Bulletin September 9. 2013

BULLETIN

 

Wow, like I said earlier, the LeMars Festival was just
simply a knock-out this year.  Try to be with us next year, we already
have LuLu Roman scheduled for a make-up date on Aug. 26th.  We’ll be
manifesting some changes too.  Mon-Tue-Wed is really our rehearsal
time.  There just isn’t a lot of people around to see a show at 9AM in
the morning, on no less than ten stages, so we are going to make those
three days at least into an 11am-11pm time frame.  The rest of the week
will stay pretty much the same as before.  We had extremely good luck
with the RRMC Awards this year.  It takes some doing to get it all
sorted out, but those that took awards were extremely good.  Keep an eye
out for Mike Thoma.  He’s from Waterloo, and is an exceptional writer
and performer.  Matter of fact he is going to help us with the sound in
the Dance Hall next year.  Of the ten stages we do, I believe the sound
in that building was the least viable this year.  Hopefully that will
change next year.  House’s sound on the church was delightful, so was
Heernen’s sound in the pioneer building. Both stages had great
attendance and super good shows.  We are still using our old Yamaha
system for the main stage, lots of additional work for Sheila and
myself, but that system is a nice ‘warm’ sound very unlike the sharp
digital sound of today’s systems.  We save $2,000 by doing that even
though we don’t make it for ourselves.  It all goes into the NTCMA
account to help pay the bills, which are enormous at LeMars.  Paul
Burnett took on the challenge of running the Dobrotorium in the absence
of Bertha and Mary Swatzell.  He did a super good job.  The Swatzell’s
promise to be back in 2014, so all the Dobro learners and pros alike
will have their special place to go back to.  We can’t seem to make the
One on the Mountain stage work very well.  It’s too hot to sit in the
sun, and hard to get anyone to do that.  We might let that one go down,
and substitute a smaller stage in the middle of the Tipi Village.  It’s a
nice little spot.  They are talking of doing new things there too, a
larger trade-goods display.  Some tomahawk throws, still do the Busking
Championship, and even maybe a Carl Sandburg Reading Adventure.  Sounds
like fun, especially in the quiet of the village.  So hopefully you will
get in there and support all that.  If you are into ‘rendezvous’ as a
hobby, you would certainly be welcome to our adventure.  We don’t allow
liquor or illicit drugs, but we certainly do offer a good time.  We’re
also going to expand arts, crafts, antiques, and flea market.  We’ll
open up the workshop building to some of this, so if that is something
you’d be interested in, let us know, we are making it extremely
affordable and easy to do.  The jamming went over really well this
year.  At one time, someone reported (I believe that was Marcia Greve)
that there were seven or eight going on at the same time.  We really
like that, so please tell your friends what we are about, what we are
doing, and come in force to have a great time.  We did have one
ambulance call on Thursday around 2pm by an elderly gentleman who was
passing out from the heat.  An early emergency-nurse was on the scene,
and after a careful check believed he was suffering from an extended
stomach caused by excessive gas.  Have some winners from the various
contests we held at LeMars, I don’t think I have all of them, but here’s
what I have handy:  Bones & Spoons – Joseph Kooi; Kid’s Accordion –
Sarah Daskiewicz;  Junior Performer – Emma Heyen; Piano – Nikolas Kooi;
Adult Accordion – Marissa Daskiewitz – Harmonica – Fred Larson; Over-50
Singer – Darrell Hamilton; Hank Williams Songwriting – Abe Reddekopp. 
Contests are not nearly so popular as they used to be, so expect to see a
little shortening up on the number of categories we have.
 
Had a very interesting conversation with Mickey Gilley when
he invited Sheila and I on his bus after his performance. He was such a
polite man, and we had a nice talk.  Then he told us about a new
television show he is working on called “Cousins.”  I was totally
impressed.  Here’s the background.  Mickey Gilley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and
Jimmy Swaggert are all first cousins.  They were born and raised in
Southern Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana, and all three of them
learned to play piano by ear.  What’s so interesting is that the three
of them had three distinctly different styles of music, Mickey Gilley
with honky-tonk country; Jerry Lee Lewis with rock and roll; and Jimmy
Swaggert with gospel.  The ‘gist’ of the show is to have all three of
them on as hosts, each talking about various adventures in their
life-long careers, each performing, and each bringing a guest from their
musical past on. WOW that sounds like a winner to me.  When Gilley was
performing at LeMars he said over the microphone,…”This is the FIRST
time me and my band have done this show UNPLUGGED.”  When they were
finished I turned to the lead guitarist (on an acoustic guitar mind
you), and said, ‘you guys really sound good unplugged.’  And he said
back to me…’sounds like ‘real’ country doesn’t it?”  I rest my case.
 
One of our regular association members, Jim Malone (a great
upright acoustic bass player and former FBI agent) had a letter printed
in the Omaha World Herald on Sept. 5th.  I do not normally get involved
with political ramifications, there is so much about politics I abhor,
but his letter really made a lot of sense to me, so on this eve of final
destruction (as some are saying) I’d like to repeat his letter…..”I
have been to war and offer the following advice.  When an enemy poses a
threat to our national interest, retaliation must be swift and brutal. 
You attack the enemy with everything in your arsenal until the enemy
comes crawling out of the rubble begging to surrender unconditionally. 
If you are not willing to do this, stay out of it.  A Bill Clinton-like
strike against an abandoned training camp and an aspirin factory will
not cut it.  It also raises a question that I would like addressed. 
When Iran attacks one of our naval vessels in the Persian Gulf in
retaliation for our attack on Syria, what does the president propose to
do?  Run to the United Nations, study the situation for several months
or go back to congress for further consultation?  Or perhaps retire to
the golf course for another round?”  Jim Malone, Omaha, Nebr.
 
Also had a letter from Dale Eichor who is (was) the
terrific disc jockey on KWMT Radio in Fort Dodge.  Dale, if you didn’t
know it, is in the Disc Jockey Hall of Fame.  Here’s his letter, please
respond accordingly, but whatever you do, please respond…..”Thanks Bob
& Sheila for the opportunity for us all to get together and
celebrate our music at LeMars.  We do appreciate you both and what you
do for traditional country music!  I had several listeners ask about my
situation at KWMT.  I am still employed (I think) but as you know my
Saturday Hall of Fame Show was canceled when the new Operations Director
said I could not program it myself anymore.  Or play any music any
other time that is not selected in the computer by him.  I tried to give
them contact information if they wanted to comment on all this bit it
was difficult to do with our busy schedule at LeMars.  If you would care
to put the contact info in the Tradition Bulletin, here it is….
Steve Grossweiler, Market Manager
Three Eagles Radio
200 N. 10th St
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Business phone 515-576-7333
Thanks we’ll see you in Fremont
OK
members, here’s a chance to set it straight.  They WILL listen to you if
there are enough of you.  I am going to cancel all of our advertising
on KWMT, but that alone sure won’t make a big difference.  YOU can make a
difference.
 
OK, enough of that.  Mattie Maloy of the great Plumb
Theater group that did so well at LeMars, misplaced a small black case
containing some microphones.  If you have seen it, know about it, have
it, she would certainly like to get it back.  918-452-2020
 
Loretta Lynn had a concert at Hurricane Mills, Tennessee,
at her ranch last weekend with Merle Haggard.  She fell and cracked a
rib just before the show, but at age 81, she went on anyway.  Isn’t it
time that she let us put her in “America’s Old Time Country Music Hall
of Fame?”  Somehow there is someone out there that can get to Loretta’s
ear.  I can’t get past her daughter Pat, who isn’t very positive, but I
keep trying.
 
Ernie Ruth another of our regulars here in the upper Midwest was in for back surgery and missed LeMars this year.
 
Here’s an opportunity if there ever was one.  The Rathbun
Country Music Theater, near the Rathbun Dam in Rathbun, Iowa, is up for
sale.  This has been a very successful country music theater, and is now
in it’s 40th year.  I got to play it quite a few times when I was
ramming around before I got married, and Tom Swatzell was a very popular
performer there.  Willis and Faye Dickerson are the owners, and on
Saturday, Oct. 26, they will close their long standing theater.  It’s
Iowa’s longest running music and comedy show, and after 40 years of
entertaining thousands of music fans, Willis and Faye will say a final
goodbye to their countless followers, band members, guest performers,
and close the curtains for the final time.  It’s an air conditioned
alcohol and smoke free theater located near the southern shore of
beautiful Lake Rathbun. If you are interested in buying or investing in a
time-proven enterprise, contact Willis or Faye at 660-344-2310 You can also still visit their website at www.countrymusictheater.com
 
I have to tell the truth.   Both James Dean and Dean Martin
were at the LeMars Festival this year.  Oh yes they were! Please don’t
forget to come to the Fremont Festival, October 4-5-6.  It is looking
super good.  We might have the opportunity to introduce you to James
Dean AND Dean Martin.
 
Pete Kuykendall, editor of Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine,
was honored by Saga Musical Instruments as the 2013 recipient of the
Blue ridge Carter Stanley Memorial guitar.  James Alan Shelton, himself a
past recipient, accepted the guitar on Pete’s behalf at the Ralph
Stanley Hills of Home Festival this past May.  The guitar wads presented
by Carter Stanley’s daughter Jeanie Stanley.  We’re still trying to get
Carter and Ralph Stanley inducted into America’s Old Time Country Music
Hall of Fame.  We’ll keep trying.
 
Jim Ed Brown added a new chapter to his already successful
music career when on Aug. 10th he celebrated his 50th Golden Anniversary
as an elite member of the 50-Year Club at the Grand Ole Opry. Jim Ed,
Bonnie, and Maxine Brown were inducted as members of the Opry in 1963,
and since that time Jim Ed, while enjoying the great career with his
sisters as The Browns (The Old Lamplighter, Three Bells, etc) moved on
to more success with his solo career.  Jim Ed was inducted into
America’s Old time Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011 at the LeMars
Festival.
 
Gosh I hate to tell you this, but Elvis Presely’s gold-leaf
piano is leaving the country music hall of fame.  The hall of fame has
tried to sell it, using Craigslist, E-Bay, and lots of letters to
Disney, BMI, the Grand Ole Opry, Graceland, and even wealthy private
investors to no avail.  It’s a 24-carat gold-painted grand piano, a
first-anniversary gift from Priscilla, and it’s still sitting in the
country music hall of fame….for now.  It could go to a Japanese
investor, is the latest ‘hope.’  The family of Russ Kemppel of Akron,
Ohio, owns the piano.  Kemppel paid $2-million for it, moving it out of
Graceland 22 years ago.  Wanna bid?
 
In other ‘museum’ news, an exhibition focusing on the short
but significant life of country music legend Patsy Cline is opening in
Virginia.  The show opens at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in
Winchester.  It will tell the story of Virginia “Ginny” Patterson
Hensley before she became Patsy Cline.  Before her death at age 30,
Cline recorded the country classics “Crazy” and “Sweet Dreams” among
other enduring hits.  Cline spent most of her life in the Shenandoah
Valley.  The museum exhibit, called ‘Becoming Patsy Cline” will include
rare photographs, video and audio recordings and clothing.  The museum
says some objects have never been on public display.  Also, you might
want to know that the Deering Banjo Company is opening a new tradition
gallery at the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City.
 
Charley Pride is living proof that good music never goes
out of style.  He’s sold more than 70-million albums, and will be
touring Australia for the first time in 17 years this November.  He’s on
our list for induction into “America’s Old Time Country Music Hall of
Fame” but it’s been difficult to pin him down. 
 
As for ‘modern’ country singers, there is little to like
about what they do and how they do it, simply because they are not
‘country.’  Was a recent article out about the worst jobs these
‘imitators’ used to have, and should probably go back to….Tim McGraw
used to pick tomatoes in Louisiana.  Kellie Pickler worked in a fast
foods restaurant.  Brad Paisley worked as an internship for Fitzgerald
Hartley Management.  Chris Young worked with heating and air
conditioning.  Billy Cunningham was into landscaping.  Rodney Atkins was
a repo man.  Joe Nichols sold steaks door to door.  Phil Vassar was an
orderly in a hospital.  Steve Wariner detasseled corn.  You know what’s
really bad about all this, I don’t even know who these people are.
 
Alan Jackson will perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City
on October 28th.  Jackson plans to highlight song selections for his
upcoming ‘The Bluegrass Album”  whaaaat? which is set for release
September 24th.  Wonder when the Smithsonian is going to put Bob &
Sheila on that stage for their “Traveling Museum of Music?”
 
Linda Ronstadt has revealed to AARP that she ‘can’t sing a
note’ due to her suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.  The 67-year old
performer catapulted to global fame in the 70’s using a multiple-octave
vocal range.  She has to use a wheelchair now to get around.  Remember
some of her hits?  “You’re No Good” “Blue Bayou” “It’s So Easy” and she
also did several recordings with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris. We
don’t care if she can’t sing, we still want her in our Hall of Fame.  By
the way, you can see Bob & Sheila at an AARP concert on Oct. 8th at
1pm at their performance center in the Center Mall, 42nd St., Omaha. 
 
One of our Hall of Famers, Valerie Smith, is in the studio
recording a new CD with Mike Scott as production manager.  She will be
on tour in Europe during October.
 
Bob Everhart

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