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Reflections on Bill Monroe T/Te Mhenian Staff Page four, THE ATHENIAN, October 1996 30th Annual Fiddlers Reflections on Bill Monroe (cont'd from page one). and around every corner of the campus. Experts and Combined reports by David Robinson, Jim Patterson, novices, friends and strangers, and young and old will and The Music of Bill Monroe MCA join together for jam sessions. Teaching, learning, listening and enjoying will be the order of the day. You Bill Monroe was looking for the men in charge may never even make it to the stages because the jam of WSM radio station. He was ready to take his music sessions provide some of the best entertainment around. from the Carolinas and the east coast, where he had Bring your instrument and join in. beenplaying, to thebroaderaudience that WSM offered. A variety of food will be on sale by Athens State WSM could be heard from the Rocky Mountains to the College clubs and organizations. The convention Atlantic Ocean, but it also had another interesting provides these organizations with the opportunity to draw for Bill Monroe, "WSM has the same initials I raise funds for operating expenses and scholarships. have. That's William Smith Monroe." Arts and crafts will also be available for purchase from He found those men and was hired the same about 150 vendors. Every effort is made to avoid a "flea day. The Grand Ole Opry career that started on market" atmosphere, all vendors are by invitation only October 28, 1939, came to a close just short of fifty- and all exhibits are screened to ensure they are in seven years later on September 9, 1996, when Bill keeping with the traditional music theme. Monroe died. All proceeds from ticket sales and rental of arts William Smith Monroe, youngest of eight and crafts booths go to benefit the students of Athens children, was bom September 13, 1911, in Rosine, State College. Three endowed scholarships have been Kentucky. His career in music began with his brothers Smithsonian Institution, and played for three made possible because of the Fiddlers Convention. This Charlie and Birch playing nights and weekends in the presidents. He influenced musicians from Ricky year's scholarship recipients are Larry Keel of Huntsville Chicago area. In 1934, Bill and Charlie decided to Skaggs and Elvis Presley to hundreds of participants for the T. A. Hudson Memorial Scholarship, Lisha make music their full-time career. In early 1938, the in events like the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Overdear of Pisgah for the Jodie Hall Memorial brothers parted ways after having been a very successful Convention. Scholarship, and Kathy Kilpatrick of Vinemont for the team, and Bill Monroe was free to do things his way. I attended several of Bill Monroe's shows, Joe Gambill Memorial Scholarship. Over $250,000 in Bluegrass music was born. and was privileged to meet him on two occasions. The scholarships have been awarded over the years. In Anybody who knows anything about Bill first time that I met him was at the stock barn in addition to the scholarships, the foundation was the Monroe knows about his Uncle Pendleton Vandiver. Cullman, Alabama, where he was performing at a third largest contributor to the new library, donating "Uncle Pen Vandiver was the first man that I ever Bluegrass show in 1991. After his show was over, I $75,000. heard play a fiddle, and I believe I was about six or went up to meet him along with several other fans. I Old friends, traditional music, good clean family eight years old the first time I ever heard him play. He asked him to autograph my guitar, and he did. It is a entertainment, and a variety of arts, crafts and food got the wonderful Scotch-Irish sound out of it. He was prized possession. await you at the 30th annual Tennessee Valley Old Time a wonderful uncle and he'd always bring the fiddle, After the Ryman Auditorium was reopened, Fiddlers Convention. and we'd get to hear the fiddle; after we'd have supper Bill Monroe would open and close the summer every night we'd sit around the fireplace and he'd play bluegrass concert series there. My father and I always the fiddle, and he played numbers like Jenny Lynn, planned on going to the Bill Monroe shows. In 1995 Sally Goodin, and Goin' Across the Sea." we decided to go to Nashville early on the day of the His bands were legendary, including such first show and go out to Bill Monroe's house, hoping bluegrass giants as Vassar Clements, Jimmy Martin, to meet him there. We were disappointed when he Carter Stanley, Sonny Osborne, Mac Wiseman, Peter was not at home, but we still enjoyed seeing the old log Rowan, and Del McCoury. Many other musicians like house where he lived. We went on down town for the David "Stringbean" Akeman and Gordon Terry, a show that evening, and as we walked down the alley fiddle player from the Shoals area, worked for him behind the Ryman I saw him sitting at one of the tables over the years. The premier bluegrass band was formed outside. I walked up to him and introduced myself, late in 1945 with Bill Monroe, Lester Hatt, Howard my father was not far behind and we sat and visited, Watts (Cedric Rainwater), Robert "Chubby" Wise, and took pictures, and got autographs. Mr. Monroe was Earl Scruggs. very gracious, a true southern gentleman. Bill Monroe was elected to the Country Music Bill Monroe died just four days short of his Hall of Fame in 1970, he won the National Medal of the 85th birthday, but his music, bluegrass music, lives Arts in 1995, was the subject of projects by the on. T/te Mhenian Staff The Athenian Newspaper is the student newspaper for Athens State College. Tena Lovell, Coordinator of Student Activities, is the advisor for the paper and works with the newspaper staff to keep students informed of campus news. The Athenian staff is comprised of scholarship students working together to accomplish publication. As a medium of exchange between students, the purpose of the school paper is to provide an outlet for ideas, information, and opportunities. The staff gladly accepts submissions to the paper in the form of photography, editorials, and poetry. Special interest articles about students or events are also appreciated. The Athenian office is located in the Student Activities office room 215 of the Sandridge Student Center, phone 233-8169. L.to R. David Robinson, Tena Lovell, Lamesa Robbins, Justice Studies Major, will be Lamesa Robbins and Cyndy Dunning serving as Editor and is a new student to Athens State College. Lamesa is an experienced journalist with a heated desire to make the newspaper staff's computer "passion for freedom of speech" and communicating smoke with expression and do his best to keep The the voice of the campus. Look for samples of her Athenian fire burning. creativity in poems and articles throughout the paper. Cyndy Dunning is the last remnant of The Her previous experience as Editor of Calhoun State Athenian staff gone before. Still pursuing her degree in Community College's Warhawk, President of Writer's Special Education, Cyndy will serve as Assistant Editor Guild, and staff member of the Muse, will bring a fresh and looks forward to tracking down stories, pestering viewpoint to our newspaper staff. students with photos, and informing students of the Assistant Editor, David Robinson, joins ASC's latest campus developments. student body and The Athenian staff also this quarter. This year's newspaper staff includes a potpourri David is a City of Huntsville firefighter pursuing his of talent and determination. Together we hope to degree in Public Safety Administration. He has a produce a paper ASC colleagues will eagerly anticipate. .
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