Musical traditions in the Blue Ridge

Subject: MUSICAL TRADITIONS IN THE BLUE RIDGE
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Apr 02 - 11:17 PM

Last night I attended the weekly jam session at the music store where I occasionally help out. This is really fun and popular. Usually 20 to 30 people just doing what they can do. No one is left out, everyone gets to play his music or can just listen and learn.

This is the music that has been here in the Blue Ridge since time out of mind. In my early years when company came to make music, we pushed the furniture against the wall and let her fly. The music was and is joyful and joyous, sad and happy, religous and some almost blasphemy.

Among the performers,a young man who is partially retarded and does not learn easily. He loves to sing his gospel songs and gets plenty of help from these fine people.

An old man with Parkinsons desease. Plays great harmonica. He says his shaking hands help him keep time.

An old man in his 80's playing his autoharp.The high lonesome songs of his youth. Priceless.

The Jewish guitar picking singer who played and sang a song in Hebrew.This crowd of Protestants loved it.

This goes on and on. Everyone sings and plays to their hearts content. Lessons are given and hot licks learned. Instruments are compared and discussed.

I love this music and the people.I could attend a pickin every nite of the week in folks houses, community centers or churches. This has been going on for generations and I hope always will.

Old time mountain music was born and raised around here and is as much a part of the culture as slow southern talking or corn bread.

Just something I wanted to say, Jeep

Subject: RE: MUSICAL TRADITIONS IN THE BLUE RIDGE
From: Amos
Date: 14 Apr 02 - 04:16 AM

Get it SAID, Mister Jeep!! I love hearing you, and in my mind's ears, hearing them. Wish I were there.

A

Subject: RE: MUSICAL TRADITIONS IN THE BLUE RIDGE
From: Banjer
Date: 14 Apr 02 - 05:11 AM

There is one such store about thirty-five miles from us that is quite a hectic drive so I have not been there for quite some time. Their program starts about a half hour after I get off work, so getting there in time also means taking extra time off from work, which I can't afford. It is the Bluegrass Parlor in Tampa, owned by Tom Henderson, who also hosts the last remaining bluegrass show on one of the local NPR stations. I'm sure its nothing on the scale that Jeep has in his corner of the world, but they try to keep the music alive there as well.

Subject: RE: MUSICAL TRADITIONS IN THE BLUE RIDGE
From: DMcG
Date: 14 Apr 02 - 07:08 AM

You're making us all jealous! I'd certainly love to be there.

Cross Thread reference here: in the discussion about singing from books someone was suggesting the decline of folk clubs might be linked to losing the ability to entertain. Sounds like these people are just too in love with the music to worry much about entertaining.

Subject: RE: MUSICAL TRADITIONS IN THE BLUE RIDGE
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Apr 02 - 08:52 PM

Thank you all. All of us folks here play and/or sing for our own pleasure. Its an added pleasure if someone else enjoys it too. Jeep

Subject: RE: MUSICAL TRADITIONS IN THE BLUE RIDGE
From: Dani
Date: 14 Apr 02 - 10:27 PM

Don't be a stranger, Jeep. Glad you found the Mudcat.

Dani

Subject: RE: MUSICAL TRADITIONS IN THE BLUE RIDGE
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Apr 02 - 09:26 AM

Jeepman, where's your cookie?

~S~