$7.00 $7.00 The offi cial magazine of the Bluegrass Music Association of Canada Keep in touch with Bluegrass in Canada with our news, lessons, and more! Volume 15 Issue 1 January 2021 PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 42167060 bluegrasscanada.org $7.00 $7.00 $7.00 $7.00 $7.00 A Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de Boer BluegrassBluegrassBluegrassBluegrassBluegrass RememberingRemembering MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM Date 1 Year2 Year3 YearIncludes Invidual Mailed Magazine $25.00$50.00$75.00 Mailed Magazine 1 Year2 Year3 YearOnline Online Only$18.00$36.00$54.00Online Only BandBusClub Promoter Media 1 Year2 Year3 YearIncludes Organization$50.00 $100.00 $150.00 Mailed Magazine Name *Required* Organization Only if joining as an Organization Address L1 *Required* Address L2 City *Required* Province/State *Required* Postal/Zip Code *Required* Telephone *Required* Email *Required* Website Only if joining as an Organization Player? Autoharp BanjoBassDobroFiddle GuitarMandoHarp Singer? LeadTenor BaritoneBass Composer? Please send completed form to:Payments may be made by: Gord DeVries - Bluegrass Canada Cheque - Made payable to BLUEGRASS CANADA Membership Co-ordinator or eTransfer to membership@bluegrasscanada.org 22790 Amiens Road or Credit Card Komoka ON N0L 1R0Expiry Date CCV NumberTable of Contents Goodbye Bluegrass Gypsy 12 27 32 44 On the cover Tony de Boer up at 6 a.m., a picture fi rst used back in Bluegrass Canada magazine January 2014. Columns 5 President Murray Hale’s Message 6 Out West with Linda Thorburn 37 In the Groove with Tom McCreight 50 Editor Mike Kirley’s Message Lessons 9 Banjo with Denis LePage 10 Mandolin with Emory Lester Listings 39 BMAC Organization Listings 48 Radio on the Air Canada V o l u m e 15 I s s u e 1 $7.00 The official magazine of the Bluegrass Music Association of Canada Keep in touch with Bluegrass in Canada with our news, lessons, and more! Volume 15 Issue 1 January 2021 PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 42167060 bluegrasscanada.org $7.00 A Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de BoerA Goodbye to Tony de Boer BluegrassBluegrassBluegrassBluegrassBluegrass RememberingRemembering JANUARY 2021 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Friends and admirers look back on the life and career of legendary Bluegrass community supporter Tony de Boer, pictured here with his daughter Cindy de Boer. Super (Bluegrass) Woman A deep and personal interview on the career and accomplishments of long- time bluegrasser Sue Malcolm. Non-essential Music A very pointed letter to the editor from musician J.P.Cormier on the state of the industry under COVID-19. Banjo for Life Get to know banjo maestro Nick Hornbuckle with this in-depth interview by our own banjo columnist Denis LePage.Bluegrass Music Association of Canada BMAC is a non-profi t organization devoted to the preservation and promotion of bluegrass and old-time music in Canada, and supported by the volunteer efforts of its members. BMAC MISSION STATEMENT The BMAC mission statement as enacted in the by-laws: a) Dedicated to the preservation and promotion of bluegrass and old-time music throughout Canada. Goals: b) To support individuals, groups and organizations involved in bluegrass and old-time music. c) To provide leadership and promote education among fans, clubs, bands and artists. Specifi cally: 1) The establishment of bluegrass categories in the Juno Awards; 2) Lobbying with other musical genres for changes in US laws to allow easier access to the US by Canadian musicians; 3) Establishing a national bluegrass awards program not in confl ict with the two existing regional awards events; 4) Sponsoring Canadian Bands to Showcase at IBMA; 5) Supporting Canadian bands efforts to play in other parts of the country; 6) Seeking grant funding to achieve these goals. V o l u m e 15 I s s u e 1 Email: membership@ bluegrasscanada.org Website: bluegrasscanada.org Publisher Gord DeVries Editor Mike Kirley SUBSCRIPTION One Year $25 / Free with Membership The Bluegrass Canada magazine is digitally published quarterly in January, April, July and October, online in the ‘Members Only’ section of the Bluegrass Canada website. For more information email membership@bluegrasscanada.org. • Individual BMAC memberships: $25/y (Includes printed / mailed copy of each issue in grayscale.) • Individual Online membership: $18/y with access to digital online colour version. • Organizational memberships: $50/y All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced without the written permission from the Publisher. PRINTED IN CANADA. CANADA POST CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL SALES PRODUCT AGREEMENT No. 42167060. Send change of addresses and undeliverable notices of Canadian addresses to BMAC, c/o Roland Aucoin, Unit 84, 205 Plains Road West, Burlington ON L7T 4H3 Please send articles, calendar information, photos and letters to: Bluegrass Canada Mike Kirley 831 Rose Street, Cambridge ON N3H-2G2 Email: mikekirley@gmail.com Telephone: 519-653-4975 Deadline for submissions is 60 days preceding the month of publication. BMAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Murray Hale mhale@green-vision.ca 705-845-8112 Vice-President Mike Kirley mikekirley@gmail.com 519-653-4975 Secretary-Treasurer Roland Aucoin raucoin72@gmail.com Membership & Website Gord DeVries gord.devries@rogers.com Social Media Carol Boyer carol.boyer@sympatico.ca General: Dennis Casey roxden@sympatico.ca General: David Featherstone davidfeatherstone58@gmail.com General: Louise Grawburg-Gowanblock egowanlock@gmail.com General: Arlene Jamieson arlene@venture.interiors.com Contributors David Featherstone Denis LePage Emory Lester Tom McCreight Linda Thorburn Advertising Rates & Specs Gord DeVries 519-719-2501 Layout Mother Invention James Kerr 705-927-0994 Printing and Distributon Innovative Design and Print Inc. 888-698-3883 4082 Perth Line 72 Millbank, ON N0K 1L0 Canada BMAC is a non-profi t organization devoted to the preservation and promotion of bluegrass and old-time music in Canada, and supported by the volunteer efforts of its members. BMAC MISSION STATEMENT The BMAC mission statement as enacted in the by-laws: 4 BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF CANADA BLUEGRASSCANADA.ORG MASTHEADPresident’s Report Murry Hale, president of the BMAC. By Murray HaleKeeping Up With Events The snow is falling here in North Bay! Big white flakes of new and fresh precipitation just like the ideas currently flowing within our Bluegrass Music Association of Canada. After just closing the Zoom meeting I am arriving at the computer full of energy and good vibes from our executive directors. I hope that each and everyone of you have taken a little time to listen to and appreciate the music we love so much. Certainly there has been abundance of it online coming from anyone and everyone who can create, sing and enjoys recording themselves. It has been inspiring to watch this creative little bluegrass spring turn into a flowing river at this time. Looking ahead we will see some changes when the curtains lift to reveal new formats for presenting and attending bluegrass concerts, festivals and events. Inside this issue you are going to read some beautiful stories written by ordinary bluegrass lovers like you and I. You are also going to get ideas and information from those of us who are trying to make a difference in the future of bluegrass. For artists hard at work and projecting into the future we are going to see and be able to tap into new developments into the distribution and listening of our recorded works. Keep an eye open for the next issue of Bluegrass Canada. In the meantime, keep safe, happy, healthy and inspired inwardly toward your own personal strengths. Lots of fun reading this issue. Cheers, Murray Hale Become a member of the BMAC Email: membership@ bluegrasscanada.org Website: bluegrasscanada.org Start gettin’ picky about Your music… JANUARY 2021 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 5 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEIn The Recording Studio, Part 2 The Covid 19 Virus has played a big part in the delay of our recording project, but finally around mid May, I was able to meet with our sound engineer at Summit Recording Studios in Bowser, as the social distancing rules relaxed somewhat in our area. Since we finished the last batch of vocal sound files we have been editing the recordings for mistakes, loud/soft requirements, out of time phrases, in fact many things. It is here where decisions are made regarding retakes. When I left off last, we were editing and starting the cover case. The CD case is complete, with write up, pictures, members names, band picture, website info etc. The photos taken during the recordings have come in very handy. While the editing was taking place, I contacted the CMRRA, the Canadian Music and Recording Rights Association, which is the organization that all recorded music in Canada must apply for tune approval. They require a list of tunes, tune time lengths, composers, publishers, IPI numbers and universal numbers, if they have one, and of course money for doing what they do. Ten of the tunes were in their tune directory, which left three that had to be researched. This was fun. I donned my detective hat and dug out my magnifying glass. I then attempted to find and locate the composers and publishers of those tunes. Once found, I had to ask their permission to put their tune on the CD and pay a fee for that right, as well as pay CMRRA for tune permissions of the other ten. Six more weeks went by but finally, after a lot of research, we were able to add our CMRRA approved stamp on the CD cover. During that time, I spoke to several By Linda Thorburn Linda Thorburn is a banjo player and bluegrass community leader. 6 BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF CANADA BLUEGRASSCANADA.ORG OUT WESTIn The Recording Studio, Part 2 licensing agencies that took me all over the world. About four weeks ago, I met the recording engineer Ron and he handed me a mock CD and cover. That was quite exciting. I’ve been back to the studio once since and edited out more things we didn’t want to hear including correcting three banjo tracks. Meanwhile, when I contacted CMRRA, they require you to tell them your CD presser. I couldn’t find one out west that was even working due to the Covid shutdown. Finally, I found a company in Toronto called Microforum, so now we are all ready to go. I go back at the end of the month to see if there’s anything else, but I think that will be it. You can go on forever on this but eventually you have to stop. When we do stop, the files will be sent to the presser and will arrive in a box at my house one day. I think the CD will be ready in early to mid September… that’s my best guess. I’d like to thank everyone who has made it possible but especially my band, BackPorch Banjo for truly Steppin’ Off the Porch! I’ve written this article for two reasons, one because I had difficulty thinking of what to write about, with all of the event cancellations, but mainly to report my experience, as I have never done this before. I was in a band twelve years ago, played banjo and made a recording with the band. However, I just recorded in the studio, so really had no idea what was involved past that. Its been a ton of work and costly, but it has been a most gratifying experience. Each band member has learned a lot and grown from the process. Improvements to the band are big. Our timing improved and we realized our harmonies were nowhere near perfect, which actually made us pay more attention to problem singing areas. The whole experience definitely improved our outlook on playing together and I think as a band we became a lot tighter. Would I do it again? Absolutely, without a doubt. Here’s to putting new knowledge to good use! In closing, I would like to thank Gloria Hansen, another writer and contributor for BMAC for helping put these thoughts into a process, as well as all of those who have encouraged us along the way. Sometimes I just think that’s how bluegrass works, an endless cycle of positive energy. (Ed. Good point Linda!) JANUARY 2021 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 7 OUT WESTDenis LePage has spent over 40 years mastering the banjo, and is an active member of the Canadian bluegrass community. He currently runs a website dedicated to banjo instruction: banjoden.com. By Denis LePage Denis describes an up and coming banjo whiz kid Justin Nauss I’m always amazed by the number of really accomplished multi- instrumentalist that we have here in Canada. Although there are many of these players right across the country, the East Coast seems to be particularly blessed to have so many. I had heard the Bluegrass Unit’s latest CD and was really impressed with the group and the banjo playing, so it was really a treat to meet banjoist, Justin Nauss at the 2019 Tottenham Bluegrass Festival when the band was performing there. The interesting thing was, when I went over to catch a jam where the band was playing and to introduce myself, Justin wasn’t on the banjo, he was killing it on the guitar! Justin has great attack and instinct on the banjo and uses and incorporates a lot of bluesy, syncopated licks in his playing. You might want to consider using some of these in your own playing for added colour and emphasis. I have tabbed out (..at least as close as I could figure it out!) the opening and closing measures of Justin’s break in Blue Kentucky Wind which I think really demonstrates some of this in his style. But before we get to that, here is a short run down of his musical background. Justin Nauss hails from Nova Scotia, a province that has produced many really outstanding musicians of all genres. After starting out on guitar with some instruction from his father as well as some formal lessons, he found that his real interest was in the banjo. His family had attended many bluegrass festivals and shows and Justin had an opportunity to meet many fine banjo players and learn what he could from them. He got his first banjo at the age of 13 and by watching videos and live shows, listening, jamming, practicing and using tablature he was able to turn himself into the fine banjo player he is today. He has been a member of several 8 BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF CANADA BLUEGRASSCANADA.ORG BANJObluegrass bands including Constant Connection (playing mandolin) and Eight Wheel Drive (playing banjo). In 2015 Justin, his brother Jeff Nauss and friend Waylon Robicheau put together a new group called the Bluegrass Unit. That band is still together today and the current lineup includes Dave Noel on bass and Andrew Sneddon on Dobro. They are a great group and I highly recommend getting out to see them (if that’s at all possible during these times!) or at least getting your hands on their CD. Here are the opening few bars….( for all you banjo techy people out there you’ll notice a nice use of the short forward/backward roll and a lot of use of the hammer on/pull off on the third string) Here are the closing few bars… Here Justin uses some tasty single string and the 3 – 5 G position to add a really nice bluesy closing to the break. Thanks Justin, Stay well and we hope to see you and the band soon! JANUARY 2021 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 9 BANJONext >