by Christine | May 5, 2011 | Welcome Column
Last month at the campout in Turlock, we brought along our young cat Vern, who was suffering from what turned out to be an incurable illness. That illness claimed his life last Monday, but we’ll always have fond memories and photos of Vern enjoying a bluegrass jam...
by Christine | Dec 19, 2019 | Welcome Column
Back in the 1980s there was a running joke in the magazine of the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association (MBOTMA). Musicians would be asked “What do you keep in your instrument case, as well as your instrument?” I may be an unduly suspicious...
by Christine | Nov 20, 2016 | Welcome Column
There I was, sitting in one of the Nashville Mellow Mushroom pizzerias after spending 3 days totally geeking out on everything Dobro. Yep, for the dobro heads reading this I am reporting as a student from the aftermath of that annual apocalyptic event called...
by Christine | Jan 31, 2018 | Welcome Column
Introduction To PoetryI ask them to take a poemand hold it up to the light like a color slideor press an ear against its hive.I say drop a mouse into a poemand watch him probe his way out,or walk inside the poem’s roomand feel the walls for a light switch.I want...
by Christine | May 13, 2013 | Welcome Column
Some people give Milton Harkey and Doyle Lawson credit for creating the “family friendly” bluegrass festival out of the chaos of festivals in the 1970’s. As nearly as I can tell, the first recognizable multi-day bluegrass festival held in Fincastle, VA over...
by Christine | Sep 20, 2019 | Welcome Column
(Editors Note: Dave’s Welcome from back in 2017. RC)Deadlines are tough when you are the road. I thought this five week month was going to be a piece of cake for putting together my Welcome column but here I am on Labor Day working on a deadline. I have...
by Christine | Nov 21, 2018 | Welcome Column
I’m thankful that I have the Wednesday Welcome Message, so I get to have the Thanksgiving Eve message every year! I am thankful that I live in a country where I can end the title of this message with a preposition without fear of government reprisal. (Although I...
by Christine | Apr 29, 2020 | Welcome Column
Like all of us, I had to find Stuff To Do during the 2020 Shelter In Place.MusicWell, at first I was too bummed about so many gigs being cancelled. But gradually, I got back into playing, and now I am sharing files and access to online studios with a couple of bands,...
by Christine | Nov 25, 2020 | Welcome Column
The way this year has gone, it almost sounds like the title of this column is a joke. Nothing could be further from the truth. First of all, I’m sorry to post this a little late – I was renewing my CBA membership, and I am thankful the CBA has rallied this...
by Christine | Nov 8, 2014 | Welcome Column
What if Bill Monroe had never been born? Would the foundation of bluegrass music have been created, as we know it, with Bill, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, and the other bluegrass boys back in the 1940’s? And the big question that affects us in the here and now is,...
