(Editor’s Note–Okay, this one REALLY IS Kay’s Welcome column. I won’t offer an excuse for mistakenly plugging in Ellie Withnall’s “Humidity,” column set to air later this month because, hey, you know what they say about an excuse…”an excuse and six bucks will buy you a pumpkin latte at Starbuck’s.” So without further adieu, here’s Kay Nichols’ first, but certainly not last, Welcome column…)
I love to volunteer! – really… Although, as it is with all the CBA board members, I knew who Rick Cornish was, we had never personally interacted. As he was camped near me at the Fall Campout we began getting to know each other. After a couple fiddle tunes, a glass of wine and some conversation I found myself volunteering to help with the new CBA website. Pretty easy, I think… Choose some interesting videos and/articles to post each day. I am now challenged to a more difficult task. A Welcome Column. Just once a month. Rick has emailed me some ideas so I think it is best to start there.
Item 4: my ‘Hooked on Bluegrass’ experience – in 750 words.
I can’t remember the year, (3o? years ago), but it was before the big stage was in the spot it is now, I was invited by a friend and her boyfriend to go to the Father’s Day Festival. So, toting my Yamaha classical guitar and an old fiddle my mother-in-law gave me, I went. Now, first I want to say that I had always been a music lover and a guitar player (take that lightly). I had attended festivals, concerts and campfire parties – and even participated in a few. I was familiar with folk and Americana music. That’s what bluegrass is, right? Boy was I wrong!
I met some wonderful people during the first few days. Paul, Herman, Fred, Rhonda, Kathy, Elena and so many more tried very hard to introduce me to the bluegrass beat and intonation that makes this genre such an individual and distinct musical entity. I believe it was meeting and playing with Elena Corey that finally turned the corner for me. I was so engrossed in the jam sessions and meeting all the wonderful people, I can’t even remember who the stage acts were. It was providence then that our local music store was advertising a new Martin guitar, a D-1, at an introductory price. I bought that and a banjo! The banjo was too hard (like patting your head and rubbing your tummy) but the guitar was great. Except for bleeding fingers from the steel strings I learned “Hot Corn Cold Corn” and “Dark Hollow”. Finding that picking detracted too much from the social aspect of the jams I decided to stick with rhythm. I am now learning to play the bass which is a great fit and wonderfully fun! As I continued to attend campouts and festivals there are those that I look forward to seeing, playing, visiting and learning with. Each event adds another song or another friend to the mix. Last year I had an opportunity to go to the Black Hills Music Festival in Sturgis, SD. Can you believe there was NO jamming! I was afraid I had gotten the dates wrong. Others have said it is the same in other states too. Aside from Washington and Arizona, California is definitely the place for the week-long jam!
Although I am still a bit ‘outside’ the proper and traditional way of the true bluegrass player, there is no other music that stirs the music in me than when I am included in a jam where the musicians finger fly and the words cry.
Which brings me to the volunteering part. Being a part of it all is going to, I know, enrich my bluegrass musical experiences and my bluegrass friendships. I am attempting to begin with a GETTING TO KNOW YOU column. Many times we spend a week around people we’ve known for years and yet know very little about other than their music. I am interested, and I know others are too. I welcome emails from any member who wishes to participate… you can write it or I will happily do it for you. Pknichols2004@yahoo.com
Don’t count the words, I have come up a bit short, like forgetting that third verse to a song I’ve known for years, I am sure I have forgotten so much that is and was important at the time.
