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17 Aug 02 - 12:24 AM (#766814) Subject: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: WFDU - Ron Olesko I just received some sad news from a reliable source that Ola Belle Reed passed away this morning. A prolific bluegrass artist and songwriter, Ola Belle was known for her classic composition "High on A Mountain" which has been covered by practically everyone. Ola Belle also hosted radio programs in the 40's and 50's and was the emcee for several bluegrass festivals. She was incapacitated by a stroke about 10 years ago. A true original, she will be missed. |
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17 Aug 02 - 01:04 AM (#766835) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: Art Thieme After posting to Harpgirl's thread around Ola Belle Reed's song, I saw this thread. That is quite sad. I do hope she went easily. Art |
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17 Aug 02 - 01:47 AM (#766845) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: musicmick Gee, I'm sorry to hear about Ola Belle Reed. I remember her from the old days at Sunset Park in West Grove. She played guitar and sand in a band with her brother, Alex. It was quite a group with Ted Lundy on banjo, Deacon Brunfield on dobro and the wonderful Sonny Miller on fiddle. They were the house band at thase great Sunday shows at Sunset Park. I never missed a chance to jam with Sonny and Ted in the parking lot sessions. I served as a judge at two or three 4th of July banjo contests, on a panel that included Ola Belle. She was a gracious lady. Do they still have banjo contests? Back in the 50's annd 60's they were all the rage. mike Miller |
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17 Aug 02 - 04:27 PM (#767128) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: MAG I'm sorry to hear this, but glad I got hear her live 20 - 25 years ago. Fine, indeed. |
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17 Aug 02 - 04:32 PM (#767134) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: Rick Fielding Wow...fine music. "High on a Mountain". Great song. R.I.P Ola Belle. Rick |
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17 Aug 02 - 05:33 PM (#767156) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie) Many shared workshops, platforms, singing under the trees, and yet I wish I could have known you better...Joyful journey to the next world, Ola Belle! Jean |
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18 Aug 02 - 01:35 AM (#767317) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: georgeward Ola Belle was an early radio hero of mine. Later on, she became a friend gracious enough to trudge to upstate New York in snowy march to do a Niskayuna Festival for us. And I've fond memories of being her "presenter" (as if she needed one) at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in DC in 1976. And equally fond memories of her husband Bud and son David at that same festival and others. Always a joy to see them all. My condolences to her family. And thanks for posting the obit,Ron. -George |
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19 Aug 02 - 12:15 AM (#767744) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: GUEST,karen k Ola Belle certainly was one of a kind. Saw her several times in the 70's - Niskayuna, that George mentioned above and also in Hartford, CT back in the 70's. Great lady, great songs. Still play the one LP I have once in a while as well as a couple of live tapes I made. My condolences to her family. Rest in peace, Ola Belle. |
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19 Aug 02 - 04:51 AM (#767810) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: nickp Another sad loss. 'High On...' and 'Sing Me A Song' will now be even more poignant to sing Nick |
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19 Aug 02 - 11:46 AM (#767963) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: GUEST,Russ For years she was a mainstay of the Sunday morning program of the Brandywine Mountain Music Convention (along with the Dixie Hummingbirds). Even if I had jammed until dawn Sunday I always staggered down to hear her and the birds. |
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19 Aug 02 - 02:22 PM (#768045) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: GUEST,Pete Peterson we're headed to her funeral tonight; lots of friends are going. I remember her from Sunset Park in the 60s and Brandywines in the 80s. . . she had a stroke about 10 years ago and hasn't been well since. A depressingly small amount of recordings for such an influential person! (unless there's lots I don't know about) |
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19 Aug 02 - 02:41 PM (#768061) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: KathWestra Ola Belle died on the 16th at her home in Rising Sun, Maryland. I booked her (along with her husband Bud) for a Folklore Society of Greater Washington monthly program about 20 years ago, and she was a terrific singer, a feisty and formidable presence despite her short stature, and a woman who spoke compellingly about the power of music to change the world, one person at a time. Kathy
John Lupton of the U of Delaware's "Rural Free Delivery" radio program, wrote the following tribute on the Folk Alliance website, which is quoted with his permission:
"I got word earlier today that Ola Belle Reed passed away late last night or early this morning. She had been taken to the hospital a few days ago, and her condition continued to deteriorate until she passed away. If my recollection of her birth date is correct, she was almost exactly 86. She had been in poor health since suffering a massive stroke about 15 years ago. She lived her final years, as she had most of her life, in Rising Sun, MD, just below the MD/PA border on US 1.
"Ola Belle was a National Heritage Fellow. A North Carolina native, she and her brother Alex Campbell spent many years performing and broadcasting old time and country music on a variety of stations, including WWVA in Wheeling, WV. Their weekly show, "Campbell's Corners", broadcast live from their store in Oxford, PA was heard over much of the Eastern US.
"For 15 years or so, beginning in 1949, Ola Belle and her husband Bud Reed operated New River Ranch, a country music park near Rising Sun, before closing it down and moving up US 1 to Sunset Park near Jennersville, PA, where they were regulars for another 26 years or so.
"Ola Belle was a prolific songwriter, and is probably best known for her song "High On A Mountain".....She was a remarkable woman, a historic American folk musician, and a good friend. We will miss her greatly." Funeral services will be Monday evening, August 19, in Rising Sun, Maryland. |
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20 Aug 02 - 01:50 AM (#768352) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: GUEST,karen k Thanks, Kathy. I'm trying to remember the hymn I learned from Ola Belle and it's not coming to me right off. I sing it from time to time and have a pleasant time remembering her teaching it to me. Think it's on her record. Will dig it our when I get home. |
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20 Aug 02 - 03:34 PM (#768701) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: GUEST,Roger in Baltimore My home town of Westminster, MD was graced many times by Ola Belle in the late 70's and early 80's. Truly a powerful voice and a strong and good heart. It saddens me to know she's gone. She wrote a song called "My Epitaph" which I wish I could latch onto right now, but my LP collection is located elsewhere. Roger in Baltimore |
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28 Dec 04 - 02:21 AM (#1365659) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed From: GUEST,Michael Mason Ola Belle and her family were some of the best musicians god ever made, I Grew up near Campbell's Corner through the sixtys and seventies and am now a professional musician because of the teachings of these great people. Ola Belle will be will be greatly missed but her music will live forever! Michael Mason Bromley http://www.michaelmason.org/ |
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07 Jul 15 - 06:55 PM (#3721806) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed (17 August 2002) From: Thomas Stern Dust to Digital will publish a book and 2-cd set in August Ola Belle Reed - Dust to Digital book and CDs http://www.dust-digital.com/ola-belle-reed/ her recordings are also available from Smithsonian-Folkways, Rounder, Field Recorders Collective.... Best wishes, Thomas. |
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24 Jan 21 - 06:28 PM (#4089762) Subject: ADD: Tear Down the Fences (Ola Belle Reed) From: Joe Offer TEAR DOWN THE FENCES Music and lyrics by Ola Belle Reed Sunday morning, sun’s a shining Flowers blooming everywhere Birds are singing, a soft wind’s blowing Whispering a message in the air I could have one wish and know that it would come true I wish that God would give us strength to know just what to do Then we could tear down the fences that fence us all in Fences created by such evil men Oh we could tear down the fences that fence us all in Then we could walk together again Sunday morning, dark clouds rising Oh, there’s no sunshine anywhere A strong wind’s blowing, God give us wisdom To grasp the message in the air If I could have one wish and know that it would come true I wish that God would give us strength to know just what to do Then we could tear down the fences that fence us all in Fences created by such evil men Oh we could tear down the fences that fence us all in Then we could walk together again Yes maybe we could walk together again http://www.samgleaves.com/tear-down-the-fences.php |
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09 Aug 21 - 03:57 PM (#4115951) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed (1916-2002) + songs From: Joe Offer Need lyrics to Where the Wild, Wild Flowers Grow |
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09 Aug 21 - 04:11 PM (#4115952) Subject: RE: Obit: Ola Belle Reed (1916-2002) + songs From: GUEST,# Where The Wild, Wild Flowers Grow Where the wild wild flowers grow and winter waters flow There's a place that I've always loved the best When at last I lay me down final peace and rest I've found Take me home to my own and there I'll rest Take me home to my own and there I'll rest When as a little child hopes dreams runnin wild Someday I'd live just like a queen upon a throne Little did a poor girl know how hard the way to go So I wandered yes I wandered far from home Oh I wandered yes I wandered far from home Freedom was in the air you could feel it everywhere Don't be blinded it's Gods gift can't you see Never lay your armor down til peace and rest you've found Going home going home to be free Going home going home to be free Songwriters: Ola Belle Reed |