THE COLUMBUS FOLK MUSIC SOCIETY, INC. – A 501(C)(3) NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION FEBRUARY, 2016 Songwriter’s Notice: WHAT’S INSIDE: SONGWRITER’S NOTICE: WORST SONG IN THE WORLD Worst Song in the CONTEST TO DEBUT ON STAGE AT COFF 2016 PG. 1 World Contest to debut JON MOSEY TO PERFORM AT FEB. 27 FOLKSIDE On Stage at Central Ohio Folk COFFEEHOUSE PG. 1 REMEMBERING WILSON Festival 2016 by D. Boston BRINKLEY PG. 3 LATEST “MUST-HAVE” The “Worst Song Not technically nor SONGBOOK FOR FOLKIES PG. 4 in the World Contest” performance wise has been a staple of “worst,” but worst in SOME BASICS & TIPS FOR the Central Ohio Folk the sense of topic / YOUR INSTRUMENT PG. 4 Festival for a number story line, etc. You of years. The rules? probably get the CALENDAR OF EVENTS Create and perform a picture. AND ANNOUNCEMENTS PG. 5 song, either solo or Traditionally the CFMS JAMMERS SERVE with others and contest has been held UP THANKSGIVING TREAT PG. 6 present it to a John Locke introduces the Worst Song in the World at the Friday night listening audience for Contest on the Friday night “Meet ‘n Greet” at the VALENTINE BENEFIT 2015 Central Ohio Folk Festival. This year, not only Meet 'n Greet before judging as to whether CONCERT FOR COFF PG. 7 will the Worst Song in the World Contest be held on the festival begins on it rates as the “worst” Friday evening, but a second contest will be held on song of the bunch. stage during the festival itself. Photo - J. Clear See Worst Song - page 2 Jon Mosey to perform at February 27 FolkSide Coffeehouse by Bill Cohen We have a special treat for our February bluesman/ Mosey had the whole crowd tapping Coffeehouse: Jon Mosey. Hailing from guitarist/ and/or bobbing along with the Akron, OH, he has been described as “one singer- music.” Sing Out! said of him, “Jon of the great musical treasures of Northeast songwriter. Mosey’s hot blues picking... a Ohio.” His guitar playing has been His warm welcome surprise” and Folknet adds, described as “effortless and precise.” An voice, guitar “A local legend of ragtime, blues and accomplished, long time performer, his skills, country guitar.”1 style is varied and there is something for distinctive everyone! We want to welcome back Jon Bill Cohen: How do you describe songwriting, Mosey to our coffeehouse stage on the style of music you play and sing? Saturday, Feb. 27 at 8 pm (open mic 7-8 and powerful performances have p./open jam 6-7 pm. So beat those winter earned him a reputation as fresh, Jon: I play mostly original Roots blues and come out for the show! More rootsy and original. The Cleveland and Blues. It’s based on pre-war details on page 5. Plain Dealer said of him, “A really American traditional styles. I draw amazing guitarist... even though it from the various regional styles of Jon Mosey has toured the United was just him and his acoustic guitar, blues and also the string band/old- States and Europe as a solo See Jon Mosey - page 2 CONTACT US AT: VOICEMAIL 614-470-3963! PAGE 1 A DIFFERENT STRUMMER FEBRUARY, 2016 Worst Song - from page 1 song both Friday night and Saturday Saturday. Last year's Meet 'n Greet afternoon on the main stage or just saw a record number of attendees as elect to do it at one or the other. Just well as worst song contestants and remember, you will be mic’ed on there were quite a few very qualified Saturday and you will have the “worst” songs. general public for an audience! Like For the 2016 festival, not only Friday evening, the audience will be are we going to hold the contest the judge for the winner. We only Friday evening (a prize for the ask that you keep the songs family Friday winner will be awarded friendly. there), but we are also holding a One of the contestants at the 2015 Worst Song in the World Contest. Photo - L.McDonald So, consider starting to put your contest – on the main stage – on song(s) together now in preparation Saturday afternoon, right after the If you are a contestant (anyone for this year’s festival! Bob Kirby Scholarship awards. can beone), you can perform your Jon Mosey - from page 1 Bill: Besides singing, you play Stompers, I get to play everything – time traditions, as well as newer several different instruments. What fingerpick and flatpick guitar, styles (i.e.:1940’s-50’s) like Western are they, and how do you decide bluegrass banjo, old-time banjo, Swing, Honky-Tonk and Bluegrass. which one to use on each particular mandolin, tenor banjo. song? It all runs together in the stuff I do. With some of the bands I’ve worked Bill: Tell us the story of how you Jon: Guitar is my main squeeze, with in the past, the musicians in the came to be a musician. always has been. I’m mostly a group have determined that I should fingerpicker, based in that Piedmont play a certain instrument. For Jon: I always liked to listen to Blues/Ragtime guitar style, but I still example, in the Valley Mountain music as a kid. As I got into my do some Norman Blake/Doc Watson Boys, we had killer banjo and guitar teens, it was just what seemed right. style flatpicking. I used to do a lot players already, so it just made sense I never made a big decision to more that I played mandolin in that band. dedicate my life to the art or flatpicking In the Ohio Choro Club, we needed anything like that; it’s just what I’ve back in the a mandolin player, so that’s what I always done. 70’s, 80’s played. and 90’s, Bill: We hear there are many If I’m doing a recording session, the but I sort musicians who’ve influenced you producer usually has an idea of what of drifted over the years. Who are they? instrument they want on each song, away from but occasionally, they’ll ask me to Jon: So many. A lot of the biggest that style bring a bunch of instruments, so we influences were local guys like Jack in the last can try them out and see what works DiAlesandro, Jim Ballard, Andy decade or best. Cohen, Alex Bevan, Billy Wright – a so. I also whole bunch of them. The coolest play Bill: On the internet, we can see thing about that is that a lot of those mandolin, and hear you do songs such as 99 guys that I listened to and learned steel Year Blues and Rollin’ Baby Blues. from have become good friends. guitar, old- What is there about the blues that The more well-known (more time/ you like so much ? contemporary) ones who were big clawhammer banjo, bluegrass banjo, Jon: Those are both Piedmont-style influences would include: David tenor banjo (Dixieland and Irish), blues (99 Year is traditional, Rollin’ Bromberg, Ry Cooder, Jorma and some really bad fiddle. Electric Baby is one of mine). That style is Kaukonen, Norman Blake, Doc guitar and bass have also been in the the foundation of my playing; Watson, and Tom Waits. The older arsenal since the beginning. At a everything I do is based in that guys (the dead ones) include Blind solo performance, I play guitar on approach. It’s just so much fun to Boy Fuller, Blind Blake, Gid Tanner everything. If I’m playing with one play. I’ve played a lot of the other & the Skillet Lickers, Django of the bands that I work with regional styles (Mississippi, Texas, Reinhart, Bob Wills & the Texas regularly, we’ll usually try a bunch Memphis, pre-war Chicago, etc.), Playboys, Charley Patton, Smokey of different instruments and pick the but Piedmont is by far my favorite. Wood & the Wood Chips, Big Bill one that we think sounds best. With I’m definitely not just a blues guy, Broonzy, etc., etc. The Jon Mosey Trio, it’s electric though. There are a whole bunch of guitar because we’re a Roots Rock band. In the Crooked River See Jon Mosey - page 6 PAGE 2! WWW.COLUMBUSFOLKMUSICSOCIETY.ORG A DIFFERENT STRUMMER FEBRUARY, 2016 “Art was emcee “I met Wilson through the Thursday at the time and I night jam group. .the 15 or so Remembering was working the musicians pass the microphone and the kitchen [at the theoretical baton around in a circle as coffeehouse]. we play. One of Wilson’s favorites was Wilson was an instrumental tune called Little Wilson Brinkley playing his lap Coquette. Eventually I learned that steel guitar on an Little Coquette was a Guy Lombardo We were all saddened to hear of the open stage set tune, usually sung by Guy Lombardo’s passing of Wilson Brinkley on and was so nervous. Of course he did brother Carmen Lombardo. Here we December 29, 2015. A long time great, and afterwords had the biggest were a bunch of folk music types supporter of the Columbus Folk Music smile when I asked him if we could playing Guy Lombardo! Society and a dear friend, he willingly expect to see him more. He replied shared his lap steel talent, his gentle YES and told me that he was joining heart and and his huge smile with the group (CFMS).” Sharon Mittenbergs many. We will miss you, Wilson; “I love the sound of the steel guitar.