Bluegrass Bits and Pieces

Bluegrass Bits and Pieces....

• No pickin' at Collierville's Church of the Redeemer on April 10, 2009, which is Good Friday and Passover. Blessing of the season to you and yours.

• Quick! Be sure to e-mail Music Choice at www.musicchoice.com to give your opinion of their cancellation of the Bluegrass Channel on April 15, 2009. Make your voice heard!

• No bluegrass & barbecue at Redeemer on April 17, 2009. Pickin' only! We apologize!

• The Collierville Historic Town Square Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Jam will resume on the town square on either April 17 or April 24. It's our 10th anniversary, in case someone should ask you! Weather determines date. Pete Spaulding, our hero, will continue to open the doors at Redeemer on either/both of those dates if we need to pick indoors. Thanks, Pete!

• Maura O'Connell is headed for the Station Inn in Nashville, TN, on April 23, 2009. See schedule at www.stationinn.com/pgcalthis.html. I'm quoting Maura here..."Miss it at your peril!"

• Check your calendar for events to come: Folk Festival in Mountain View, AR, on April 17-19, 2009; The Tennessee Gentlemen are at Atkins Celebration Hall in Paragould, AR, on April 27, 2009; The Pickin' Picnic (May 1-2, 2009) at BPACC/Lucy Opry, with a great two-day lineup, plus The Infamous Stringdusters ending the picnic with their ticketed concert; Festivals at Dyersburg (May 15-16, 2009) and at Williston, TN (June 12-13, 2009). Fine bluegrass music just ahead!

• Kudos to Tony Sarwar restauranteur-alderman in Collierville! He recently hosted Blue Day at Fino Villa on Poplar Avenue in Collierville. We believe Tony will host more bluegrass in the future. Atta boy, Tony!
  

Pick away!
Betty

Flowers of the Forest

Flowers of the Forest
March 17, 2009

In Memoriam: WILLIE BURROUGHS (9/26/1937 - 3/12/2009) age 71 -- Well-known bluegrass and country music singer/guitarist; former member of the Lucy Opry; former member of the Tennessee Gentlemen (Troy Castleberry, David Luttrell, Joe Taylor, and Willie Burroughs); and former member of the Bobby Smith and James Monroe bands. Willie is survived by his wife Wanda, sons Tommy and Tim, daughter Laura, and his brothers Jim and Walter Burroughs.

In Memoriam: AMANDA CONNER GRAY (d. 3/14/2009) age 42 -- Daughter of Jack and Katherine Conner, who survive, along with husband Terry, daughter Katherine, sons Angus and David, and brothers Jackie Jr. and Bart Conner. Amanda's grandmother, Jim Conner, also survives. Amanda's father, Jack Conner, is a noted banjo player and has taught many Mid-Southerners how to play the banjo.

Willie and Amanda, may they each rest in peace. We shall miss them.

Pick a tune for both of these members of great West Tennessee bluegrass music families.

Sutton's Ole Time Music Hour in Granville, TN

Sutton's Ole Time Music Hour in Granville, TN
February 28, 2009

There really are several old garages and little country stores around this country that are trying desperately not to be overtaken by slick Madison Avenue types who have never even heard bluegrass and old-time string band music. That's a refreshing thought right there!

One such old country store is T. B. Sutton's store in Granville, TN. Sutton's store also is home to the Granville Museum, which is collecting genealogical and historical information about the families of Smith and Jackson Counties in Tennessee. You are welcome to contribute to the museum's information for those counties.

The store has a variety of country/bluegrass/old-time bands and musicians which perform there on Saturday nights. If that weren't good enough (and it is!), the store offers a tasty home-cooked meal served family style just prior to the pickin'. Old country store, friends and family with ya, cookin' almost as good as Mama's, and fine old-time music just about to start...how good is that?

The way the thing works is this: Eat first (good to know they have their priorities straight), listen to music performed just for the customers, then listen to even more music which goes out 'live on the radio to surrounding towns in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. A master of ceremonies keeps things rolling right along with his hand-waving and encouragement to clap and yell for the fans out there in radio land.

We loosened our belts a tad after dinner and prepared ourselves for the Galley Nippers from Carthage and Lebanon, TN. This band is strictly old-time, from sole to crown--in dress, speech, instruments, and choice of songs and tunes. Headed by Buddy Ingram on old-time open-back banjo and vocals, the Galley Nippers are also Lisa Ingram (Buddy's wife) on washtub bass and washboard with horns and cowbells, Brian Vollmer on fiddle, and Josh Smith on guitar. Everyone pitches in on vocals from time to time. These folks play a ton of good ol' old-time music!

Before it was over, the Galley Nippers had done these songs for their appreciative audience: Rabbit in the Pea Patch, Hear Jerusalem Moan, Daisy, Down by the River, Ole Joe (not Ole Joe Clark), Polly Wolly Doodle, How Many Biscuits Can You Eat, Bert Anderson's Tune, All Night Long, Knoxville Rag, Brown Dream (from the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers in East Tennessee), Sail Away Ladies, Hand Me Down, Pig in a Pen, Alabama Bound, Old Grey Mare, Soldier's Joy, and Watermelon.

Check out the Galley Nippers and also the Granville Museum inside Sutton's Store next time you're in the hills of eastern Middle Tennessee. Just listen to that banjo ring!

Further information:
Granville Museum www.granvillemuseum.com/index.htm?id=14125

Old-Time Music and Breakin' Up Winter (Mar. 6-8, 2009, Cedars of Lebanon [TN] State park www.nashvilleoldtime.org and www.nashvilleoldtime.org/BUW

Uncle Dave Macon Days on July 10-12, 2009, Murfreesboro, TN www.uncledavemacondays.com

A Galley Nipper (also called a Galley Napper)? What is it? Just google the term!

Pick away!

Flowers of the Forest

Flowers of the Forest
February 28, 2009

In memoriam: Dr. Bert Weesner, DDS (10/27/1935 - 2/20/2009)

Dr. Weesner and his wife Gail were great supporters of the Collierville Historic Town Square Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Jam. Bert's long and distinguished career was outlined in his obituary at www.commercialappeal.com. Keep Gail and his sons Jeff and Brent and their families in your thoughts. We shall miss him. Pick a tune for Bert, who loved bluegrass music, especially the banjo!

Memorials: www.pancan.org

High Point Funeral Chapel: www.highpointchapel.com

SPBGMA Awards/Band Champs/Preservation Hall of Fame

SPBGMA Awards at Nashville's Sheraton Music City on Feb. 12-15, 2009

Promoter: Bertie Sullivan (way to go, Granny Bertie!)
Radio Station: WDVX FM Knoxville, TN
DJ: Brenda Lawson WBBC FM
Club Newsletter: 'Bluegrass Express' by Oregon Bluegrass Association
Songwriter(s): Tom T. and Dixie Hall
Album: Keep on Walkin' by The Grascals
Bass: Darrin Vincent
Dobro: Phil Leadbetter
Guitar: Josh Williams
Mandolin: Alan Bibey
Banjo: Kristin Scott Benson
Fiddle: Hunter Berry
Vocalist (F-Contemp): Rhonda Vincent
Vocalist (F-Trad): Jeanette Williams
Vocalist (M-Contemp): Jamie Dailey
Vocalist (M-Trad): James King
Gospel Grp (Contemp): Dailey & Vincent
Gospel Grp (Trad): Paul Williams & The Victory Trio
Vocal Grp of Yr: Dailey & Vincent
Instr Grp of Yr: The Grascals
Band of Yr (Overall): Dailey & Vincent
Song of Yr: "By the Mark" by Dailey & Vincent
Entertaining Grp of Yr: Nothin' Fancy
Entertainer of Yr: Rhonda Vincent

SPBGMA 2009 International Band Championship Winners
1st: Brand New Strings--Knoxville, TN
2nd: Wilson Creek--Wayne, WV
3rd: Stone County Connection--Dyersburg, TN (way to go, SCC!)
4th: New Dixie Storm--Greenwood, SC
5th: Fast Lane--Hickman, KY
6th: Crosswind Bluegrass--Olive Hill, TN
7th: Hagar's Mountain Boys--Roxboro, NC
8th: The Jason Boone Band--Hattiesburg, MS
9th: Men of the Week--St. Louis, MO
10th: Jim & Valerie Gabehart--Hamlin, WV

SPBGMA Preservation Hall of Greats Inductee 2009
The Whites (way to go, Buck, Sharon, and Cheryl!)

Congratulations, everybody!

Pick away!

David Grier Concert @ Fiddle & Pick in Pegram, TN

Fiddle & Pick in Pegram, TN, will host a concert by the incredible guitarist, DAVID GRIER. Here are specifics and information where you can learn more:

Date/Time: Saturday, February 28, 2009, from 7:30 to 9:00 PM CST -- Doors open at 6:45 PM

Fiddle & Pick is located on the outskirts of Nashville, in Pegram, TN. West Tennessee travelers would get off I-40 at Exit 192 and follow US 70 into Pegram.

Further information: http://fiddleandpick.ning.com or www.fiddleandpick.com
E-mail: events@fiddleandpick.ning.com

Get out there and see David Grier! He's one of the best--who has performed with still more of the best!

Pick away!

In Memoriam: Steven Rhone Moon

The bluegrass music family once again mourns the loss of one of its own. STEVEN RHONE MOON (December 1, 1952 - February 4, 2009) passed away in Murfreesboro, TN. He had deep family and music roots in West Tennessee, especially around Millington, TN.

Fans of the Tennessee Gentlemen Bluegrass Shack in Lucy, TN, can recall frequent visits by Steve's father, Johnny Moon, who was a popular favorite. He played and sang his country and bluegrass songs with such joy and abandon!

You may read the obituary for Steve Moon at the website for the Murfreesboro Funeral Home at www.murfreesborofuneralhome.com. Be sure to view and sign the guest book for family and friends while you are at that site.

A special local get-together/luncheon/Celebration of Life is going to be held on March 7, 2009, from 2-4 PM CST, at the Baker Community Center on Church Street in Millington, TN. A video about Steve's life will be shown at 3 PM. You're invited to attend.

Steve Moon is survived by his wife of 28 years, Yvonne, and several other family members. You may contact Yvonne Moon at smoon9671@aol.com.

Pick away for Steve!