| MEMBER NEWS
Report from Clarksville by Patsy Weiler
The Nashville Old-Time String Band Association saw their
commitment to passing on the heritage of traditional music to young
people yield high dividends at the 30th annual State of Tennessee
Old-Time Fiddlers’ Competition at Clarksville
on March 26 and 27. Many of the young names that took home honors are
members of our organization.
Rebekah Weiler
snagged the 2004 State of Tennessee Old Time Banjo Championship. She played a rousing version
of “Snowdrop,” a song made popular by the late Kirk McGee. He and his
brother, Sam, were one of the earliest acts on the Grand Ole Opry and
often played with Uncle Dave Macon. Accompanying Rebekah on guitar
was Dennis Baumgardner.
In what was a close contest, second-place honors were
taken by Nic Andal who played a lively old fiddle tune called
“Woodchoppers Reel.” Nic was accompanied by his brother, Tyler
Andal, on guitar.
On Friday night, the old time string band Delmer Holland
and The Blue Creek Ramblers, of which Rebekah is a member, won
first place in the old-time band competition. Members of the band include
Delmer Holland (fiddle), Leland Holland (rhythm guitar), Dennis Baumgardner
(lead guitar), Rebekah Weiler (banjo) and William Moore (upright
bass). Many people aren't aware of the fact that when Delmer and Leland,
who are first cousins, were teenagers, they played with the late Grand
Ole Opry fiddler Arthur Smith. Smith lived near their home in Waverly,
Tennessee, and they often joined him playing for
square dances. The ages of the Blue Creek Ramblers range from 70 to
18. Although some of the members of the band have been playing for
more than 50 years, they recently released their first ever CD called
Keeping the Tradition Alive.
Landing second place in the Old-Time String Band contest
was Pappy Lewis and The Boys. Heading up this group is a fine guitar
player named Lewis Taylor who lives in the North
Georgia area. Bill Jones, Barry Jones, and Nic Andal
were all part of this group.
Our organization made a fine showing in the fiddle competitions
as well. Bill Jones, accompanied by his father Barry Jones
and Ronnie McKee, won second place in the junior fiddle contest.
In the beginning fiddle contest, Tyler Andal, accompanied by
Barry Jones and Ronnie McKee, took home second place,
and Jewelia Lawrence, who was joined on stage by her father Jim
Lawrence and Barry Jones, took third. A young fiddler from
Arkansas, Brandon Apple, won the junior fiddle
contest and took the fiddle off.
Report from Dahlonega, Georgia by Darlyne Kent
Jim Hornsby, Martin Fisher, Drew Fedak, Don Masters,
and Don and Darlyne Kent attended Bear on the Square Festival
in Dahlonega, Georgia,
the weekend of April 17 and 18. It was fabulous! The weather could
not have been any better unless there had been more shade! The turn-out
and the music were great.
This is one of the few festivals organized around the town square with lots
of neat little shops and great restaurants. It is the best festival
for nonpaying attendees, and there were several free workshops for pickers
and singers. The town is quaint, set in the mountains of North
Georgia. Several folks who attended Breakin' Up Winter were there too,
and it's always great to see familiar faces!
Report
from Holladay (and more)
by Patsy Weiler
On April 17 at Holladay, Tennessee, Nic Andal took first
place in guitar, and Jewelia Lawrence took first place in beginning
fiddler. Rebekah Weiler wasn't feeling well and did not compete.
Recently Jewelia Lawrence and
Rebekah Weiler went into the recording studio at the Renaissance
Center in Dickson to record music that will
be used on an educational video about the Civil War battle at Fort Donelson. A
video and music CD will be made to go into classes for students in middle
schools and high schools. The project should be completed by late summer,
2004.
The old time string band Delmer Holland
and The Blue Creek Ramblers, of which Rebekah Weiler is a member,
played the Pioneer Days Festival on Saturday, April 24, which marks
the opening of the season for the Cannonsburgh
Pioneer Village in Murfreesboro.
New Editor for the NOTSBA Newsletter
Phil Sparks has agreed take over the newsletter. We all appreciate the work
Joy Andal has done, and Phil hopes he can do half as well as Joy did.
If you have ideas for improving the newsletter or if you have information you
want to submit, please contact Phil at:
2020 Claylick Road
White Bluff, TN
37187
(615) 797-4356
kpsparks@msn.com
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