Ritchie, glad to see your 'treatise'.

Odd, I thumbnailed your definition and statement of the roots of bluegrass at a party on New Year's Day. I was speaking to a young man who was "getting into Blue Grass". He asked how the music Susette and I play differed. "Well, you'd hear the difference immediately," I said, because we don't use the 'Scruggs' three finger style banjo". I told him that we share many of the same songs, but "Old Time Country Music" lacks (yes, there can be exceptions) only that style of banjo and it's inherent rhythmic nature.

Recently we did a guest spot with the Pawtuxent Partners, bluegrass friends of ours in a pure T, dyed in the wool bluegrass club. We sang "When the Bluebirds Sing". The song was recorded by Mack Wiseman (traditional bluegrass) and The Country Gentlemen (contemporary), but is traditional. Our "Carter Family sytle" autoharp and guitar version fit seamlessly with theirs. But when the banjo came in on a break the perfomance moved from old time country to bluegrass without a bump. I don't know what the audience thought, but a better illustration of the dividing line I don't know. cheers, Chance