House of Representatives Honors Lester Flatt

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 Lincoln Davis of Tennessee back in June, 2009, and passed on Tuesday, January 26. Representative 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)
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.
The Central Texas Bluegrass Bulletin is published by the Central Texas Bluegrass Association, a 501(c)(3) taxexempt 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 copyrights.
Jami Hampton, President
Billy Bright, board member
Eddie Collins, board member
Sam Dunn, board member/Treasurer
Mike Hurlbut, board member
Clay Levit, board member
Janice Rogers, board member
Rixi Rosenberg, board member
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Central Texas Bluegrass Association
Box 9816
Austin, Texas 78766
(512) 261-9440
www.centraltexasbluegrass.org/
Tracy Sloan, board member
Carrie Thielemann, board member
Ken Brown, Bulletin editor
(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 Pardners 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 invaluable 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 lastminute 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, everybody 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)
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(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 calendar 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 Commercial Music, filling the position that Alan Munde vacated when he retired in 2006. Jim attended Sam Houston State in Huntsville for a while, played with Johnnie Martin and the Bluegrass 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 APL10588). He then spent several years working in bluegrass and country music, and returned to college (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 Gibson 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 current economy. Pinecastle products will still be available through Music Shed and elsewhere.
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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 lineal descendant of the Bluegrass Newsletter, a publication started in April, 1977, by Don Rodgers. 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 Newsletter. 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) contribute 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)
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(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 previous 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 publication 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.
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.
For Sale:
Seagull Series S Grand guitar in near-perfect condition, with cardboard case (personally decorated with faux zebra lining!) and Levi cotton guitar strap decorated with jalapeños. $275
Guitar stand. $8
Contact: Stephen Mangold, (512) 345-6155
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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 Escarpment 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; 4517170
www.newworlddeli.com
Friday, February 19, 8 PM: House concert with Orrin Star; for reservations and directions, call (512)
476-3991 or E-mail <ebpittman@austin.rr.com>.
Saturday, February 20, 1-3:15 PM: Guitar workshop with Orrin Star (Intro to Norman Blake’s Style);
for registration and directions, E-mail <orhay@aol.com> or call (301) 773-6149.
Saturday, February 20, 5 PM: Blacktop Bend at Patsy’s Cowgirl Café, 5001 E. Ben White Blvd.; 4442020
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.
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CTBA Artists and Bands
Austin Lounge Lizards Mike Drudge
Cooper’s Uncle
The Ledbetters
The Sieker Band
615-262-6886
www.austinlizards.com
coopersuncle@hotmail.com Spencer Drake
512-736-2664
830-660-2533
kthdrake@wildblue.net
Rolf & Beate Sieker
512-733-2857
www.siekerband.com
Back Up and Push
David & Barbara
Brown
String Beans
Ben Hodges , 751-3086
bhodges@gmail.com
www.myspace.com/
backupandpush
Blacktop Bend
George Rios, 619-8536
blacktopbend@yahoo.com
Blazing Bows
Mary Hattersley, 873-8925
Bluegrass Vatos
Danny Santos, 218-4141
danny@dannysantosmusic
.com
Brian Byrne and
Borrowed Time
361-985-9902
ddbrown@grandecom.net
Dear Henry Band
Don Inbody, 295-6977
don@inbody.net
Talia Sekons
thelostpines@gmail.com
www.lostpinesband.com
Manchaca All-Stars
Two High String
Band Geoff Union
512-836-8255
www.eddiecollins.biz
tuneman@austin.rr.com
Wayward Pony
512-563-9821
Geoff@highstring.com
Eddie Collins
Out of the Blue
Jamie Stubblefield
512-295-5325
jamie5011@aol.com
Dale Albright
dale-mandolin@austin.
rr.com
www.waywardpony.com
Jon Ricketts
<jon_ricketts1@mac.com>
217-6437
The Piney Grove
Ramblers
The Grazmatics
Wayne Brooks
512-699-8282
877-899-8269
www.pgramblers.com
The Wimberley
Bunch
Howard Rains
Randy’s Rangers
Grass Onions Band
7704 Peaceful Hill Lane
Austin, Tx 78748
512-577-0851
Charlie & Sally Lewis
Box 2077
Canyon Lake, Tx 78133
(830) 899-7511
Sigi Field 512-869-8076
http://pages. suddenlink.net/jrf/rr/
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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Mike Montgomery
512-517-6753
mikemon@astro.as.
utexas.edu
Chris Brewster
B. Buchanan
512-693-4648
512-282-2756
www.dearhenrymusic.com
manchacaallstars@
email.com
www.myspace.com/ brian- L. Wayne Ross
byrneandborrowedtime
512-303-2188
699-9251
jjs@jjshaffer.net
BuffaloGrass
The Lost Pines
All bands listed are
members of the CTBA.
See the membership
form on the back cover
for information on
band membership.
CTBA Business Members
P.O. Box 483
Grapeland, Tx 75884
www.salmonlakepark.com
Overton Bluegrass Festival
City of Overton Sponsoring Bluegrass and Gospel Music
www.overtonbluegrass.com
Don Eaves
bluegrass@cl.overton.tx.us
903-834-3171
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Sponsored by City of Early
Drawer D
Overton, Texas 75684
Charlotte Parrack
325-646-8531
300 Early Blvd.
CTBA Area Jams and Events
AUSTIN AREA, CTBA
GEORGETOWN
Beginner/Intermed. Jam 1st. & 3rd Thu. 7-9 Randy’s Rangers Thursday Jam: Duke’s
PM, Steve Mangold 512-345-6155
BBQ Smokehouse, 6-8 PM, 512-869-8076 or
sigi@sigi.us&gt; sigi@sigi.us
CTBA 2nd & 4th Sat , ArtZ Rib House, slow
jam begins 2 PM; Beginner/Intermed. Jam 4-6 THE GROVE
PM; contact: Steve Mangold 345-6155
Outside Pick General Store, 15 mi. west of
Temple on Hwy 36, Sat, 6pm until ?
Jam Session: Sunday at ArtZ Rib House, 2-6 Contact: Moody Anderson, 512-282-1215
PM
Live Bluegrass Show: ArtZ Rib House Sun- HARWOOD
day 6 pm; 512-442-8283
Stage Show & Jam Session 3rd Sat, 9 mi. E.
of Luling, Hwy 90, 2 to 9 PM
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- HONDO
Hondo Hootenanny, 1 PM, Hondo Commu401-8863
nity Center, 1st Fri each month 830-426-3438
AFTM Contradance: 3rd Sat. 3501 Red River
HOUSTON
7:30 to 11 pm, $7 453-8936
Second Saturday jam, 1-4 PM, sponsored by
AFTM Jam Session: 2nd Sun at ArtZ Rib BABA and the Houston Railroad Museum
(April-November), Houston Railroad MuHouse, 2330 S. Lamar, Austin, 2-4 PM
seum, 7390 Mesa Road; www. houstonrrmuseum.org; 713-319-8906
FIDDLER’S GREEN jam session in the
BARN out back behind the shop every 2nd
LEAGUE CITY (BABA)
and 4th Tuesday from 7 PM to 11 PM.
Jam & Free Bluegrass Show 3rd Sat: Jam 5
Phone: 512-452-3900
PM, Show 6:30 PM Jan- Nov., League City
www.fiddlersgreenmusicshop.com
Civic Center, 300 W. Walker St. 281-6369419
BANDERA
4th Friday of each month at Silver Sage Corral– east of Bandera. Starts at 6:30 pm. For LIBERTY HILL
more info call (830)796-3969 (Not on Good 4th Sat. Jam Session at 1-6 PM, Hwy 29
West, contact Paula at 512-778-5410
Friday)
BELLVILLE
Spring Creek Club Jam/Show Jan. thru Sept
4th Sat; 4pm Jam, 6:30 pm show. Coushatte
Recreation Ranch 979-865-5250
bluegrass221@ev1.net
Plenty of RV
camping and good food.
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 Manchaca
BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION,
Brazos Country Grass Monday Jam, J.
Cody’s, 3610 S. College 6-9 PM
McDADE
www.brazoscountrygrass.com
2nd Monday of each Month: McDade Jamboree at the McDade VFW Post Hwy 290. 7-10
ELGIN
PM Call: 512-273-2307
3rd Friday of each Month: Blue Fire-Station
jam session, FM 696, 7-10 PM
MEDINA
2nd Tuesday—each month— all gospel jam at
FAYETTEVILLE:
the first Baptist Church—Medina. Starts at 6
Texas Pickin’ Park: Jam 2nd Saturday, each PM; for info Linda Barton 830-589-2486
month beginning at 6 PM on the Courthouse
Square. Acoustic instruments only.
2nd Friday each month— The Medina Jam
For info: info@texaspickinpark.com
session will be held at the Masonic Lodge at
www.texaspickinpark.com
6:30 PM (bring covered dish)
GARLAND
Bluegrass on the Square: Saturday, MarchNovember between Main and State Sts. At
6th, 7:30 PM to 1 AM
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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
cliftonfiddler5@aol.com
SHULENBERG
RV Park community Center
2nd Tuesday of every month, 6:30—9:00 PM
Laretta Baumgarten 979-743-4388
schurvpk@fais.net
TOMBALL
Bluegrass jam at Kleb Woods Nature Center
and Preserve, 4th Saturday; 20301 Mueschke
Road, Tomball. Tony Redding (281) 3731777.
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 checking out an unfamiliar jam, to
make sure it’s still active.
Central Texas Bluegrass Association
P.O. Box 9816
Austin, Texas 78766
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