Vol. 35 No. 3 INSIDE THIS ISSUE! July, Aug, Sept Jack Dwyer, Annual Meeting, Theory of Bluegrass, Sound 2015 Advice and More.... $5.00 Oregon Bluegrass Association www.oregonbluegrass.org Bluegrass Express JACK DWYE R And the Bluegrass Family that Built his Musical Home by Genavie Thomas Have you ever wished you had To appreciate Jack’s music is to see his from the dreams of adventuresome been born into a family that played incredible natural talent and ability as parents, dedicated to shaping the lives bluegrass music as a band that sang a standout soloist and ensemble player and talents of their children, but as in harmony and traveled together in multiple genres, and to understand it Jack’s unassuming parents Bill and in a van stuffed with music Mindy related, the inspiration gear? Can you imagine the and driving force of The Dwyer fun adventures, the pleasure Family Band was always Jack. meeting and playing with They say the band sprang from new and old friends, the Jack’s love of his close musical beautiful places you would family and his drive to lead see, spiced with plenty of that multi-talented family into logistical adversity to keep it the greater world. The Dwyer real, and that you became a Family Band had a lot of fun, seasoned musician by your they worked really hard, they mid-twenties because you had played a lot and they inspired actually spent those formative many with their love during teen years practicing hard, those years. booking gigs, performing on stage and collecting money at While home packing gear in the end of the night? Portland for his annual Alaskan teaching and performance tour, Jack Dwyer will tell you that Jack expressed gratitude for the he’s happy to have learned generosity and inspiration of all the practical skills needed many influential older musicians to front and hold together he encountered on his path, not a family band, along with only as teachers and artists, but sleeping in, skipping school, also for their friendship and and making road trips. This good times. These enduring includes the joys of finding connections have continued to good food, good camping provide this 25-year-old multi- places, lucrative busking spots, instrumentalist with opportuni- but also in Jack’s case, it provided in the context of this theme of growing ties and experiences a musician twice incredible opportunities to study and within a musical family deeply rooted his age could envy. Jack would be the play with musical heroes and legends in bluegrass. One might assume that first to credit his skill to his teachers. all along the way−some famous, all of a family bluegrass band must develop As a dedicated musician, Jack has been them generous. Continued on Page 7 Table of Contents July / Aug / Sept 2015 Volume 35 / Number 3 Newsletter of the Oregon Bluegrass Association www.oregonbluegrass.org This Issue Features Cover Story Vol. 35 No. 3 Jack Dwyer ......................................1 Oregon Bluegrass Association by Genavie Thomas www.oregonbluegrass.org Features Bluegrass Express OBA Annual Meeting Report ......11 Bluegrass Express is a quarterly newsletter by Chris Palmer dedicated to informing members of the Oregon Late Bloomer..................................15 Bluegrass Association about local, regional by Elliot Picciotto Steve Waller and national bluegrass issues, events and November 30, 1945 - June 26, 2015 opportunities. Columns & Commentary As the Express goes to print this quarter, we are shocked and saddened to hear President’s Message........................5 of the unexpected death of Steve Waller, Bluegrass Express Staff Sound Advice ...............................19 a founding member of the Oregon Bluegrass Association and president EDITOR by Mark Gensman from 1983-1987, a Northwest bluegrass Christine Weinmeister The Theory of Bluegrass..............20 pioneer, and a good friend and mentor to many. [email protected] by Matt Snook [email protected] Southern Oregon Report.............22 From Joe Ross: “Just heard the sad news that our by Joe Ross wonderful friend Steve Waller passed COPY EDITOR Ask Aunt Pearl...............................25 away last night after a massive heart Nancy Christie attack. Originally from Sale Creek, by Linda Leavitt [email protected] TN, Steve was the mandolin player with the Sawtooth Mountain Boys, Calendars, Lists & Info a group he and Mike Eisler formed GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT about 1970 while both were at Oregon John Prunty OBA Membership and Ad State University. A pioneer to Oregon Information ....................................4 bluegrass music, Steve lived “a beauti- [email protected] What’s Playing on the Radio.........5 ful life” and will surely be missed by [email protected] many around the world. Rest in Peace, Buddy!” 2015 Festival Calendar ..........16-17 ADVERTISING Scheduled Jams.............................35 The Express invites everyone who knew Steve to submit your favorite memories, Pat Connell OBA Supporting Performer stories and photos of Steve for the Fall [email protected] Directory........................................37 edition of the Express. (971) 207-5933 [email protected] [email protected] WEBMASTER & WEB CONTENT Tony McCormick John Hart [email protected] JAMS & ONLINE CALENDAR Jim Miernyk Clayton Knight [email protected] OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2015 3 OBA Membership & Ad Information The OBA Board Membership Information Website The OBA Board of Directors invites you Features include an interactive calendar that www.oregonbluegrass.org to join the OBA and to participate in its allows you to post your own events, excerpts many activities. Our membership benefits from past issues of the Bluegrass Express, and Officers of the Board include a subscription to the quarterly links for local bands. Come visit us online! Bluegrass Express, frequent mailings Visit the OBA web page today! about events, and ticket discounts to www.oregonbluegrass.org Chris Palmer - President Northwest bluegrass events. Annual [email protected] membership dues are $25 for a General Article and Editorial Submissions Member, $50 for Supporting Performers, The OBA Board invites you to submit letters, stories, photos and articles to The Bluegrass Tony McCormick- Vice President and $125 for Contributing Business [email protected] Sponsors, as well as other options. To Express. Published files remain in our archives join, complete the application on the back and art is returned upon request. Ron Preston - Secretary cover and mail with your check to: Please send submissions to: [email protected] Oregon Bluegrass Association John Prunty P.O. Box 1115 Christine Weinmeister [email protected] Portland, OR 97207 Jim Miernyk- Treasurer [email protected] Advertise in the Express! Liz Crain - Your Express advertising will reach over 500 households of bluegrass enthusiasts, while OBA Roseburg Chapter President helping the OBA to continue publishing this valuable resource. We appreciate your [email protected] support of the Oregon Bluegrass Association. For information about placing an ad for your music-related business please contact Pat Connell via email at: [email protected] or (971) 207-5933. 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For one year contracts, we The OBA holds board elections each April request payment six months in advance and we will bill for the next six months. Payment as individual terms expire. The Board of may be made online via PayPal at www.oregonbluegrass.org/bgexpress.php or you may Directors invites you to join our monthly send a check payable to The Oregon Bluegrass Association and mail to PO Box 1115, meetings. We welcome your visit and ideas, opinions and proposals. Or, just come to Portland, OR 97207. see what we’re doing! We generally meet the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. When submitting an advertisement to the OBA, please be sure the file is black and white, The location is subject to change. Call us or 300 dpi and in either PDF, TIFF, or JPEG. If you have questions about your file please email any board member for time, location email Christine Weinmeister at [email protected]. and directions. President’s Message What’s Playing on the Radio? Local Radio Bluegrass and Country Listings It is summertime and we get to fully appreciate why we live in Oregon with our well-earned greenery and beautiful scenery. I’m sure many of you have a lot of your Albany/Corvallis - KBOO weekends already worked out. The summer goes by so quickly and it’s good to fill Broadcast from Portland, can be heard at those weekends with music and being outside with friends. 100.7 FM. See under Portland, below Stacey Harnew kicked off Chick’s Kids’ season at Bluegrass from the Forest in Shel- Astoria - KMUN 91.9 FM ton in May, followed by the Sacajawea Festival in Pasco, Wheeler County Festival Some syndicated programming in Fossil, the Columbia Gorge Festival in Stevenson and the High and Dry Festival 503-325-0010 in Bend.