1. Phil Wiggins and Rick Franklin... around Wanda and Irv's neck of the woods in MD and DC
Phil (Harmonica), born in DC, he spent childhood summers at his grandmother's in AL where he listened to old-time hymns sung in church. Attracted to blues harp as a young man, he began playing with some of DC's leading blues artists. Unbelievable and impossible for someone to do that with their mouth. Rick (guitar), plays and sings in DC with style known as Piedmont, a style identified with legendary Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William Moore. Notice that strange guitar with holes in it.
2. Keys All-Stars... popular, local, singer/songwriters, Joe Mama(guitar) and Terry Cassidy (banjo, plays Sloppy Joes, Key West) gathered some Keys' best traditional musicians. Joe and Terry play Dockside Grill across the golf course on 2/11 so we'll walk over. I asked Terry about free band concert on Super Bowl Sunday. Turns out, it's on Big Pine Key where we go to church (how convenient)at Watkins Field (where Key Deer gather). He also shared our pastor married him at our church. Small world!!
3. Springfield Exit (Bluegrass and Acoustic country)... blends bluegrass, country and traditional folk into their style with pure vocals by Linda Lay (on bass), harmony by husband, David (guitar), John Arnold (banjo) and Buddy Dunlap (mandolin). I was curious about their name since traveling north, south and around the DC beltway by the "Springfield Exit" for 45 years. I asked Linda who told me they are good friends with Tom T. Hall (country great). When visiting him, consulted about a name. He told her there was great reading material in his bathroom, one book on the U.S. Interstate Highway system which states when their website is googled for the word "spring", the Springfield Exit comes up first and most so there you go.
4. The Quebe Sisters Band (Texas Fiddling/harmony singing)... They are "Andrew Sisters meet Bob Wills (famous Texas Swing)" who began playing professionally when Hulda (middle) was 13 years old and have played "The Grand Ole Opry, Kennedy Center and NYC's Lincoln Center. Recently named "Group of the Year" by the Academy of Western Artists. Watch for the Quebe Sisters Band on the Grand Ole Opry March 26th.
5. Jeff Little (Blue Ridge Piano) and Wayne Henderson (Appalachian finger-picked guitar) over the ridge and around the bend from Galax, VA where Wanda and Irv visited Silva's landlord, Gordy and Judy... Jeff began playing at age 5 in his father's music store in Boone, NC. A professional at age 14 and often appears with Doc Watson. Has been featured on NPR and featured on U.S. Government Goodwill Tours.
Wayne, born and raised in Rugby, VA (pop 7) just over the ridge from Grassy Creek, VA where Jeff was born.e Wayne has played as he says "at Carnegie Hall and the Rugby Rescue Squad". In addition to his reputation as a guitarist, he is a builder of guitars of great renown. He produces about 20 instruments a year for musicians including Doc Watson and Eric Clapton (Clapton had to wait 7 years for his. The normal wait time now is 10 years. He hand whittles each one). Wayne has received the National Heritage Award presented by the National Endowment for the Arts.
6. Daryl Davis(Blues and boogie-woogie piano)... Born in MD, he is a long-standing regular player in Chuck Berry's current band and has worked with The Coasters and Elvis Presley's Jondanaires.
7. Grammy Winning BeauSoleil Trio (Cajun)..."Michael Doucet (middle), holder of National Endowment for the Arts prestigious Heritage Award, brother David on Guitar and on fiddle, Mitch Reed
All these artists have websites. Google away for more info and scheduled appearances
Thank you Sharon, Arno and Lucas for Wanda and Irv's anniversary gift of tickets to the "First Annual Traditional Music Festival" held at Sombrero Resort (a short 1/2 mile walk around the golf course for us) sponsored by the "National Council for the Traditional Arts (America's oldest folk art organization)" .
I told Sharon, "When I get to heaven this is what it's going to be like... pick'n and grin'n all day". Friday night we got 3 hours, Saturday 7 hours and Sunday 4 hours from the front row making friends in neighbor seats. Seems like everyone has lived in Marietta, GA sometime in their life.
The Concert was to benefit the National Council for the Arts (www.ncta.com) and the Dolphin Research Center here in Marathon (www.dolphins.com).
I normally don't buy raffle tickets but this was a very good cause and... one of the prizes was a Dolphin Dip where you spend 20 minutes in a shallow water interacting with the dolphins for 2 adults and children under 5 free. Get ready, Lucas!!! And... a facial massage. Get Ready, Wanda!!!.
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