroke victim Bones Fest XXII, attended to encourage However, that is a young man’s game and very downcast. She saw Johnny and all attendee’s to come to Franconia Notch and will take a toll on the body after a stared and looked him up and down and in June for Bones Fest XXII. while. smiled a big grin. Passing by she turned At the completion of the rattle sec- His fi rst exposure to rhythm bones back and grinned again. The daughter tion, it seemed that more than 50% of was a Percy Danforth video. He said came back and told Johnny her mother the attendee’s completed the task! Each he watched it long enough to see how had not smiled in a very long time. Being of the Rhythm Bones Instructors then to hold them and get a few clicks then a crazy looking bones player can have its demonstrated their own style in individ- turned off the video because he wanted rewards. ual performances and several pass off s. to develop his own style, which is not There can also be frustrations. In 2012 Regular attendee Jeremy Brown displayed unusual as you who have attended a few a new city administration was determined his two handed style, while delighting the Bones Fests can attest. Most of us have to get rid of buskers and particularly attendees, and then attempting to hug each our own style of play. He continues to Johnny Bones. They passed an ordinance one. Many a happy face left the workshop, wish for a set of Danforth bones. The that was unconstitutional forbidding some of whom cemented their rhythm ones he uses in Tombstone are hand busking without a permit. Johnny con- bone playing by purchasing their own pair made by him from buff alo ribs. tacted the ACLU and got them involved. of rhythm bones, before going off into the He has made a study of the old time The city was forced to back down as the world to demonstrate a new found skill. minstrel shows which usually had a Mr. ordinance was deemed a restriction of And as they fi led out of the workshop a Bones and a Mr. Tambo or tambourine free speech. Johnny had weathered an- voice was heard to exclaim, “See you in player. The clothing style of these old other storm. He has persevered through New Hampshire for Bones Fest XXII!” time bones men led to the crazy and 100 degree days, high winds (from Steve Brown

5 jazz recordings. A friend introduced Thaddeus ‘Tad’ More on Sweet Van Court to Abe Saperstein, the HGT founder, owner and fi rst coach, who was Goodson Georgia Brown, always looking for ideas to promote their Thaddeus “Tad” Goodson (1869-1957) Brother Bones games. Many props, music, etc were tried was an African American rhythm bones and disposed of. Van Court suggested player who lived in Richland Coun- Arrangement Sweet Georgia Brown was in the image ty, South Carolina near the capital of There is a story about Brother Bones, of the HGT, and the use of music to ad- Columbia. Some of the songs he played that is Freeman Davis, in Rhythm Bones vertise and promote the games and during were recorded by Charles Seeger for the Player, Vol 4, No 3, with information warm up with the ‘Magic Circle’ was the WPA in 1939 which I had digitally trans- about his life and his recording of Sweet perfect choice. An arrangement was made ferred by the American Folklife Center Georgia Brown which due to its adoption and the record was sold as a concession and have uploaded to YouTube (https:// as the theme song of the Harlem Glob- item. This was in the 1948-49 season and bit.ly/2OVoXLt). He is immortalized in trotters (HGT) basketball team is one of has continued every since. the book Tales of the Congaree which the most played songs in the history of In the fall of 1950, Columbia Pictures collects his fables, folklore and songs recorded music. From the point of view started shooting the fi rst HGT movie, from the 1920’s. His family still has his of rhythm bones players, it is a shame The Story of the Harlem Globetrotters. cherished rhythm bones and sixty one that most listeners do not realize that The producer, Buddy Adler, wanted very years after his death, he has inspired me rhythm bones are the percussion instru- much to use the Brother Bones’ record- to pick up the bones myself. Thanks Tad! ment in that recording. ing, but the royalty was too high for the Sweet Georgia Brown is a jazz stan- movies’ budget. Van Court suggested the dard and pop tune written in 1925 by Ben recording in a full length movie might be Bernie and Maceo Pinkard and Kenneth important and a deal was made where 5 Casey. The song was reasonably popu- cents of every record sold would be paid lar when it was written and recorded by until the fee was met. The music was in several popular singers. the movie, and the use of it as a HGT According to Wikipedia, “reportedly theme song was fi rmly set. Ben Bernie came up with the concept Van Court held the exclusive dis- for the song’s lyrics – although he is not tributorship of the record from Tempo the accredited lyricist – after meeting Dr. Records, and distributed it only to the George Thaddeus Brown in New York HGT organization. Abe Saperstein agreed City. Dr. Brown, a longtime member of to continue to use the record as the theme the State House of Representatives for song for fi ve years, but of course it has Georgia, told Bernie about Dr. Brown’s continued since then. Steve Wixson daughter, Georgia Brown, and how sub- [Thanks again to the HGT organization sequent to the baby girl’s birth on August for more history about this record.] Here are the songs that feature rhythm 11, 1911, the Georgia General Assembly bones on those recordings. Please note had issued a declaration that she was the “n” word is found in some of these to be named Georgia after the state, songs. I’m planning on getting a show an anecdote which would be directly together to showcase these songs, hence referenced by the song’s lyric: “Georgia me playing rhythm bones, so some lyrics claimed her – Georgia named her.” will need to be changed. Hardy Childers “The tune was fi rst recorded on March That Girl I Love: 19, 1925, by band leader Ben Bernie, https://youtu.be/g9Kepzpwna8 resulting in a fi ve-week number one Roll Down the Line: for Ben Bernie and his Hotel Roosevelt https://youtu.be/V8p14lYyqlE Orchestra.” Slide On, Tramps: The president of Tempo Records dis- https://youtu.be/YYuXXmN4DJk, covered Freeman when he was playing Bile Dem Cabbage Down: in a downtown Chinese restaurant in https://youtu.be/FVMFcYw1JR4, Los Angeles. The recording was made My True Love Treat Me So Cold: with Freeman whistling and playing The front cover of the Harlem Globetrotter’s https://youtu.be/HGTzfGPk6-A, version of the Sweet Georgia Brown record rhythm bones, and it quickly reached the Ridin’ on a Humpbacked Mule: airwaves. https://youtu.be/_aMNPQErQOE, and The connection to HGT came about I’m the Leader of High Society (Since this way. Albert Van Court was a HGT I Got Mine): fan and also involved in the west coast https://youtu.be/DrSTRhP2mrc.

6 his family were boarding on Pemberton A Set of Square, Boston, Charles H. earning his Executive Director way as an actor and Charles F. working Presentation as a professor of elocution. Editorial (Cont) Atkinson’ s unusual set of bones was could be. She replied with the full spec- Minstrel Bones given to Yale in 1963 by G. Lauder ifi cations, but regarding Atkinson, only Among the instruments currently in Greenway of Greenwich, CT, who had that he might have been a “benefactor of storage at the Yale University Collection purchased them from James Robinson, the Association.” While perusing Beth of Musical Instruments is a set of presen- Inc., Old English Silver & Porcelains, 12 Lenz Dissertation, “The Bones in the tation minstrel bones dating from the mid East 57th St., New York, date of purchase United States,” I came across an entry, 19th century (See photograph on Page unknown. Susan E. Thompson, Curator, Appendix B, entitled “Biographical 8). This set, which comprises two pairs, Yale University Collection of Musical Sketches of Nineteenth Century Bones is made from a dense, reddish-brown Instruments, New Haven, CT. email Players” reprinted from Daddy Rice’s tropical hardwood (possibly rosewood). address: [email protected] book Monarchs of Minstrelsy which Each bone is tipped with silver mounts [This article extracted from an article included “Chuck Atkinson” also called that are engraved variously with fl oral that appeared in the Newsletter of the “Master Charles.” With my investigative patterns, blackface minstrels, and fi re- American Musical Instrument Society, juices fl owing I wondered if this is the man’ s regalia. Vol 34, No 1, Page 8, in the spring of same person for whom the presentation Two of the bones bear mounts that are 2005: https://amis.org/publications/news- rhythm bones were intended? A visit to inscribed: Presented to C. H. Atkinson letter/2001/34.1-2005.pdf. That article the Brookline, MA library produced a by the Niagara Fire Association, New has additional photographs not include copy of the February 9, 1909 edition of Britain Ct, June 9th, 1860. Engraved on here.] the “Brookline TAB,” and the obituary the tip is a minstrel playing of “Charles H. Atkinson” purported to two pairs of bones, the word be the oldest living Minstrel before his CHAMPION inscribed on his death. Though I visited his grave, no belt. On the tip of the other is additional information was available, and a minstrel playing the banjo. it wasn’t until I stumbled upon the article One guesses that this ele- included in this issue that the trail of the gant set of bones was present- Atkinson Bones began to heat up once ed to C. H. Atkinson by his more. I hope you enjoy it! fellow fi remen—perhaps as a I have just returned from a very en- prize for being the winner of joyable trip to Quebec City. I have some a bones competition, or as an good leads on rhythm bones players and award for being an exempla- participated in a very enjoyable evening ry player, or as a gift on the of music at our Hotel, L’Auberge Du occasion of his moving away Mont in Valcartier, Qc. I met some of from New Britain to new and the local musicians, and learned how diff erent climes. Detail of a minstrel playing two pairs much Irish music has infl uenced French Whether Atkinson used them subse- of bones, the word CHAMPION on his Canadian music. Look for an article in quently in performance is unknown. But, belt. Figure measures 18.5 mm in height. the near future! given their exceptionally fi ne condi- Photograph by Susan E. Thompson Though eight months away, the prom- tion (virtually no pitting or ise of the Blues Bones Fest in Clarksdale, scarring), it is probable that MS. is truly intriguing. At the edge of the they were valued more as a Mississippi, near the cross roads where keepsake than as a musical Robert Johnson bargained with the devil, instrument. it will give us a whole new perspective Charles H. Atkinson was on rhythm bones and the blues! Just let born about 1837 in Maine. In that percolate for a while and do show up 1860, he was employed as a in Clarksdale! Steve Brown machinist in New Britain, CT, where he lived with his wife Mary A. (age 22), son Charles F. (age 3), and infant daughter Sally. By 1870, he had moved to Lowell, MA, where he was working as Detail of a minstrel playing the banjo. a “ showman.” Ten years later, he and Figure measures 18.2 mm in height. Photograph by Susan E. Thompson

7 Set of presentation bones crafted from tropical hardwood and tipped with silver. Average length, 169 mm; average width, 30 mm. Yale Acc. No. 1000.1963. (see story on Page 7) Photo by Christopher Gardner Photograph on left is a closeup of Johnny Bones. The photograph on the right shows Johnny with Sky Bartlett on left and Gerry Hines on right (See story on Page 5)

Bones Fest XXIII will be in the birthplace of the ‘Blues’ in Clarksdale, Mississippi on May 2-5, 2019 hosted by Randy Seppala. Preliminary details are on our website and more details in the next newsletter RRhythmhythm BBonesones SSocietyociety 1060 Lower Brow Road Signal Mountain, TN 37377-2910

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