Central Texas Bluegrass Association’s BLUEGRASS BULLETIN Volume 28, No. 4 April, 2006 Upcoming Events Before There Was Bluegrass April by Tyler Balthrop 1st - CTBA Beginner & Intermedi- ate Jam, 4-6 pm, at Artz Ribhouse, 2330 South Lamar, Austin, TX To me, acoustic music is raw and “organic” in a sense. That’s why I like to play it, 78704. because it’s real and challenging. I also play it because I like to feel that I’m carrying on a tradition of music that otherwise may have been lost in a sea of Electronics and DJ’s. But 1st - CTBA Night! 7-9 pm I am just one of millions in a long line of people who have been carrying on this tradition Danny Santos backed by Eddie since man lived on the other side of the world. Collins/Los Bluegrass Vatos at People have been playing fiddle tunes in Ireland for hundreds if not thousands of Artz Ribhouse, 2330 South Lamar, years. These tunes were passed on from generation to generation, and were brought across Austin, TX 78704. the sea by immigrants to America. Ancient songs like “William in the Lowland”, “Whis- 1st & 2nd - Oakdale Park Bluegrass key Before Breakfast”, and “the Rose-Haired Lad”, became part of our heritage, and are Jamboree, Glen Rose, TX still popular today. Before the 1900’s, if you wanted a mandolin or banjo, you had to make it, or 20th & 23rd - Old Settlers Music have it made by a carpenter. This was very costly, and since the supply of fine woods Festival, at the Salt Lick BBQ was limited, many instruments were made out of furniture. The Gibson Company was Pavilion and Camp Ben Mc- actually started by a mandolin player, fed up that he couldn’t find a decent instrument. Culloch, Austin, Texas, Thurs- Many people credit Gibson with starting the string band trend that ultimately led to the day thru Sunday Bluegrass Bill Monroe would play, but many believe it was in fact the Sears and Roebuck May Company. When the Sears and Roebuck catalog came out back then, in addition to being 6th - CTBA Beginner & Interme- free paper for the outhouse, one could purchase an Italian mandolin, a Hawaiian Guitar diate Jam, Artz Ribhouse (dobro), an African Banjer, or a fiddle for a modest price (around $5-$10). People began 6th - CTBA Night! 7-9 pm forming string bands, and for the first time, these instruments from different cultures were Wayne Brooks and the Piney readily available and being played together. Many of the songs these string bands would Grove Ramblers, 6:30 - 7 pm play were renditions of old Irish fiddle tunes, or original compositions that became known Stringed Tease, Artz Ribhouse as “Jazz”, essentially the first forms of American Music. Not too many years later, when Bill Monroe started playing the mandolin, he 6th - Wendelfest - WooHoo played old tunes his family had passed down to him. These ancient songs, having already www.wendelfest.com been in America for hundreds of years, had taken on a whole new life with new melodies 12th - 14th and new names. They became “Billy in the Lowground” and “The Red-Haired Boy”. Bill Texas State Mountain and Hammer played them with a fevered tempo that sparked a new sound and gave birth to a new tradi- Dulcimer Championships, Oakdale tion. Through him, from this ancient music, came the beginnings of what is now called Park, Glen Rose, TX Bluegrass. 18th - 20th 2006 Fire on the Strings Festival Montgomery, TX 19th - 20th Mays’ Bluegrass Pickin’ Under the Stars, Oakdale Park, Glen Rose, TX June and their instruments 14th - 18th Just four guys, two microphones, Hill Country Acoustic Music Camp, COOPER’S UNCLE Schreiner University Kerville, TX Check out Tyler’s band Cooper’s Uncle at: www.CoopersUncle.com For Information on CTBA membership Thank you…! and activities, contact: Central Texas Bluegrass Assoc. Thank you for giving me such a strong welcome as the new CTBA Presi- P.O. Box 9816 dent. Over the past three months I’ve had an amazing time meeting, jamming, Austin, TX 78766-9816 and corresponding with CTBA’s dedicated members. I am constantly encouraged (512) 261-9440 by the support you give to area Bluegrass bands, and the unceasing promotion of email: [email protected] what I consider to be the most challenging and fastest growing genre of American www.centraltexasbluegrass.org music. Bluegrass to me is pure American music that constantly challenges me. It CTBA is a non-profit, tax-exempt can be simple or it can be complex. There is no other style of music that allows 501(c)3 Association, Incorporated in a musician to just jump into a group, and either show off you licks, or simply tap the State of Texas your toe to the rhythm. The seasoned musicians don’t mind showing beginners the strings, and you don’t have to lug around a truck load of equipment to play a good song. As a listener, you can just sit back and relax, and when the music is right, it RANDALL’S can be an unforgettable experience. This is why I love an organization like CTBA. GOOD NEIGHBOR Here is a group that has focused on what at times may not have been mainstream PROGRAM music, but it has steadily grown and strengthened in listenership due to loyal fans, The CTBA number for this attention to family values, the challenge it presents to musicians, and the constant program is 9735. evolution that somehow stays true to what Mr. Monroe intended it to be. If you sign up, Randall’s At this point you may be asking yourself who I am, and who these two will donate a percentage of your purchases to fellows are in the photograph. I’m a 32 year old CPA in the Austin area. I was CTBA! reared in Amarillo, TX, and was fortunate enough to spend a good amount of time in a little town called Quitaque (kit-ta-kway). Quitaque’s sister town is Turkey, TX, the 1920’s home of Bob Wills. My grandmother claimed he was the town barber! I took up guitar at age 15 playing in the church choir, and after 15 years of OFFICERS wandering in the music woods, I finally found bluegrass. I still consider myself a President beginning/intermediate musician, and have basically had to relearn how to play af- Steve Davidson ter many years of listening to mainstream radio. I began taking lessons from Eddie [email protected] Collins about three years, occasionally attend Stephe & Jacque Mangold’s jam, and Vice President now have the honor of representing you here at CTBA. I always enjoy meeting Jamie Stubblefield CTBA members, so feel free to introduce yourself. [email protected] Now these two men in the photo- Treasurer graph are really important to me, as they Russ Gunn are my great grandfather, Mason Greenfield [email protected] Curtis, and my great uncle Hurshell Robert Secretary Curtis. I never had the opportunity to meet Greg Jones my great grandfather, but I was fortunate [email protected] enough to spend time with my always loving Jane Laughlin Uncle Hurshell. In my recollection, I knew Membership him as an extremely hard working Depres- [email protected] sion Era man who loved his family dearly. John Hood He came from a family of five kids who were all very hard working, never had fame Past President or fortune, and loved each other dearly. This Steve Zimmet picture somehow gives me a link to that fam- [email protected] ily, and every time I sit down to play a traditional song, I can’t help but think they might have played the very same song after a hard day of working in the Texas COMMITTEES Panhandle. This is just another one of the reasons I have grown to love Bluegrass. Beginner/Intermediate Jam I hope you have stories, memories, and pictures just like this to cherish. Stephen Mangold As for the organization, we are currently working hard on upcoming events. I also want to press upon you the importance of getting involved with your Webmaster Steve Zimmet association. We will have plenty of opportunities for you to help out in the upcom- [email protected] ing year, and I hope that if you are a musician, you will come out and participate in some of the many jams across the Central Texas Area. Thanks again for your strong support, and thanks for keeping your appreciation of Bluegrass alive. Sincerely, Editor’s Note: All writers, artists, and photographers Steve Davidson retain all copyrights over any work submitted to the President 2006, CTBA Central Texas Bluegrass Bulletin. BLUEGRASS REVIEW by Sean McCormick Audie Blaylock, Trains Are The Only Way To Fly (self released) Audie Blaylock has been in Bluegrass for over 25 years, working with such Bluegrass greats as Red Allen and Lynn Morris. Most notably though, at the age of 19, he joined Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys, staying 9 years. In 2000, he joined Rhonda Vincent’s band, and would perform with her until 2004. Deciding then it was time for him to form his own band, he put together the group Audie Blaylock & Redline. In 2005, they were nominated for the IBMA’s Emerging Artist Of The Year. During his tenure with Rhonda Vincent, he released his first solo effort, “Trains Are The Only Way To Fly”. Traditional Bluegrass fans will be thrilled to hear this recording with it’s straight ahead, hard driving songs, played the way they were meant to be.