*denotes part of our Roots and Branches series

*American Routes – J.J. Cale & Cedric Watson
J.J. Cale came up in the clubs of Tulsa, Oklahoma playing everything from Western Swing to Rock n’ Roll. He even wrote songs that became hits for his friend Eric Clapton. But it was in the recording studio where he found his true calling. We’ll talk with J.J. about his career as a guitar man, songwriter and studio wizard. Then we visit with up-and-coming Creole fiddler and accordionist Cedric Watson and learn about his journey within the world of French and Caribbean music.

Bluegrass Breakdown – Brand New Strings Live
They’re new, they’re hot and they’ve got a Rural Rhythm record deal. They’re a hard-drivin’ sextet that brings the sounds of the Great Smokies and gospel mountain tunes into their compelling brand of traditionally tinged music. We’ll have REAL bluegrass from the REAL deal when Brand New Strings joins us live in celebration of their debut, No Strings Attached.

Bluegrass Master Class – Banks of the Ohio #84
This week, you’ll have an unusual opportunity to contrast virtuoso mandolin styles of Jethro Burns, Buzz Busby, Sam Bush, John Duffey, Barry Mitterhoff, Bill Monroe, Bob Osborne, Akira Otsuka, Red Rector, Herschel Sizemore, Andy Statman, and Frank Wakefield. There are also rare and historic live cuts from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. A production of the International Bluegrass Music Museum, hosted by Fred Bartenstein.

Bluegrass Review
Our show opens with a couple of new bluegrass songs. Then, the Gem of Bluegrass segment muses over the evolution of bluegrass into a concert music. Later, `great banjo stylist Alan Munde tells us about his method of composition. Then, it’s more happy sounding sad songs. We’re starting to think this type of song is one of bluegrass music’s great contributions to world music. To contact host Phil Nusbaum, the email address is pnusbaum@bitstream.net. The playlist is located at www.bluegrassreview.com. Join the Bluegrass Review discussion on Facebook. Just do a Facebook search for Bluegrass Review. Then join the conversation.

Bluegrass Signal – The Music of the Nashville BLUESgrass Band
An overview of the music of Nashville Bluegrass Band based on songs that include the word “blue”or “blues.” The music is from recordings their first release (1985’s “My Native Home”) to their most recent studio session (2004’s “Twenty Year Blues”).

*The Dick Spottswood Show
Some forgotten gems from the Country Gentlemen’s first lp collection in 1961, some Irish, American, and Irish-American music to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, some hard times songs, some Bob Wills, with great gospel and down home blues served on the side. Obsolete Music takes dead aim and never misses.

*etown – KT Tunstall & Adrienne Young
Scotland-born rising star and “folk-rock goddess” KT Tunstall pays a visit to eTown. KT rocks the house in this repeat broadcast, with her provocative sonic mesh of heartfelt pop, rootsy electric blues, and left-field alt-folk. And talented young Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Adrienne Young hits the stage with her band, receiving some great musical support from Nick & Helen Forster and the eTones. They deliver an amazing set of warm and inviting Americana music.

The Free for All – Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. LIVE, Friday 9 p.m.-12 a.m.

The Gary Henderson Show – Saturday 8-11 a.m. LIVE, Monday 12 p.m.,

The Katy Daley Show - Monday- Friday LIVE, 7-10 a.m. ET

The Lee Michael Demsey Show – Saturday 11a.m.-2p.m., Monday- Friday LIVE, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET

Lonesome Pine RFD with Carol Beaugard – Mon. 12 a.m., Wed. 9 p.m., Thurs. 12 p.m.

*Mountain Stage
Featuring The Gourds, Tom Rush, Backyard Tire Fire, Susan Werner, The Deep Vibration. View Playlist.

Music from Foggy Hollow
In Music from Foggy Hollow from Australia this week Mike Kear’s featuring a new band – Brand New Strings and their new CD, “No Strings Attached”.   Mike talks about the band, plays some music from the CD, and even dares to bring back teh dreaded SNAPSHOT for one more appearance.   Also on the show this week, new music from a couple of terrific family bands – The Snyder Family Band from Bristol Tennessee,
and The Cana Ramblers, plus Steve Martin and Josh Williams. As usual we don’t take ourselves too seriously – there’s time for some goofing off too. It’s another packed show of wholesome bluegrass fun, so don’t miss it!

Old Time Jam
This week, our normal variety is punctuated by sets of tunes with “Indian” names, a set of songs played and sung by Joel Walker Sweeney, first popularizer of the banjo, and some examples of music by the Whitetop Mountain Band and Kirk Sutphin, who are touring with “Music from the Crooked Road.”

Open Mic – Bill Monroe
This week we’re focusing on Bill Monroe. In the first hour we’ll hear from several musicians and Bluegrass Country hosts this hour with reflections both historical and personal on the man and his music.

In the second hour we take a trip back to 1982, Lee Michael Demsey pulled a tape out of the WAMU archives featuring Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys performing in February 1982 before a packed house at the Departmental Auditorium, now known as the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, in Washington D.C.

The Ray Davis Show – Monday- Friday LIVE, 3-6p.m., Sunday 10am-1p

Rotating Shows
The Tom “Cat” Reeder Show – Sunday 3 a.m. (March 14)
The Old Home Place with Lisa Kay Howard – Tuesday 12 p.m., Thursday 12 a.m., Sunday 3 a.m. (March 21)

Special Programming - Jim Hurst & Lou Reid & Carolina LIVE
This week we feature live performances from Jim Hurst (from our Washington, DC studios) and Lou Reid & Carolina (from our IBMA 2009 broadcast).

LIVE Stained Glass Bluegrass hosted by Bob Webster
When we gather for our Sunday morning session we’ll be honored to hear remarks by Don Rigsby regarding his new all gospel recording “The Voice of God.” This week we’ll share part one of this review of Don’s first all gospel recording in several years. Don gives us another old hymn to add to our singing at the top of the third hour: “The Lord Will Provide” with words by John Newton (Amazing Grace) and the old Welsh melody by John Roberts in 1839. Don sings this one a cappella from the old Primitive Baptist Church style as only Don can and influenced by his dad and the old preacher he heard as a “little feller.”

*Thistle and Shamrock – Essential Celtic
How do you inject a Celtic core into your music collection that will reflect the past and present, honouring the purity of tradition and the spirit of innovation? It’s a tall order but we have some suggestions this week to enhance any collection.

LIVE *Traditions with Mary Cliff – Saturday 2-6 p.m.

Uptown Bluegrass with George McKnight – 28 Years of Pickin’ Part 2
Here is another 2 hours of music as played over the past 28 years of the radio show. We feature some great historical tunes and songs which are mile-posts of bluegrass music that continue to delight audiences the world over.

Leadership Bluegrass, now in its eleventh year with more than 225 alumni, is an intensive three-day program of advanced level, interactive learning experiences that invites participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing bluegrass and the overall music industry along with related leadership issues.

Carol will be sharing her experience from Nashville all week long with Bluegrass Country.org. To follow Carol’s exploits and view her photos, visit her blog.

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We’re proud to announce that our very own Carol Beaugard, host of Lonesome Pine RFD, has been chosen by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) to participate in the 2010 class of Leadership Bluegrass.

Leadership Bluegrass, now in its eleventh year with more than 225 alumni, is an intensive three-day program of advanced level, interactive learning experiences that invites participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing bluegrass and the overall music industry along with related leadership issues.

Carol will be sharing her experience from Nashville all week long for Bluegrass Country.org.

Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Photo: Carol with Suzanne and Doyle Lawson

Today’s sessions were amazing.  My mind is reeling from all the information and the amazing topics, speakers and presentations we experienced.  It was incredibly intensive and deep.  It was the kind of educational experience that will stay with me for a lifetime.  I feel like I’ve been given the keys to the city and I”m now armed with concrete skills to improve every aspect of what I do in bluegrass.

Highlights included a presentation on Getting Music to Consumers: Broadcasting – From the Present to the Future which was led by Ronnie Reno and Todd Mayo, founder of Music City Roots.  Todd’s work with this radio show and live concerts is so innovative – many of us felt like we were introduced to the future.  The work he’s doing, what he’s created and his vision (which is evolving every day) is remarkable and reminds me of what it must have been like when people were first experiencing the launch of the Grand Ole’ Opry or the first recordings captured during the Bristol sessions.  It was truly inspiring.

Another informative presentation was on education and key speakers included Nancy Cardwell of the IBMA and Rob Ickes.  Rob concluded the presentation by performing ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ (photo below).

A great high point of the day was a talk given by Doyle Lawson.  He gave ‘An Artist’s Perspective’ on leadership and spoke about his long and illustrious career.  He shared memories of his early years with Jimmy Martin, JD Crowe, and The Country Gentlemen.  He discussed making the decision to break from the Gentlemen to form his own band and his years leading Quicksilver.  Doyle’s lovely wife Suzanne and her sister, Mary Jane Johnson also joined Doyle.  Suzanne and Mary Jane have helped manage Doyle’s career for more than 20 years and they also shared their experiences in the business.  We were all deeply impressed and honored to have such a great figure in the music share his personal recollections and leadership practices with us.

Leadership Bluegrass is conducted in the BMI offices and BMI hosted a wonderful dinner reception for us.  It was really elegant.  By now many of us have formed the beginnings of good friendships and future business associations.  The work over the last couple of days has been really interactive and very passionate.  That type of intensity creates a special kind of bonding so the dinner was filled with warmth and camaraderie.  David Crow gave a toast and speech and summed up the need to remain committed to leadership and underscored the connection we all share through our love of the music.

Well, the night was over by 9 pm and while many of the class went home to rest for our 8 am breakfast on Thurs. morning – I scooped up several classmates and out we went back to The Station Inn – this time to see David Peterson and 1946.  It was another great night of music!!  David was playing with his country band 1946, which included Bryan Sutton (guitar), Shad Cobb (fiddle) and Dennis Crouch (bass).  Guess who was sitting next to me?  Lee Ann Womack.  Other stars that were on hand to see the show were Mike Bub and Richard Bailey.  We were all howling with joy at the greatcountry classics.  What a great night!!

Pictured above: David Peterson and 1946 live at the Station Inn in Nashville, TN

Photos: Left, Holly Tashian and Carol; R, Carol and Lee Ann Womack

Photos: Left, Holly Tashian and David Peterson; R, Bryan Smith and Donna Ulisse

Tomorrow is the last day of Leadership Bluegrass.  It’s 3 am and I’m off to bed but can’t wait to report on the conclusion of this incredible journey.

- Carol

Tuesday, 09 March 2010
We had our first day of Leadership Bluegrass and it was fantastic.  I only have 20 minutes to freshen up before we head out to the home of Dan Hays (pictured below) and his wife for dinner and some jamming, so I’ll have to make this short.

Fred Bartenstein is our moderator and he’s fantastic.  He led us through the introduction for the program and the different presentations of the day with knowledge, clear guidance and great skill.  We’re in fantastic hands.

IBMA executive director, Dan Hays, opened the day early with an overview of bluegrass and where we stand within the industry.

One of the most interesting break out sessions broke the room up into teams and we each had to analyze certain time periods over the course of bluegrass history (1927-1948, 1948 – 1969, etc.)  As teams we had to sight important occurences in bluegrass, as well as look at what was happening historically during those time periods, how was music being distributed, what was travel like, etc.  It was fascinating and it tested our knowledge of music and American history and gave us a truly enjoyable appreciation of the progression of the music, development and emergence of the artists and increased respect for how the music has grown.

Another highlight of the day was a presentation by Dan Keen (of ASCAP) and David Crow, musician and lawyer on songwriting and publishing.  They made a very complicated and intricate subject hilariously enjoyable by enacting a role-playing scenario portraying a very ‘green’ artist putting a call into ASCAP or BMI to find out about licensing and publishing rights.  They had the room peeling with laughter and kept us all totally engaged while really getting a first class education on this critical topic.

I’m off to the party now.  Can’t wait to hear some of these amazingly talented panelists and colleagues pick and sing and I’m looking forward to getting to talk about their backgrounds.  The diversity of backgrounds and the achievements that each program member has accomplished is so impressive.  It’s fantastic!

- Carol

Tuesday, 09 March 2010
It’s finally here, the first day of Leadership Bluegrass.  I’m really excited but I need a cup of coffee.

I was out late last night because I went to the Station Inn to see The Time Jumpers.  What an awesome band!  True blue hit you in the heart C&W/Western Swing music at its best.  They’ve been playing at the Station Inn every Monday for about 5 years and last night the show was sold out and it was standing room only.

I haven’t seen Ranger Doug in a long time and it nice to reconnect.  He sounded great and did a yodeling number at the audience’s howling request.  Paul Brewster was there but unfortunately he had just left when the band called for him to come up on stage.  A few other great guest artists sat in, including Tom Grant (former staff lead singer for years on “Nashville Now” (TNN) and “The Ralph Emery Show” (NBC).

Of course you never know who might be there just to see the show.  I ran into Sammy Shelor (pictured above).  He’s a Leadership Bluegrass alum and he wished me luck on the conference.  He shared what a great experience it is and wished me good luck.

Off I go to get ready for our first session.  More later.

- Carol

Monday, 08 March 2010
Just got back from having coffee with Barbara Lamb. She gave me huge insight into the music biz and we toured music Row (where I’m staying).

I’m on the hunt for cowboy boots and Babs is a shoe horse too.  She took me to a favorite store and I didn’t find cowboy boots but I did find a pair of really hot black stiletto heeled shoes covered with silver studs. Yea baby!

Tonight I’m off to the Station Inn to see The Time Jumpers do some great C&W/swing music. Ranger Doug will be on stage. Who knows what guest artists will show – 2 weeks ago it was Elvis Costello with Vince Gill quiety picking guitar in the mix (video below).

See ya later buckeroos.

- Carol

Click here to view the embedded video.

Monday, 08 March 2010
I just arrived in Nashville.  It’s beautiful, sunny and warm!  66 degrees.  When I left home this morning (the Hudson Valley, NY) it was cool and we still had about a foot of snow on the ground.  The snow’s melting but the deer are still having trouble walking through the snow and ice and the birds stay close to the feeders in the backyard.

I’m about to have lunch with Barbara Lamb.  The last time she did a show in NJ at Mo Fiddles/Menzel Violin Shop in Livingston, NJ we had time to have her in the studios for a live interview and I really enjoyed her show.  She appeared live as a solo artist and gave a great show and led an open jam.  She’s a really fun lady with such a long history in the music.  I really admire her.

Leadership Bluegrass starts bright and early tomorrow morning at the BMI offices.  I’ll keep you posted on all the happenings.

- Carol

The DC Bluegrass Union will hold the inaugural DC Bluegrass Festival on Saturday, March 27th at Langley High School in McLean, VA. With that in mind, we recently sat down with Randy Barrett (President of the DC Bluegrass Union) and two other veteran concert organizers. We asked them about the many trials and tribulations that they face when creating events of this magnitude and we also posed the all-important question– why do you produce a festival?

Listen to the feature

• For more information about the DC Bluegrass Festival and the DC Bluegrass Union, visit their website.
• Sunflowerfest will held be at Rocky Gap State Park in Cumberland, MD on October 8-10. For more information, visit their website.
• The Joe Val Bluegrass Festival is held annually during the month of February in Framingham, MA. For more information about Joe Val and the Boston Bluegrass Union, visit their website.

Katy Daley emceed the festivities at ROMP in Owensboro, Kentucky on June 24-27, 2009. This time around, ROMP’s lineup featured some of the biggest names in bluegrass, including Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Del McCoury Band, J.D. Crowe & the New South, and Dan Tyminski Band. In addition to her role as master of ceremonies, Katy also provided Bluegrass Country with regular updates and took photographs for BluegrassCountry.org.

12:19 pm CT Sunday, 28 June 2009
I don’t have any official weather report but it did seem a little cooler today. Fans were still hugging the tree line and awnings to keep out of the direct sun. It was hard on the working bands but they all put on great shows. The list of entertainers include: Bill Evans and Megan Lynch, Ronnie Reno, Valerie Smith & Becky Buller, the Bluegrass Parkway from Australia, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and The Dan Tyminski Band.

In honor of Pinecastle Records’ 20th anniversary, founder and owner, Col. Tom Riggs, presented a generous check to the International Bluegrass Music Museum. He also emcee’d the Pinecastle portion of the show: Grasstowne, Special Consensus and the Dixie Bee-Liners.

The IBMM sponsors music lessons at the museum throughout the year. This grew out of the Bluegrass in the Schools program. The students range in age from 6-80 and take lessons on instruments the museum provides if needed. Today it was showtime for the “Kentucky All-Stars,” which is their stage name. Over 250 students participated. They’re all helping to keep the bluegrass tradition alive.

Several hundred fans signed the Bill Monroe Stamp petition and some of the musicians added their signatures, too. Speaking of Bill Monroe, tomorrow will be my first visit to Rosine, Kentucky, the birthplace and burial site of “The Father of Bluegrass.”

- Katy

Coming soon, The Road to Rosine…

12:22 pm CT Saturday, 27 June 2009
Could it be any hotter? That’s the standard ROMP greeting of the day. I don’t have the official temperature and dewpoint so just think Washington, DC in August. It’s well into the mid-90’s and humid. But in good bluegrass festival tradition, the show goes on.

Many of the Pioneers of Bluegrass kicked the show off with performances from Bud Reed, Dave Reed, Ralph Reed, Tommy Scott, the Ozaki Brothers, Roger Sprung, Al Hawkes, Carl Pagter and many, many more. At first glance the audience looked pretty sparse. But if you looked under the big awnings and along the tree line you could see that the bluegrass fans were there and enjoying the music while trying to stay out of the direct sun.

I was glad to see some of our “hometown talent” there. All4Hym — who you will all remember performed at the first BGC Open House — did a great set. Williams & Clark Expedition pleased me immensely when Kimberly sang her great version of Tennessee Waltz. That was a real crowd pleaser; they should include it in very set. Can’t match them musically but I can hold my own in the backstage battle of hats & sunglasses. Here I am with W&C’s Wayne Southards.

By the time the sun and the temperatures started to drop, fans came out of the tree line shade and set their lawnchairs up directly in front of the stage to see the great Bobby Osborne and Rocky Top X-press, JD Crowe and the New South and the Josh Williams Band. If we lined up all of the awards those three acts have won, we would have run out of room on the stage.

More music at Yellow Creek Park on Saturday, while Oral Video History films continue to run in the air-conditioned IBMMuseum downtown. More later from ROMP in Owensboro, Kentucky.

- Katy

Editor’s note: Nice fedora.













1:37 pm CT Friday, 26 June 2009
Fred Bartenstein mentioned to me on the way out to the park this morning that there are three aspects of Bluegrass: the music, the industry and the community.

Interesting, since I’ve been thinking a lot about the community part of bluegrass this week. I am very happy to have been able to spend some time today with my long-time friend, Roland White.

I first met Roland in the 70’s when he was a member of the Country Gazette, but I’ve “known” him a lot longer than that. I remember him when he was a Country Boy on the Andy Griffith television show and as a member of the legendary Kentucky Colonels. Roland and his brother Clarence are being considered as inductees into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame this year — a well deserved honor.

Roland is a fine musician with a long bluegrass history (he worked with Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Dreadful Snakes, Nashville Bluegrass Band and now heads up his own group, The Roland White Band). Members of the Country Gazette — Roland and Alan Munde especially — have been very generous with their time and talent throughout my broadcast career. They have played an important part in my personal bluegrass history.

I’m seeing a lot of people at 2009 ROMP who are playing with long-time friends. Many of these musicians share a long musical history. I was privileged to bring Eddie & Martha Adcock and Tom Gray on stage yesterday. Their music was so sweet — it’s the kind of music that can only come from people who have played together and cared about each other for a long, long time.

I know that many of you enjoy the musical aspects of Bluegrass. I hope you will also become a part of the bluegrass community and be blessed, as I have been, with life-long friends.

- Katy

9:14 am CT Thursday, 25 June 2009
Last night I attended a wonderful concert at the RiverPark Center. The show was a 60-year anniversary celebration of the Wax Works, which is a family business now owned by Terry Woodward. Terry is a supporter of the International Bluegrass Music Museum and generously donated the proceeds of the concert to the museum.

What a night! WAMU’s Bluegrass Country’s friend, Fred Bartenstein served as the Master of Ceremonies and started the show with a talented young clogging team, Barry Lanham’s Foot Stompin’ Express. Then came Mike Snider’s String Band. I don’t know whether to describe him as a fantastic musician or a stand-up comedian. He’s both. He told some hilarious stories (usually about his wife, “Sweetie”) between songs. He was a real crowd pleaser.

After a short intermission it was time for Marty Stuart and The Fabulous Superlatives. I should say it was time for the FABULOUS Marty Stuart. What a set those hillbilly hipsters put on. “Handsome Harry” was on drums, and “Cousin Kenny” wowed us with his guitar playing. They covered every musical base from gospel to rockabilly. The audience brought them back for an encore of three more songs. FABULOUS!!!!!

Then it was time for the set this old Del-Head was waiting for: The Del McCoury Band and they played all the audience’s favorites — High on the Mountaintop, Vincent Black Lightning, Cheek to Cheek with the Blues and more. They asked Marty Stuart to come out for a mandolin duet with Ronnie. They burned their way through “Bluegrass Breakdown.” Then the IBMMuseum’s executive director, Gabrielle Gray, brought out a new exhibit: Uncle Pen’s fiddle. Yes, the fiddle that Bill Monroe made famous in the song will now be on display at the museum. Gabrielle played along with the band for a few measures and then bowed off stage.

After the show, in true bluegrass fashion, the bands stayed for “shake and howdy” time with all the fans and friends. And since it’s a gathering of bluegrass pioneers, there were a lot of those on hand. What a great night it was.

- Katy

8:05 am CT Thursday, 25 June 2009
My traveling companions are Pete and Kitsy Kuykendall. Pete is the publisher of Bluegrass Unlimited and Kitsy is on the International Bluegrass Music Museum board of directors. In addition to enjoying being with long-time friends, I am benefiting from all their bluegrass knowledge, but that’s a story for another entry.

Tonight we’re attending a ceremony where the bronze plaques for Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductees Bill Clifton and Charles K. Wolfe will be unveiled. Pete wanted to wear something special for the party and bought a pair of vintage (read previously owned) spectator shoes at an antique store in Virginia. There was a small problem with one of the buckles so he was really glad to see a sign advertising “Raines Shoe Hospital” in downtown Owensboro. He said we wouldn’t believe the place or the owner so, of course, Kitsy and I had to see it, too.

Don Raines, who I call the Shoe Doctor, runs the place now but it was started by his father a long, long, long time ago. And Don likes the store just the way his dad left it. Even if you don’t need your shoes repaired, it’s worth a visit to see all the antique toys, Christmas decorations, etc. he has there. His telephone is an old model used by the electric company lineman made famous by the Glen Campbell song, “I Am a Lineman for the County.” The phone company has offered to update it but Don likes that old dial phone.

He showed me a tool that he uses to put a metal tip on the end of a shoelace. That saves his customers the price a new pair of shoelaces. He keeps all that in a wooden CUBAN cigar box, which he said his father bought when it was legal to have Cuban cigars.

Don Raines tells great stories about the town and its residents. Be sure to visit him sometime: Raines Shoe Hospital, 333 Frederica Street, Owensboro, Kentucky

- Katy

3:03 pm CT Wednesday, 24 June 2009
The Ozaki Brothers — Yasushi and Hisashi — came all the way from their home in Yokohama, Japan to attend 2009 River of Music Party in Owensboro, Kentucky. The Ozaki Brothers are credited as being Pioneers of Bluegrass and for being in the small group of people who introduced bluegrass music to Japanese audiences. The brothers first heard “She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain” on a record their father brought back from a trip to the U.S. in the 1920’s and fell in love with American folk music. During World War II (when they were 12 years old and 14 years old) they were prohibited from listening to American music or using the English language. So they listened to the record secretly.

Right after the war they learned to play with home-made instruments out of cigar boxes and the three strings used on a shamisen. In true bluegrass tradition their mother sold her kimono to pay for a steel guitar and a real guitar for them to learn. (How many musicians tell us how their mother sacrificed so they could learn music??) First they learned Hawaiian music and country music. Can you believe it? The Ozaki Brothers just told me they listened to Armed Forces Radio Far East Network and they remember the show Rice Paddy Round-up, which I listened to growing up in Okinawa!

They formed a band and performed at Army camps to earn money. They remember earning $50 a night for a six-man band. At that time 360Yen was $1.00. At that time the average Japanese earned about 4,000Yen a month. So they were earning BIG MONEY. Plus, after the war there were food shortages and the American Army camps would serve the band dinner. They would take their guitars out of the cases and fill it with food and take it home so their families could eat.

They discovered bluegrass in 1957 when they met Mr. Harry Arita, who collected bluegrass records and memorabilia He didn’t play any instruments but he brought the Ozaki Brothers together with some other musicians and they formed the first bluegrass music band in Japan. Some of their favorite bluegrass groups were Bill Monroe, Louvin Brothers and the Blue Sky Boys. They performed on Japanese radio programs and continued to earn GOOD money at the American Army camps. Yashushi became an IBM computer engineer after school. And Hisashi worked for Sumitomo Life Insurance Company. That was the end of their bluegrass days. We are happy to see them at 2009 ROMP and celebrate their contribution to international bluegrass.

- Katy

p.s. At lunch I saw them eating at the table next to me. They were splitting a HUGE piece of chocolate cake a la mode. I told them they could become millionaires if they would write a book about how to eat big desserts and stay skinny. They will let me know when it’s published.

12:22 pm CT Wednesday, 24 June 24 2009
I’ve just finished watching today’s first Video Oral History Project presentation at the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky. The first video was an hour-long interview with Eddie & Martha Adcock. What a valuable service the IBMM is performing by recording Pioneers of our music. They discussed their personal and professional histories. Their recollections were skillfully edited with performance video. Fascinating! I wish you could all visit IBMM and see these videos. IBMM’s Executive Director, Gabrielle Gray, tells me that so far the museum has so far produced between 170 and 180 in-depth first person interviews. Most of them were gathered in the person’s home and they choose their own interviewer. If they don’t have a preference, the project director (Joe Gray) suggests who might best do their story. All of the Video Oral Histories are kept in a large bank vault until the time they’re edited. So far about twenty have been edited into individual documentaries. Museum visitors can view the documentaries. They are also available to be shown at bluegrass events around the world. For more information on how to host a Bluegrass Masters Film Festival, contact Gabrielle Gray at:
gabrielle@bluegrassmuseum.org

- Katy

8:29 am CT Wednesday, June 24 2009
The TV weatherman says we’re in for some hot weather. Today will be 91 degrees and the mercury’s only going up from there for the rest of the week. Won’t complain about that — yet! Today at “Woodward’s at the Museum” the music starts at 11 and runs through 4 with groups like Blackberry Jam, Mountain Harmony, King’s Highway and more regional groups.

The Bluegrass Masters Film Festival at the Museum starts today. These are the Museum’s on-going Video Oral History Projects. How lucky we are to have so many of the music’s pioneers still available to interview and hear in their own words about the part they played in bluegrass history. Today’s featured artists are: Eddie & Martha Adcock, Josh Graves, Pete Seeger and Wade Mainer.

Tonight is the 2009 ROMP Kick-Off Concert with music from Mike Snider, Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives and the Del McCoury Band. Guess I don’t need to tell you this Del-Head is looking forward to that. There’s a huge billboard in downtown Owensboro advertising this concert with bigger-than-life-size photos of Del, Marty and Mike. I’d like to look out the Control Room 3 window every morning and see something like that!

- Katy
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Rules: To enter to you must submit your full name, telephone number, and email address on the entry form below and submit it. Only one entry per person is permitted. Winners will be notified by WAMU by email when the winners are drawn. The winning entry is subject to verification of eligibility to win. Good Luck! Giveaway ends Wednesday, March 10th at exactly 11:59 pm ET. All participants who submit their information during the specified time will automatically be entered in the contest. Employees of American University and their families are ineligible to win. Winners must be 18 years of age or older and proof of identification is necessary to claim the prize. Cash may not be substituted for the prize. If for any reason the prize can not be awarded to the first participant whose name is drawn, a second name will be drawn, and so forth until the prize is awarded. The decision of WAMU management on the drawing of this prize is final and binding. WAMU is solely responsible for contacting winners. If participants do not wish to hear from WAMU, do not register. WAMU will not retain the participants’ information for future solicitations.

*denotes part of our Roots and Branches series

*American Routes – American Routes Goes to the Movies
Think all the glamour is in Hollywood? This week on American Routes we’re going to the movies. John Sayles, writer-director of such classic films as “Lonestar” and “Matewan” talks about how he uses music to evoke emotion. French Canadian director Andre Gladu shares his documentary vision and stories of following music along the Mississippi and French Louisiana. Plus composer Thomas Newman takes us behind the scenes of Altman’s “The Player,” Disney’s “Wall-E” and more.

Bluegrass Breakdown – Spring Creek Live
They’ve won the best band contests at both Telluride and Rocky Grass. They’ve got soul, flash, panache, class and a sense of adventure that’s second to none. All the way from Lyons, CO, Spring Creek will be razzling and dazzling live the middle portion of the program. We’ll also be tracking new cuts from the likes of High Country, Crooked Still, Buddy Greene, Adam Steffey and the Dave Rawlings Machine.

Bluegrass Master Class – Banks of the Ohio #84
This week, you’ll have an unusual opportunity to contrast virtuoso mandolin styles of Jethro Burns, Buzz Busby, Sam Bush, John Duffey, Barry Mitterhoff, Bill Monroe, Bob Osborne, Akira Otsuka, Red Rector, Herschel Sizemore, Andy Statman, and Frank Wakefield. There are also rare and historic live cuts from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. A production of the International Bluegrass Music Museum, hosted by Fred Bartenstein.

Bluegrass Review
The show opens up with a couple of songs about an age-old bluegrass topic: running moonshine. Then, we play Randy Kohrs’ new song inspired by the legend of bluesman Robert Johnson. On the Gem of Bluegrass, a look at banjo evolution. Then, we talk to modernistic banjo composer, Lance Rhicard of Duluth, MN about his banjo style. Before we’re done today, we play a few more happy sounding sad songs. To contact host Phil Nusbaum, the email address is pnusbaum@bitstream.net. The playlist is located at www.bluegrassreview.com. Join the Bluegrass Review discussion on Facebook. Just do a Facebook search for Bluegrass Review. Then join the conversation.

Bluegrass Signal – More Songs About the Moon
Originally broadcast on the night of the Wolf Moon (the year’s first full moon), but there are a number of bluegrass songs about a blue moon, as well as new, quarter, Cumberland, Kentucky, Missouri, old, and crazy moons.

*The Dick Spottswood Show
Fred Rose (1898-1954) is one of Nashville’s authentic legends, based on his extraordinary work during the last dozen years of his life, when he headed the town’s first music publishing agency and composed a host of hits that kept Acuff-Rose in business and helped country music prosper. We hear less often about Rose’s wonderful songs and stomps from the 1920s, when his tunes were recorded by New Orleans legends Freddie Keppard, King Oliver and Jimmie Noone, among others. In the 1940s he mentored Hank Williams and Molly O’Day, while keeping Roy Acuff and Bob Wills supplied with great songs too. Enjoy both sides of a remarkable American music genius on this week’s Obsiolete Music Hour.

*etown – John Hiatt and Brandi Carlile
eTown goes “on the road” for its first-ever taping in Aspen, Colorado, at the historic Wheeler Opera House. Exquisitely talented singer-songwriter, John Hiatt, makes his return to eTown, and sends out a set of stripped down versions of his always amazingly crafted songs. And another fine performer and stellar singer, Brandi Carlile makes her eTown return, too, along with her talented band.

The Free for All – Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. LIVE, Friday 9 p.m.-12 a.m.

The Gary Henderson Show – Saturday 8-11 a.m. LIVE, Monday 12 p.m.,

The Katy Daley Show - Monday- Friday LIVE, 7-10 a.m. ET

The Lee Michael Demsey Show – Saturday 11a.m.-2p.m., Monday- Friday LIVE, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET

Lonesome Pine RFD with Carol Beaugard – Mon. 12 a.m., Wed. 9 p.m., Thurs. 12 p.m.

*Mountain Stage
Featuring Fountains of Wayne, Cowboy Junkies, Clarence Bucaro, Lee Harvey Osmond, Ana Egge. View Playlist.

Music from Foggy Hollow
In Music from Foggy Hollow from Australia this week Mike Kear’s featuring the second bluegrass CD from a music veteran – Michael Martin Murphey has already carved a career in cowboy music, and now he’s grammy-nominated with his bluegrass work. Mike talks about Michael Martin Murphey’s career and plays music from the CD. Also on the show this week, new music from comedian, film star and now banjo player Steve Martin, Patty Loveless, Josh Williams, the Chapmans, And “the best undiscovered band around, Detour”. It’s not a serious show, there’s time for some fun too. It’s another packed show of wholesome bluegrass fun, so don’t miss it!

Old Time Jam
This week, our mix of dance tunes, listening tunes and songs will feature such artists as Brett Ratliff, Jane Rothfield, Chris Coole, Craig Johnson, Rafe Stefanini, Alice Gerrard and Mike Seeger, Craig Johnson, the Volo Bogtrotters and the Run of the Mill, Whoopin-Hollar, Foghorn and Double Eagle Stringbands. Included are three tunes associated with American Presidents in one way or another.

Open Mic – Bill Monroe
This week we’re focusing on Bill Monroe. In the first hour we’ll hear from several musicians and Bluegrass Country hosts this hour with reflections both historical and personal on the man and his music.

In the second hour we take a trip back to 1982, Lee Michael Demsey pulled a tape out of the WAMU archives featuring Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys performing in February 1982 before a packed house at the Departmental Auditorium, now known as the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, in Washington D.C.

The Ray Davis Show – Monday- Friday LIVE, 3-6p.m., Sunday 10am-1p

Rotating Shows
The Bill Miller Show – Sunday 3 a.m. (March 7)
The Tom “Cat” Reeder Show – Tuesday 12 p.m., Thursday 12 a.m., Sunday 3 a.m. (March 14)

Special Programming - Tina Adair & The Farewell Drifters LIVE
This week we’re presenting performances recorded during our live broadcast at the 2009 IBMA World of Bluegrass. We’ll hear from The Tina Adair Band as well as The Farewell Drifters. They stopped by our temporary studio in Nashville, Tennessee to chat and play some tunes.

LIVE Stained Glass Bluegrass hosted by Bob Webster
The rare first recording of the Country Gentlemen gets an airing on this edition. The late John Duffey wrote “Heavenward Bound” as one side of the 45 rpm record by the Gentlemen released in late 1957, so we’ll revisit that selection as well as a new upcoming release by Canaan’s Crossing: “Dying To Live Again.”

Is your song book dog-eared to those favorite selections for singing along with the old hymns at the start of the third hour?

*Thistle and Shamrock – Fiddle Styles
Sample the tasty fiddle flavors of music from Celtic roots with Catriona MacDonald, Pete Clark and Celtic Fiddle Festival.

LIVE *Traditions with Mary Cliff – Saturday 2-6 p.m.

Uptown Bluegrass with George McKnight – 28 Years of Pickin’ Part 1
This week, our show celebrates 28 years of Uptown Bluegrass. We have dusted off many of the songs & tunes which we featured back in March 1982 and in the following years. We have several “vintage vinyl moments” complete with occasional LP groove scratches on these grand old songs. We are proud to feature historical songs and tunes from both Canada and the US on this show. Next week, we’ll spin more of the same music on part 2 of this theme. Listeners are encouraged to email us with any song requests they would like to hear at georgemcknight@telus.net.

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