Blue Moon of Kentucky

The rising full moon over Yellow Creek Park outside of Owensboro was a fitting special effect for this particular Friday night in America as the International Bluegrass Music Museum’s annual River Of Music Party rolled on with young and gifted singer/guitarist Josh Williams.  I haven’t been back here since the IBMA held it’s annual gathering at the now-razed Executive Inn so there’s been much catching up to do.  This river city along the Ohio is home to luminaries like actor Johnny Depp and racing legends Darryl and Michael Waltrip.  But more germane to this post is of course that nearby Rosine is the homeplace of bluegrass music’s creator Bill Monroe.  Thursday morning I drove up the long and winding drive to Jerusalem Ridge where sits Bill’s restored boyhood home, built where the two-room log cabin stood that burned when he was only five years old.  The one-story fully-porched frame  structure now houses a fascinating museum full of mementos, catalogued for me by James and Bonnie Casteel.  I was surprised to be the only visitor so it was a quiet and reflective hour roaming about the house with James as my personal guide. Seeing the kitchen brought speculation of how much music must have been made around that table back then.  The house actually sits atop Pigeon Ridge…the fabled Jerusalem Ridge where the young musician sought solitude and first heard those “ancient tones” is an uphill hike away.  But that higher ground would be what the 900-plus acres would be called.  Down in a nearby ravine sits a rustic stage that’s now home to an annual festival…that morning it sat silently stacked with hay bales topped with old saddles…could one of them once have sat atop Bill’s horse King Wilkie?  Just the possibility brought a knowing smile.  Soon another fellow pilgrim arrived and a quick intro revealed him to have far more credentials than I…it was former Blue Grass Boy Doug Hutchens (above right with James Casteel) who played bass in Bill’s band for a while back in the sixties.  He was in town for the Legends and Pioneers event that night in the RiverPark Center.  His presence cemented the significance of my visit.  Walking this hallowed ground adds a special perspective to my love and appreciation of this music crafted by the only member of the Bluegrass, Country and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame.  Rest well Bill Monroe…few musicians have done more in one lifetime.

Thursday night at the tribute to pioneers and former Blue Grass Boys, I had the honor of escorting IBMA Hall of Famer (with the classic Country Gentlemen) Eddie Adcock and wife Martha to the stage.  Eddie’s his same old lovable, irascible self and seemed to be fully recovered from his groundbreaking brain surgery to restore motor control of his finger-picking right hand.  The risky procedure was widely televised with Eddie fully conscious holding his banjo so Vanderbilt neurosurgeons could pinpoint the source of his loss of function.  Truly amazing.  It was an inspiring evening with over sixty men and women who’ve had significant roles in bluegrass’ development seated on stage…folks like Curly Seckler, George Shuffler, Pete Kuykendall, Lamar Grier, Bill Clifton, Tom Gray, Bill Keith, Buck White and Doc Watson.  The latter two would offer wonderful performances during the night, ageless Buck with his singing daughters Sharon and Cheryl with Phil Ledbetter on Dobro, and Doc with his frequent partners David Holt and grandson Richard.  A night to remember.

Saturday it was off to Yellow Creek Park for the outdoor portion of ROMP and my first emcee shift which ended with the seven-time IBMA fiddler of the year Michael Cleveland with his hot band Flamekeeper.  They finished the set with their haunting take on Monroe’s classic instrumental “Jerusalem Ridge,” a duet with Mike and reigning mandolin player of the year Jesse Brock.  Their arrangement took last year’s IBMA instrumental performance trophy and it held special meaning given where I’d been the morning before. 

Later Friday night Dailey & Vincent offered up a show-stopping set peppered with some great material from their Cracker Barrel tribute to the Statler Brothers, a new a capella rendition of “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder” and a thrilling four-part arrangement of the “Star Spangled Banner” they’ve just rolled out for a special performance at the Opry this coming Monday.  Yet another level of paint-peeling harmonies and showmanship from the reigning Entertainers of the Year. 

Tonight my second shift of the weekend begins with a chance to hear live the tunes from the CD pal Lincoln Meyers shared with us at Graves Mountain three weeks ago…Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen.  Can’t wait…and more signature harmonies from the Isaacs to boot.  Stay tuned.

My kicker for this post is courtesy of George Turman’s proud daughter Emily, taken at Lewis Ginter Thursday night…hated to miss that one. L to R, Billy Lux, Arlo Guthrie and a bandanna-sporting GT.  And a good time was had by all.

TT