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Volume 32, No. 2 Copyright © Central Texas Bluegrass Association February, 2010
House of Representatives Honors Lester Flatt
T he following resolution was introduced in the United States House by Representative Lin-
coln Davis of Tennessee back in June, 2009, and passed on Tuesday, January 26. Repre-
sentative Davis is from Fentress County, northeast of White County where Lester Flatt was
born. Who says Congress can’t act with lightning speed when it has to?
HRES 583 IH
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 583
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Lester Flatt has made an invaluable
contribution to American art as both a songwriter and a performer, leaving an indelible legacy
in bluegrass music.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 25, 2009
Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee (for himself, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. SHULER, Mr. CHILDERS, Mr.
COOPER, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. COBLE, Mr. TANNER, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts,
Mr. DUNCAN, and Mr. MCGOVERN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on Education and Labor
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Lester Flatt has made an invaluable
contribution to American art as both a songwriter and a performer, leaving an indelible legacy
in bluegrass music. (continued on page 3)
2
The Central Texas Bluegrass Bulletin is published by the Central Texas Bluegrass Association, a 501(c)(3) tax-
exempt Texas nonprofit corporation. Contributions are deductible as charitable and educational donations. Work
published in this Bulletin is used by permission of the writers, artists, and photographers, who retain all copy-
rights.
Jami Hampton, President Central Texas Bluegrass Association
Billy Bright, board member Box 9816
Eddie Collins, board member Austin, Texas 78766
Sam Dunn, board member/Treasurer (512) 261-9440
Mike Hurlbut, board member www.centraltexasbluegrass.org/
Clay Levit, board member Tracy Sloan, board member
Janice Rogers, board member Carrie Thielemann, board member
Rixi Rosenberg, board member Ken Brown, Bulletin editor
From the historical photo archive: Danger in the Air at the Kerrville Bluegrass Festival, September,
1986. Left to right, Drew Garrett (bass), Robin Macy (guitar), James McKinney (banjo), and Andy
Owens (mandolin). Robin later went on to join the Dixie Chicks, and after leaving the Chicks, moved to
Kansas and joined Big Twang. I assume this photo was taken before fiddler Stephen Dudash joined the
band. Danger in the Air released two albums that I know of, Danger in the Air (1988) and Airtight
(1990). This Dallas-area band was probably about fifteen years ahead of the times. If they’d come along
a little later and gotten the right breaks, they could have made it to the national level the same way
Cadillac Sky has. At the time, they were the best band in Texas, in my opinion. If you want to hear
Robin with the Dixie Chicks, check out Thank Heavens for Dale Evans (1990). Check out Andy Owens
at: www.andyowens.com/ Photo by Ken Brown.
3
(continued from page 1)
Whereas Lester Flatt was born on June 19, 1914, in the region of Sparta, Tennessee;
Whereas Lester Flatt began playing guitar and singing in local churches at a young age;
Whereas Lester Flatt got his first break playing with Charlie Monroe and the Kentucky Pard-
ners in North Carolina in the early 1940s;
Whereas in 1945, Lester Flatt was invited by Bill Monroe to play rhythm guitar and sing with
Monroe's band on the Grand Ole Opry;
Whereas Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Chubby Wise, Howard Watts, and Bill Monroe are widely
credited with the creation of bluegrass music through their band, Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass
Boys;
Whereas Lester Flatt later joined with Earl Scruggs to create the band Flatt and Scruggs and the
Foggy Mountain Boys, which remains one of the most influential bands in bluegrass music;
Whereas in 1969, Lester Flatt parted with Scruggs to form the band Nashville Grass, with
whom he performed until shortly before his death on May 11, 1979;
Whereas in 1991, Lester Flatt, along with Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs, became an inaugural
member of the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame; and
Whereas Lester Flatt is widely regarded as one of the greatest bluegrass musicians and singers
of all time, writing dozens of songs that are considered bluegrass classics: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that Lester Flatt has made an in-
valuable contribution to American art as both a songwriter and a performer, leaving an indelible
legacy in bluegrass music.
January Board Meeting
The January CTBA board meeting was held on Wednesday, the 20th at Fiddler’s Green (a last-
minute change from the New World Deli). Newly-elected and continuing board members met,
heard a financial report from Sam Dunn, and held an extra-long meeting to do some creative
thinking about possible future directions for the association. Shepherded by Eddie Collins, eve-
rybody present broke up into small groups whose goal was to come up with three ideas each for
future enterprises. Here are some ideas that were presented for consideration:
Take a leading role ins sponsoring music events
Coordinate a monthly jam/stage show like the ones sponsored by BABA or Spring Creek
Extend outreach beyond the Austin metropolitan area
Provide a musician contact service
Organize more social events like the recent Zilker Park jam
(continued on page 4)
4
(continued from page 3)
Host a special event to commemorate the tenth anniversary of O Brother, Where Art Thou?
More CTBA-sponsored workshops (these could be instrumental, vocal, or ―other‖)
Resume the Bluegrass in the Schools program, which has become inactive
Create a permanent publicity chairperson, instead of organizing publicity on an ad hoc basis
for each event; this could even possibly become an officer position
Collaborate more with AFTM
Establish a greater presence at local Farmers’ Markets
Support HAMM, the musicians’ health alliance
Make the local film industry aware of CTBA and its function
After review, the consensus that emerged was that most members wanted to see the CTBA take
a leading role in at least one event of some kind during each quarter of the year. For the calen-
dar year 2010, these events might be:
Spring: RiceGrass festival
Summer: annual band scramble and garage sale
Fall: O Brother anniversary celebration
Fall: Participate in AFTM Fall Festival
The consensus was also that a monthly stage show is beyond our present capabilities, but could
be planned for the future.
Jim Moratto Joins South Plains Faculty
Banjo picker Jim Moratto has joined the faculty of South Plains College as Instructor in Com-
mercial Music, filling the position that Alan Munde vacated when he retired in 2006. Jim at-
tended Sam Houston State in Huntsville for a while, played with Johnnie Martin and the Blue-
grass Ramblers (Russell Moore was the bass player in that band), and then joined Bill Monroe
and the Blue Grass Boys in 1973. He can also be heard on an LP recorded live at Vanderbilt
University in 1974, Lester Flatt Live! Bluegrass Festival With Guest Bill Monroe (RCA APL1-
0588). He then spent several years working in bluegrass and country music, and returned to col-
lege (Mesa State College, Grand Junction, Colorado) and earned a political science degree in
1989. In 2005, he released his own CD, Possum on the Half Shell (Rehashed Records). For a
while, he was also the banjo picker for Aubrey Skeen and his Houston-area band, No Strings
Attached. At South Plains, he’ll give banjo lessons, lead ensembles, and direct the student TV
production, Picking on the Plains.
Pinecastle Records Goes Under
Pinecastle Records, founded in 1990 by Tom Riggs in Florida (you may have heard him on his
syndicated bluegrass radio show in the past), and label home to some great records by the Gib-
son Brothers, David Parmley and Continental Divide, Kristin Benson, Sally Jones, and many
others, is going out of business on February, as a result of Tom’s health problems and the cur-
rent economy. Pinecastle products will still be available through Music Shed and elsewhere.
5
Evolution of the Bulletin: Left to right, Volume 1, Number 1 of the Bluegrass Newsletter (April, 1977);
the first issue of the Bluegrass Bulletin (un-numbered and undated, but from Spring, 1987); and an issue
from the 1990s with the two-color cover (Volume 18, Number 1, February-March, 1996) advertising
Laurie Lewis and Grant Street.
Some Factoids About the Bulletin
The Central Texas Bluegrass Bulletin began publication in 1987, but it’s actually the direct lin-
eal descendant of the Bluegrass Newsletter, a publication started in April, 1977, by Don Rod-
gers. The first 15 issues of the Bulletin had no volume or issue number, but the numbering starts
with Volume 12, Number 1, because continuity was maintained with its predecessor, the News-
letter. So even though that first issue of the Bulletin has no date or number on it, we know it’s
Volume 11, Number 3, and dates from sometime in the spring of 1987. Because the cost of
color printing is prohibitive, the Bulletin has always been printed in black and white, except for
two issues (Volume 28, numbers 2 and 8) printed in 2006. For a time in the 1990s, a teal color
(or ―bluegrass blue,‖ as I like to think of it) was used on the front and back cover. Beginning in
August, 2003 (Volume 25, Number 8), the association began offering members the option of
receiving either a printed hard copy or a PDF file. The Bulletin is now produced in two editions,
a black and white printed copy, and a color edition in PDF format. Each issue is 12 pages long.
Members who opt for the PDF file can read it onscreen or print it out with whatever kind of
printer they might have, color or black and white. As of January 27, we had 165 members, of
which about 30% receive the printed copy. The 48 members who receive the printed copy (and
this includes 11 recipients like South Plains College who receive complementary copies) con-
tribute about $850 in dues per year, which more than covers the annual printing cost, currently
running about $816, even when the ―comped‖ members who pay nothing are included. In the
spring and fall, when there are likely to be full-page festival ads, (continued on next page)
6
For Sale:
Seagull Series S Grand guitar in near-perfect condition, with cardboard case (personally deco-
rated with faux zebra lining!) and Levi cotton guitar strap decorated with jalapeños. $275
Guitar stand. $8
Contact: Stephen Mangold, (512) 345-6155
Part of the audience at the Spring Creek Bluegrass Club monthly jam, Saturday, January 23 at Coushatte
Ranch, near Bellville. Despite the cold, windy weather, the room was packed for the stage show.
(continued from previous page) the ads themselves often pay for the printing. Months with two
full-pages ads not only pay for the printing, but generate a small profit that can be used for
months with little advertising. In addition to print costs, there is also the cost of postage. In pre-
vious years, before there was an electronic edition, and when our membership was higher than
it is now, the Bulletin was mailed at bulk mail rates (and we had to sort them by ZIP code,
too!). But now we no longer qualify, so we must pay first class postage. At least we don’t have
to sort a couple of hundred Bulletins each month. After the events calendar is compiled for pub-
lication each month, a copy is sent to our webmaster, Jim Umbarger, who posts it upfront on
the CTBA web site, on or about the first of the month. He also sometimes adds late-breaking
events that come to light after press time.
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8
Events calendar: February, 2010
Thursday-Sunday, February 4-7: SPBGMA Awards, Sheraton Music City Hotel, Nashville.
Friday-Sunday, February 5-7: Hill Country Winter Acoustic Jam Camp, Mt. Wesley Conference Center,
Kerrville; www.hcamp.org
Friday, February 5, 7 PM: Blacktop Bend at Waterloo Ice House (Slaughter/Escarpment), 9600 Escarp-
ment Blvd.; 301-1007.
Saturday, February 6, 10 AM: The Sieker Band at San Saba Civic Center, San Saba.
Saturday, February 6, 6:30 PM: the Lost Pines at Central Market North, 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000.
Sunday, February 7, 11 AM: The Sieker Band at Hills Café, 4700 South Congress; 851-9300.
Sunday, February 7, 6 PM: Two High String Band at Cheatham Street Warehouse, San Marcos
Thursday, February 11, 6:30-8:30 PM: Bluegrass Open Mike at New World Deli, 4101 Guadalupe; 451-
7170 www.newworlddeli.com
Friday, February 19, 8 PM: House concert with Orrin Star; for reservations and directions, call (512)
476-3991 or E-mail <[email protected]>.
Saturday, February 20, 1-3:15 PM: Guitar workshop with Orrin Star (Intro to Norman Blake’s Style);
for registration and directions, E-mail <[email protected]> or call (301) 773-6149.
Saturday, February 20, 5 PM: Blacktop Bend at Patsy’s Cowgirl Café, 5001 E. Ben White Blvd.; 444-
2020
Saturday, February 20, 6:30 PM: The Lost Pines at Central Market Westgate, 4477 South Lamar.
Sunday, February 21, noon-3 PM: Mandolin workshops (noon and 3 PM) with Orrin Star at Fiddler’s
Green; mandolin jam, 2-3 PM. www.fiddlersgreenmusicshop.com/home.html
Friday, February 26, 3:30 PM: The Sieker Band at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Saturday, February 27, 7:30 PM: The Sieker Band at ArtZ Rib House, 2330 S. Lamar; 442-8283.
Sunday, February 28, 6:30-8:30 PM: Eddie Collins at ArtZ Rib House, 2330 S. Lamar; 442-8283.
9
CTBA Artists and Bands Austin Lounge Liz-ards Mike Drudge
615-262-6886 www.austinlizards.com
Back Up and Push Ben Hodges , 751-3086 [email protected] www.myspace.com/backupandpush
Blacktop Bend George Rios, 619-8536 [email protected]
Blazing Bows Mary Hattersley, 873-8925
Bluegrass Vatos Danny Santos, 218-4141 danny@dannysantosmusic .com
Brian Byrne and Borrowed Time www.myspace.com/ brian-byrneandborrowedtime 699-9251 [email protected]
BuffaloGrass Don Inbody, 295-6977 [email protected]
Cooper’s Uncle [email protected] 512-736-2664
David & Barbara Brown 361-985-9902 [email protected]
Dear Henry Band Chris Brewster 512-693-4648 www.dearhenrymusic.com
Eddie Collins 512-836-8255 www.eddiecollins.biz [email protected]
Grass Onions Band Jon Ricketts <[email protected]> 217-6437
The Grazmatics L. Wayne Ross 512-303-2188
Howard Rains
7704 Peaceful Hill Lane Austin, Tx 78748 512-577-0851
The Ledbetters Spencer Drake 830-660-2533 [email protected]
The Lost Pines Talia Sekons [email protected] www.lostpinesband.com
Manchaca All-Stars B. Buchanan 512-282-2756 manchacaallstars@ email.com
Out of the Blue Jamie Stubblefield 512-295-5325 [email protected]
The Piney Grove Ramblers Wayne Brooks 512-699-8282 877-899-8269 www.pgramblers.com
Randy’s Rangers Sigi Field 512-869-8076 http://pages. sud-denlink.net/jrf/rr/
The Sieker Band Rolf & Beate Sieker 512-733-2857 www.siekerband.com
String Beans Mike Montgomery 512-517-6753 [email protected]. utexas.edu
Two High String Band Geoff Union
512-563-9821 [email protected]
Wayward Pony Dale Albright dale-mandolin@austin. rr.com www.waywardpony.com
The Wimberley Bunch Charlie & Sally Lewis Box 2077 Canyon Lake, Tx 78133 (830) 899-7511
All bands listed are members of the CTBA. See the membership form on the back cover for information on band membership.
Randalls Good Neighbor Program To designate your contribution to the CTBA, go to the address below,
print the form and fill it out, and take to your local store:
http://shop.safeway.com/corporate/randalls/gn_houston_austin.pdf
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CTBA Business Members
Overton Bluegrass Festival Overton Bluegrass Festival
City of Overton Sponsoring Bluegrass and Gospel Music
www.overtonbluegrass.com
Don Eaves
[email protected] Drawer D
903-834-3171 Overton, Texas 75684
Sponsored by City of Early
Charlotte Parrack
325-646-8531 300 Early Blvd.
P.O. Box 483
Grapeland, Tx 75884 www.salmonlakepark.com
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CTBA Area Jams and Events AUSTIN AREA, CTBA Beginner/Intermed. Jam 1st. & 3rd Thu. 7-9
PM, Steve Mangold 512-345-6155
CTBA 2nd & 4th Sat , ArtZ Rib House, slow
jam begins 2 PM; Beginner/Intermed. Jam 4-6
PM; contact: Steve Mangold 345-6155
Jam Session: Sunday at ArtZ Rib House, 2-6
PM
Live Bluegrass Show: ArtZ Rib House Sun-
day 6 pm; 512-442-8283
AAAMS Jam 2nd & 4th Wed. Leander/Cedar
Park Fine Arts Academy, 200 Buttercup Rd, Ste. 104, Cedar Park, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, 512-
401-8863
AFTM Contradance: 3rd Sat. 3501 Red River
7:30 to 11 pm, $7 453-8936
AFTM Jam Session: 2nd Sun at ArtZ Rib
House, 2330 S. Lamar, Austin, 2-4 PM
FIDDLER’S GREEN jam session in the
BARN out back behind the shop every 2nd and 4th Tuesday from 7 PM to 11 PM.
Phone: 512-452-3900
www.fiddlersgreenmusicshop.com
BANDERA
4th Friday of each month at Silver Sage Cor-ral– east of Bandera. Starts at 6:30 pm. For
more info call (830)796-3969 (Not on Good
Friday)
BELLVILLE
Spring Creek Club Jam/Show Jan. thru Sept 4th Sat; 4pm Jam, 6:30 pm show. Coushatte
Recreation Ranch 979-865-5250
[email protected] Plenty of RV camping and good food.
BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION, Brazos Country Grass Monday Jam, J.
Cody’s, 3610 S. College 6-9 PM
www.brazoscountrygrass.com
ELGIN
3rd Friday of each Month: Blue Fire-Station jam session, FM 696, 7-10 PM
FAYETTEVILLE: Texas Pickin’ Park: Jam 2nd Saturday, each
month beginning at 6 PM on the Courthouse
Square. Acoustic instruments only. For info: [email protected]
www.texaspickinpark.com
GARLAND
Bluegrass on the Square: Saturday, March-
November between Main and State Sts. At 6th, 7:30 PM to 1 AM
GEORGETOWN Randy’s Rangers Thursday Jam: Duke’s
BBQ Smokehouse, 6-8 PM, 512-869-8076 or
[email protected]> [email protected]
THE GROVE
Outside Pick General Store, 15 mi. west of
Temple on Hwy 36, Sat, 6pm until ?
Contact: Moody Anderson, 512-282-1215
HARWOOD
Stage Show & Jam Session 3rd Sat, 9 mi. E. of Luling, Hwy 90, 2 to 9 PM
HONDO
Hondo Hootenanny, 1 PM, Hondo Commu-nity Center, 1st Fri each month 830-426-3438
HOUSTON Second Saturday jam, 1-4 PM, sponsored by
BABA and the Houston Railroad Museum
(April-November), Houston Railroad Mu-seum, 7390 Mesa Road; www. houstonrrmu-
seum.org; 713-319-8906
LEAGUE CITY (BABA)
Jam & Free Bluegrass Show 3rd Sat: Jam 5
PM, Show 6:30 PM Jan- Nov., League City Civic Center, 300 W. Walker St. 281-636-
9419
LIBERTY HILL
4th Sat. Jam Session at 1-6 PM, Hwy 29
West, contact Paula at 512-778-5410
LILLIAN Third Friday show and jam, 10552 CR 519,
Lillian; 7 PM, $4; www.ntbluegrass.com or
817-929-8391
MANCHACA
Open jam every Thursday night from 7-9 PM at The Railroad BBQ on FM 1626 in Man-
chaca
McDADE
2nd Monday of each Month: McDade Jambo-
ree at the McDade VFW Post Hwy 290. 7-10 PM Call: 512-273-2307
MEDINA
2nd Tuesday—each month— all gospel jam at
the first Baptist Church—Medina. Starts at 6 PM; for info Linda Barton 830-589-2486
2nd Friday each month— The Medina Jam session will be held at the Masonic Lodge at
6:30 PM (bring covered dish)
PEARL
Jam & Stage Show, 1st Sat: Jam starts at
noon, show 4:30 PM, Hwy 183, 7 mi South of Purmela; contact: Ronald Medart 254-865
-6013 www.pearlbluegrass.com
SAN ANTONIO Open Bluegrass Jam Session Tuesdays, 6-8:30
PM, Grady’s BBQ Store No. San Pedro Ave,
at Jackson –Keller (beginner-friendly)
Beginner/Intermediate Bluegrass Jam 2nd
Thursday 7-9 pm at 6418 Ridgehurst, San
Antonio. Hosted by Clifton Bowren 210-602
-5544 [email protected]
SHULENBERG
RV Park community Center
2nd Tuesday of every month, 6:30—9:00 PM Laretta Baumgarten 979-743-4388
TOMBALL
Bluegrass jam at Kleb Woods Nature Center
and Preserve, 4th Saturday; 20301 Mueschke Road, Tomball. Tony Redding (281) 373-
1777.
WIMBERLEY
Bluegrass Jam Fri 8-12 pm, Lane’s Country
Café, Wimberley
Editor’s note: this list of jams
hasn’t been verified in a long
time. Call ahead before check-
ing out an unfamiliar jam, to
make sure it’s still active.
Central Texas Bluegrass Association P.O. Box 9816
Austin, Texas 78766
To:
