Published by: Seven Mountains Bluegrass Association, Inc. Volume 14 April / May / June 2018 Issue 2 Concerts at Goodwill Firehouse—South Queen Street, York PA Dave Adkins Flatt Lonesome March 31 April 14 Kevin Prater Band May 12 Member Mission Statement The purpose of the SMBA is to preserve, promote, and enjoy bluegrass music and to bring the music to an ever-increasing number of people. © Page 1 • ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS - $12 per family • MONTHLY SHOWS GOODWILL FIRE HALL, YORK, PA - 2nd Saturday of each month - October thru May (Unless otherwise listed) - Discounted tickets for members • MONTHLY JAM SESSIONS - Young’s UMC 7075 Wertzville Rd, Mech. PA - 3rd Sunday of every month - Microphones are provided - Visitors & musicians of all skill levels are welcome - Beginner and Advanced jam rooms available • ANNUAL PICNIC - JULY 28, 2018 (4th Saturday every July) - Good food - Open Jams - On-Stage Jam Bands - Raffle of acoustic instruments & door prizes • WEBSITE - www.sevenmountainsbluegrass.org • PROMOTIONAL OUTLET for bands and promoters • BLUEGRASS LIBRARY - Instructional materials • EDUCATIONAL MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS • QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER TABLE OF CONTENTS Page # - Inside the SMBA 2 - President’s Message 3-6 - Officers /Board of Trustees 4 - SMBA Scholarships 4 - SMBA 2017-2018 Concert Series 5 - SMBA Scholarship Application 7 Beginner and Advanced Jam rooms available - Band Bios 8-9 - Don’t Give Your Heart To A Rambler 10 - Upcoming Events 11 - SMBA Member Bluegrass Bands 12 - Instruments For Sale 12 - Bluegrass Radio 13 Young’s UMC - Music Lesson & Instrument Repair 14 - Jams 15-16 7075 Wertzville Rd. - Membership Invitation 17 Mechanicsburg, PA OFFICERS (2017) Dick Beckley President (717)-395-7128 (717) 766-4424 Sue McKinsey Vice President (717) 244-4428 Jean Snyder Treasurer/Membership (717) 957-4609 Ruth Ann Berney Recording Secretary (717) 979-3373 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Bob Bishard Librarian/Jams Chair/ (717) 957-4349 Parliamentarian Bill Coleman (717) 308-0752 Seven Mountains Bluegrass Association “Hornpipe” is Walt Crider (717) 300-3408 published by the Seven Mountains Bluegrass Association Wayne Miedwig (717) 515-7436 Inc., which is a non-profit organization. The SMBA mails Glen Miller (410) 357-8388 this quarterly newsletter to the SMBA membership, music Kristen Schneider (717) 443-8359 associations, other non-profit organizations, promoters, Ursula Sheaffer (717) 440-4591 radio and print media at no charge. All correspondence can be mailed to: CHAIRPERSONS Dick Beckley Music Committee (717) 938-4975 SMBA, Kristen Schneider Scholarship Committee (717) 443-8359 c/o Ursula Sheaffer Wayne Miedwig Election Committee (717) 515-7436 5 York Circle, George Fishel Picnic Committee (717) 580-7838 Mechanicsburg, Pa 17050 Ursula Sheaffer Hornpipe Editor (717) 440-4591 [email protected] Picnic Committee Sue McKinsey Concert PR / Media (717) 244-4428 Walt Crider Historian (717) 300-3408 www.sevenmountainsbluegrass.org Page 2 getting some of the top bands to play our stage. It has also led me to establish friendships with most of The President’s the agents who handle the various band’s bookings. Andrea Roberts is a dear friend, who is agent for Flatt Lonesome, Steve Gulley, Clay Bank, Blue Highway and the Grascals, among others. Her hus- Message band, Danny is a member of the Grascals and a longtime friend as is Terry Eldredge, another Gras- cal. My friendship with Danny and Andrea is the main reason I was able to persuade Flatt Lonesome and the Grascals to play our stage in recent years. I Whenever the discussions turn to the various blue- first met the Roberts when Andrea played in Kim grass entertainers at a show or at one of our Board Fox’s band and Danny’s former band, New Tradition meetings, the subject of my knowing so many of the played at the Fox Family Festival while I was living in entertainers comes up. Some on our Board, have Old Forge and helping Kim and family with her festi- asked how anyone else could book bands for the val, held there each summer. I continued to work shows after I step down from doing this. I’ve tried to with Kim on her festival until I moved to PA in 2001, explain that it’s not a prerequisite that this be the which was also when I became a member of Seven case, while I’m also aware that this probably makes Mountains. my job easier. Kim was the main reason I joined IBMA and attend- First, let me just say that I wear two hats at SMBA, ed my first convention in Louisville in 1994 or 1995. one as your President and another as Chairman of She insisted that I would love attending and she was the Music Committee. I inherited the job of Chairman right. The times in Louisville and the following years of this committee when my good friend Jon in Nashville were times I will never forget, as well as Raemore, fell ill a few years back and was unable to all the friendships I made there, although in recent continue doing this job. As a committee member and years, I’ve not been attending in Raleigh because of working closely with Jon, I felt I was well qualified to health issues and also some developments in the carry on Jon’s work and so I have served in this ca- music industry I’ve not been a fan of. Even so, I pacity since he left this position. Both of these posi- maintain contact with those I’ve made friendships tions have made it possible for me to form more with thru Facebook, e-mailing, and connecting with friendships with agents, publicists, and various other them at the various concerts and festivals Karen and persons connected with the performers and their I attend. It seems we never attend an event without bands and in fact, the bands themselves. seeing some of the friends we’ve made over the I’ve also been a lifelong fan and follower of blue- years. Our bluegrass family is indeed, both vast and grass and what I call the old country music, to me the large. ONLY form of country music, not the garbage they Our friendship with Bertie Sullivan, the legendary try to pass off today on top 40 radio. Down through bluegrass promoter, who has hosted the Two Rivers the years, I’ve known quite a few of the early pio- neers of bluegrass from them playing at carnivals Festival in Leakesville, MS has also led to a life- and events in the MD, WV, and PA area where I long friendship with Alecia Nugent who will for- grew up. For an example, I first met Ronnie Reno ever be our favorite bluegrass female vocalist, when he was about 7 years old and on stage with his even though she has retired from the road. Al- Dad, Don at the Williamsport, MD fireman’s carnival. ecia performed with Bradley Walker, a fine blue- I was a few years older than Ronnie but still remem- grass and country artist, and also Carl Jackson, ber that. I’ve rekindled that friendship at IBMA in re- Jerry Salley and Larry Cordle, three of the most cent years and also formed a friendship with Stan talented song writers and performers in Nash- Hitchcock, a former country vocalist who is a busi- ville, several nights on different occasions in ness associate of Ronnie’s and formerly owned CMT Bertie’s suite at IBMA. Karen and I were there and Americana Networks. He and Ronnie now have each time when a small group of friends were Blue Highway’s TV Network and Ronnie hosts Reno’s Old Time Music on RFD-TV. treated to some of the best music ever heard There are many more friends that I’ve made in the anywhere, far into the late night, an event I will 25 or so years I’ve been a professional voting mem- never forget. All of these folks have remained ber of IBMA that have helped me meet still others in Continued on page 6 the industry. All of these contacts have helped me in Page 3 Dick Beckley [email protected] (717)-395-7128 Ruth Ann Berney [email protected] (717) 979-3373 Bob Bishard [email protected] (717) 957-4349 Bill Coleman [email protected] (717) 308-0752 Walt Crider [email protected] (717) 300-3408 George Fishel [email protected] (717) 580-7838 Sue McKinsey [email protected] (717) 244-4428 Glen Miller [email protected] (410) 357-8388 Wayne Miedwig [email protected] (717) 515-7436 Kristen Schneider [email protected] (717) 443-8359 Ursula Sheaffer [email protected] (717) 440-4591 Jean Snyder [email protected] (717) 957-4609 A complete listing is located on page 2 of this newsletter. SMBA Scholarship Program The Seven Mountains Bluegrass Association funds two $250 scholarships annually. Additional scholarships are awarded based on member contributions to our Scholarship Fund. Over the past several years, an additional two scholarships were awarded for a total of four recipients each year. This is a direct result of the generous contributions from our members! We are nearing the March 31 scholarship application deadline. Scholarship recipients will be announced in our next newsletter. Please contact our Scholarship Chairperson, Kristen Schneider, at (717) 443-8359 to learning more about our scholarship program, or to inquire on a donation. An application for the scholarship can be found on page 7 of this newsletter. Page 4 Page 5 Continued from page 3 good friends I’ll never forget my buddy, James that he would become one of the very best voices King and the many good times I had with him (and ever, in bluegrass, performing for 5 years as lead some not so good).