Beyond that dark river…

One of American music’s most earnest and important voices has gone home leaving us with a catalog of powerful songs but taking with her the cutting instrument she used to sing them.  West Virginia’s Hazel Dickens died of complications from pneumonia last week summoning up the lyrics of one of her tunes I first heard Hot Rize do years ago…it would become one of their most requested:  “I feel the shadows now upon me, and the angels beckon me, before I go dear sisters and brothers, won’t you come and sing for me.  Sing those hymns we sang together, that plain little church with its benches all worn.  How dear to my heart, how precious the moments, we stood shaking hands and singing a song.”  My friend and JAMinc partner Wally Thulin remembered Hazel eloquently: 

I’m sure most of you acoustic music lovers have heard the sad news that we lost Hazel Dickens last week at the age of 75. Back when I used to drive to the IBMA gathering in Owensboro, KY, I‘d put on a Hazel Dickens CD (actually I think it was a cassette) the exact moment we crossed into West Virginia. It just seemed the right thing to do. Her raw, emotion filled voice seemed to belong to the dark hollows and intriguing hills of that state that she broke from as a young girl. In addition to her pro miner songs for which she was known, one of her most powerful, Mama’s Hands (IBMA song of the year by Lynn Morris in 1996) tells her story of leaving WV so vividly:

“One old paper bag filled with hand-me-downs

Plain old country girl raised on gospel sounds,

With only the love she gave me and pride in what I am,

It was hard to let go of Mama’s hands, my mama’s hands.”

She lived it and she sang it like she lived it, and it connected with her fans who really didn’t give a flip if she was always exactly on key. It was authentic; it resonated with listening hearts and moved them. Hazel’s voice, like black coffee, was an acquired taste, but once acquired, was treasured.

So much of today’s culture is slick, contrived, and fake. Lady Gaga comes to mind. Hazel was the real thing. Pitch correction? Who needs it? Sing with sincerity from the heart and it’s always on pitch to those who are tuned in emotionally.

I venture to say that at this week’s MerleFest, more than one artist will sing one for Hazel.

 

It was only a year ago when another lesser known but full of promise musician was taken in a tragic motorcycle accident.  Houston Caldwell was just 18 but had already become a Galax fireman, completed Army basic training and was a head-turning banjo player.  By all accounts, Houston was an impressive young man, mature beyond his years, and friends of mine who knew him were devastated this time last year when they learned of the fatal accident.  Caldwell will be remembered at Felts Park in Galax the weekend of May 6th and 7th with an event called Houstonfest, presenting a strong lineup of performers that includes Blue Highway, Mountain Heart, Sierra Hull, Larry Cordle, Wayne Henderson, Ron Block and the farewell performance of Cherryholmes.  There are lots more.  Tickets are available here and all proceeds will benefit the Galax Volunteer Fire Department.

Don’t forget JAMinc’s season-ending double header at In Your Ear…on Friday, May 13th it’s Piedmont blues night with Phil Wiggins and Rick Franklin.  And the very next night, it’s the fine folkgrass band East of Monroe.  Reservations for both are available now on the website. 

At the risk of too much gushing, I do want to mention again the new Alison Krauss & Union Station project as it debuted at #3 in Billboard Album Chart covering all genres and #1 in both the Billboard Country and Bluegrass Charts.  Here’s a link to a beautifully done video on the making of Paper Airplane.  Highly recommended.

Congrats to Scott Adams who won tickets here to enjoy Iron & Wine and The Low Anthem at the National Wednesday night.  Promises to be a great show…tickets still here.

The 24th MerleFest commences Thursday…we’ll keep you posted.

TT

(Hazel Dickens and Houston Caldwell photos from artist websites)