Bluegrass Beat

By Berk Bryant

September can really fill up a fellow's calendar. It was busy, mostly in a good way. We also had a tad of things on the way, like cold fall weather and, most likely, colder winter weather. So, October, you are it now. Guess you're going to get out your paint brush and start your artistic coloring of the leaves and then bring them down for us to have to get up. October is also Trick or Treat time. I think that comes in two forms -- the door bell ringers on Halloween or the often-changing weather. Hang in there y'all, the holidays are coming.

September 12, 13 and 14 drew people to Owensboro for the Bill Monroe Centennial Celebration. The Bluegrass Boys and Legends of the music who could make it were there. It was a very good feeling to see and chat with many of them again ... to renew old friends and acquaintances and make new ones. Ginger Boatwright with the Doug Dillard Band was there. I had met her one time, years ago at Renfro Valley. She had a new CD at the time and I got one. I have played from it many times on "Sunday Bluegrass" and really like her material. She had two others this time and you'll be hearing these. Ginger is a great performer, full of life and is a cancer survivor. She is very congenial and easy to visit with. Also enjoyed visiting with Doug.

Rodney Dillard and his band were also there. Chatted with him a bit. I have gotten four volumes (CDs) from "New Cuts Of Bluegrass." This is a service similar to the Prime Cuts Of Bluegrass, now out of business. Rodney has a song on this that's a good'un. I think I heard the song a long time ago. The title is "Don't Wait For The Hearse To Take You To Church." I hope I might get the complete CD.

Others who were there and performed included Dr. Ralph Stanley, Eddie Adcock, Earl Scruggs & Family and Friends, J.D. Crowe, Bobby Osborne and many other top names.

Now for that other news of the month. As many of you probably already know, another of the pioneers of the music passed away on the 13^{th ...} Wade Mainer, at age 104, developer of the two-finger style of banjo, originally from North Carolina, and living in Flint, Michigan, many years. I felt very privileged to have known Wade and Julie Mainer the last 25 years. They became good friends.

Another "passing" note ... Wilma Lee Cooper, Grand Ole Opry member, died the 15^th. Wilma Lee and Stony Cooper were longtime members of the Opry.

What's happening …

JAMS: Colesburg, Friday nights, 6:30. Hillsville City Hall, Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Silver Heights Bingo Hall, Tuesday nights. McQuady Fire Dept., McQuady, Kentucky, Thursday, 6 p.m. Vine Grove, Kentucky, Optimist Park. The Belle of Louisville Bluegrass Lunch Cruise, 2nd. White Russians, the 9th. Bluezengrass, the16^th. Kentucky Blue, 23^rd. EZ Pickens *****

The Museum Of Appalachia Norris, Tennessee, Oct. 7, 8 and 9.

Sunday Bluegrass, WFPK 91.9 FM, 8-11 p.m. Y'all be careful now. The holidays will be here before you know it.