Scaling the Heights...

I owe these guys so much.  Although my early bluegrass influences were Reno & Smiley on TV during high school in Staunton, George Winn & The Blue Grass Partners at my Randolph-Macon fraternity parties, and the Seldom Scene's Live at the Cellar Door double LP which I wore out shortly thereafter, it was the Heights of Grass from right here in River City who kindled a passion and cut a path that has enriched my life more than I can say.  Their friendship and inspiration was the foundation of my continuing love affair with this music and the people who make it.  I met Don Grubb, Billy Lux, Richard Ward, Vernon Hughes and Sonny Mead when I was doing mornings at now-silent 1320 WEET, a comfortable old country station on the AM dial that gave me the freedom to play all the bluegrass I wanted.  Don and I even did a weekly hour show together called "Bluegrass Spectrum." The HOG was hot back in the late 70s and early 80s...so hot that they were invited by Sonny & Bobby Osborne to guest on their segment of the Grand Ole Opry on Valentine's Day, 1981.  So we organized a bus trip at the station to make the Nashville trip with the boys and got to witness music history as we rubbed elbows with the likes of     

Roy Acuff, Kenny Baker, George Gruhn and others backstage.   The boys have all grown up now and have put away their puffy shirts, but they're still playing in various configurations.  The music and the musicians they introduced me to some thirty years ago remain a cherished gift.  Tonight at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds they'll be having a reunion concert featuring those five, plus many others who passed through the Heights corral back then including Sammy Shelor, Mark Newton and John Lawless.  And fiddlin' Sonny Mead will be honored with a special recognition.  The centerpiece for the night will be the induction of Rickie and Ronnie Simpkins into the Virginia Folk Music Association's Hall of Fame.  I guess they could have a Virginia Squires reunion while they're at it, but Rickie's on tour with Emmylou Harris in Europe and will count on brother Ronnie to accept the plaque.  All that and the Seldom Scene will perform as icing on the big cake.  But my highlight's gonna be hearing the Heights of Grass bring back "Louisiana Saturday Night," "All I Ever Loved Was You," and they'd better do "Carolina Sunshine."  And it wouldn't hurt to hear Billy bottom out once more with "Miles and Miles of Texas."  Thanks for the ride you guys...may it continue.

Coming up...Jimmy Gaudreau and Moondi Klein return to Ashland Coffee and Tea on the 20th, and the Tony Rice Unit will be in town at the Science Museum for the Swingin' On The Tracks series on September 25th.

And don't forget to reserve the entire weekend of October 10-12 and prepare to immerse yourself in the musical and cultural delights of the very first Richmond Folk Festival along the river downtown, promising virtually the same incredible experience afforded by the National for the past three years, but now it's ours.  The Website is chock full of all you need to know about what's coming up, including a 40th anniversary reunion of Larry Bland's Volunteer Choir and for something completely different: Mexico's Tezcatlipoca Voladores.  You'll be hearing lots about them...just wait.

Finally, hurry and make your reservations for our very special JAMinc/In Your Ear Studio Concert on Friday, October 24th featuring southwest Virginia's legendary luthier and picker Wayne Henderson with special guest, fiddler Helen White.  Tickets are $20 in advance and we only have room for 80 folks, so jump on it.  And we've got Bryan Bowers coming on November 7th.

More later...thanks as always for your time...TT