BLOG GOING DARK AS OF MARCH 23, 2016

It has been nearly two weeks since my left eye surgery and I still cannot see clearly.  That was not supposed to be the outcome.  No surgery is planned for my right eye unless left clears up.  It was for cataract removal and also drain tube insertion to reduce pressure which will cause glaucoma. That may have caused the complication. Difficult to read and see monitor.  So no more posts to this blog for the foreseeable future.  Thanks to alll who hae been reading this. Keep the bluegrass flowing.
                                                                           
                                                                                   Roger Koch

PERSONAL HEALTH UPDATE

Still unsure about YBA March 12  jam.  Recovering from left eye surgery.  Normal recovery so far, but vision will be fuzzy for several more days due to much antibiotic gel covering eyeball.  Acuity test good - meaning reading small print on chart. Started wearing glasses at 13 for myopia (nearsightedness).  Right eye cataract removal on Wednesday, March 16, 2015.Depth of field is all messed up until then.  I have to be really careful about that in household activities.  Too easy to knock items over or spill them.

BLUEGRASS CONNECTIONS:  My eye surgeon was Dr. Jerald Bell at the Billings Clinic.  Waiting for my first appt. in his exam room I saw a diploma from West Virginia with a photo of Senator Richard Byrd.  I told Dr. Bell that I recalled Sen. Byrd as playing good fiddle and I fiddled away, too. Then he said he was born in Knoxville,TN, his family did old time music when he was young, but later moved on to other states and got away from bluegrass.  Days later when being prepared in the OR there was some modern music in the background. Largely in jest, I said it was too bad it wasn't bluegrass.  He said, "Wait a minute.  We might be able to do something about that."  He walked back out of my field of vision as I lay on the table, and what do you know: oldtimey and bluegrass began pouring through the speakers.  (I don't know whether it was satellite radio or from an online service or what - just good music with no voice commercials and mainly instrumental. I was only on a local anesthetic so could comment when a fav like East Tennessee Blues came on.  I could hear him humming along and when a hot number began he told the anesthesiologist he could just see his sister clogging to it.  "She was tall and skinny and she could really clog."  They all burst into laughter when Johnny Cash came on singing, "A boy named Sue."  The doc did know his stuff.  As a nurse was wheeling me off to recovery I heard him say, "That one was Mississippi Sawyer."  The next day while removing the eye bandages and explaining my after surgery procedures he said, "We enjoyed your music so much we played it during the next surgery, too."

I didn't expect to have such a good time having cataract surgery.  I hope both eyes recover quickly.
I have a Cajun gig coming up in a couple of weeks.

PERSONAL SLOWDOWNS

Lots of activities coming up, but my involvement may be minimal.  I am having cataract surgery today and another the following week on the other eye.  I hope most of you will attend the YBA jam and workshop on March 12.  I will be there if I can.

FREE GUITAR WORKSHOP THIS SATURDAY

NOTE: Edd Trembly has years of experience as a professional musician and really knows his stuff.  This is an exceptional opportunity to advance your skill level.  Do not miss this workshop.

 

YBA Members,

 

Reminder Saturday is our Winter Jam 1:00 at the Blue Creek Church. Take Cabellas Exit head south a couple miles church is on left.  (If you are not on the Interstste take South Billings Boulevard past River Front Park and cross the Yellowstone River Bridge.) Please bring a salad or dessert.

 

1:30 I will give a Bluegrass Guitar Rhythm/Backup Workshop. If you can play the: "C,D,F,G" chords and understand how to use a capo you can probably play most bluegrass tunes. Workshop will cover all the basic bass and strum patterns the theory behind using a capo and the Nashville number system. Should be fun.

 

Finally be sure to catch one of the board members if you haven't paid your 2016 dues yet.

 

Edd

 

TRIBUTE TO DOUG DILLARD FROIM THE IBMA

MORE FROM THE IBMA.  If you go to You Tube as below you may also find a link to Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling) doing one of my favorite jam tunes "Salty Dog Blues." Fun stuff and REAL bluegrass!


Happy birthday to Doug Dillard, who would have been 79 years old today. As a key member of the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame band, The Dillards, Doug developed his own distinctive banjo style that is still revered by banjo players today. He and The Dillards combined their great music with comedy to become a popular bluegrass band on TV back in the 1960s on the Andy Griffith Show as the Darlings and other variety shows. Check out this video of their appearance on the Judy Garland Show, playing "Buckin' (or Whoa) Mule". Doug passed away in 2012 and is dearly missed.

The Dillards - Buckin' Mule (The Judy Garland Show)

 

Also I have been watching reruns of the old Andy Griffith TV show om Me TV antenna channel 14 in the Billings region.

MT PBS PLEDGE WEEK = GOOD MUSIC

There will be lots of good music coming up on MT PBS as they ask for pledges.   Tonight, March 5, 2016, 50 years of the Nitty Gritty Dirt band will be on at 10 PM followed by John Denver at 11:30.  Other days will have rock from Eric Clapton to the Carpenters and Ed Sullivan.  Anyone for Loretta Lynn? There will be classic to Celtic as we head to St. Parick's Day and lots more. too. Check your local listings for more info.

YBA WINTER PARTY & JAM

ANOTHER MESSAGE FROM YBA PRESIDENT EDD TREMBLY:

YBA Members,

 

Our Winter Party Jam will be held Saturday March 12th at the Blue Creek Church. Same church as fall jam at 1:00 PM. I will also be giving a bluegrass rhythm/backup guitar workshop on that day(more on that later). As always we will have the food entre provided and would love it if you could bring a salad or dessert. You can also pay your dues or become a new member on that day.

 

Edd

ELLIE'S SUNDAY JAMS BEGIN

AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED BY YBA PRESIDENT EDD TREMBLY: 

YBA Members,

 

A new bluegrass jam starts this Sunday March 6th at the Methodist Church on Wick Lane in the heights. Turn left off of Main St onto Wick Lane. The jam will run from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Sounds like fun.

 

Edd

FROM B.A.N.D - THE BLUEGRASS ASS'N OF NORTH DAKOTA

START THINKING ABOUT GETTING YOUR CAMPER READY FOR THE MISSOURI RIVER BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL AT CROSS RANCH, NEAR WASHBURN, ND JUNE 17 & 18TH.

OWL CAFE CORRECTION & UPDATE

The YBA has issued a correction for the Owl Cafe in Laurel this Saturday, 2-27-2016.  The Maverick String Stretchers WILL be playing at the Owl after all. In my not at all humble opinion these dudes  are simply the best bluegrssy pickers in this area - even though they sadly lack a fiddler. Mike
Blohm's banjo makes the difference (and Doug Habermann's energy on the bass doesn't hurt either.)

As mentioned earlier, Saturday breakfast bluegrass at Kennedy's on 24th West has open dates coming up.  These are 2 hour gigs, while the Owl's are for 3 hours. That basically means two 45 minute sets which isn't all that long. If your  group would like to perform call 406-696-2020 during business hours or contact YBA secretary Mark Millard.  I would be happy to assist as well.  I can easily drive to Kennedy's to talk with the management.

RALPH STANLEY BIRTHDAY

MORE FROM THE IBMA:

Happy 89th Birthday to Dr. Ralph Stanley!
The bluegrass icon was born deep in the mountains of southwestern Virginia on this day in 1927. Of course, his story as a bluegrass banjoist and tenor singer is legend, both with his brother Carter as The Stanley Brothers, and later on his own with the fabled Clinch Mountain Boys.
IBMA Hall of Fame member Melvin Goins of The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers worked with Dr. Ralph both with the Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys. He fondly remembers those heady days of music, and, it's not surprising that a lot of fun accompanied the music.

"Ralph would get sore from the [long] bus rides and say, 'Melvin, come over here and jump on my bones so I can get on stage and look fresh,'" Goins told us this morning from his home in Kentucky. "So, I'd go over there and just 'waller' him real good, pound on his arms and shoulders until he said,'Enough, Melvin! I believe I'll get along real good now.'"
This photo shows Goins with Dr. Ralph, circa 1967, with a very young 2015 IBMA Hall of Fame inductee Larry Sparks on lead guitar and vocals, and the great Curly Ray Cline. Great memories!
Thank you for the music, sir! The world loves you!
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Ralph Stanley Be Ready to Go

This song was recorded about 1968, when Ralph had just reformed the Clinch Mountain Boys (which was in 1967). This is called be Ready to Go. The Band here fe...

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FROM THE YBA THE LATEST WORD

This week in billings bluegrass.
FRIDAY - Jam at the Elks. 7 pm. However, they will be having an event downstairs so ask that we play upstairs in the ballroom.
SATURDAY MORNING- Hillbillings will be playing at the Owl Cafe in Laurel, and Spur of the Moment will be playing at Kennedy's in Billings.

 ROGER'S NOTE:  The Mavericks had been scheduled at the Owl.  It looks as though they are still having trouble getting all the band together.

 

BILL KEITH - MASTER OF THE MELODIC BANJO

Kenny Baker heard Bill Keith playing back stage at the Ryman and told Bill Monroe about him. Bill said it wasn't "their kind of music," but Kenny prevailed and Bill Keith became a Bluegrass Boy.  They proceeded to record several of Keith's tunes including, "Sailor's Hornpipe."  Melodic banjo players play ALL the notes in every song, while that is not strictly true in general Scruggs Style banjo.

The IBMA has just released the following:

Many consider the great Bill Keith to be second only to Earl Scruggs himself when it came to banjo picking.
The IBMA welcomed Mr. Keith into its Hall of Fame on October 1, 2015, during its annual Awards Show ceremony in Raleigh, North Carolina. Though he was unwell at the time, he was able to appear in person to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on that special night, where he made a stirring speech of gratitude for his life and career in music. Bill Keith died on October 23, 2015.

DON RENO FROM THE IBMA

Born today, 90 years ago, Don Reno was one of the greatest banjo innovators and was an exceptional all-around musician. He played with Bill Monroe before entering into his famed partnerships with Red Smiley and Bill Harrell. His style of banjo playing incorporated many guitar techniques, including the single-string approach that is the foundation for many of today's progressive players.
To celebrate Don's birthday, watch the pilot of the Kroger TV show featuring Reno & Smiley. At about 16:15 into the video, you will see and hear a terrific demonstration of Don's banjo style on Arkansas Traveler.

Reno and Smiley and The Tennessee Cut-Ups Kroger TV Show Pilot

 

FROM YBA PRESIDENT EDD TREMBLY

YBA Members,

 

Mark your calendars  for 4/22-4/23. Friday 22nd will be the YBA Spring Showcase and Saturday will be an 80th birthday party for Larry Larson. I'm sure there will be great music at both events. I will keep you posted.

 

Edd

FACEBOOK POST BY CHRIS THILE

"Happy 92nd Birthday to most of my favorite mandolins in the world!"

Can it be any, but a Lloyd Loar Gibson F5?  There are many very good mandolin pickers today, but none are any better that Chris Thile.

JOHNNY CASH - "BITTER TEARS" 9 PM PBS

No bluegrass, but MT PBS will present Johnny Cash and his role in the struggles of the American Indian tonight. 2/19/2016 at 9 pm.

MAYBE TELECAST LATER ON MT PBS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Bluegrass Underground Featured in National Prime Time PBS Special  On Friday, Feb. 19, PBS will showcase The Best of Bluegrass Underground, a one-hour special featuring the finest performances from the first five seasons of the nine-time Emmy©-winning Americana music series. Airing at 10:00 p.m. EST on PBS stations nationwide as part of PBS Arts Friday night programming (check local listings), The Best of Bluegrass Underground features a mix of Americana's hottest young performers (Jason Isbell, Old Crow Medicine Show), iconic artists (Lucinda Williams, Vince Gill, Doyle Lawson, Widespread Panic) and rising stars (Sarah Jarosz, Davina & The Vagabonds).  It's a bucket list venue and this is bucket list television!" Read all about the show and how to watch!   Bluegrass Underground has become an international destination for adventurous music-lovers, covered by media around the world.    The Best of Bluegrass Underground lineup: *           Old Crow Medicine Show:  "Carry Me Back To Virginia" *           Lucinda Williams: "Something Wicked this Way Comes" *           Vince Gill: "One More Last Chance" *           Jason Isbell:  "Live Oak" *           Sarah Jarosz: "Book Of Right On" *           Andrew Bird: "Danse Caribe" *           Lee Ann Womack: "The Way I'm Living" *           Widespread Panic:  "Pilgrims" *           Davina and The Vagabonds:  "I'd Rather Go Blind" *           Johnnyswim: "Hallelujah" *           Doyle Lawson: "Blue Train"   Bluegrass Underground on PBS is made possible by Nissan, TN Tourism, Acceptance Insurance and the City of McMinnville,Tennessee as well as Ascend Federal Credit Union and French's Shoes and Boots.  Click HERE to see a list of all the markets broadcasting this epic special.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PBS's Season VI of Bluegrass Underground will be filmed April 1-3, premiering in September, 2016.  We still have  limited tickets to see the Season VI taping live. Curious to see who is playing our Season VI of Bluegrass Underground on April 1, 2 & 3, 2016? Then Drop by to find out now. We appreciate your support of Bluegrass Underground. Thank you. Sincerely, The Bluegrass Underground Family www.bluegrassunderground.com Please support our sponsors who make this show possible:

THE POPE AND THE COUNTRY SINGER

Multi-Platinum Selling Country Music Artist and Catholic Convert Headlines ‘Two Nations, One Faith’ Papal Telecast Event
 

EL PASO, Texas (February 18, 2016) – It was a communion of technology, faith and worship at the Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso Wednesday, Feb. 17. Before Pope Francis delivered a blessing to a crowd of approximately 45,000 at the Two Nations, One Faith Papal Telecast during his historic Mass across the border in Juarez, Mexico, multi-platinum selling country music artist Collin Raye inspired event-goers on a world stage. As the headliner of the prelude to the anticipated telecast, Raye shared his personal testimony of faith and performed his inspirational music from his album, His Love Remains, the top rated "Praise and Worship" CD on Amazon in 2012. Raye, who converted to Catholicism at the age of 23, is a 10-time Male Vocalist Of The Year Award nominee and multiple No. 1 country hit-maker with songs like “Love, Me,” and “In This Life,” captivated the melting pot of diverse cultures with his moving performance of songs like "Give Me Jesus," "Here I am Lord," "How Great Thou Art," and his top five single, "Love Remains," which Raye said he always viewed as a hymn when he recorded it in 1995. Raye performed alongside rising singer Andrea Thomas. The two sang "How Beautiful," before Thomas electrified the Sun Bowl with "Ave Maria," sung in the traditional Latin. “I was so blessed to be able to donate my time and talent for this beautiful event. The Pope’s visit to the border was unforgettable,” he said. Days prior to the worldwide broadcast, Bishop Mark J. Seitz of The El Paso Catholic Diocese said, “We want to demonstrate [through this event] to The Holy Father that our two nations, and our two sister cities, embody ‘Two Nations, One Faith.’ Pope Francis’ visit to this region will be a historic moment for these communities, and give a voice to the often voiceless, especially children and families who are at the center of the critical issues facing the border.” A frequent inspirational speaker at Christian and Catholic events, Collin Raye often tells the poignant story of losing his granddaughter Haley to a rare neurological disorder, and the challenges that come with understanding God’s will in traumatic loss. He testifies through the process, God has faithfully led him to see things envisioned for his life now, which he could not see before. “God has a larger purpose. Rarely is he going to do what you want him to do – and thank God for that,” Raye said. “If my life has taught me anything that I want to share with people –we all can learn to be still and listen to God when we pray… just say, ‘Lord, just do whatever with me. Utilize whatever of me you can,’” he added. In 2011, Raye released his first inspirational album, His Love Remains, which quickly shot to No. 1 on Amazon for inspirational and religious music. It is a compilation of unique renditions of classic hymns as well as originals, written by Raye, like “Undefeated,” “I Get What I Need,” and “Love Remains.” For more information on Collin Raye, please visit CollinRaye.com. For more information on Two Nations, One Faith, visit twonationsonefaith.com.   # # # About Collin Raye Collin Raye’s searing ballads and electric performances have been captivating country audiences for more than 25 years. With 16 No. 1 hits, 24 top 10s and ten Male Vocalist Of The Year nominations, Raye has clearly emerged as one of the great voices of our time. The De Queen, Arkansas native rose to fame in 1991 with the timeless number one hit, “Love, Me.” In 1994, his music video for “Little Rock,” led to over 100,000 phone calls to Alcoholics Anonymous from addicts seeking help. “Not That Different,” was a song that pleaded for tolerance, and “I Think About You” (awarded as “Video Of The Year” by the Academy of Country Music in 1997) exposed exploitation of women and children. His latest album projects include His Love Remains, his first inspirational hymns album, as well as Still On The Line, a tribute album to Glen Campbell. In 2014, he released his moving autobiography, A Voice Undefeated. He has topped the charts with songs such as “In This Life,” “I Can Still Feel You,” and “That’s My Story.” He is currently performing across the U.S. on The Big 25 Tour. For more information on Collin Raye and upcoming tour dates, visit www.collinraye.com.   Suggested Tweet: .@CollinRaye inspires on world stage #TwoNationsOneFaith #Mass

NEW E-MAIL FROM YBA

THE LATEST FROM YBA SECRETARY MARK MILLARD.  AND I WAS CONFUSED!

Weekly Update Weekly Update!

Friday - NO JAM at the ELKS LODGE.  I REPEAT. NO JAM AT THE ELKS LODGE.

Saturday Morning - Bluegrass music at the Owl Café in Laurel.  Spur of the Moment is playing.

ALSO - for those of us bound Billings Saturday mornings!! A new local joint is hosting a Bluegrass Breakfast.  Every Saturday at Kennedy's (1520 24th St. W.) Breakfast is served from 7:30-10:30 with live bluegrass music from 9-11. Music this week provided by our very own Hillbillings.  It is a nice joint.  The new blugrass series is being coordinated by Mat R., the manager, and former owner of Heartstrings Gallery.  Definitely worth checking out!

Also, next Wednesday night Jeff Scroggins and Colorado will be back playing bluegrass at the Pub Station.

ROGER: Well the above is quite correct.  The bands and dates for the Owl & Kennedy's were not those  on my calendar or earlier posts.  After talking to Mat & John Letcher in Laurelthey have been verified. The Hillbillings will perform this Saturday Feb. 20th at Kennedy's. Mat needs to schedule a band for March 5th.  You can reach him at 406-969-2020 during business hours.

I personally have some concerns regarding having enough groups to play two gigs for Saturday breakfast crowds. If  any reader-pickers are interested in forming a band contact me on facebook or at gdaefiddler@q.com

The coming schedule for the Owl Cafe is:

February 20      Spur of the Moment
                27       Maverick String Stretchers

March      5        Hillbillings
               12        Memory Lane
               19         Spur of the Moment
               26        Maverick String Stretchers

April        2       Highway 302
                 9       Hillbillings