Volume 32 Number 4 INSIDE THIS ISSUE! Oct. Nov. Dec. Women in Bluegrass II, Southern Oregon Report, 2012 Sound Advice, and More.... Oregon Bluegrass Association Bluegrass Expresswww.oregonbluegrass.org The First Women of Bluegrass Part 2: Vivian Williams and Northwest Bluegrass By Ken Cartwright We are fortunate in the Pacific Northwest recollections, but we couldn’t get very an article that I would like to share with to have so many fine musicians who far back in history to reveal the first one. you that was written by Phil Williams perform bluegrass, and many of them are There were lots of recollections of women and can be found online by going to the women. In my research to discover the first in bluegrass/country/folk groups, but no Voyager Recordings and Publications site. women in Pacific Northwest bluegrass, I memories of the first woman in an all- And I quote with permission from Phil discovered a slippery slope because many bluegrass band. Then I got to Stevenson, and Vivian Williams: have performed bluegrass songs. As I Washington and had a chance discussion researched and asked people about their with Ian Joel. Ian and I were on the right Vivian Williams started playing earliest memories of bluegrass fiddle with women in bluegrass, the Tarheel bands names like Rose Maddox, in Darrington, WA Bertha Nations, Fiddlin’ around 1960. With Sue, Kate McKenzie, Vivian on fiddle Trisha Tubbs, Sue and Phil on bass, Averill, Barbara Lamb, they played with the Sue Thompson,Vivian Carolina Mountain Williams, Sally Ashford Boys for several benefit and others were offered. concerts for the Boy The one qualifying Scouts, the volunteer question that I kept firefighters, etc. in asking was: What woman Northwest Washington was the first to play a Grange halls. At complete public bluegrass that time, there were show? no women in the Darrington bluegrass I posted this question bands. on Facebook and Yahoo Northwest Bluegrass, Phil and Vivian’s first and asked the question band to perform in of people at bluegrass public in the Pacific festivals. I Googled bluegrass music in the track all along but he confirmed what I Northwest was the “Turkey Pluckers.” Pacific Northwest, women in bluegrass, had suspected and found in my research, This band played a mix of bluegrass bluegrass bands in the Northwest and just but he had one piece of information that and old country material, like the about every combination of searches I could I didn’t have. He remembered Vivian Darrington bands they had learned think of. I spoke with past presidents of Williams sitting in with Bill Monroe years from. Phil was playing a Gibson ball- the Oregon Bluegrass Association for their ago in a pick-up band. I have since found bearing Mastertone banjo back then. Continued on Page 6 Table of Contents Oct/ Nov / Dec 2012 Volume 32 / Number 4 Newsletter of the Oregon Bluegrass Association www.oregonbluegrass.org This Issue Features Vol. 32 No. 4 Cover Story Oregon Bluegrass Association www.oregonbluegrass.org The First Women of Bluegrass Part 2: Vivian Williams and Northwest Bluegrass Express Bluegrass...........................................1 Bluegrass Express is a quarterly newsletter dedicated to informing members of the Oregon by Ken Cartwright Vivian Williams and Bill Monroe More history of Women in Bluegrass Bluegrass Association about local, regional and Features from Ken Cartwright national bluegrass issues, events and opportu- nities. Lily Loves Bluegrass ......................9 Bluegrass Express Staff by Mark Rauch Southern Oregon Report..............10 EDITORS by Joe Ross John Prunty [email protected] Musical Ruts...................................16 (503) 383-8100 by Tim Dawdy Christine Weinmeister Columns & Commentary Joe Ross fills us in on what’s happening [email protected] in Southern Oregon Bluegrass. From the President.........................5 (Pictured: the members of Shasta Ray) COPY EDITOR Sound Advice ................................19 Nancy Christie by Mark Gensman [email protected] The Theory of Bluegrass...............12 GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT by Matt Snook John Prunty Calendars, Lists & Info Christine Weinmeister OBA Membership and Ad Information .....................................4 ADVERTISING What’s Playing on the Radio..........5 Pat Connell Scheduled Jams..............................15 [email protected] (971) 207-5933 OBA Supporting Performer Directory.........................................22 WEBMASTER & WEB CONTENT Lily loves Bluegrass! Tony McCormick (503) 330-2239 [email protected] OBA Bluegrass Express - Fall 2012 3 OBA Membership & Ad Information The OBA Board Membership Information for information about placing an ad The OBA Board of Directors invites for your music-related business in the www.oregonbluegrass.org you to join the OBA and to participate OBA Bluegrass Express. in its many activities. Our membership Officers of the Board benefits include a subscription to the Published Quarterly: quarterly Bluegrass Express, frequent Winter (January, February, March) Colby Buswell - President [email protected] mailings about events, and ticket dis- Mailed on December 30; Reserve by De- counts to Northwest bluegrass events. cember 1, Copy deadline December 15. Patty Spencer - Vice President Annual membership dues are $20 for Spring (April, May, June) [email protected] a General Member, $50 for Supporting Mailed on April 1; Reserve by March 1, Ron Preston - Secretary Performers and $100 for Contributing Copy deadline March 15. [email protected] Business Sponsor (see page 20), as well Summer (July, August, September) Dave Hausner - Treasurer as other options. To join, complete the Mailed on July 1; Reserve by June 1, [email protected] application on the back cover and mail Copy deadline June 15. Liz Crain - with your check to: Oregon Bluegrass Fall (October, November, December) OBA Roseburg Chapter President Association, P.O. Box 1115, Portland, OR Mailed on October 1; Reserve by Septem- [email protected] 97207 ber 1, Copy deadline September 15. Ken Cartwright - OBA Salem Chapter President [email protected] Website Payment Features include an interactive cal- The OBA prefers to receive ad- Tony McCormick - Webmaster [email protected] endar that allows you to post your own vertising payment in advance. We events, excerpts from past issues of the would like one-year contracts paid six Matt Snook - Membership [email protected] Bluegrass Express, and links for local months in advance, and we will bill for bands. Come visit us online! Visit the the next six months. Volunteer Coordinator: Marlene Smith OBA web page today! Please make checks payable to: [email protected] www.oregonbluegrass.org The Oregon Bluegrass Association, and mail to P.O. Box 1115, Portland Members at Large: Charles M. Holloway Article and Editorial Submissions OR 97207 [email protected] The OBA Board invites you to submit Chip Russell letters, stories, photos and articles to Bluegrass Express Advertising Rates [email protected] The Bluegrass Express. Published files Christine Weinmeister remain in our archives and art is re- (size) (dimensions) (two+ issues) [email protected] turned upon request. Please send submissions to: Full Page 8x10” $125.00 $112.00 Cleve Friedman [email protected] John Prunty Half Page 8x5” $70.00 $65.00 (horizontal) [email protected] Fred Coates Half Page 4x10” $70.00 $65.00 [email protected] (503) 383-8100 (Vertical) Christine Weinmeister Quarter Page 4x4.875” $50.00 $45.00 Ian Joel [email protected] [email protected] Eighth Page 3.875x2.375” $30.00 $25.00 Add 3% for late payment. John Prunty Advertising [email protected] Your Express advertising will Ad Specs MaryJo Turner directly reach over 500 households of When submitting an advertise- [email protected] bluegrass enthusiasts while helping ment to the OBA, please be sure the Pat Connell OBA to keep publishing this valuable file is black and white, 300 dpi and in [email protected] resource. Tear sheets or extra copies either PDF, TIFF, or JPEG. If you Sarah Ells of the Express are available. We ap- have questions about your file, email [email protected] preciate your support of the Oregon Christine Weinmeister at cjuliawein@ The OBA holds board elections each April as individual Bluegrass Association. gmail.com terms expire. The Board of Directors invites you to join our monthly meetings. We welcome your visit and ideas, Please contact Pat Connell via email opinions and proposals. Or, just come to see what we’re [email protected] doing! We generally meet the second Tuesday of each at: or month at 7:30 p.m. The location is subject to change. (971) 207-5933 OBA Bluegrass Express - Fall 2012 Call us or email any board member for time, location and 4 directions. President’s Message What’s Playing on the Radio? What a summer!! Welcome to the Local Radio Bluegrass and Country Listings new, warmer Oregon. I’m writing this on a patio in 70 degree sunny Albany/Corvallis - KBOO weather during the first week of October. The bar shall remain Broadcast from Portland, can be heard at nameless, although Foghorn has 100.7 FM. See under Portland, below made its mark here. I want to give thanks, not because Astoria - KMUZ 91.9 FM Thanksgiving is near, but because Some syndicated programming our 5th Annual Bluegrass and Old 503-325-0010 Time Picker’s Fest was the best yet! Thanks to you, we doubled “Cafe Vaquera” last year’s attendance and had Tuesdays 9-11pm, Bluegrass/Old Timey more involvement on every level. Western/Folk with Calamity Jane We were pleased to have such [email protected] good bands and want to shout out big thanks to Rainbow Sign, Jim Faddis and One More Ride, “Shady Grove” Saturdays 7-9pm Steer Crazy, Pitchfork Revolution, Regular folk program Caroline Oakley and Friends for the square dance and Kevin Healy Monday thru Friday 10am - noon and the Barn Door Slammers with bluegrass included who closed Saturday night out in a grand, country swing dance fashion. It was a blast.