Bluegrass Legends the Seldom Scene to Headline Hospice Event

Bluegrass legends The Seldom Scene to headline Hospice event

Posted by TBN_Admin On 10/10/2014

The headliners of this year’s Bluegrass for Hospice-2014, The Seldom Scene, was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame at its Awards Show in Raleigh, North Carolina on Thursday, October 2, 2014.

Ben Eldridge, John Starling, Mike Auldridge, Tom Gray and John Duffey formed the Seldom Scene in 1971. The band’s name referred to the fact that four of the five members had “day jobs” outside of music, and that they only played one night a week: a regular engagement at a local club, The Red Fox Inn. The intent of the band’s originators to play locally “just for the fun of it” in the Washington, DC region didn’t last long, as The Seldom Scene became a major force nationally in the bluegrass music world, emphasizing strong vocals combined with Duffey’s tongue-in-cheek, clean, adult humor, a combination that opened new doors for bluegrass with typical urban audiences. The group drew from various sources, including rock, traditional bluegrass, country, and folk for their fresh, energetic music. A few of their many recorded songs are “Old Train,” “What Am I Doing Hanging Around?” “Wait a Minute,” “With the Small Exception of Me,” “Hello Mary Lou” and “Rider.” Between their bold willingness to explore a broad slice of American popular music, their impeccable musicianship and a stage presence that was both commanding and endearing, the Scene exemplified one strain of "progressive" bluegrass that both honored the past and led the way into the future. The era of the original members ended in September 1977, when Starling left the group to practice medicine in Montgomery, AL. Personnel changes have been made over the years, with Ben Eldridge remaining as the single original member. The 1971-77 line-up of The Seldom Scene left an indelible imprint on bluegrass music, and the current band continues to feature vocal arrangements and instrumentals in that trademark style. Original members John Duffey died in 1996, and Mike Auldridge passed away in 2012.

• Founded in 1991, the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, housed in the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, KY, is an institution devoted to the recognition of noteworthy individuals for outstanding contributions to bluegrass music. Each year a nominating committee, consisting of music industry leaders, creates a slate of 10-15 candidates. From these names, a panel of more than 200 electors in the music industry cast ballots to narrow the nominees to five finalists. The panel votes a final time to select the inductee(s) for that year.

Bluegrass for Hospice-2014 will be held at the Flat Iron Farm in Great Mills on Saturday October 25, 2014 from Noon – 8 pm, located on Flat Iron Road just 1.5 miles from MD Route 5. The event begins at Noon with gates opening at 11:00 am. All proceeds for the day go to support the Hospice House of St. Mary’s County.

Other local favorite Bluegrass bands will include Charlie Thompson & Bottom County Bluegrass, Bubby Abell & Spoon Creek, Bluegrass Gospel Express, David Norris, Recycled Bluegrass, and the Smoke Creek Rounder’s. As always, Troy Jones will provide the sound for the day. There will also be many vendors with an array of merchandise to sell 50/50 raffles, a $500.00 money raffle, door prizes, and a silent auction with many fantastic items donated by the local community. There will be fine seafood and other specialty’s available for sale provided by the 3rd District Optimist Kruzin’ Kafe and alcohol is BYOB. The event is held inside a closed and covered arena which is handicap accessible and portable bathroom facilities are located outside. Non-perishable food items will also be collected for the Helping Hands Food Pantry in Hollywood, MD.

Sponsors for Bluegrass for Hospice-2014 are: Ms. Christine R. Wray & Mr. John E. Felicitas; Hearing Professionals; Jan Barnes-Century 21 New Millennium; and many, many more.

Tickets are $25.00 in advance and $30.00 at the door. To purchase tickets in advance send a check or money order payable to “Hospice of St. Mary’s” along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to P.O. Box 741, California, MD 20619. The deadline for advanced tickets to be mailed is October 15, 2013. You can also get them instantly online through Brown Paper Tickets by going to www.bluegrassforhospice.com/4. Children under 12 are admitted for free with a paying adult.

For more information on this year’s Bluegrass for Hospice-2014, call 301-737-3004 or go online at www.bluegrassforhospice.com.

Since the beginning, 5 years ago, Bluegrass for Hospice has turned over $97,000.00 to the Hospice of St. Mary’s, Hospice House.

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