THE RHONDA VINCENT SHOW IN LAS VEGAS! ALL

LUEGRASS
NEWS
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January/February 2013
THE RHONDA VINCENT SHOW IN LAS VEGAS!
BLUEGRASS NEWS is a publication
of the SOUTHERN NEVADA
BLUEGRASS MUSIC SOCIETY, a
non-profit organization chartered
in 1975 for the preservation and
furtherance of Bluegrass and OldTime Music. BLUEGRASS NEWS
is published monthly, and is free to
members of SNBMS.
Any correspondence concerning
BLUEGRASS NEWS, its contents,
the SNBMS, or the officers elected
therin may be sent to BLUEGRASS
NEWS, c/o SOUTHERN NEVADA
BLUEGRASS MUSIC SOCIETY,
P.O. Box 363584, North Las Vegas,
NV 89030.
The Board of Directors
for SNBMS for 2013 is:
President
Leon Evans 463-3710
Bluegrass music in southern Nevada
hit the new year a-runnin' with
the concert Wednesday evening by
Rhonda Vincent and The Rage. Along
with opening act, Stuck In Reverse,
Rhonda drew a full house to the Sun
City McDonald Ranch auditorium.
Rhonda lived up to her title "Queen of
Bluegrass" as she performed with her
band, The Rage.
Members include Josh Williams
("Guitar Player of the Year" and now
famous as the "bird man" guitarist),
Hunter Berry ("Fiddle Player of the Year"), Mickey Harris on bass, Aaron McDaris on banjo and
Brent Burke on Dobro. The Rage is the most awarded group in bluegrass with over 80 awards to
their name.
Opening for Rhonda was the local band, "Stuck In Reverse" with Peggy Ruesch on guitar and
vocals, Jan Ruesch on bass, Vera Vann-Wilson on banjo, guitar and vocals, and Leon Evans with
vocals, mandolin and guitar. All are members of SNBMS.
Master of Ceremonies was Lynn Baldwin of the Nevada Old-Time Fiddlers and long-time friend
of Rhonda and her family. Rhonda received a standing ovation at the close of her show and many
folks are now asking about the possibility of other bluegrass events in the Las Vegas area. The
success of this concert was due largely to the wonderful support of the local fans, the Southern
Nevada Bluegrass Music Society, and the Nevada Old-Time Fiddlers.We think we are on the
verge of some new and exciting times for bluegrass fans in Southern Nevada. Keep tuned for
more news in the months to come!
Vice President
Vera Vann-Wilson 875-3579
Secretary
Betty Williams 873-5251
Treasurer
Veria Cripps 655-6201
Board Members
Al Bess 566-9372
Newsletter Editor
Glenn Nelson 702-274-1889
Hotline Telephone Number
702-834-5872
ALL
ASSOCIATION JAM
The All Association Jam will take place
March 8-10 about three miles north of
Quartzsite, Arizona. There will be open
jamming the entire weekend. Dry camping
is available (and preferred).
If you have questions or need more
information, please contact a
board member.
HOW TO FIND QUARTZSITE AND
THE ALL ASSOCIATION JAM
Take Boulder Highway (US 93/95) to the US 95
cutoff towards Searchlight. Continue south to
Interstate 40 then follow Interstate 40 east for
13 miles, picking up US 95 again and following
it south to Vidal Junction, California. Turning
on State Route 62 at Vidal Junction, travel east
again to Parker, Arizona, picking up State Route
95 to Quartzsite on Bureau of Land Management
property on the left as you head south on State
Route 95.
The Southern Nevada Bluegrass Music Society
P.O. Box 363584 North Las Vegas, NV 89030 Bluegrass Hotline (702) 834-5872
A Non-Profit Organization
BLUEGRASS NEWS
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The President’s Corner
by Leon Evans
I hope this issue finds all our members doing well in the new
year. We’ve had some changes on the board with our recent
elections. Al Bess is now a board member and Vera VannWilson is now the Vice President. Our other board members
have remained the same with Betty Williams as Secretary, Verla
Cripps as Treasurer, Glenn Nelson as News Letter Editor, and
Ron Williams and Sy Nielson as our other board members.
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Leon Evans and I’m the
new President of SNBMS. I’ve been a member of the board and
vice president over the last four years. I was also on the board
during the late 90’s prior to moving to Florida for work. I was on
the board of the South Florida Bluegrass Association for over five
years as well.
Something happened recently that should give us a renewed
interest in bluegrass. The visit and performance by Rhonda
Vincent and the Rage on January 2nd was a great success.
I’d like to recognize Jan and Peggy Reusch who helped get
everything in place with very little notice and made the
performance happen. Peggy got a call from Rhonda just three
weeks before the show asking if there was a way to get it to
happen and happen it did. We filled the MacDonald Ranch
Community Center with almost 300 people to see the show. Most
of them were members of SNBMS, Nevada Old Time Fiddlers
Association and a lot of their friends. The word was spread by
email, phone calls and visits. Thanks to everyone that came out.
Our own Stuck In Reverse opened the show and then Rhonda
and her band did almost 75 minutes of great music.
Now we need to keep the momentum going and get even more
interest in bluegrass going. We have some new members that
are working on a one day event in early April that will feature
some of our local bands. We’ll have more information to you as
this develops. There is now a Thursday night jam for bluegrass
and old time music on the north west part of the valley. The
Tuesday night jam is still going on in Henderson as well. While
not strictly bluegrass, it is acoustic and the Tuesday Night
Jammer’s have performed out at the Veteran’s Home on
various holidays.
If you have any information or ideas, let us know so we can keep
the music we love alive and kicking here in southern Nevada.
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BLUEGRASS NEWS
Uncle Pen
Oh, the people would come from far away
They’d dance all night till the break of day
UPCOMING
EVENTS
When the caller hollered “Do-se-do”
February
I knew Uncle Pen was ready to go.
February 5th-March 26th - Bluegrass
Jamming Class, 7-9 pm. For further
information and exact locations: register at
Bluegrassjamming.com, click “Jam classes”
or contact Vera Vann-Wilson: veravann@
centurylink.net, (702) 875-3579.
Chorus:
CLASSIFIED
ADS
•
Gold Tone open back 5 string
banjo gig bag, 5th string capo
mint condition $850 invested
asking $650. Regal Dobro, hard
case, upgraded spider and cone,
excellent condition (one mark
where I dropped the bar) $1000
invested asking $750.
If interested phone
775-513-8089 Pahrump.
(5/17/13)
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Late in the evenin’ about sundown
High on the hill and above the town
Uncle Pen played the fiddle,
oh how it would ring
You can hear it talk, you can hear it sing.
He played an old piece he called “Soldier’s Joy”
And the one called “The Boston Boy”
But the greatest of all was “Jenny Lynn”
To me that’s where the fiddle begins.
I’ll never forget that mournful day
When Uncle Pen was called away
He hung up his fiddle, hung up his bow
He knew it was time for him to go.
March
March 8,9,10 - All Association Jam, about
three miles north of Quartzsite, Arizona.
There will be open jamming the entire
weekend. Dry camping is available (and
preferred).
March 16 - Pick Out located at Morrell
Park near Lorna j. Kesterson Community
Park, 500 Harris Street in Henderson, NV
near Boulder Highway and Basic Road.
The music starts at 12 noon with a potluck
lunch scheduled around 2 p.m.
April
April 21- 28 - 15th Annual Pahrump
weekend dry campout hosted by
Norm & Karen Neismonger, at 3290
Winchester Ave, Pahrump, NV
89048. Potluck Sat 27th at 5pm. Also on
Saturday come celebrate Betty Williams
retirement. Bring a dish and chairs, for
more info call (775) 751-3871.
•
1977 Martin D 28 $2200. Call
Al Bess 566-9372 (5/17/13)
•
Bass for Sale: 4/4 copy of
Stradivatus Varussus by
KisoSusuki Violin Company
$600. Call Darla Sorensen at
(702) 205-0035 (9/17/13)
NEWSLETTER
DEADLINE
March/April Issue is issue will be
March 15, 2013
To avoid any delay in your
material reaching SNBMS
Newsletter, please send all
submissions for the newsletter
and any correspondence to:
SUNSHINE GIRLS
REPORT
Darla Sorensen and Betty Sisco are the Society Sunshine Girls. Call Darla (205-0035) or
Betty (564-5806) if you know of anyone needing a little sunshine for any reason. They also
offer an ear to bend if you need someone to talk to about a family illness, injury or other
tragedy in your life. Betty and Darla also act on happenings of a congratulatory manner.
We wish to extend our condolences to Darla for the loss of her sister Aris White. Aris and
her husband Roy were past members of SNBMS.
Glenn E. Nelson
7409 Enchanted Hills Ct.
Las Vegas, NV 89129
Phone: (702) 274-1889
E-mail: gnelson651@aim.com
NEWSLETTER STAFF
HA-HA
‘I could dance with you until the cows come home – on second thoughts,
I’d rather dance with the cows until you come home.’ Groucho Marx
Editor: Glenn Nelson
‘I grew up with six brothers. That’s how I learned to dance – waiting for
the bathroom.’ Bob Hope
Sunshine Girls Report:
Did you hear about the Irishman who went to the country to see a
barn dance?
Photographer: Glenn Nelson
-3-
Circulation: Betty Williams
Darla Sorenson & Betty Sisco
BLUEGRASS NEWS
Dear Editor,
Recently, the Southern Nevada Bluegrass Music Society’s
annual club meeting/pickout was held on the afternoon of
Saturday, January 4th, and elections of the club’s board
members were held.
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Leon Evans and Vera Vann were elected as the new
President and Vice President of our club giving Al Bess a
well deserved (and asked for) rest. Although Al will continue
to serve the club on the board and lend his knowledge and
advice to the new President and Vice President, he will no
longer be the President.
The purpose of this letter is to thank Al Bess for his long
dedication and service to SNBMS as President. He has
served this club in some capacity or another since the early
80’s (maybe even longer) and I personally, and on behalf of
the club’s board members and SNBMS members, would like
to express my sincere thanks for that dedication and service.
If any of you have ever been involved in putting on a
bluegrass festival, you know and realize the work that is
involved in coordinating such a task, and Al always did a
great job hiring bands and delegating jobs so that the festival
would come off smoothly.
Hopefully things will turn around in the economy, and we
can resume our festival activities in the future.
I would also like to welcome and congratulate Leon and Vera
to their new positions and look forward to working with them
in the future.
Once again, thank you Al Bess for a “job well done” over the
past 30 years.
Ron Williams
Note from the Editor
Bill Monroe “The Father of Bluegrass” started his formative
music career playing barn dances for his Uncle Penn. Bill’s
experience playing for his Uncle Penn was one element that
was influential for Bill Monroe as he later developed his
style of music referred to as Bluegrass. Bill wrote a song
about this experience in remembrance of his “Uncle Penn.”
Part II of “Where Fiddle Tunes are Put to Work” describes
the techniques of a barn dance
-4-
BLUEGRASS NEWS
Where Fiddle Tunes are
Put to Work, Part 2
The goal of the caller is to drop out after the dancers have memorized the
sequence, and let the dancers dance to the music. The music is played at
tempos in the vicinity of 108 to 120, and an individual dance may last from
5 to 10 minutes. The musicians commonly medley tunes together and add
variations to make the dance interesting to both them and the dancers. The
musicians can “control” the energy and mood on the dance floor with their
presentation of the tunes, key changes, rhythm, and chords. This symbiotic
relationship is appreciated by all.
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Thus the musicians play a vital role in the contra dance evening. The
Las Vegas contra dancers have been blessed with the enthusiasm and
willingness of a group of musicians who have ensured that there has been
live music for every contra dance since dancing began in Las Vegas. When
the dance schedule expanded in 2007 to two dances a month, the musicians
organized into two different bands, who share the monthly schedules.
The Sagebrush and Shamrock String Band is a traditional string band,
under the direction of Dave Carroll, known for his collection of stringed
instruments that are within easy reach during the evening. Dave’s melody
line is backed up by guitars and bass. The second band, “112, And Then
Some” , referring to the music tempo, is overseen by Kay Sanderson, and
features fiddles, guitars, bass, and sometimes banjo and/or percussion.
The overall goal of a contra dance is to provide a venue for folks to enjoy the
evening and laugh together, even if it’s because of the variety of ways that a
dance can crash, which sometimes happens; to enjoy the camaraderie of the
others present; and to listen to and dance to great music that just compels
folks to get up and dance.
Both the bands and the callers are available to play / call at contra dances
sponsored by other organizations. Overall information about contra
dancing is available by e-mailing lvcontra@gmail.com, or by accessing the
website www.lasvegascountrydance.org. Contact Dave Carroll at 373-1926
regarding The Sagebrush and Shamrock String Band, and Kay Sanderson
at 373-9378 regarding the band 112, And Then Some.
ACOUSTIC MUSIC JAMS OPEN TO ALL
All Society members and
guests, whether pickersor
grinners, are welcome to
attend any or all of the
regularmonthly acoustic music
jam sessions that are now
being held.
Tuesday night Bluegrass
& Old Time Music Jams
from 6:00 pm-8:30 pm at the
City of Henderson’sLorna
J. Kesterson Valley View
Recreation Center, 500 Harris
Street, near Morrell Park, one
block east of Boulder Highway
and Basic Road. For details
call Society member Betty
Bess at 564-1630.
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Thursday night Bluegrass
Jam from 6:30pm to 9:00
pm.at the Northwest
Mountain Crest Park
Community Center 4701
N. Durango,Las Vegas,
NV 89129, Durango & Red
Coach. For details call Society
member Vera Vann-Wilson
(702)875-3579.
BLUEGRASS NEWS
Annual Meeting
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BLUEGRASS NEWS
Annual Meeting
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Southern Nevada Bluegrass Music Society
P.O. BOX 363584
North las vegas, nv 89030
change service requested
PRSRT STD
non profit org.
u.s. postage
PAID
N. Las vegas, nv
permit no. 0027
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out
BLUEGRASS NEWS
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JUST FOR LAUGHS
Full
Qua
ACOUSTIC
MUSIC JAMS
OPEN TO ALL
All Society members and guests,
whether pickers or grinners, are
welcome to attend any or all of the
regular monthly acoustic music jam
sessions that are now being held.
Tuesday night Bluegrass & Old Time
Music Jams continue from 6:00 pm
- 8:30 pm at the City of Henderson’s
Lorna J. Kesterson Valley View
Recreation Center, 500 Harris Street,
near Morrell Park, one block east of
Boulder Highway and Basic Road. For
details call Society member Betty Bess
at 564-1630.
Dis