An online resource for information on all things Bluegrass in southern New England from the folks at WHUS Radio's "Bluegrass Cafe." We broadcast each Sunday from 4:00-7:00PM (EST) on WHUS, 91.7FM and whus.org in Storrs, CT. Call us during the show -- (860)486-9487, or send email to bgcafe@gmail.com.
It's no secret that I am now and have always been a huge admirer of theJohnson Mountain Boys. Growing up in eastern CT, I recall seeing them perform many times, especially every February at the Chestnut Lodge in Colchester in shows sponsored by the now-defunct Connecticut Friends of Bluegrass. I fully believe that my exposure to this band and their music and showmanship paved the way for my introduction to Bluegrass and later, Bluegrass radio. Without getting overly sentimental here, this band and all of its members mean an awful lot to me, and I believe that there are still lots and lots of folks in CT and New England who are big fans of the Johnson Mountain Boys. Even though the band has been broken up for more than a decade, I still try to play at least one tune from JMB on the air every week, and I'm pretty comfortable in saying that Jim shares my high opinion of these guys.
(By the way, the photo at the top of this page was taken at one of those JMB shows at the Chestnut Lodge, circa 1984. From left to right, it's David McLaughlin, Richard Underwood, Dudley Connell, Larry Robbins, and Eddie Stubbs. Longtime BGers from New England will notice #1 Bluegrass Fan Alice Waters right on the front row, too -- naturally).
Just yesterday, I read a post on the very fine Bluegrass Blog about the JMB mandolin player, David McLaughlin. In addition to JMB, David has performed with Josh Crowe in the duo known as Crowe & McLaughlin, as one of the first members of the Lynn Morris Band, and with Linda & David Lay in Springfield Exit (among other groups). In 2006, David experienced almost total hearing loss, but was able to restore a good portion of his hearing by using some powerful hearing aids. I recall seeing David perform with Lynn Morris at the 2007 Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival, and he was using the hearing aids then. According to the BG Blog post, recently, David has found a device called the Oticon Dual which (when paired with an Oticon Streamer) has allowed him to hear nearly as well as he did before 2006. This device is currently "on loan," but can be purchased by David for $7,000. To help raise funds for David to purchase this device, his good friend and fellow musician, Claire Lynch, has established a benefit fund, and folks are encouraged to contribute whatever they can. So far, they've raised just over $2,000, but every penny helps. If you'd like to contribute, please note that donations can be made via PayPal using the email address McLaughlinFund@gmail.com, or send a check payable to David McLaughlin Benefit Fund to:
Jennifer Hardiman
805 East College Street
Pulaski, TN 38478
Please consider making a contribution, if you're able.
To read the full post on the Bluegrass Blog, click here.
Thanks!
Amy
Addendum as of 1/1/2010: Jennifer Hardiman says that the total amount of donations to the McLaughlin Fund as of 12/31/2009 was $3,555.95. That's more than half of the needed $7,000, but there's still a ways to go. Please consider making a donation soon, won't you?
As it's the Christmas/Holiday/Winter Break at UCONN, there are lots of opportunities for us community members to pick up extra radio shifts to help out vacationing students. I've been able to do a couple of Tuesday afternoon (1-3PM) fill-ins so far this month, and in them, I've played a good bit of country music with a bit of the Bluegrass thrown in for good measure. The country music I've played has mostly been in the "classic" category, although I have been able to play newer music from performers such asRoseanne CashandKathy Mattea. Playing this music is very enjoyable for me, and I'm always glad to hear from WHUS listeners who may not necessarily be listeners of theBG Cafe, but who keep their radios tuned to WHUS during work hours, and enjoy the sounds we've been playing on those Tuesday afternoons.
My December 22nd playlist included -- as you might expect -- a good number of Christmas selections, but on December 29th, I put more of a spotlight on the immortalHank Williams(who died January 1, 1953). You've really got to wonder what country music would have been like had Hank not made such a contribution in his short 29 years on this Earth. His music has certainly touched many, many different genres, and I'm sure will still be heard long after any of us are still alive. Incidentally, if you're interested in learning more about Hank Williams and his brief life, here's a recommendation for a couple of very good Williams biographies:Hank Williams: The Biographyby Colin Escott andLovesick Blues: The Life Of Hank Williamsby Paul Hemphill. Both books were well-written and provide a lot of insight into the brief life of a true country music legend. Copies of these books can likely be borrowed at your local library -- I might suggest that you call the library in your hometown to see if they might be able to find copies of one or both of these books.
I'll do at least one more Tuesday afternoon fill-in before the semester break ends -- Tuesday, January 12th from 1-3PM. I hope you'll consider joining me. Of course, too, we strongly suggest you join Jim & Marti this coming Sunday, January 3rd for theBG Cafe-- including the "bonus" hours from 2-4PM. That means there will be FIVE big hours of the BG: 2-7PM. Join them! And, of course, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Amy
12/22/2009 PLAYLIST:
Goodbye Old Pal / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Anthology / MCA
Wabash Cannonball / Roy Acuff & His Smokey Mountain Boys / The Golden Age / Columbia
Wildwood Flower / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Maybelle Carter / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Capitol
Soldier's Joy / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Capitol
Blue Christmas / Ernest Tubb / The Definitive Collection / MCA
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer / Gene Autry / The Time-Life Treasury Of Christmas / Time-Life
Bluegrass, White Snow / Patty Loveless / Bluegrass & White Snow / Epic
Here Comes Santa Claus / Riders In The Sky / Merry Christmas From Harmony Ranch / Columbia
To Heck With Ole Santa Claus / Loretta Lynn / The Best Of Loretta Lynn : The Christmas Collection / MCA
Smooth Sailin' / Tommy Collins / Words And Music Country Style / Capitol
Mama Tried / Merle Haggard / Vintage Collections / Capitol
All I Want For Christmas Is You / Buck Owens / Christmas With Buck Owens & His Buckaroos / Sundazed
Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy (Daddy Looked A Lot Like Him) / Buck Owens / Christmas With Buck Owens & His Buckaroos / Sundazed
I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried / Rodney Crowell / Diamonds & Dirt / Columbia
Bury Me Beneath The Weeping Willow / Roseanne Cash / The List / Manhattan Records
Tennessee Flat-Top Box / Johnny Cash / The Essential Johnny Cash / Columbia
A Hundred Years From Now / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Radio Gems /
I'm Feeling For You (But I Can't Reach You) / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper / Leavin' Town / Rounder
Call Collect On Christmas / Del McCoury / Christmas Time's A-Comin' / Time-Life
Teach Your Children / Bill Emerson with Charlie Waller / Reunion / Webco
A Memory Of You / Jim & Jesse / Jim & Jesse, 1952-1955 / Bear Family
My Little Silver Bells / Bill Grant & Delia Bell / O Christmas Tree / Rounder
Late For School / Steve Martin / The Crow / Rounder
I Never Spend A Christmas That I Don't Think Of You / Statler Brothers / Christmas Card / Mercury
An Old Christmas Card / Jim Reeves / Twelve Songs Of Christmas / RCA
Shut In At Christmas/Shut-In Prayer / Louvin Brothers / Songs That Tell A Story / Rounder
It's Been So Long / Webb Pierce / 20th Century Masters / MCA
Settin' The Woods On Fire / Hank Williams / 24 Greatest Hits / Mercury
Steppin' Stones / Jimmy Martin / You Don't Know My Mind / Rounder
As Long As I Live / Kitty Wells with Red Foley / 20th Century Masters / MCA
It's A Lovely, Lovely World / Carl Smith / Satisfaction Guaranteed / Living Era
Reindeer Boogie / Hank Snow / Snow On Christmas / Bear Family
12/29/2009 PLAYLIST:
Little Log Cabin By The Sea / Carter Family / Anchored In Love / Rounder
Blue Grass Stomp / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Essential Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Columbia
Maybelle's Guitar And Monroe's Mandolin / Robin & Linda Williams / Buena Vista / Red House Records
For our lastBG Cafeof 2009, our goal was to play a whole lot of the great BG music that was released in 2009. Approximately 110 new BG CDs were received and added to our collection at WHUS over the past year. Time constraints (even with 5 broadcast hours for the show) didn't allow us to play a song from each new CD, but we did manage to make more than half of the tunes we played new releases from 2009. It has been a mighty fine year for BG music, and we're happy to have been able to bring you so much great music each week.
While the focus was on the 2009 releases, we still put two more classic country singers in the spotlight, and played a combination of them singing their own songs along with several BG remakes of tunes from their respective song catalogs. This time around, we featured two gentlemen who first found great success on the country charts in the 1950s, who are both members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and who both were married toJune Carterat one point in their lives. The singers:Carl SmithandJohnny Cash. For me, it's always enjoyable to combine the original country singers with BG covers of some of their tunes -- hope you liked it, too.
Jim & Marti will be with you to welcome in 2010 on the BG Cafenext Sunday. Start your year off right with some great BG music.
Happy New Year!!
Amy
Selections in BOLD BLUE are from 2009 releases.
Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
My Brown Eyed Darling / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Windy Mountain / Bear Family
The Old Home Place / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
Pain In My Heart / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Windy Mountain / Bear Family
We'll Meet Again Sweetheart / Curly Seckler with Mac Wiseman / 60 Years Of Bluegrass With My Friends / Copper Creek
Stop The World (And Let Me Off) / Rhonda Vincent / Destination Life / Rounder
New Camptown Races / Frank Wakefield / Ownself Blues / Patuxent Music
Best Of Her (Cooper's Song) / Acoustic Blue / This Is Now / Self-Produced
Let's Live A Little / Carl Smith / The Essential Carl Smith / Columbia
Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way / Barry Berrier / First Time With Feeling / Pinecastle
Are You Teasin' Me? / Crowe Brothers / Brothers-n-Harmony / Rural Rhythm
Satisfaction Guaranteed / Carl Smith / Let's Live A Little / Living Era
I Overlooked An Orchid / Bob Paisley & the Southern Grass / Back To The Blue Ridge / Brandywine
Loose Talk / Gibson Brothers / Another Night Of Waiting / Hay Holler
(When You Feel Like You're In Love) Don't Just Stand There / Carl Smith / The Essential Carl Smith / Columbia
Look For Me / Angelica Grim / Look For Me / Patuxent Music
Flat Creek / Chris Jones & the Night Drivers / Cloud Of Dust / GSM Records
Johnson Mountain Chimes / Jessie Baker / Yessir! / Patuxent Music
Detour / Grass Cats / A Good Way To Get The Blues / New Time Records
Mama Tried / Herman McGee / Family And Friends / WMB Records
Try To Be / NewFound Road / Same Old Place / Rounder
Tears On My Tracks / Billy Boone Smith / Live From The Moose Lodge / Self-Produced
My Florida Sunshine / Claire Lynch / Whatcha Gonna Do / Rounder
Cry, Cry, Cry / Johnny Cash / The Essential Johnny Cash / Columbia
Hey Porter / Lynn Morris Band / The Bramble And The Rose / Rounder
Big River / Nashville Bluegrass Band / The Boys Are Back In Town / Sugar Hill
Get Rhythm / Johnny Cash / The Essential Johnny Cash / Columbia
I Still Miss Someone / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / 16 Biggest Hits / Columbia
There You Go / Jimmy Gaudreau / Classic J.A.G. / Webco
Papa Played The Dobro / White Mountain Bluegrass / Aragon Mill / Strictly Country
Ring Of Fire / Johnny Cash / The Essential Johnny Cash / Columbia
The Crow / Steve Martin / The Crow / Rounder
Why Don't You Tell Me So / Richard Bennett / Flatpicking Bluegrass / GSM Records
Turn Up The Bottle / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
Comin' On Strong / David Peterson / Comin' On Strong / Self-Produced
Farm Of Yesterday / Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass Records
Calloway / Ricky Skaggs / Solo : Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
Does My Ring Burn Your Finger? / Del McCoury Band / Family Circle / McCoury Music
Can't You Hear The Mountains Calling / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys / Can't You Hear The Mountains Calling / Rounder
In Despair / Spring Creek / Way Up On The Mountain / Rebel
I've Been All Around This World / David Davis & the Warrior River Boys / Two Dimes & A Nickel / Rebel
In Memory / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-Produced
Foggy River / Ricky Skaggs / Solo : Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
Jerusalem Ridge / Bill Monroe & Kenny Baker / High Lonesome / CMH Records
Gotta Travel On / Don Reno & Bill Harrell / Best Of Bluegrass, v.1 / Rural Rhythm
Roll On Buddy / Red Smiley & the Bluegrass Cut-Ups / Best Of Bluegrass, v.1 / Rural Rhythm
To Warm And Comfort You / Gail & Gordon Pike & Mainly Grass / Hard Words / Self-Produced
Downhearted / High Country / Perfect Companions / Squirty Records
Cold And Lowdown Lonesome Blues / Blue Highway / Some Day : The Fifteenth Anniversary Collection / Rounder
To Warm And Comfort You / Pike Brothers & Pine Hill Ranchers / To Warm And Comfort You / Rebel
Julie's Train / Balsam Range / Last Train To Kitty Hawk / Mountain Home
Prisoner Of The Highway / Southern Rail / On The Road From Appomattox / Self-Produced
Riverhead Polka / Buddy Merriam / Back Roads Mandolin / Lily Pad Records
Bramble And The Rose / Patty Loveless / Mountain Soul II / Saguaro Records
Let Me Fall / Adam Steffey with Dan Tyminski / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
Winter's Come And Gone / Dailey & Vincent / Brothers From Different Mothers / Rounder
We split the extended four hours we had for this show into two distinct parts -- the first two hours were programmed by longtime Bluegrass Cafe listeners and occasional DJs James Ward and Cathy Ward; the last two hours were my Christmas program for 2009.
We were saddened at the recent news of the passing of Phyllis Boyens, one of the most soulful bluegrass and folk singers we've ever heard. Many bluegrass fans are familiar with the electrifying "Last Old Shovel" that has appeared on several Rounder Records compilations, so we played a set of four Phyllis Boyens songs in tribute, ending with that song.
The real time response to the Christmas Show was very positive. I know many folks could have been using their time to shovel out from the big snow dump we had the night before Bluegrass Cafe, so we are especially grateful for everyone who listened.
Amy will be back next Sunday for the last Bluegrass Cafe of 2009. Be sure to tune in to hear the banjos and fiddles ring.
Jim Beaver
James & Cathy Ward selections in blue
SONG TITLE / PERFORMER / ALBUM TITLE / LABEL
Christmas Time's A Coming / Rhonda Vincent / O Christmas Tree (Collection) / Rounder
Long List Of Heartaches / The Grascals / Long List Of Heartaches / Rounder
The Room Over Mine / Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
I Like The Old Time Way / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Why Don't You Give Jesus A Try / Blue Circle
God Bless Mommy / Grasstowne / The Other Side Of Towne / Pinecastle
Sledd Ride / Seth Taylor / Movin' On / Self-released
Don't Lie To Me / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
Does My Ring Burn Your Finger / The Del McCoury Band / Family Circle / McCoury Music
Skippin' In The Mississippi Dew / John Hartford / Good'le Days / Rounder
My Old Kentucky & You / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / A Stop In Southport Towne / Blue Circle
Traveling The Highway Home / Various Artists / The Stanley Gospel Tradition / Doobie Shea
Rain And Snow / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Long Journey / Rounder
Here Today, We're Gone Tomorrow / Rhonda Vincent & The Sally Mountain Show / Bound For Gloryland / Rebel
Come Early Morning / The Lynn Morris Band / The Lynn Morris Band / Rounder
Proud To Be A Daughter Of Bluegrass / The Daughters of Bluegrass (Various Artists) / Bluegrass Bouquet / Blue Circle
I Can Go Back Anytime / Carrie Hassler / CHHR2 / Rural Rhythm
I Wouldn't Change You If I Could / Ricky Skaggs / The High Notes / Cracker Barrel
Keep On Walkin' / The Grascals / Keep On Walkin' / Rounder
Things are winding down for the semester for UCONN students, so that generally means slight modifications to the WHUS air schedule for a few weeks. In the case ofBG Cafe, we'd like to think that things have gotten better, as we can now offer you FIVE hours of BG programming every Sunday (basketball preemptions notwithstanding, of course). Until sometime in the middle of January, we'll begin broadcastingBG Cafeat 2PM on Sunday afternoons. Join us! Today's show was my lastBG Cafebefore Christmas, so I played a good bit of Christmas music. During the "bonus hours" from 2-4PM, I didn't feel quite as "obligated" to play strictly BG tunes, although I pretty much did today. It's no secret that I am a great admirer of many of the classic country singers of the 1950s and 1960s: Hank Snow, Carl Smith, Ray Price, Buck Owens, Johnnie & Jack, just to name a few. We know that many a BG performer has recorded tunes originally made famous by at least one of these performers through the years, so I thought it might be fun to put a bit of the spotlight on the performers themselves, as well as some of the BG remakes of their song catalogs. Today, I focused on The Singing Ranger,Hank Snow, by playing 4 of his original tunes (including the fabulous "Reindeer Boogie"), as well as 7 BG remakes of Snow tunes. Next time, we'll shine our "spotlight" on someone else... If you like banjo music, today was a banner day, as well. Patuxent Music has recently shipped us 2 great new recordings featuring a whole lot of banjo: "Yessir!" by 18-year-oldJessie Baker(currently working withMichael Cleveland & Flamekeeper), as well as former Sunny Mountain Boy,Chris Warner, whose new CD is called "Goin' To The Dance." Both CDs are mighty fine, and you can bet you'll be hearing plenty more from them in future weeks.
As I mentioned on the show today, legendary BG performerCurly Seckler will celebrate his 90th birthday on Christmas Day. Curly's manager, Penny Parsons, is encouraging everyone to send Curly a birthday greeting to help him celebrate a BG career that began in 1935. If you'd like to drop Curly a note, please do so in one of these two ways -- via an email sent tocurly@curlyseckler.net, or through the U.S. mail:Curly Seckler, c/o Penny Parsons Co., PO Box 51605, Durham NC 27717. Please take a few moments and send Curly a card or note, won't you? Be sure to join Jim & Marti (and maybe even James & Cathy Ward) next Sunday for at least four big hours of BG. I believe there MAY be a basketball game on the WHUS schedule for next Sunday, but we'll let you know later in the week... Hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas! Amy
REQUESTS ARE RED.
Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / Rocky Grass / Blue Planet
Sold Down The River / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper / Leavin’ Town / Rounder
I Believed In You Darling / Peter Rowan / The First Whippoorwill / Sugar Hill
Bitter Green / Tony Rice / Bluegrass Class Of 1990 / Rounder
Come Back Darling / Lester Flatt / Lester Raymond Flatt / Flying Fish
That’s Christmas Time To Me / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Christmas Time’s A-Comin’ / Time Life
A Daisy A Day / Lost & Found / Love, Lost & Found / Rebel
Reno Bound / Bill Harrell / Drive-Time Bluegrass / Rebel
Eating Out Of Your Hand / Longview / Deep In The Mountains / Rounder
Through The Window Of A Train / Blue Highway / Through The Window Of A Train / Rounder
Country Side Of Heaven (Where The Bluegrass Music Flows) / WhiteHouse / WhiteHouse / Pinecastle
Nobody’s Darlin’ But Mine / Osborne Brothers / Once More, Volumes I & II / Sugar Hill
Living In These Troubled Times / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-Produced
Big Train From Memphis / Seldom Scene / 15th Anniversary Celebration / Sugar Hill
This version of Bluegrass Cafe had plenty of specials, including a birthday set, a train set, a Hylo Brown tribute, and a tribute and remembrance of Jack Cooke who passed away December 1st.
I recall a conversation I had with Jack Cooke during his last appearance in East Hartford July 6, 2007, where he was very interested in how I liked his first and only solo album: "Sittin' On Top Of the World." Jack confided that he had thought about his inevitable mortality and it had occurred to him that he should leave something to represent his legacy. The solo album was the result. We played several tracks from that album including the two bonus tracks recorded in 1963. It is clear that Jack was much more than Ralph's bass player.
Our birthday set included songs from Jim Eanes (12/6/1923), the Gillis Brothers (John Gillis, 12/6/1966), and ironically, Jack Cooke (12/6/1936).
A caller on a previous show requested something from Hylo Brown, so I created a whole set to pay tribute to Hylo including tracks from his Starday, Rural Rhythm, and Jessup periods. I also played Jimmy Martin's version of "Grand Ole Opry Song" that Hylo wrote.
Other new music included tracks from Missy Werner, Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac, Sam Bush, Adam Steffey, and the hot 16-year-old North Carolina banjo and guitar pickerSeth Taylor who currently holds down the banjo position with Cody Shuler and Pine Mountain Railroad.
I mined the Heritage Corner vaults for classic tracks from Joe Val, Jimmy Martin, and a hair curling song from Buzz Busby.
The upcoming exam and holiday season at UCONN will be opening up the 2-4pm slot, so Amy and I will be happily stepping in to provide up to five hours of Sunday afternoon bluegrass music beginning next Sunday, December 13th. So don't forget to tune in early at 2pm EST to get a really good dose of the best in bluegrass.
We'll see you out and about...
Jim Beaver
requests in blue, Jack Cooke tribute in red
SONG TITLE / PERFORMER / ALBUM TITLE / LABEL
Fire On The Mountain / Michael Cleveland / Sawing On The "C" String / Self-released
Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die / Jim Eanes / All American Bluegrass / Sun
Ice Cold Stone / The Gillis Brothers / Ice Cold Stone / Hay Holler
I'm Walking The Dog / Jack Cooke / Sittin' On Top Of The World / Pinecastle
Choo Choo / Flatt Mountain Boys / The Best Of Starday Bluegrass / King
I Could Love You / Flatt Mountain Boys / The Best Of Starday Bluegrass / King
I've Always Been A Rambler / Jack Cooke / Sittin' On Top Of The World / Pinecastle
Over In The Glory Land / The Stanley Brothers with Jack Cooke / On The Air With Ray Davis Volume Two / Wango (Cassette)
Sittin' On Top Of The World / Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys / Live At McCabe's Guitar Shop / DCN
Let Me Rest At The End Of My Journey / Jack Cooke / Sittin' On Top Of The World / Pinecastle
We didn't create this blog to talk about ourselves. If you'd like to learn a bit about some of the WHUS Bluegrass alumni, you can find info in this blog. Primarily, though, the site exists to promote the Bluegrass music we play weekly on air at the "Bluegrass Cafe." We love to hear from listeners, so give us a call during the show (860-486-9487) or send an email to bgcafe@gmail.com.
