Interviews with:

Melissa Sherman Lynn Russwurm Mike O’Reilly,

Are You A Bluegrass Songwriter?

Volume 8 Issue 3 July 2014

www.bluegrasscanada.ca

TABLE OF CONTENTS BMAC EXECUTIVE

President’s Message 1 President Denis 705-776-7754 Chadbourn Editor’s Message 2 Vice Dave Porter 613-721-0535 Canadian Songwriters/US Bands 3 President Interview with Lynn Russworm 13 Secretary Leann Music on the East Coast by Jerry Murphy 16 Chadbourn Ode To Bill Monroe 17 Treasurer Rolly Aucoin 905-635-1818 Open Mike 18 Interview with Mike O’Reilly 19 Interview with Melissa Sherman 21 Songwriting Rant 24 Music “Biz” by Gary Hubbard 25 DIRECTORS Political Correctness Rant - Bob Cherry 26 R.I.P. John Renne 27 Elaine Bouchard (MOBS) Organizational Member Listing 29 Gord Devries 519-668-0418 Advertising Rates 30 Murray Hale 705-472-2217 Mike Kirley 519-613-4975 Sue Malcom 604-215-276 Wilson Moore 902-667-9629 Jerry Murphy 902-883-7189

Advertising Manager: BMAC has an immediate requirement for a volunteer to help us to contact and present advertising op- portunities to potential clients. The job would entail approximately 5 hours per month and would consist of compiling a list of potential clients from among the bluegrass community, such as event-producers, bluegrass businesses, music stores, radio stations, bluegrass bands, music manufacturers and other interested parties. You would then set up a systematic and organized methodology for making contact and presenting the BMAC program. Please contact Mike Kirley or Gord Devries if you are interested in becoming part of the team. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Call us or visit our website Martha white brand is due to the www.bluegrassmusic.ca. exposure received in front of live audiences, at concerts, on the ra- Check out the bands. Call them up dio, and later, on tv. What business and hire them for your next could not use the type of success function. The value, the buzz it Martha has enjoyed for nearly a creates, and the long-term effect century? it will have on people’s memories, In Canada, the opportunity for cor- will pay off! porate partnership remains largely under-utillized. As evidenced by the Martha model, there is huge Denis Chadbourn potential for using bluegrass music to brand a company and to grow a customer base. Some festivals Martha White got it right! enjoy a mutually beneficial rela- tionship with business, for example The name, Martha White, has been the Valley Festival in Renfrew. But a synonymous with bluegrass music sign at a festival is merely one fret for generations. Why? In 1899 on a long neck. Tour sponsorship, Richard Lindsey founded Nashville’s corporate diddys, and heck, who Royal Flour Mill. He named his among us would not want to tour finest flour, Martha White, after his around on the Martha White tour daughter. With an advertising bud- bus. get of $25 per week, the Martha White brand sponsored live radio But baby steps. broadcasts from the Grand ole Opry. Thence in 1953, the compa- Although the list is limitless, many ny hired the then unknown band types of businesses are natural- of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, ly situated, to use bluegrass as a to barnstorm the South with the branding tool. Among them are ag- Martha White Bluegrass Express—a ricultural feed and seed companies, music show that toured local pet supplies, etc. For a century, festivals, while promoting Martha Martha White has been synony- White flour and corn meal. The mous with bluegrass. Perhaps your corn meal, Hot Rize, became the company may not enjoy the same inspiration for a bluegrass band of success as the Martha White brand, that name featuring Tim O’Brien, but wouldn’t it be fabulous if peo- Pete Wernick, Charles Sawtelle, and ple thought of your company, when Nick Forster. they heard a bluegrass song? You can get your name out in front of Martha White’s phenomenal socio- new audiences very inexpensively, logical success is directly attributed and be hailed as a good corporate to their early support for bluegrass citizen. Would you like to support music. It has built generations and arts and culture, while deriving generations of loyal customers... benefit as a sponsor? Would you because the company had the fore- like to advertise on a bluegrass sight to tap into, what remains, a radio show? We can help you with very affordable grassroots advertis- all these and more. ing medium. The longevity of the

1 EDITOR’S MESSAGE

Feel free to comment by dropping us a line or email. [email protected]

Their opinions are not necessarily those of the editor.!

Back to songwriting. Here’s my two cents. First, go somewhere new, like a local park you have never been before. Take your guitar. Sit somewhere where you are alone. Just came back from the Totten- Pick a word phrase you like. i.e. “I ham Festival. I was two trailers just thought you should know…” from bass player, John Renne. John Play a chord in a key you like and crossed over Jordan after a picking repeat this phrase over and over session late Thursday night. The last until another thought comes. When Mando Art? tune he picked was “Grandfather’s you get four lines, write them Clock”, which has a bass solo. I had down and put the chords over just seen him and Bill White put the words. Now for the chorus; it on a great show at the Legion. All should go up higher on the scale, I can say is he was a quiet smiling rising out of the verse as it were. gentleman for all the years I knew And it should have a “hook” that him. And he passed in the midst of people will remember. It is nice to friends playing the music he loved use certain vowels, like the sound so dearly. We will miss you John. “o”. I think that is the best vowel Rest in Peace. to sing. “Let It Go”, by Disney has This issue is about songwriting. I just received 265,000,000 hits on managed to interview Lynn Russ- Youtube as of June 26. “Rain and worm, Mike O’Reilly, and Melissa Snow”, by Del McCoury has a great Sherman, all accomplished Cana- chorus on the “o” vowel. “Georgia dian songwriters. They were most Rose” is another one…”go…snow… generous of their time with me, rose….” These words work for sing- and had lots of hints to give aspir- ing long and loud and with tone. Early Bluegrass Enthusiast? ing musicians. Consider their ideas How about Jimmy Martin on “Now and learn how it is done. They have dooooooooo’nt lots of experience. forget me little darlin’ while I’m Something new this issue for growin’ old and grey”? you: I managed to find some rants. Have a good one. I have been following Bob Cherry and “The Boman” for years on the Mike net. I subscribe to “The List” that comes out of The University of Kentucky almost on a daily basis. These fellows tell it like it is, and I’m sure you will find their views stimulating for thought, even if you do not agree. Anyone recognize the little guy?

2 CANADIAN SONGWRITERS RECORDED BY U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS The following article was published in the November 2009 Issue of Country Music News, P.O. Box 7323, Ottawa, ON K1L 8E4. Ph: 613-745-6006. Research and compilation by Larry Delaney, Publisher and Editor of the monthly magazine.

A CMT SPECIAL FEATURE

Canadian-born songwriters are renowned internationally for penning some of the most popular songs recorded by Nashville artists. In fact, CMN annually (January issue) publishes a listing of songs recorded during the year by Nashville artists.Typically, that annual CMN feature makes reference to “country” recordings, but it should be noted that many Canadian songwriters have also contributed to the American “Bluegrass” scene.In order to provide an accurate overview of the depth of Canadian songwriter’s involvement in the American bluegrass recording scene, CMN has compiled this extensive listing of songwriter’s credits in Bluegrass music.

Unlike the ‘country’ side of things where numerous songs written by Canadian songwriters are ‘charted’ on the Billboard Country charts, seldom does a Canadian bluegrass songwriter get to see his/her song reach the ‘charts’ in the USA. Bluegrass Unlimited the bible of bluegrass music for the past four decades publishes a monthly Top 30 ‘National Bluegrass Survey’ hit chart, the only one of its kind, and seldom does a song written by a Canadian song- writer find its way to that chart ... however, there have been exceptions.

LIMITED CHART ACTION NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF SONGS RECORDED.

Likely the only Canadian-written song ever to top the Blue- grass Unlimited hit chart came in modern times when James King scored with the #1 hit 30 Years Of Farming, a tune penned byFred Eaglesmith (b. Hamilton, Ontario).

Just recently there was a surprise entry on that chart when the bluegrass group The Circuit Riders made it on to the B.U. charts with a bluegrass version of the Neil Young penned song Powderfinger. While Canadian songwriter action on the U.S. bluegrass charts is somewhat of a rarity, it is not because of a lack of songs recorded, as is attested to in the following list. Fred Eaglesmith

3 CANADIAN SONGWRITERS RECORDED BY U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS, CON’T

GORDON LIGHTFOOT SONGS FAVORITES WITH U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS

It is not surprising to find the songs of Gordon Lightfoot (b. Orillia, Ontario) being the most prominent of this list. Quite early in his career, Lightfoot’s songs were covered by bluegrass art- ists like Mac Wiseman, and Tony Rice who record- ed entire albums of Gordon Lightfoot songs. (See CMT June 2009 for special feature on “The songs of Gordon Lightfoot”). At latest count, there have been some 75 cuts by U.S. bluegrass artists of a Gordon Lightfoot song.

Gordon Lightfoot Another song that has frequently been recorded by U.S. Bluegrass artists is the Don Devaney (b. Halifax, N.S.) tune, “Listening To The Rain”, which at last count had been covered nine times.

Adam Mitchell’s (Ontario) popular tune “Out Among The Stars”, noted best for versions by country artists Merle Haggard, Joe Sun, Waylon Jennings, etc. has been cut by some seven differ- ent bluegrass bands, including the legendary Seldom Scene.

There are many oddities among this listing. Canadian songwriter Paul Anka(b. Ottawa, Ontario), noted more for his Pop songs, had his Buddy Holly popularized nugget “It Adam Mitchell Doesn’t Matter Any More” recorded by a variety of U.S. Bluegrass bands and Leonard Cohen (b. Montreal, QC), also better known for his Pop songs, had his tune “Tonight Will Be Fine” recorded by the fabled duo Flatt & Scruggs.

Flatt & Scruggs also scored a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Country charts with the bluegrass-flavoured song”Just Ain’t”, a tune co-written by Canadian husband/wife team ofGinger & Hal Willis (b. Rouyn, QC). Folk/Rocker Robbie Robertson (b. Brantford, ON) of The Band fame has also seen several of his songs cut by U.S. Bluegrass artists. One of the latest cuts by a U.S. Bluegrass artist of a Canadian-penned song comes from award-winning musician Randy Kohrs who has recorded the song “Quicksand”, written by Codie Prevost (b. Rose Valley, SK). Kohrs has entitled his latest album with Prevost’s song.

4 CANADIAN SONGWRITERS RECORDED BY U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS, CON’T

Ward Allen Maple Sugar Sweetheart Mac Wiseman Leroy Anderson There’s a Treasure In Heaven Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver Paul Anka It Doesn't Matter Anymore The Grass Cats It Doesn’t Matter Anymore Lare Williams It Doesn’t Matter Anymore Frances Mooney It Doesn’t Matter Anymore Kukuruza Lee Bach Talking To Your Picture Scenic Route Someone’s Child Tim Graves Borrowed Angel Bobby Osborne South Pa Bobby Osborne Blue Mountain Melody Larry Sparks Polly Beauchamp Rebels Ye Rest Seldom Scene Victoria Banks Sittin’ On A Goldmine Marty Raybon Willie P. Bennett White Line John Starling White Line Jonathon Edwards Ray Bonneville Forty Nine Keeps on Talkin’ Tim O’Brien Norm Bowser Road To Jericho Charlie Waller & The Country Gentlemen Road To Jericho The Principals Keep Following Moses Charlie Waller & The Country Gentlemen Keep Following Moses The Principals Lisa Brokop The Day Before You Melonie Cannon Barry Brown Carpenter of Wood Bluegrass Cardinals Carpenter of Wood Brush Arbor It’s Lonely I Can’t Stand Williams & Clark Expedition Alfred Bryan A Cradle In Bethleham Bass Mountain Boys A Cradle In Bethleham Vince Gill Lorne Buck Mountains & Memories The Country Gentlemen Mountains & Memories Southern Rail Mountains & Memories Curley McCormick Julie Chadbourne A Sinner’s Plea The Rarely Herd Tears From My Broken Heart The Rarely Herd Kerry Chater I Know A Heartache When I See One The Grass Cats John Clinch Arrow Through My Heart Lost Highway Thanks Again Sally Jones Bruce Cockburn One Day I’ll Walk Front Line Leonard Cohen Tonight Will Be Fine Flatt & Scruggs Jim Cuddy/Greg Keelor 5 Days In May Salamander Crossing Clint Curtiss Angel In Disguise Charlie Monroe Angel In Disguise Bill Monroe

5 CANADIAN SONGWRITERS RECORDED BY U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS, CON’T

Don Devaney Listening To The Rain The Osborne Brothers Listening To The Rain Special Consensus Listening To The Rain Frances Mooney Listening To The Rain Crossfire Listening To The Rain Idle Time Listening To The Rain Pam Gadd Listening To The Rain Ronnie Reno Listening To The Rain Clearwater Connection Listening To The Rain Blue Shades Comin’ Home To Kentucky Kane’s River Comin’ Home To Kentucky Cabin Fever Band Comin’ Home To Kentucky Doc & Merle Watson Fred Eaglesmith 30 Years Of Farming James King Flowers In The Dell James King John Deere Art Stevenson The Rocket Art Stevenson Wish I Was A Freight Train Blue Moon Rising Wish I Was A Freight Train The McLains Carter Ralph Stanley II Wilder Than Her Ralph Stanley III Shirley Eikhard Something To Talk About Lonesome Road Tammy Fassaert Just Passin’ Through Amy Gallatin Roy Forbes Still A Fool Laurie Lewis Ring The Bells At Midnight Cathy Kallick David Francey Two Faced Love Del McCoury Mill Towns Del McCoury Mill Towns The Wright Kids Mill Towns Diamond Hill Station Wind In The Wires Kane’s River Gilles Godard Trains I Missed Balsam Range Gary ‘Pig’ Gold Family Tree Dixie Bee-Liners Carl Goodman Satan’s Chains Ralph Stanley Satan’s Chains The Isaac Family Satan’s Chains New Harvest Satan’s Chains The Principals She Wore Pretty Dresses The Principals She Wore Pretty Dresses Charlie Waller & The Country Gentlemen Is There Room In His Kingdom New Harvest Slim Gordon Pistol Packin’ Preacher Mac Wiseman

6 CANADIAN SONGWRITERS RECORDED BY U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS, CON’T

Slim Gordon What A Waste Of Good Corn Licker Mac Wiseman Ray Griff It Rains Just The Same In Missouri Mac Wiseman It Rains Just The Same In Missouri Pete Corum J.K. Gulley In My Father’s Field John Cowan Nothing But The Blues John Cowan Back To Your Arms John Cowan Caitlin Hanford Muddy Waters Alecia Nugent Dallas Harms Paper Rosie The Osborne Brothers Sharon Horovitch Jonah’s Wall Southern Rain George W. Johnson When You & I Were Young Maggie Reno & Smiley When You & I Were Young Maggie The Stanley Brothers When You & I Were Young Maggie Mac Wiseman When You & I Were Young Maggie Raymond Fairchild When You & I Were Young Maggie James Alan Shelton Sally Jones Some Leavin’ Too Chris Jones Just A Town Chris Jones Witness Chris Jones Sound I Hear Casey & Chris Henry Jack Kingston C.N.R. Special The McCormick Brothers Fred Lavery & Get Me Through December Gordie Sampson Alison Krauss Ray Legere Mama’s Rocking Chair Southern Rail Gordon Lightfoot Alberta Bound Jesse McReynolds Alberta Bound Green Sky Bluegrass Bitter Green Tony Rice Circle Is Small Lonesome River Band Circle Is Small Dale Ann Bradley Cold On The Shoulder Tony Rice Cold On The Shoulder Except 2 Cotton Jenny Mac Wiseman Did She Mention My Name Mac Wiseman Did She Mention My Name Deannie Richardson Did She Mention My Name Robert Hale Don Quixote Country Gentlemen Fine As Fine Can Be Tony Rice Girl From The Canyon Paul Adkins Go My Way Tony Rice Go My Way Claire Lynch Go My Way Front Porch Stringband

7 CANADIAN SONGWRITERS RECORDED BY U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS, CON’T

Gordon Lightfoot Go My Way Some Assembly Required Go My Way Meridian Home From The Forest Tony Rice Home From The Forest Downhill Bluegrass If It Should Please You Jesse McReynolds If You Could Read My Mind No Limit If You Could Read My Mind Dave Moody I’m Not Sayin’ Tony Rice (In The) Early Morning Rain Tony Rice (In The) Early Morning Rain Mac Wiseman (In The) Early Morning Rain Jimmy Bowen & Santa Fe (In The) Early Morning Rain Bobby Atkins (In The) Early Morning Rain Emerson & Waldron (In The) Early Morning Rain Dale Anne Bradley (In The) Early Morning Rain Tim O’Brien (In The) Early Morning Rain No Limit (In The) Early Morning Rain Paul Ansell (In The) Early Morning Rain Bob Dylan Let It Ride Tony Rice Long Way Back Home The Gibson Brothers Mother Of A Miner’s Child Country Gentlemen Old Dan’s Records Mac Wiseman Peaceful Waters The Isaacs Rainy Day People Mac Wiseman Rainy Day People Larry Rice Redwood Hill The Chapmans Redwood Hill Just Friends Bluegrass Band Redwood Hill Meridian Redwood Hill Fescue Ribbon Of Darkness Mac Wiseman Ribbon Of Darkness Chris Jones Ribbon Of Darkness Bobby Osborne Ribbon Of Darkness Cumberland Gap Ribbon Of Darkness Lonesome Road Same Old Obsession Mike Auldridge Shadows Tony Rice Shadows Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein Sit Down Young Stranger Country Gentlemen Sixteen Miles Tony Rice

8 CANADIAN SONGWRITERS RECORDED BY U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS, CON’T

Gordon Lightfoot Song For A Winter’s Night Tony Rice Song For A Winter’s Night Sawmill Road Song For A Winter’s Night Emily Singleton Steel Rail Blues Mac Wiseman Steel Rail Blues Deannie Richardson Summertime Dream Mac Wiseman Sundown Mac Wiseman Ten Degrees and Getting Colder Tony Rice Ten Degrees and Getting Colder J.D. Crowe & The New South (That’s What You Get) For Lovin’ Me Mac Wiseman (That’s What You Get) For Lovin’ Me Kentucky Colonels (That’s What You Get) For Lovin’ Me Flatt & Scruggs (That’s What You Get) For Lovin’ Me J.D. Crowe & The New South The House You Live In Mac Wiseman Walls Tony Rice Whisper My Name Tony Rice Whispers Of The North Tony Rice Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald Tony Rice You Are What I Am Tony Rice You Are What I Am J.D. Crowe & The New South Colin Linden Love's Like Rain John Cowan Charlie Major & Barry Brown It’s Lonely I Can’t Stand Williams & Clark Expidition Jim Matt Old Fella Chris Jones Adam Mitchell Out Among The Stars Seldom Scene Out Among The Stars The Chapmans Out Among The Stars Claire Lynch Out Among The Stars Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pederson Out Among The Stars Modern Hicks Out Among The Stars Randy Kohrs Out Among The Stars Kirby Knob Boys Joni Mitchell Both Sides Now Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Both Sides Now Randy Scruggs Charlie McKinnon The Ghost of Bras D’Or Mac Wiseman My Cape Breton Home Mac Wiseman Gene MacLellan Snowbird Josh Graves Snowbird Bobby Atkins Snowbird Bull Harmon The Reunion Song Ricky Scaggs

9 CANADIAN SONGWRITERS RECORDED BY U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS, CON’T

John McDonald & Tim McDonald Nobody Loves You Like Me Rarely Herd Lift Those Chains Rarely Herd Steel Town Rarely Herd Perfect Fool Rarely Herd Mike O'Reilly Baby Girl Mill Run Be Quiet When Willie Walks By Country Gentlemen Blow Wind Blow Mill Run Cold Cheater’s Heart Del McCoury Henry Walker Del McCoury King’s Shilling Del McCoury Lily Hoskins Ronnie McCoury Court Of Love Rhonda Vincent Hod Pharis I Heard The Bluebirds Sing Jim & Jessie McReynolds I Heard The Bluebirds Sing Pine Mountain Railroad I Heard The Bluebirds Sing Cumberland Grass I Heard The Bluebirds Sing The Greenbriar Boys I Heard The Bluebirds Sing Dirt Road Sweethearts Stu Phillips Lonely City Park Mac Wiseman Codie Prevost Quicksand Randy Kohrs Tracy Reynolds Dad’s Old Mandolin Little Creek Line Richard Little Angels Rhonda Vincent Hank Rivers (Lariviere) Maple Sugar Sweetheart Mac Wiseman Ryan Roberts Alone Jeannette Williams Dried Roses Justin Carbone Leaving This Old Town Special Consensus My Memories Of You Special Consensus Old MacDonald Sold the Farm Newton & Thomas Robbie Robertson Evangeline Steep Canyon Rangers Ophelia The U-Liners Ophelia The Gibson Brothers The Shape I’m In Pat Flynn/Andy Thorn The Weight Del McCoury Stan Rogers The Mary Ellen Carter Sawmill Road Lock Keeper Kelly Lancaster Robin Roller Take The Bible In Your Hand Petticoat Junction My Heart Won’t Let Your Memory Go Away Valerie Smith Maurice Ruddick Springhill Disaster Bill Clifton Deric Ruttan Lot of Leavin’ Left To Do Blue Storm

10 CANADIAN SONGWRITERS RECORDED BY U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS, CON’T

Buffy Sainte-Marie Universal Soldier Flatt & Scruggs Men Of The Fields Bill Staines Gordie Sampson The Hard Way Sierra Hull Gordie Sampson & Fred Lavery Get Me Through December Alison Krauss Joseph M. Scrivens What A Friend We Have In Jesus The Stanley Brothers What A Friend We Have In Jesus The Osborne Brothers What A Friend We Have In Jesus Reno & Smiley What A Friend We Have In Jesus Doc Watson What A Friend We Have In Jesus Skyline Drive What A Friend We Have In Jesus The Tilley Family What A Friend We Have In Jesus Stones River Ranch Boys Joseph E. Seitz World Is Waiting For The Sunrise Reno & Smiley World Is Waiting For The Sunrise Reno & Smiley World Is Waiting For The Sunrise Randall Hylton George Beverly Shea I’d Rather Have Jesus Alison Krauss John Sheard Muddy River Alecia Nugent Naoise Sheridan Seven Hillsides Ricky Skaggs Reg Smith Atlantic Lullaby Mac Wiseman Hank Snow I’m Movin’ On Mac Wiseman Music Makin’ Mama From Memphis Charlie Waller Music Makin’ Mama From Memphis Randall Hylton My Mother Bill Clifton My Nova Scotia Home Mac Wiseman The Golden Rocket Jim & Jessie McReynolds The Golden Rocket Hot Rize David Talbot Bevan’s Lake Crossing The Grascals Cut Your Wheels The Grascals Wally Traugott Snowflake Breakdown John McCutcheon Snowflake Breakdown Casey Driessen Dougal Trineer More Often Than Once In A While Del McCoury Scott Turner Laughin’ Guitar Country Gazette Shania Twain No One Needs To Know Darin & Brooke Aldridge Ian Tyson Four Rode By Lost Highway Four Rode By Sawmill Road Four Strong Winds Flatt & Scruggs Four Strong Winds Tony Rice Four Strong Winds Cliff Waldron Someday Soon High Hills Bluegrass Band

11 CANADIAN SONGWRITERS RECORDED BY U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS, CON’T

Ian Tyson Summer Wages J.D. Crowe & The New South Summer Wages Tony Rice Summer Wages Chesapeake Lillian Crewe Walsh Ghost of Bras D’Or Mac Wiseman My Cape Breton Home Mac Wiseman Paul Weber She’s No Lady Lonesome River Band Hal & Ginger Willis Just Ain’t Flatt & Scruggs Just Ain’t Hot Rize Just Ain’t Gene Wooten Tom Wilson As Far As Love Goes Sawmill Road The Rose Of Donnally’s Hollow Sawmill Road Jesse Winchester Brand New Tennessee Waltz Ralph Stanley Brand New Tennessee Waltz Dean Sapp Brand New Tennessee Waltz Coldwater Creek Brand New Tennessee Waltz Blue Ridge Lori Yates Lonesome Highway The Rice Brothers Lonesome Highway Continental Divide Neil Young Heart Of Gold The James Family Love Is A Rose Jim Smoak Powderfinger The Circuit Riders Powderfinger Darin & Brooke Aldridge

jammin’ in Tottenham

12 INTERVIEW: SONGWRITER LYNN RUSSWORM

tar player for Vic Mullens. Vic was thing, like it is now with festivals By Mike Kirley on the CBC Televsion show called and everything. And actually it was “Country Time”. He’s living down Country music. Bill Monroe was in New Brunswick now. on the Grand Ol’ Opry, and it was Mike Kirley: Can you tell me Country Music. something about this album here Okay. I see they all have electric Lynn, “The Hummingbirds Play It pickups in their soundholes, except Yes. Well, I understand that there Long and Lonesome”? for you. are congratulations in order for LR: I put it out on my own label. I like the sound of the acoustic you. You have just won a song It’s all songs I wrote. I sing half of through a microphone. It’s a better writing competition in the States. It isn’t a competition. I’m just get- them, my son Lance sings the other sound as far as I’m concerned. ting an award for a CD I did. They half. We had The Mercy Brothers rated the CD as “CD of the Year for back us up on some of the stuff. That’s the Bluegrass way, eh? Song writing. I had twenty songs

of my own on the CD. Lance is an artist too? Yes, he is. Self-taught too. He drew the cover. Okay. Where is this now? It’s in Iowa. It’s a big week long

festival with ten stages. It’s a What year was that? pretty big event. It’s been going That would have been 1976 or for almost 40 years. so. On Flora Records.

And they are going to present And that’s your own company? you with an award next… Au- Yes. For Floradale, the village I gust is it? live near. One album and two It’s the week of August 25th to 45’s. (chuckle) the 31st.

What about this one, “The And you are going down to Songs of Lynn Russworm”? Iowa for that. That one was released in Germa- Definitely. ny. I took all the demo tapes that I made through the years and I Well congratulations. sent them over to this company Thank you. in Germany. They kept the ones they wanted, and they put out So when did you start song- this album. writing Lynn? Well, I was a teenager, around You are on the right in the 1950. I guess I was nineteen. cover photo? I had my first song on the radio Yes. Yes. by Ernie King in 1951.

Back in those days I guess Blue- Who’s Earl Heywood? grass was just part of Country What was the name of that song? Earl is one of the top country sing- Music. “In Our Dreamboat Let’s Pretend”. ers in Canada. He’s in the Canadian Yes it was. I was playing Bluegrass Country Hall of Fame in fact. Been in the “50’s”. Stan Taylor played a Are most of your songs Romance a friend of mine for many years. good five-string banjo too. songs? Love songs. (chuckle) That’s Coun- That other guy is Stan Taylor. He try Music. and I started out together on Radio So did they call it Bluegrass back

Kitchener in 1951. He was about then? 16, but he went on to be lead gui- It was Bluegrass, but it wasn’t a big And that’s what sells, right? Pretty well.

13 INTERVIEW: SONGWRITER LYNN RUSSWORM, CON’T

name on it. I needed the money at started then? So when you’re writing a song, that time because I was buying my Getting started. Like I say, when you does the melody come first? first house. Later on he recorded first start writing, they don’t…well, No. Lyrics first. You start with a title. three more of my songs. And he I probably had twenty songs at first At one time I used to look through gave me co-authorship on those. that didn’t sound like much. But I books for a suitable title. Make a He rewrote those too, basically just wanted to do it, and a good song list of them. Then when I’d feel like used my idea. And one of those came out of it, the shadow one, writing I’d go to the list, pick out songs was “I Cast a Lonesome and it is still a good song. a title and write some words to it. Shadow”. It was picked up about You work up a story of some kind. ten years ago by a British Rock I Cast a Lonesome Shadow. I’ll The melody comes after as far as band called “Depeche Mode”. That have to check it out. I’m concerned. Some people claim was pretty neat. (chuckle). That’s You can get it on Youtube. Several they write the melody first. I can’t the one I made the most money versions on there. Some guy sings it do that. It doesn’t work for me. on. I made about $4000. on that in his living room! one! And Hank Thompson was the Do you write verse, chorus for- co-writer. He would have gotten the Singing your song. Isn’t that cool? mat? same. That’s cool. Different songs take different set- ups you know. Some do what they What would you call the charac- call the “commercial” way of doing “keep writing. The more teristics of a good song? it. Others have an unorthodox way you write the better your There’re different things. One of doing it. thing is to get a song that’s easy writing is going to get. to remember. Maybe the words At one point we were talking and Don`t leave them in the are repetitive. It gets into people’s you said that one of the songs you minds then. They pick it up easy. wrote, that a company wanted to drawer.” Then there’re other songs that are put a bridge in your song. Yes, that was “In Our Dreamboat story songs. Then you really have to Wow. So the one song generated look at the words. There’re so many Let’s Pretend”. I had originally sent $8000 I Cast a Lonesome Shad- it to Ernie King with four verses. He ow. I wonder where Martin Gore different ways of writing a song, changed the melody and key for heard your song? you know. the third verse. Well he must have picked up Hank Thompson’s record of it. So it could be written from the first person, second or third per- Alright. Is this the song that Hank son for example. So songwriters sometimes take Thompson picked up? Sure. There’re no rules or regula- No. that was long before Hank. from other genres? tions. You can approach it from any The deal with him I had, I sent him Oh yeah. That was a Country song, way. And everybody’s probably got some songs, and he wrote back and he made it Rock. So I’ve got a different way of doing it. and said they looked pretty good. songs from Bluegrass to Rock now.

He asked for a tape, so I recorded (chuckle) When you wrote a song back then, some songs and sent them to him. what was the next step? Next thing I knew I got a phone call I guess it’s a craft, and you can use different elements to cross You could get a publisher to take from him and he said he wanted to genres. it, or if you could find an artist who buy this one song. He bought the Yes. And it’s something you have would do the song. Sometimes song from me outright. He paid me to develop. The more you write, the publisher knows who is suited $250 dollars for it, which was a lot the more things come together you to sing your song. And he’ll get it of money then. Probably be $2000 know. You might think you’re going recorded for you. The main thing is today. All he used out of that song to run out of ideas, but you don’t. to get a recording of it. Whichever was the words for the first verse. One idea will lead to another one. way you want to go about it. If you He reworded everything else. He reach the artist directly, it’s always recorded it, and I didn’t get my So the toughest part is getting better.

14 INTERVIEW: SONGWRITER LYNN RUSSWORM, CON’T

I like Lester’s singing. I like Del Mc- Like at a concert? Let`s talk Bluegrass for a second. Coury too. Like at a concert. I used to go back- Who are your favourite Blue- grass artists today? stage when an artist came to Kitch- What about women in Bluegrass… ener and try to get them to take I like the older ones. I don`t like Alison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent? my songs. There’s one particular.. today`s` artists so much. I don`t I like Rhonda Vincent and what she Carl Smith had a song called “Loose listen to today`s artists. Don`t has done. Talk”. It was song of the year, 1955. listen to radio at all. But I was re- I wrote a sequel to it, called “No ally impressed with The Spinney She came out of Country Music. More Loose Talk”. I tried to get him Brothers at the Winter Concert. Yeah. I`m probably a more Country to record it. He came to Kitchener flavoured Bluegrass lover. and I talked to him. Well he wasn’t interested. Ten years later, Marion What advice would you give to song Writers today Lynn? Worth, a country singer came to All I can say is to keep writing. The Kitchener, and she sang “Loose more you write the better your Talk” in her show. So I gave her “No writing is going to get. Don`t leave More Loose Talk”. She took it back them in the drawer. You have to ap- to Nashville. She was going to re- proach people and try to get them cord it. Carl Smith walked into the to do them. That`s why I did my studio while she was doing it. And own CD of 21 songs. You have to he said, “I want to do that song.” get people to listen to them. Hope- fully they will like one of them. Ha ha ha ha! And he recorded it. (chuckle)Ten years after I wrote the darn thing. Have you written Gospel? A few. Two that The Lewis Family They`re more countrified than recorded. “Àcross the River from Would that approach work today most bluegrass bands today. Here” and “Have a Little Talk with for song writers? They do a lot of Country stuff. God”. Not as much. The thing today, it`s And they also don`t do every- Its not easy to write a Gospel song. really hard to get it to somebody thing at breakneck speed. Some I ve written quite a few of them. because most recording companies bands, everything`s fast, you Twenty or thirty. are looking for artists who write know. They had variety in what their own songs. Very few pub- they did. And they showed they How many songs have you written lishers will even take songs now. could do the breakneck speed That`s the way it is now. Things altogether? too. I thought they were more About 600. Some people say they have changed a lot. Everything is a thoughtful in what they did. need inspiration to write. I don’t. It lot harder today than it was. What is a lot of sweat and hard work. I should have done, I should have Well, you can be either focussed Put your hand to the plough. gone to Nashville in the `50`s, when on the song or you can be writers were few and far between. impressed by the players`skill I Thanks for the interview Lynn, I guess. I think maybe it’s become Now there`re thousands of them. really appreciate it. So you have to come up with some- like super stars or whatever now. Who can play the fastest. Take care. thing that`s really strange before As far as Bluegrass artists go, I they`ll touch it. like Mac Wiseman. He is one of Ed. Note: check out Lynn’s song on my favourites. Jim Eanes, I really Youtube sung by Martin Gore, of Depeche Mode. And it`s so easy now to record. liked him. I don`t really go for Yes it is. I`ve got my son Lance the high lonesome sound of Bill http://www.youtube.com/ doing the recording now. We`re Monroe. watch?v=DEyKd1Kj1l4&fea- putting out a new album with 8 of ture=kp my songs on it. What about Flatt &Scruggs?

15

MUSIC ON THE EAST COAST AS SEEN BY JERRY MURPHY

Well – It is finally summer in the in a large part of the field. This entertain, or just to back them up Maritimes, although the tempera- proved to be a great festival and if they wish. ture for the most part seems like very soon had to be enlarged with Hat’s off to Jim Smith for all his November most days so far – any- many rough camping sites. hard work. where from 10 to 15 degrees. Shortly after the festival started Most of the Bluegrass clubs in the I have just returned from the Old came the need for places to hold East have campouts, some invi- Mill Campout near Moncton, NB, Bluegrass & Classic Country tational but others are open to the I would like to feature this par- campouts, so Jim decided to have public and most have stage time ticular campout in this issue. The a campout in June and another for folks to go up and entertain. site was started many years back the weekend after Labor Day – There are also some other private- by Mr. Jim Smith, who is a Blue- the Festival folks were advised ly operated ones happening from grass Music lover and also has a – there would be hook-ups and May to October. great collection of Mandolins. Jim rough camping both available, Next I would like to mention saw a need for a Bluegrass Festi- washrooms would be available the Nova Scotia Country Music val in the Moncton area, and since and a sound system supplied on Hall of Fame, which now has 57 he no longer operated his lumber stage, with folks to put together inductees since its inception in mill, he decided to make use of groups to play and also and MC to 1997. At that time the board con- the space he had available. He keep things all organized and on sisted in a small group of interest- leveled the field, built some roads time. ed people and the ceremony was and seeded the ground. While quite simple, however the mean- waiting for the grass to grow and ing was huge, with the induction the sod to thicken he built a beau- of Hank Snow and Wilf Carter on tiful stage as seen in the picture, the first year. Plaques with pic- from lumber he sawed in the mill tures and information were hung on the property as well as wash- in the Hank Snow museum in rooms with flush toilets and hot Liverpool, NS for people to view showers. and since then, 55 more plaques have been added. Jim Smith The organization has grown since that time and now consists of 15 This event has become very directors with meetings every popular with many of the folks month to keep the business up to who feel they don’t sing or play date. The induction ceremony is well enough to form or play with held in September, and at present a regular band, but would still the Glengarry Hotel in Truro is like to go on stage and do some the venue being used. It consists Now that the buildings were built entertaining. It is also not out of an afternoon concert on Satur- he decided maybe he should have of the ordinary to see members day, a beautiful turkey dinner with some services as well, so in went of some very popular Maritime all the fixings, the inductions, with the water and the electrical lines bands going up with the folks to each inductee giving a speech and

16 MUSIC ON THE EAST ODE TO BILL COAST, CON’T BY A DJ FROM RALEIGH “THE LIST” entertaining for a short time. Each My opinion is that Monroe is still And I hope he or she will become a inductee has an information table “the man”, star, a hero and legend. set up with recordings, awards, Still the “Big Mon” of Bluegrass. People need individuals to admire. etc., and after the ceremony they Only he is the father of Bluegrass, I hope for someone to come to lift will meet people and pose for pic- Only he played his music for over up our hopes and dreams tures with their table and plaque. half a century, And let us find ever more good and This year will have another 4 On the Grand ol’ Opry all that time wonderful in music. inducted which will include: too. Reality isn’t measured with a tuning • Gordon Stobbe, who many Only his mandolin has been ap- fork. will know from his CTV show praised for over a million dollars, Nor in a pile of facts, or written on “Up Home Tonight”, one or more Based not on materials or make, for paper, of his many bands, or maybe from he “made” the brand, But valued for in whose hands it his many Fiddle Books or Fiddle made history. Workshops across Canada. Monroe was one of the pioneer • Robert Bouchard will be singer/songwriter/band leaders, inducted in the Professional Vo- An original innovator on his instru- calist category, he has performed ment, all across Canada and is the only Creating a distinctive sound in fast artist to have been given permis- beat, sion to record songs written by Tight rhythm, Audie Murphy. High-pitched singing, • Cindy Church, Profes- Harmonies, sional Vocalist from Truro, NS Instrumental virtuosity, With both instrumental and lyrical has also toured and is still touring tunes, across Canada and international- Ahead of Old Hank, and others. ly, nominated for and won many Monroe is one of the finest of the awards and performed with many last century to me. great names during her career will I haven’t seen anyone approach his be inducted in the Professional contribution to music yet, But reality is more of a feeling, Vocalist category. But I hope there is someone out Such as how a music makes me • Sugartime, a Semi Provi- there, somewhere, some time, feel. sional Singing Trio will join the Who comes up with another origi- I hope someone comes along who inductees. These three ladies have nal music, does more for me. played many venues and performed Something far better than Blue- It is good when someone gives us a on many TV shows over the years grass, chance to remember, and is well deserving of the award. Who plays it even longer, To honor, to revere someone who is Who writes more and better songs, past, who is missed. Until next time, Keep Pickin’ and Who sings even higher and lone- It is good that Monroe is one to ensure Bluegrass is here to stay! some, or slower and sweeter, whom others are compared. Who plays faster and cleaner and is Ten years ago it was a cold dark Jerry Murphy even more copied. night, my power was off, Jerry is a five time recipient of the Who spawns even more musicians Hurricane Fran had passed out of “Promoter of the Year” category to start even more bands. the south, at the East Coast Music Awards And I hope that rising star comes And so had Mr. Bill Monroe, the from down-under society, Father of Bluegrass. Show. As an orphan or throwaway, with a disability to overcome. 17 is losing its moral core it seems… This is a new kind of alienation. who cares about climate change, Too busy to be physically present as long as I can zoom around in with our relatives and friends, we my steroid bulging SUV? And who turn to the cyber world for comfort wants to volunteer to help orphans and belonging, all the while sacri- or widows anymore? Who has the ficing our individuality and privacy. time, with both parents working Humour is no longer an oral tradi- harder and harder? It is challenging tion with accompanying facial cues, enough to raise my own 1.5 kids drama, and an endearing reality OPEN MIKE without helping my neighbour’s of cultural cues and family history. Bluegrass and the children. But why do I love those When you can’t see the shrug of old Bluegrass Gospel songs so the shoulders, or the wink of an eye Longing for Belonging much? you think this person is really seri- The virtual reality provided by ous. Irish “black” humour becomes The desire of man to be im- PC’s, smartphones and tablets “politically incorrect” when restrict- mortal comes from the knowledge makes us feel part of a “social ed to the printed word or song. of our own inevitable death. This network”. Mere acquaintances now Your funny old atrocious aunts is the basis for that “lonesome” become “close friends” on Face- and bizarre uncles are replaced by feeling. The “blues”, if you want book. People can avoid real phys- the clownish characters on “reali- to call it that. We are all riding the ical interaction by what is called ty” shows like Duck Dynasty. The same train, but we don’t know the “screensucking”, hypnotized by the sound of authentic laughter is length of the journey. We long for ghostly glow of “interacting” disappearing, replaced by bemused our lives to be extended beyond screens. The illusion of intimacy is grins. the limitations of the here and now, a substitute for genuine belonging What does this all have to do to escape time. It seems cruel. This to a loving and caring community. with Bluegrass? As our President could be why dark themes appeal That is, until I see a happy group of Dennis Chadburn said last issue, to bluegrassers. Bluegrassers laughing and picking Bluegrass is real. You don’t know Much of the classic Bluegrass on Youtube in some backwoods lonesome until you have sung or songs arose out of the “Depres- campground. Even Skyping doesn’t played in a circle around a campfire sion”, the “Dirty Thirties”, and the compete with that. at a festival around 3 a.m. under a “dustbowl children”, which led full moon. But it is a peaceful kind to the mass migration of farm- Bluegrassers are a com- of lonesome. And that “longing for ers and rural folk to the northern munity of singing poets, belonging” will be taken care of factories and industrial heartlands. for sure. Bluegrassers are a com- Alienation was very real. Sons and sharing a love of songs munity of singing poets, sharing a daughters left their parents; grand- that are immortal in the love of songs that are immortal in parents were left behind as well. the American and Canadian cul- Sad songs and ballads came out of American and Canadian ture. Music Alone Shall Live, as the this rapid deterioration of the “way culture. ancients said. Try it, you just might of the mountains”. like it. The question still remains though, why do people of today And what about our privacy from relatively comfortable middle in this virtual world? Big Brother class backgrounds still thirst for knows all…what sites you visit, your murder and disaster ballads, and emails, what is in your wallet, your Mike Kirley is the Editor of this songs about the poor and margin- purse, and places even worse. The magazine and mandolin alized? Misery loves company? The government seems omniscient. player/vocalist with appeal today seems to be more of And each of us is “alone in the Hometown Bluegrass. the mind than real. A longing of spotlight”. Weighed in the balance, the heart maybe….dare we say and possibly found wanting by the the word “soul”? Society today voyeuristic whim of some spy.

18 INTERVIEW: SONGWRITER MIKE O’REILLY

suddenly it comes together and out By Mike Kirley was about the husband and wife living back on a farm…what was it comes. I’d have to say both ways the name of that one? The hus- is the way to do it. Yeah. Mike Kirley: Hi Mike. This issue band gets killed. Oh…”Back On The Fifth Line”. we are focussing on Songwrit- Okay. So maybe the title, or just a ing. Your name came up because That’s basically a ‘you don’t know phrase comes first? I know you’ve had songs pub- what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone type I usually like to write when lished, some of them quite successfully. I think The I’m all alone, and usually Country Gentlemen did at night, and a lot of times one of your tunes, did when I’m drivin’ you know? If they not? I’ drivin’ home from a Blue- Mike O’Reilly: grass Festival or somethin’, Yeah, Charlie Waller sang it’s dark, I’ll get a melody one of my songs. On his in my head and uh…get a last recording, actually. The thought you know. A topic name of the tune was “ Be and stuff, a phrase, and start Quiet When Willie Walks workin’ around it, and build- By”. Yeah, I was lucky to ing up the tune until by the get Charlie in there. Char- time I get home I’ve got one lie’s was such a distinctive The Mike O’Reilly Band in concert. or two tunes done. (chuckle) voice, you know. of tune’. It’s pretty wistful that Well, that’s a good way to get rid The first tune of yours that hit me one. Sometimes on the backroads of the driving mileage for sure. hard was on one of your albums. Yeah. Exactly. And I can sing away When you were with the band around here you see some of the “Cody”. How many albums have old square farms and they were and not bug anybody by singing the you put out with Cody? never very profitable. The best same phrase over and over again. Let me see now. One, two, three…I thing they ever grew was rocks, and Ha! think three. y’know, these old folks would see their young ones going down the How many songs have you written Okay. The one I remember was road never to return. Toronto, and Mike? I don’t know how many songs I about the Civil War. Boston, and places like that, and Oh…”Field of Virginia”. have written but they have been uh, so a lot of those backroads… recorded by : Del McCoury, Rhon- uh…there’s just old people living Great song. da Vincent, Charlie Waller & the there. And y’know…waitin’ for God. It’s funny. Pete Goble is a good Country Gentlemen, Dan Paisley,

songwriter. He loves that song. He Ronnie McCoury, Lost & Found, Mill keeps threatening to record that Yeah. Hard livin’, hard workin’. Run, etc. song. In his own right, he is a great That they were. songwriter, and lives in Flat Rock, So What do you think the charac- Michigan. Okay, now when you go to write a teristics of a good song are? song like that, does it come right Well I can’t speak for the general away? Or does it just sit in your Well I remember that song. It just mind for awhile? public, but I always like to have a blew me away. It’s funny. It’s strange. Sometimes song with a bit of a story to it. And Pete said he first heard it on the you can sit there and write a tune some ‘meat on the bone”. I’m not radio, down in Detroit, and he in ten minutes, and you’re satisfied very good at writing songs about thought it was some band from with it. Other times, you’ll write ‘gee, I love you, do you love me?’ down south somewhere. He was a one and it’ll rattle around in your type of thing. There’s lots of ‘em little shocked when he found out it head and actually I’ve had one or out there and so I always try and was actually written by a Canadian. two tunes I’ve had in the back of write something that’s got a bit my head for years. You know, and of meat on the bone. And uh… Now the other tune that I liked

19 INTERVIEW: SONGWRITER MIKE O’REILLY, CON’T topics that are of interest to me, have it while they are speaking and I love Junior Sisk’s singing. I really and I think interest me. One of the it is certainly evident when they are like him. recurring themes has been the past singing. And you can tell..uh..even Apparently there’s a whole bunch generations. Especially ones where like New England and Canada, they of people that don’t have a sense the guys came out of a depression try to sing a Bluegrass song and it of humour when it comes to lyrics. and into a war, and you know, doesn’t sound quite as smooth as There’s a whole bunch of people they’ve been termed the finest down south, and, you know, I’m not out there that don’t have a sense of generation and I would tend to being unpatriotic here. It’s just that, humour, period. Which is just too agree with that. guys should work on their phrasing bad. Del McCoury has sung quite a a lot more. I think phrasing is a big few of my tunes. One song that he Well they all ended up being part of the whole deal. did, I guess you could say it was a builders of society. You can usually tell if it is a Cana- murder ballad, and it was about a And a lot of them never came back, dian singing. guy killing his family. Let’s face it, you know. That to me is a recurring Well, sometimes you can and years ago murder ballads were a theme. I have a lot of songs about sometimes you can’t. And I don’t form of news. Singers would travel that. But it should be something from community to community, that you find interesting and you Sing about something and these songs would pass into find that’s pertinent. It’s hard to you know, something the culture. Doesn’t mean you have sit down and write a song about to go out and kill somebody. It’s something that you know nothing that you feel, something just recounting a story of some- about. It’s like writing a book, you that is real to you. body. I don’t know, I find political know, always write about some- correctness kind of, I think it’s gone thing you know. overboard in a way. see any reason why Canadians can’t What about the flow of the words? sing Bluegrass really well. All they Yeah. These same people who There’s a certain phrasing that gotta do is spend some time on the are up in arms about songs are comes. Is that just what happens phrasing. And when you’re singing watching “Criminal Minds”on TV. when you’ve got the guitar and harmony, spend time on if the lead It’s true. Del McCoury will phone you’re strumming and the words singer has an edge, the harmony me up and ask me for a certain just fit into the Metre? singers should smooth it over. You kind of tune. And Rhonda Vincent don’t want anything standing out. will call me up and ask for a certain It’s like that if you’re sitting Let’s face it. Hank Snow is a big kind of tune. You know, and they’re around with the guitar. No doubt success. He’s Canadian. He sounds grittier types of tunes. Other peo- about it. ple ask for them too, and unless But when I’m driving along I don’t great. This other band that are it’s blatantly politically incorrect, I have a guitar. You’re singing it over coming along now, The Spinney don’t worry about it. and over and your mind will tell you Brothers. They sound great too. if it’s gelling or not. If the metre’s They sing the old time way for sure. If you had some advice to give to right, you know. There’s certain If they can do it, why can’t other people do it? songwriters today, what would things to look for; you don’t want you say? to have too many harsh sounds. Sing about something you know, You call them cacophony. “Do unto Exactly. Okay. I’ve got one more something that you feel, something question for you, before I go, and me Katie”, stuff like that that are I’m sure you’ve been asked this that is real to you. hard to sing. You want things to many times. Songwriters today “Cause if it isn’t real to you, it won’t flow pretty well. are running into this “political be real to anybody else. You can always tell a Canadian correctness” movement. The “PC’ thing. I’m thinking of that song when they try to sing ‘er’, or ‘ar’. Thanks for your time Mike, I really that Junior Sisk had to stop sing- My thoughts on that are: people appreciate it. ing. “I’’ll Whip You With a Bicycle Hey, you’re welcome. from down south, they have a Chain”. It really raised a stink. It certain lope to their voice, they was supposed to be a novelty song, but he met a lot of resistance.

20 INTERVIEW: SONGWRITER MELISSA SHERMAN

and Philadelphia. I was young and songs the way I wanted them deliv- by Mike Kirley going to those festivals. ered. Until I met Doug.

Melissa, you have won awards for So you started writing back then. And that was the perfect set up I songwriting at Deerhurst, three Did you write with your guitar? guess. times I think. It was. And even when we met, How many times have I won, Doug? I did. Yep. I would do my own tunes, back in the early ‘70’s, and it was like we should have met Two? The first one was for the al- when we were sixteen and seven- bum, “Composed”. Wait a minute, the late ‘60’s. That was the “Coffee Shop Era” too. I did a lot of the cof- teen. We felt that, you know what I have to check, because I think I I mean? With our music, and the won three. Yeah, it was three. I won fee shops with a gentleman I was seeing. It was also that time of Joan way we are, we should’ve been to- the year the guys did “Expressed”. gether back then. I can only imag- Doug and I are actually going to Baez and all the folk singers that were going around, so we….. ine what we would have put out. have to check. Wait on a minute. But of course, when you have a Isn’t that terrible? band like Hard Ryde to carry your Bob Dylan? Yeah, Bob Dylan. I wrote a lot of song, it’s a win-win situation. The That was the CD with “Deal the excellent musicianship of the guys, Cards”, right? ballads. I love ballad writing, and Yeah, I’m gonna look right now on as I grew older, and started getting and then the deliverance of Doug, the wall here. it’s just a win-win situation.

I’ve got a notebook, Okay. So where do you write your Okay. songs? Do you have a special place It’s terrible that I don’t know that. and I’ve got all sorts of you write them, But it’s also the time of day. Talking sentences for future like a… and just coming off the Quinte Fes- I write them anywhere. But usually tival. You’re making me think! projects. Words that just in the car. grab me. Usually in the car. Ha ha ha! When I’m driving, is when my 2012 I won….2013…”Composed” lyrics… and “A Part of Me”. And here it is. more experience in life I started I’m so sorry Mike. to write, as some songwriters can You know who else does that? 2009. It was “Stages”. relate to, when I was down. When Who? I was down, I could pick up the Stages. I don’t think I have that CD. guitar and really have my feelings Mike O’Reilly. Oh does he? I have “Expressed”. When did you come out. And…..I’d turn that into start writing songs? healing. Try to write to heal. And Oh..probably when I was about 15 Yep.That’s when he writes his. or 16. when I played and when I wrote, Yeah..I write ‘em in the car, and I it would make me feel better about always have a little tape recorder, Were they Bluegrass? whatever I was dealing with. That’s and now, of course with the Iphone Oh yeah. I was raised in Pennsyl- the way I dealt with it. If that makes it’s even easier. I’d say eighty per- vania, which was, and is still a very sense. cent of my stuff is written in the car. heavy Bluegrass State. And that’s Except the song I wrote that’s pret- all I knew. I understand. I write that way ty popular up north called “Heaven myself, actually....Okay. So, When was the first time you had some- on Earth” for a gentleman in River That’s where Bob Paisley was from, thing recorded on a CD? That Valley that passed away, Gilbert. right? actually was selling copies, and Yes Sir, they were just an hour and He used to own River Valley. And people were buying? you’ve been to River, right? a half from where I’m from. Well, that wouldn’t be until this part of my life. When I came to Yep. Oh wow! Isn’t that cool? Canada, because I never had… I When you pull in the driveway, Yeah, I was between Gettysburg never had a vessel to deliver my there’s a white farmhouse up on 21 INTERVIEW: SONGWRITER MELISSA SHERMAN, CON’T the hill. And that farmhouse is There were three or four hun- her cry. When she told me she was where the Giroux family was raised. dred people,… nobody …..I doubt dying, she never shed a tear. She They were, like, eleven kids. Gilbert anybody wasn’t crying. When we started crying and I said, “Oh my was, he was like a father to Doug. did it. And he was there. Gilbert God, is it my voice, is it my song, Truly was another father to Doug. was there. His Mom, who was in what is it?” And Gilbert never missed a show her nineties. And she passed away She’s like, “You nailed it.” Then we at Bluegrass. They obviously sold after that, and then Gilbert passed did it at the Pineridge Club, and she the land to Tony. Gilbert was very away. A year ago. And I added a last invited her children in. dear to us, and, …and,… he passed. verse to it, which is not on the CD. And her husband, the whole time Before he passed, a year before he And that song has to be….between we were recording it, he wouldn’t passed, I had gone up, we always that song and Carol’s song, the one even come down the hallway of the went up and sat on his deck. He for the Cancer project, they just studio. He would like, step to come poured Scotch for Doug and me. drained every ounce I had. in, and then he would leave. He And we looked out over the riv- I haven’t written anything yet didn’t want to hear it. er, and you can see the park, and this year. And Carol’s tune was the you can hear the river, and it just only song I wrote last year. Because really understand and dawned on me what a simple life… it was so emotional for me. When believe your lyrics. ... try even though it’s a hard life, this somebody comes to you and says, man has had. His mother raised “I need you to write a song. I’m to put something in your eleven kids in this teeny house on dying of Cancer. I need you to write lyrics. And don’t force it. River Valley property; the outside a song for me to say goodbye to my world wasn’t even known to them. children. But I want it to be upbeat. They didn’t have TV. This was their I just, like, sat back in my chair. life. And I just thought to myself, Oh man. And that one took me It was too much. “This is heaven on earth.” I mean, three months to write. So I can It was. And gradually, he would to sit there and look out at this. So write one in sixty seconds or I start coming in closer and closer as I wrote, “Heaven on Earth.” About can really struggle. Carol’s I really we were practising it. And eventu- how he works the land, and the struggled because it was so hard ally he got into the room with us. family heritage, and how proud to write. I am a mother. I have For him too, it took two or three they are, you walk in the house and children. And I can only imagine weeks. He didn’t want to hear it. it’s just nothing but family pictures, myself being in her shoes. And I And the kids, that day at Pineridge, of his father on the tractor. And knew that this song was going to everybody stood up like at the life was just so simple. A year later be around forever. Forever. Longer awards at Deerhurst. When we got he passed. And when we did that than me or her or anybody. It was a the standing ovation, that was one song for him, we did it at River real challenge. of the most emotional moments of Valley. I wrote it on a Saturday my life. night. Everybody was out jammin’, You did it well. You did a good job. drinkin’, carryin’ on. I was sitting in Thank you. Thank you. I was there, I saw that. the trailer, and this song came to I watched the video, and Doug even me. I wrote it. Mason Smith walked Think of what that song means for said, “Real nice, you didn’t even say in, who was our fiddle player at the her family. thank you.” time. He has The Barrel Boys now, Oh my God, Mike. The day we did that, the day I did it for her, she great band out of Toronto. And he Ha ha ha, started singing harmony with me. came over and I said, “Okay, I think That’s the first thing I’m going to And then Doug walked in, and be- I’ve got it.” And I started singing do next year. When we give the fore you knew it we had this song, and playing it, and she says…it was words of welcome, I’ve got to thank and we performed it the next night. the first time I saw her cry. This everyone for the award. I was Like the band hardly even knew it. woman…who I had been with for just so caught up in Carol, and the I held the words up for Doug, and three months, working on or talking moment. Knowing what it meant to you could have heard a pin drop. to her about the song, …never saw her. No one had any idea what that 22 INTERVIEW: SONGWRITER MELISSA SHERMAN, CON’T

meant to her. She just came and much trouble writing now. like she was being judged. And the thought she was going to do one townspeople were talking, right? little song. No big deal. You know. Okay. I want you to know that So that’s where the chorus comes We were going to record it. That your songs were getting more into play, with the compounding was it. And then we decided to turn complex. vocals. There’s one song, I still haven’t it into a CD project. When I heard figured it out. her sing…I loved her voice. She Okay. And is she killed in the

sounds like a young Dolly Parton. song? The one where everybody starts And I said “Let’s just do a CD.” And No. She’s in jail. singing a different melody in the the doctors are even saying that background. it’s because of that CD project that That’s “Maria”. The other question I had is : does the melody come first with you? she’s doing so well physically with What comes first? The title? A her cancer. couple of words? Definitely a couple of words. Well, you said it before. You like to write to heal, right? So it sticks in your head and you Yeah, but I never thought it would get a title then? be at that extreme. Yeah. I have a whole list. Like when I wrote “Weak in the Knees”. I had It’s pretty amazing what music written down that phrase and put it can do for people. in my portable for like three years. I It is. And this is testimony. The doc- am constantly writing things down. tors are just shocked. She should Yeah. I haven’t figured out what I’ve got a notebook, and I’ve got all have been dead. They gave her a the hell happened to her! LOL sorts of sentences for future proj- year and a half. And that was two LOL. (to Doug) Mike says he hasn’t ects. Words that just grab me. And years ago now. She’s doing really figured that one out yet, that my “Weak in the Knees”, I love that. well. Her hair’s grown back, she’s songs are getting more complex. I always wanted to write a ballad not on the intensive chemo any about that. It became a song that more. She’s still on medications and I first heard Doug sing that one was pretty popular. And “Turkey check ups and stuff, and she will die at the Holstein festival. I still don’t know what’s going on there. Hill Road”. That was ah…that’s a of cancer. I mean, that we all know. I always wanted to write with the sign on the highway, Highway 69 in But we did not expect her to be Clawhammer banjo. And I always Michigan. Doug and I were coming around this long. That woman is a wanted to write like a Civil War back from Nashville, and I saw that warrior, because she…all she did sounding ballad. And Bill Koop, of sign, and I said, “Oh my God, that’s was smile and laugh. She’d go to course is my clawhammer banjo. a Bluegrass song. And I wrote it chemo in the morning, drive up And I wanted that, you know, he down. I wrote over thirty verses to here. She lives two hours away. shot her or she shot him kind of that. I went on one night, on and Drive up here to the county. We’d thing, back when guns were on and on. I just kept going and go into the studio, she’d be in there the law. And I wanted to make it going and going. It’s so funny. with Doug until midnight. And then juicy, a cheating thing going on. drive home. Couple nights a week. When I hear clawhammer, it just If you had some advice to give to She wanted to be a part of every- sounds eery to me. Maria is actu- songwriters today, what would you say? thing. ally my step-daughter’s name and And she was. Her husband didn’t Learn the composition of a Blue- I wanted a name people would re- grass song. What it should have; come ‘cause it would drain him member. So I picked Maria. I picked so much. Just hearing it, and we’d how it’s comprised. It’s usually the song out on my head and tried three verses and a chorus. It’s go over and over the song. That to put it into three verses. woman is just…she just changed usually very simple. I mean, if you our lives. And changed my life as a want to go “Trad” Bluegrass. Ballad Okay. What happens to her? writing is completely different. It’s a writer. And that’s why I’m having so I wanted the chorus the way it was

23 MELISSA SHERMAN SONGWRITING RANT CON’T little more complicated. The industry is a mess as a whole Radio...it’s still FRESH... I get calls But I would say, really understand these days.... A lot of things go into every week from all over asking and believe your lyrics. Really try to play.... Bluegrass wants to be coun- about songs, bands, shows and put something in your lyrics. And try and the bluegrass world puts tonight a FB (Face Book) message don’t force it. Don’t force it. I have out a lot of new music, most of it about a new show HOPEFULLY to confess, I’ve had to go back and filler material... Too many wannabe coming to south central KY maybe use the Rhyming Dictionary. To find song writers out there who think as soon as this July if they get some that one word that will fit. Always if it rhymes it’s a song... Bands on sponsor support... try to feel what you are writing. See stage BORE ya to tears, borrow through it in your head, and then jokes etc., from other bands, ain’t Yea, I guess I gotta spend a few try to put it down on paper. I don’t that much original and what’s sad hours and dig up the contacts for believe just anybody can sit down IT’S ENTERTAINMENT.... Then the record labels .... and write a song. You have to come labels will put out TRASH... TRASH, Rant rant rant..... I usually step on to the point where you let your folks can’t sing... horrible picking toes and I do it to make people emotions write it for you. That’s by professional standards and then THINK, LISTEN and TALK, I CARE what I do. Does that make sense? (who watches American Idol?) as about bluegrass...it’s not really Harry Connick Jr. mentioned they’ll good these days with all the wishy Yes it does. I want to thank you run a voice thru auto tune so much washy stuffies... for your time. I am going to try and work this into this upcoming it has no soul..... issue. So thank you so much. Ask folks in the business WHO You’re welcome Mike. It was fun Sing it or hire someone as a lead KNOW ME or have heard me...I chatting. singer who CAN! GEEZ. don’t play folks cause they are my friends or some papers say I should PS Record companies get pounded or an artist or label asks.... Ed. Note: Melissa is currently from lack of sales since THE FANS one of two Canadian women who steal the songs by borrowing the rant rant rant... I’m sure I’ll hear all are recognized as a Daughter of discs from their buddies...YES THAT about this one.... AGAIN. Bluegrass and is part of their IS THEFT and I don’t care who I tick latest recording “Pickin like a Girl” off by saying you stole music.... ya www.theboman.biz did. Then the bands have fewer record sales... [email protected]

Radio is still the king... I listen to bluegrass music on the radio nearly everyday, well, the days I’m home.... Ed. Note: I used to get LOTS and LOTS of CDs Good Grief, Charlie Brown, you from all the labels but whew, it’s need an attitude adjustment! few and far between, and I gave There will always be folks who up BU (Bluegrass Unlimited) a few stray from “your” personal years ago since it was the same definition of what’s good or story with different faces for the most part.... Writers had become what’s bad. Thank goodness the stale.... You read one story, insert industry as a whole isn’t as another band or person and it’s myopic as you are! the same thing all over again... and Get over yourself! many times the same darn people or bands....

24 MUSIC “BIZ” BY GARY HUBBARD

ARTICLE 13 Introduction to trip downtown, my elevator ride Conference of Folk Festivals) where was in complete silence. No! I was the folks from Winnipeg handed Internet-part 2 not alone! The other 8 people on out memory sticks/flash drives the elevator were all “twiddling with their product to attendees. As We all grew up under the concept their thumbs” as we used to say. I these come down in price, perhaps of a model where you recorded an felt left out not having this is the future???? These little album, listened to it on the radio something to do with my hands. sticks certainly are not a sexy as and had it sold at the local record Oh, and by the way 6 of the people CD’s. (But then CDs were certainly store. Under this model the re- had ear-buds listening to music at not as sexy as vinyl LPs.) cord company was king and we all the same time they were texting. dreamed of being signed to a label (So much for interaction with each Most bands have had little success like Elvis, Johnny Cash, the Everley other). And these are the folks in getting their product to retail Brothers, et al. now dictating the demand for and or played on the radio, so nothing conveyance of “music”. has changed in this regard. The big Today the major labels have fallen difference is this beast called the by the wayside leaving only Univer- So how does one create a demand internet. sal, Sony and WEA (Warner, Electra, for their recordings in this climate? Atlantic) All are struggling to stay It’s not just music being affected by alive in today’s marketplace and are OK! Let’s take it one step at a time. the internet. E-mails and facebook relying on catalogue and not artist Do we really need a label to record are virtually making the postal development. and distribute our product? Re- service a thing of the past. Nearly cordings can be done in “home all my monthly utility bills and even Terrestrial Radio will only play ma- studios” with lower priced digital my bank statement is available jor artists and are no longer there equipment or laptops and software ‘on-line’. I can even pay these by to promote new talent. Even the programs like garage band. (and credit card or by on-line banking/ good old CBC are not the home it’s not really necessary to record a telephone transfers. Paper filings they once were for emerging talent. full length album) Sure it’s not the of Income tax returns will become same quality that Gil Moore can obsolete in the near future. Banks The mom and pop record stores give you at Metalworks. However, are predicting cheques will be ob- are mostly non-existent , the re- even his recordings don’t guarantee solete within five to ten years. The maining chains and even the mass you space on radio playlists or retail preferred method of viewing this merchandisers have reduced shelf shelves. magazine is now via internet. (High space and will only stock proven printing and postage charges have sellers. We don’t need to actually ‘man- certainly impacted this) ufacture’ product anymore as we The internet and the i-pad genera- can now ‘transfer/download’ our Herein lies the challenge. How do tion no longer subscribe to follow- product from a website directly you get people to find and listen ing the age old methodology. I into the hands of our consumer. to music on your website? Finding used to work in the down-town The trick is in re-educating your unique marketing techniques are core of Toronto where you could customer to buy from your web- needed to attract and sell to your hardly hear yourself think on the site as opposed to purchasing a customers. noontime elevator because of CD at your concerts. I attended a the constant chatter. On a recent recent convention of OCFF (Ontario I recently returned from a visit to

25 Newfoundland and met an artist POLITICAL CORRECTNESS BY BOB CHERRY (Wayne Bartlett) who has his own stream radio station (radioquirpon) that plays his product and others on a radio anymore. I haven’t for noose around “acceptability’s” with links to their websites. years. My family also got rid of throat keeps getting tighter and Here’s his website and on-line radio TV and its propaganda, high-vol- tighter. Common sense died years station. ume ads and junk programming ago along with the sense of humor about ten years ago. I politely and other traits that made people http://waynebartlett.ca/ listen to the music I want to hear human. There doesn’t appear to http://www.radioquirpon. from my own collection of mu- be any slowing down and it won’t com/ sic. No commercials and No PC end till the Politically Correct modern sensitivity. I am free to Police are at the end of their rope. listen to any music I desire and, I Then what? Silence? Back to the Hmm! BMAC RADIO, anyone! do so in absolute freedom. From Speakeasy days of music being Might be worth investigating?? “Smoke, Smoke, Smoke that performed in back rooms to In- Cigarette” by Commander Cody vitation Only crowds? I certainly Until next time! & His Lost Planets Airmen to hope not. Gary Hubbard, CGA David Allen Coe’s “Rodeo Song” It is a lot like the legislature. Gary wiites a regular “Music Biz” to a whole lot of bluegrass about Every time Congress writes a column for BMAC - drawing on killing, moonshine, whiskey and law, they take away a bit more his extensive background in the more including “Copper Kettle” freedom and a bite out of liberty. Canadian Music industry. about brewing ‘shine. There are very few laws that ever give some back. The same is true Without radio, I can listen to what with our music. Every time we I want, when I want and by whom exclude another song from being POLITICAL I want. I don’t smoke but a song performed, we’re actually cutting CORRECTNESS RANT about cigarettes isn’t offensive our own throats until, either the BY to me. I don’t kill women and music all sounds the same (be- there’s enough in bluegrass of that cause it is) or, there is nothing BOB CHERRY to go around. In fact there are left to sing about and the music CYBERGRASS probably more sins in bluegrass ultimately dies. It isn’t worth lis- than I can count but, I still listen tening to because it no longer has to all of it and enjoy the music. any meat on the bone. Devoid of Whiskey Before Breakfast any- feelings, substance, real life and body? emotion, music wouldn’t be worth listening to except in a box by I am sure that every song writ- Otis. Elevator music for all and ten will offend somebody and I absolutely no lyrics. hope we don’t stop making music Anyway, to each their own. I because somebody’s ears may get dropped radio because what I offended or somebody actually wanted to listen to and enjoy takes lyrics of a song seriously wasn’t being played anymore. I as representing a hard position didn’t stop listening to the music, This so-called “Modern Sensi- of the artist. Maybe radio will I just changed the medium that tivity,” “Political Correctness,” cease because they can no longer provides it. Radio refused to play or more accurately, Censorship, air any music in trembling fear what I wanted to hear so, I now is one of the reasons I never turn that a song may offend just one listen to the iPod, media server person. My problem is that the and CDs

26 R.I.P. JOHN RENNE

Pete Harrison in his younger days. He’s now graduated to a Breezy!

John Renne, lifetime resident of Niagara Falls, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, June 21, 2014 while touring with his Bluegrass Band, Bill White and White Pine in Tottenham,Ontario.

He was born in Niagara Falls on November 20, 1955, a son of Mary Ann (Lane) Renne and the late John A. Renne. John worked as a welder at several different local companies.

John was an accomplished musician who could play many instruments and was known for his proficiency playing the upright bass. As a valued member of Bill White and White Pine he opened for Rhonda Vincent and Mac Wiseman, entertained by invitation only on luxury cruise liners, was often called upon by local mu- sicians and their groups, and was well known and had many fans in the United States and Canada.

He was involved in the church ministry at Mt. Carmel Church, Niagara Falls and was the uncle that bought all the loudest toys for his nieces and nephews, but his One COOL Bass! greatest joy was his time with family and friends. We will miss you John.

27 28 BMAC ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS BUSINESS CLUBS CON’T BANDS CON’T A&B Print Ottawa Valley Honeygrass 4026 Meadowbrook Road # 126 Bluegrass Association Karen May 705-788-4362 London ON N6L 1C6 David Porter [email protected] Adam Garba 887-876-3369 www.honeygrass.com 519-652-0321 www.valleygrass.ca Jan Purcell and Pine Road Campbell’s Corner Music Sales: Queensbush Bluegrass Club Jan Purcell 819-459-3362 Dan Campbell Shannon Campbell pineroadbluegrass@gmail. 519-371-5037 519-371-5037 com campell’sbreakdown@ www.queensbush.ca www.pineroadbluegrass.com hotmal.com Skyway Bluegrass Club Rescue Junction Ducharme Family Productions: Roland Aucoin Kaitlyn Gerber 519-595-4089 Nicole Ducharme 905-635-1818 [email protected] 705-759-9589 [email protected] Rhyme‘N’Reason The Pick Shoppe Waterloo Wellington Bluegrass Stefan Van Holten Gord Devries: Music Association 905-679-4049 800-587-4647 Glenn George [email protected] [email protected] 519-576-0149 [email protected] Sweetgrass Band Jim Marsden 905-352-2423 CLUBS BANDS [email protected]

East Hants Bluegrass The Backwoodsman The Bluegrass Martins & Oldtime Music Association Lorne Buck 613-475-3740 P.O. Box 6677 Jerry Murphy 902-883-7189 Jefferson City MO 65102 [email protected] The Barn Katz Dale Martin 92 Southmoor Dr. 573-569-1018 London Regional Kitchener ON N2M 4M7

Bluegrass Music Association Glenn George 519-576-0149 The Spinney Brothers Paul Nosko 519-936-1695 http://www.barnkatz.ca Allen Spinney [email protected] 902-542-4755 www.londonbluegrass.org Concession 23 www.spinneybrothers.com Sherry Philp Manitoba Oldtyme 819-459-1089/613-623-1779 Traditionally Wound Bluegrass Society [email protected] Sheldon Speedie John Sawatzky www.concession23.com 519-389-6097 204-467-2182 [email protected] www.manitobabluegrass.ca Georgian Blue Murray Hale 705-474-2217 Winterline Nipissing Bluegrass Association [email protected] Ron Jubenville Denis Chadbourn 519-352-4079 705-776-7754 Hometown Bluegrass [email protected] [email protected] Al Benner 905-936-2008/647-430-5761 [email protected] www.hometownbluegrass.ca

29 BMAC ORGANIZATIONAL RADIO ON THE AIR MEMBERS EVENT PRODUCERS Dan Joseph and Linda Axman Linda Elliott County Bluegrass Festival Blueridge Express Country and Bluegrass Stev or Nancy Rogeski CKWR FM 98.5 Kitchener CHIP 101.7 FM 207-227-6242 Wednesday: 7:30-8:30 pm 819-683-3155 888-775-3155 [email protected] [email protected] Dan Bieman www.chipfm.com Denis MacCarthy Bluegrass Rules Saturday 5:00-10:00 pm 2 Wallace Street CKNX AM920 Hamilton Sunday 6:00-10:00 pm St. Catherines ON L2S 1E9 www.am920.ca 905-984-4095 519-357-1310 ext. 446 Audrey Lockwood Sunday: 1:00 pm Bluegrass Program Dundas Folklore Centre CKOL 93.7 FM PO Box 65511 David Blakeny [email protected] Dundas ON L9H 6Y6 Daybreak in Dixie Windsor Friday: 9:00-10:00 pm Norman Ayerst CJAM FM 91.5 www.cjam.ca 905 627 2047 Sunday 8:00-10:00 am Jim Marino Smokin’ Bluegrass Lindsay Country and Bluegrass Howard Bonner CFMU 93.3 FM Music Jamboree The Catalogue Parlour Kingston [email protected] Albert Heffernan CFRC 101.9 FM www.cfrc.ca http://cfmu.mcmaster.ca 800-954-9998 Friday: 6:00-8:00 pm Saturday: 12:00-1:00 pm nifo@lindsaycountryjamboree Brother Brian’s Minden Hills Bluegrass Festival Bluegrass Gospel Dennis Casey CFRC 101.9 John and Angel McNaughton [email protected] Sunday 8-10 am. The Bluegrass Show www.mindenhillsbluegrassfestival. CKRZ-FM 100.3 ca Brother John’s Sunday Morning Tuesday: 7:00-11:00 pm Gospel Hour Tottenham Bluegrass Festival www.100.7the island.com Wilson Moore Bluegrass Jam Peter Deveau 905-936-4100 Sunday: 8 am. CHMA FM 106.9 Sackville NB 1-888-258-4727 Saturdays: 6:00 Sundays 4:30 www.tottenhambluegrass.ca Gloria Hansen CFTA FM 107.9 Amherst NS Bluegrass Revival Sundays: 6:00 pm MEDIA MEMBERS www.100.7theisland.com Sunday: 9:00 am Ron Moores The Back 40 Donna Muir Country Grass CKCU FM 93.1 CHES FM 88.1 Erin Donna Muir Country Grass Saturday 12:00-1:00 pm [email protected] CHES FM 88.1 Erin Sunday: 7:00-8:00 pm [email protected] Tim Osmond Sunday: 7:00-8:00 pm CJUM 101.5 Winnipeg [email protected] Don Day and Dusty Hill Sunday: 4:00-5:00 CST Bluegrass Express CKCY 93.7 FM Owen Soun 519-376-2030 www.country93.ca Sunday: 6:00 pm

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