‘DAZE OF SAVE’ BEGINS IN IOWA, BUT GOES WORLDWIDE
LeMars,
Iowa…..Americas upper Midwest’s longest running promoter of America’s
traditional and classic country, bluegrass, and folk music, is very
outspoken when he talks about the future of old-time acoustic music in
his part of the country. A Smithsonian Institution recording artist,
and worldwide traveler performing and promoting America’s ‘rural’ music,
Bob Everhart of Anita, Iowa, is quick to point out the discrimination
by national media against Midwest lifestyle and music. “We’ve become
the part of America that is nothing more than a ‘fly-over’ zone. The
media in NYC and LA don’t even know we exist. They send out their
programming, news, and entertainment to satisfy an audience in NYC or
LA, and us. How often to you see a performer on any of these so called
‘national’ programs from Iowa? Do they think there is no talent here,
or do they think we do not exist. I’d call that discrimination, no
matter how you look at it.”
Iowa…..Americas upper Midwest’s longest running promoter of America’s
traditional and classic country, bluegrass, and folk music, is very
outspoken when he talks about the future of old-time acoustic music in
his part of the country. A Smithsonian Institution recording artist,
and worldwide traveler performing and promoting America’s ‘rural’ music,
Bob Everhart of Anita, Iowa, is quick to point out the discrimination
by national media against Midwest lifestyle and music. “We’ve become
the part of America that is nothing more than a ‘fly-over’ zone. The
media in NYC and LA don’t even know we exist. They send out their
programming, news, and entertainment to satisfy an audience in NYC or
LA, and us. How often to you see a performer on any of these so called
‘national’ programs from Iowa? Do they think there is no talent here,
or do they think we do not exist. I’d call that discrimination, no
matter how you look at it.”
Everhart has been president of the National
Traditional Country Music Association for all of the last 37 years. He
is also the producer and director of the oldest festival in Mid-America
devoted to acoustic traditional country, bluegrass, and folk music.
“We’ve been in this stagnant economy for nearly nine years now. Because
of the uncompetitive price of gas in America it has cut down
long-distance travel considerably. If there is anyone in this country
who sees gas prices change at every pump in town at exactly the same
time, and not realize this as collusion, means there’s something wrong
with Webster’s dictionary. Here in Iowa, we are doing all we can to
make it possible for those who appreciate the very ‘real’ talent of
traditional, classic, and ‘real’ country, bluegrass, and folk music, are
launching ‘Daze of Save.’ We’re going even further back with our
musical offerings, which you will never see on national television,
simply because we are the ones those very same people ‘fly-over’. For
us it’s the roots, the whole roots, and nothing but the roots. We’re
dedicated to not only the preservation of America’s beautiful music of
the past, we’re determined to make it a level playing field, very unlike
the ‘we’re for sale’ sign on every television show and theater
production that takes place in America’s urban areas.”
Traditional Country Music Association for all of the last 37 years. He
is also the producer and director of the oldest festival in Mid-America
devoted to acoustic traditional country, bluegrass, and folk music.
“We’ve been in this stagnant economy for nearly nine years now. Because
of the uncompetitive price of gas in America it has cut down
long-distance travel considerably. If there is anyone in this country
who sees gas prices change at every pump in town at exactly the same
time, and not realize this as collusion, means there’s something wrong
with Webster’s dictionary. Here in Iowa, we are doing all we can to
make it possible for those who appreciate the very ‘real’ talent of
traditional, classic, and ‘real’ country, bluegrass, and folk music, are
launching ‘Daze of Save.’ We’re going even further back with our
musical offerings, which you will never see on national television,
simply because we are the ones those very same people ‘fly-over’. For
us it’s the roots, the whole roots, and nothing but the roots. We’re
dedicated to not only the preservation of America’s beautiful music of
the past, we’re determined to make it a level playing field, very unlike
the ‘we’re for sale’ sign on every television show and theater
production that takes place in America’s urban areas.”
Everhart goes on to say, “In this fast moving world of
computerized video games, machines that make music, and vehicles that
travel the universe, it seems little is left to individual
accomplishment. What has this to do with the past, much less interest
anyone in a musical art form that is out of vogue? Put more simply, how
you gonna keep them down on the farm after they’ve seen TV, and
especially for those that carry their TV with them. Well, in LeMars,
Iowa, that’s exactly what we’re up to. We’re not only keeping down on
the farm, we’re singing about it. ‘Iowa” is a Pottawattamie Indian word
for “peaceful valley between two big rivers, this is the place.” And,
that’s where “Daze of Save” comes in. We’re going to entice our local
residents to save their gas money traveling to events, festivals, and
programs in the urban cities, and bring it back home to the real
‘country.’ Our annual old-time acoustic music event is now in it’s 37th
year. It’s devoted entirely to bringing alive not only the music of
Iowa’s settling pioneers, but the pioneer’s survival crafts as well.
The way things are going in the political arena in America, it looks
like we’re all going to need pioneer survival crafts. Not only just
Iowans. We invite anyone with a “Daze of Save” attitude to be with
us.”
computerized video games, machines that make music, and vehicles that
travel the universe, it seems little is left to individual
accomplishment. What has this to do with the past, much less interest
anyone in a musical art form that is out of vogue? Put more simply, how
you gonna keep them down on the farm after they’ve seen TV, and
especially for those that carry their TV with them. Well, in LeMars,
Iowa, that’s exactly what we’re up to. We’re not only keeping down on
the farm, we’re singing about it. ‘Iowa” is a Pottawattamie Indian word
for “peaceful valley between two big rivers, this is the place.” And,
that’s where “Daze of Save” comes in. We’re going to entice our local
residents to save their gas money traveling to events, festivals, and
programs in the urban cities, and bring it back home to the real
‘country.’ Our annual old-time acoustic music event is now in it’s 37th
year. It’s devoted entirely to bringing alive not only the music of
Iowa’s settling pioneers, but the pioneer’s survival crafts as well.
The way things are going in the political arena in America, it looks
like we’re all going to need pioneer survival crafts. Not only just
Iowans. We invite anyone with a “Daze of Save” attitude to be with
us.”
The whole week of Aug. 26 through Sept. 2, is devoted
to everything Everhart is talking about. With ten sound stages and over
650 performers, there will no doubt be some interest in how this all
pans out in the national and international media arena. According to
Everhart, “This whole event, especially the music, has become a valid
alternative to 24-hour, 192-channel television.”
to everything Everhart is talking about. With ten sound stages and over
650 performers, there will no doubt be some interest in how this all
pans out in the national and international media arena. According to
Everhart, “This whole event, especially the music, has become a valid
alternative to 24-hour, 192-channel television.”
Yet, the television media has not ignored this event.
All three national networks have been there in one form or another, and
Iowa Public Television has been there several times, even spawning
their own “Old Time Country Music” television show, a seven-year project
with Everhart as host, that aired regularly in 22 states. According to
Everhart, “The biggest thrill for us was when the BBC came to do a show
called “The World About Us,” After all the televising, they asked me
to go to London to narrate the entire program. It was quite a thrill,
and it was a super good program. Very unlike the “fly-over”
discrimination we experience today.”
All three national networks have been there in one form or another, and
Iowa Public Television has been there several times, even spawning
their own “Old Time Country Music” television show, a seven-year project
with Everhart as host, that aired regularly in 22 states. According to
Everhart, “The biggest thrill for us was when the BBC came to do a show
called “The World About Us,” After all the televising, they asked me
to go to London to narrate the entire program. It was quite a thrill,
and it was a super good program. Very unlike the “fly-over”
discrimination we experience today.”
What’s to happen with America’s traditional musical
art forms and genres? Everhart keeps trying. “We created the Pioneer
Music Museum in 1976, which is located in Anita, Iowa, as well as
America’s Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame. You’d be surprised at
the incredible number of celebrities in this musical genre who have
placed some of their most cherished musical instruments and attire in
this museum, because according to them….”We’ll never be recognized for
our contributions to country music in Nashville.” Well, doesn’t that
explain my statement about the ‘we’re for sale’ signs on every media
door these days? Just last year Bill Anderson, Jim Ed Brown and the
legendary Patti Page attended to support what we are doing.”
art forms and genres? Everhart keeps trying. “We created the Pioneer
Music Museum in 1976, which is located in Anita, Iowa, as well as
America’s Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame. You’d be surprised at
the incredible number of celebrities in this musical genre who have
placed some of their most cherished musical instruments and attire in
this museum, because according to them….”We’ll never be recognized for
our contributions to country music in Nashville.” Well, doesn’t that
explain my statement about the ‘we’re for sale’ signs on every media
door these days? Just last year Bill Anderson, Jim Ed Brown and the
legendary Patti Page attended to support what we are doing.”
The event that Everhart directs, continues his “Daze
of Save” logic in the largest gathering of its kind in the Midwest.
“We’ll keep struggling as long as there is good performers and good
people who ‘care’ about America, and America’s past, including her long
legacy of early old-time musical art forms. We’ll never get any
recognition from NYC or LA, we know this.”
of Save” logic in the largest gathering of its kind in the Midwest.
“We’ll keep struggling as long as there is good performers and good
people who ‘care’ about America, and America’s past, including her long
legacy of early old-time musical art forms. We’ll never get any
recognition from NYC or LA, we know this.”
The association that Everhart is president of has a website at www.ntcma.net where more information about the activities of this very vibrant musical adventure can be found.
Article prepared by Bob Phillips