NETHERLAND’S ‘GODFATHER’ OF COUNTRY MUSIC COMES TO IOWA
LeMars, Iowa…..It is considered by many traditional country music
fans as ‘The Last Outpost’ of ‘real’ country music. Going for 37 years,
the name of the event… ‘National Old Time Country-Bluegrass-Folk
Music Festival, Contest, and Pioneer Exposition of Arts, Crafts, and
Rural Lifestyle’… is nearly as long as it lasts. This particular
acoustic music event goes a full week from 9am to midnight every day.
According to their proclamation, ‘it’s seven days and ten stages of over
650 performers.’ How can that be? We went directly to the Director,
Bob Everhart, President of the National Traditional Country Music
Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit group dedicated to the preservation of
America’s rural musical art forms. Everhart said, “We started this
event in 1976 as a means to provide a venue for our local and regional
musicians who pursued this particular musical genre. It was, and still
is, a celebration of America’s freedom, and a celebration of America’s
rural music, the very ‘root’ of all country music. That’s what the word
‘country’ stood for back then, and still does for us. We’re actually
‘in’ the country, perhaps the most rural-country state in America. Over
the 37 years that we’ve been doing this living museum of music, it has
grown, not only in attendance and musician participation, but in
prestige and respect. Last year we were so privileged to have the
legendary Patti Page come out of retirement to honor us with her
presence and support, as she was inducted into ‘America’s Old Time
Country Music Hall of Fame’ another facet of the National Traditional
Country Music Association. Her works, such as “The Tennessee Waltz” has
many ramifications. Not only did she sell millions and millions of
records doing that song, she shares induction in the same Hall of Fame
that also inducted Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King, who wrote the song.
We have a very strong honest approach to music. America has an
incredible past, we’re still a ‘young’ country compared to the rest of
the world, and those of us who have a rural background still consider
the music of rural America a priceless contribution to world music.”
Besides all the hoop-la of the festival itself, over
the years it has attracted international attention. One of the regular
participants is known as the “Godfather of Country Music” in the country
of Holland. Ben Steneker, a well known, successful, and very popular
recording artist of country music in Europe, is celebrating his 35th
year as a participant in this amazing gathering of what he calls “true
country music fans.”
the years it has attracted international attention. One of the regular
participants is known as the “Godfather of Country Music” in the country
of Holland. Ben Steneker, a well known, successful, and very popular
recording artist of country music in Europe, is celebrating his 35th
year as a participant in this amazing gathering of what he calls “true
country music fans.”
Steneker has an envious record of country music sales
in Europe as well as other parts of the world. Working with Dutch
country song-writer Dick VanAltena, together they have created a very
‘real’ world of country music reminiscent of America’s own developing
musical art form. According to Steneker, “Bob Everhart records for the
Smithsonian Institution, and has made many many tours performing his
‘style’ of country music in Europe. The first time he came to Holland, I
owned a performance center, and we had him. He completely sold out
every seat we could possibly make available on every trip after that.
It was amazing. In the United States he shares his love of this music
he is so devoted to, and it is my extreme pleasure to be able to be part
of what he is doing in LeMars, Iowa.”
in Europe as well as other parts of the world. Working with Dutch
country song-writer Dick VanAltena, together they have created a very
‘real’ world of country music reminiscent of America’s own developing
musical art form. According to Steneker, “Bob Everhart records for the
Smithsonian Institution, and has made many many tours performing his
‘style’ of country music in Europe. The first time he came to Holland, I
owned a performance center, and we had him. He completely sold out
every seat we could possibly make available on every trip after that.
It was amazing. In the United States he shares his love of this music
he is so devoted to, and it is my extreme pleasure to be able to be part
of what he is doing in LeMars, Iowa.”
According to Everhart, “It’s kind of a mutual respect
we have for each other when it comes to Ben Steneker. He has an
incredible voice, and his strong desire to do American country music
makes him special in America as well as in Europe. He’s also a very
good performer with stage presence that is somewhat lacking in some of
today’s country music stars. That’s what makes ‘returning to the roots’
such an important project for us. We have well over 650 performers on
ten stages all week long (August 27-September 2, 2012), but it is these
gifted international stars that make it ‘happen.’ Much like the
presence of Patti Page, Whisperin’ Bill Anderson, Jim Ed Brown, all in
just the last couple of years, demonstrates the importance of our work
as music preservationists. That doesn’t mean we simply live in the
past. We have country music songwriting competitions as well as shows
at this event, and we hear some of the best ‘original’ country music
with direct root connections happening today.”
we have for each other when it comes to Ben Steneker. He has an
incredible voice, and his strong desire to do American country music
makes him special in America as well as in Europe. He’s also a very
good performer with stage presence that is somewhat lacking in some of
today’s country music stars. That’s what makes ‘returning to the roots’
such an important project for us. We have well over 650 performers on
ten stages all week long (August 27-September 2, 2012), but it is these
gifted international stars that make it ‘happen.’ Much like the
presence of Patti Page, Whisperin’ Bill Anderson, Jim Ed Brown, all in
just the last couple of years, demonstrates the importance of our work
as music preservationists. That doesn’t mean we simply live in the
past. We have country music songwriting competitions as well as shows
at this event, and we hear some of the best ‘original’ country music
with direct root connections happening today.”
Ben Steneker added one footnote to his fond memories
of performing on Bob Everhart’s national old-time music festival. “Last
year, a great fan of mine here in Holland, Jaap van Aalst went with me
to America. He was suffering from severe cancer and could not be healed
anymore. His last wish in life was to go with me to the USA, and see
for himself the festival that Bob Everhart directs. I am thankful that
so many people gave him the “best” last days of his life. The local
hospital provided a wheel chair for him for fee, strangers provided a
small camper for him to sleep in free, Bob Everhart made every stage and
every performer availble to him without charge, he even received free
food at the event, and every American he met at this festival made him
feel at home. He passed away a week after the event was over. He died a
happy Dutch man.”
of performing on Bob Everhart’s national old-time music festival. “Last
year, a great fan of mine here in Holland, Jaap van Aalst went with me
to America. He was suffering from severe cancer and could not be healed
anymore. His last wish in life was to go with me to the USA, and see
for himself the festival that Bob Everhart directs. I am thankful that
so many people gave him the “best” last days of his life. The local
hospital provided a wheel chair for him for fee, strangers provided a
small camper for him to sleep in free, Bob Everhart made every stage and
every performer availble to him without charge, he even received free
food at the event, and every American he met at this festival made him
feel at home. He passed away a week after the event was over. He died a
happy Dutch man.”
More information about this festival is available at http://www.ntcma.net