$12.00 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 3 July 2021 PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 42167060 bluegrasscanada.org Award-WinningAward-Winning Gentleman of BluegrassGentleman of Bluegrass BILL WHITEDedicated to the preservation and promotion of Bluegrass and Old-time music throughout Canada Canada PROUD PUBLISHERS OFTable of Contents In Conversation with Bill White 11 16 19 22 On the cover Bill White. Columns 5 President Murray Hale’s Message 6 In the Groove with Tom McCreight 35 Editor Mike Kirley’s Message Lessons 8 Mandolin with Emory Lester 10 Banjo with Denis LePage Reviews 26 CD Review with Pat Moore Listings 24 Radio on the Air 27 BMAC Organization Listings Canada V o l u m e 15 I s s u e 3 JULY 2021 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Sometimes the best concerts happen off-stage. Relive that festival experience with an in-depth interview with bluegrasser Bill White. Mike Kraft on Banjo Malahat Drive’s Mike Kraft has a thing or two to say about his life with a banjo in this personal interview. The Spirit of Bluegrass in 2020 In recognition of Ray Legere and his contributions to bluegrass. Some Pluckin’ Recognition Our Denis LePage accounts some of the superstars of banjo these days, and the recognition they’ve been getting.Bluegrass Music Association of Canada BMAC is a non-profit 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. Specifically: 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 conflict 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 3 Email: membership@ bluegrasscanada.org Website: bluegrasscanada.org Publisher Murray Hale & Mike Kirley Editor Mike Kirley SUBSCRIPTION One Year $45 / includes Free Grass Roots 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. MEMBERSHIP • Grass Roots Membership: $20/y includes all members of a household up to age 18. Access to online magazine plus all other BMAC online services. • Organizational memberships: See bluegrasscanada.org or contact Gord DeVries at 519-719-2501 or membership@bluegrasscanada.org. SUBMISSIONS Send change of addresses and undeliverable notices of Canadian addresses to BMAC, c/o Gord DeVries, 22790 Amiens Road, Komoka ON NOL-1RO. 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. PRINTED IN CANADA. CANADA POST CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL SALES PRODUCT AGREEMENT No. 42167060. 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 Advertising Director Arlene Jamieson arlene@venture-interiors.com Advertising Director David Featherstone davidfeatherstone58@gmail.com Director Denis LePage dlepage99@gmail.com Director Eric Holt erich@foothillsbluegrass.com Media Director: Dennis Casey roxden@sympatico.ca Social Media Carol Boyer carol.boyer@sympatico.ca Contributors David Featherstone Gloria Jean Hansen Denis LePage Emory Lester Tom McCreight Linda Thorburn Advertising Rates & Specs Dave Featherstone 705-624-1155 Arlene Jamieson 613-433-0900 Layout James Kerr 705-927-0994 Printing & Distribution Innovative Kaitlyn Gerber 1-888-698-3883 kaitlyn@innovative.ink Millbank, ON Canada 4 BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF CANADA BLUEGRASSCANADA.ORG MASTHEADPresident’s Report Murry Hale, president of the BMAC. By Murray HaleA Word of Encouragement from Murray Well, here we are now at last, happily over the latest lockdown and looking forward to a more normal Fall. I hope that most of you have been organizing your own summer campouts with lots of picking and summer fun. Rumour has it that some festivals or at the very least, bluegrass events, may begin as soon as September if events producers are given the go ahead by public health. By now you will have had a chance to read a copy of Bluegrass Canada (April issue) with the Tony Rice “Remembering his Legacy“ stories. If you have not had a chance to do so, please read the last two pages of the magazine or go online to bluegrasscanada.org to familiarize yourself with the new membership rates and criteria. Thank you to all those who have written our editor and thanked him for the wonderful stories ,music tips and information from contributors far and wide. This July issue is possibly the last hardcopy issue until our revenue begins to flow again. We do not foresee a long delay in getting back to hardcopies. The magazine will continue to be available online at bluegrasscanada.org. BTW we do need and count on memberships to survive. if you have not joined BMAC as an individual, band or organization please “jump in there”! In the meantime, to our bands, contributors, promotors and membership in general across this great country, let us continue to produce this wonderful music. ‘Play it, sing it, record it and listen to it”. It’s what we do and it’s who we are. We need music more than ever now. “See You In September”. Cheers, Murray Hale Become a member of the BMAC Email: membership@ bluegrasscanada.org Website: bluegrasscanada.org Start gettin’ picky about Your music... JULY 2021 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 5 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEBytown Bluegrass, an Ottawa based band, started performing in 1974. They performed at most major festivals in Ontario and have also performed in Manitoba, Quebec, and New York State. They have had many appearances on radio and national television. Led by the Adams brothers, Ray and Glen, Bytown had a reputation for fine harmony, solid instrumentation, and well-chosen material. At the time of this recording in 1980, the band consisted of Glen Adams, Ray Adams, Don Hill, Chris Whittles, and Dave Whittles. Jo- Anne Adams appeared as a special guest and sang lead on two songs. Bytown’s first LP was recorded in Ottawa at SNOCAN Studios in 1980. Ralph Carlson, Dave Dennison, and Ron Sparling founded the company, SNOCAN Records and Recording Studio, in the early 1970’s, and mainly recorded Ottawa area country music acts. Dennison and Sparling were also members of the award-winning group Family Brown. Artists who released recordings on SNOCAN or on their subsidiary budget label ICICLE Records, include Ralph Carlson, Baker Street, Anita Perras, Big Redd Ford, Blue Mule, Ron McMunn, Bytown Bluegrass, and many others. On this LP (Record number – SCN517) Bytown presents fifteen tracks, including three originals. The music starts off with a rousing rendition of the J. Lambert/B. Graves song Roust-a-Bout. Chris Whittles – lead vocal and mandolin; Glen Adams – baritone and banjo; Ray Adams – tenor and guitar; Ron Hill – dobro; Dave Whittles – bass. With this first track you know what to expect throughout the album – fine harmony, strong instrumentals, unique arrangements, and tasty backup playing. Next comes the excellent Neil Allen song, The Singer. Hill kicks it off with some very nice dobro playing. Glen kicks off This Heart of Mine (S. Brines & J. Smoak) on banjo for the third track. Broken Lady (L. Gatlin) features Jo-Anne singing lead on the vocal introduction; Ray sings lead on the verses, and tenor to Chris’ lead on the choruses. The fifth track on side one is You Can Share My Blanket, an S. Brines song that was also recorded by Ricky Skaggs, J. D. Crowe, and Josh Williams. Chris plays some very tasteful and delicate mandolin here. The original Glen Adams instrumental – Bytown Ramble – features Glen on banjo; Ray on mandolin; Don on guitar; and Dave on bass. It’s a nice tune but is less than two minutes (1:42) long. I would like to have heard more. Now comes the first of two lead vocals by Jo-Anne. My Favourite Memory, written by D. Statler, was first recorded in 1967 by the Osborne Brothers. Merle Haggard had a hit with it too. Here Glen sings a low tenor and Ray sings baritone with Jo- Anne on lead vocal. Side one ends with I Ain’t Broke, But I’m Badly Bent. This is always a fun song to sing and play and Bytown’s enjoyment shines through. Side two starts with the traditional tune, Turkey In The Straw, which Glen arranged for himself on banjo; Ray on lead mandolin; Chris on harmony mandolin; Don on guitar; and Dave on bass. Again this is a very short instrumental – only 1:14. Next up is an original song written by Ray – Good- night Sweetheart. He sings lead on the verses, and tenor to Chris’ lead on the choruses. Glen adds the baritone part. Track three is the well-known Rebels Ye Rest written by Pauline Beauchamp. A Lester Flatt song is featured next – I’m Gonna Settle Down. Chris - lead vocal and mandolin; Glen - baritone and banjo; Ray – tenor, and guitar; Don – dobro; Dave – bass. This is followed by another original instrumental by Glen – Open Road – has Glen on lead guitar and banjo; Ray – guitar; Chris – mandolin; Don – dobro; Dave – bass. The second to last tune is a gospel number – Show Me The Way (V. Stauffer). To finish off this fine recording we have Casey’s Last Ride (Kris Tom looks back at a seminal album by a famous Ottawa Band Bytown Bluegrass Tom “the Old Coot” McCreight, a renound Toronto bassplayer of “Bluegrass Revival”, festival volunteer, merchant, newsletter publisher, promoter, emcee, author, active member of the Toronto Area Bluegrass Committee (TABC), winner of the Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards for Bass Player and also Entertainer of the Year, and a song writer. 6 BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF CANADA BLUEGRASSCANADA.ORG IN THE GROOVEThe Humber River Valley Boys were a Toronto based band that existed from approximately 1974 to 1981. During this time they released three LPs: self titled in 1977: Bar Room Daze in 1978: and They Said It Couldn’t Be Done in 1980. Kristofferson) with Jo-Anne singing lead; Glen on low tenor and banjo; Ray singing baritone and playing guitar; Don on dobro; guest electric bassist is Gilles Rheaume. This song and Bytown Ramble were previously released on a “45” in 1979. Casey’s Last Ride made it into the top 20 on national country charts for Bytown. On almost every track Sam Henry is given credit for playing “drums.” This was likely done to broaden the LP’s appeal to country radio, but they are so low in the mix that they are hardly noticeable at all. Jo-Anne Adams decided to leave the band in late 1979, which left Ray, Glen, and Don Hill looking for a lead singer and bass player. Prior to joining Bytown, the Whittles, Dave and his son Chris, had been playing in a group called Hard Times from the Gananoque/Kingston area. After leaving Bytown around the end of 1981 Chris joined Blue Mule. Unfortunately, both Dave and Chris Whittles have passed on. Don Hill lives in Ottawa and still plays great dobro, but is not in a band. Jo-Anne lives in Brockville but is not involved with music. The last incarnation of Bytown was formed around 2005 and consisted of Neville Wells (lead vocal and bass), Don O’Neill (guitar), John Richard (fiddle), and Ray and Glen Adams. They were quite active in Eastern Ontario up until 2011. In 2017 and 2019 they played “reunion” sets at the Eastern Ontario Bluegrass Festival in Lombardy, and you can find videos of these shows on YouTube. In recognition of their many years of accomplishments in bluegrass and country music Glen and Ray were inducted into the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Glen now plays banjo with Northern Sons. For several years, pre-Covid, Ray worked with various country bands on fiddle, guitar or bass. He formed a group called Watermelon Wine, but has not been playing for the past two years. Copies of Bytown’s three recordings are available in CD format. Contact: bytownbluegrass@ ripnet.com. Ray says they have no plans to resurrect Bytown, but somehow it wouldn’t surprise me to see them emerge after the pandemic ends and life gets back on track. JULY 2021 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 7 IN THE GROOVEIn this session, we’ll take a look at the differences of playing a traditional melody in a traditional ‘friendly’ key, as opposed to play- ing the same melody in a slightly ‘un-friendly’ and a more ‘challenging’ key. For this experiment, we’ll use a very popular tune that has been around for a long time, called ‘Saw- ing on the Strings’. We’ll focus here on the ‘verse’ part of the tune, which most versions use for their instrumen- tal segments. The first version shown here is in the key of ‘A’, which is one of the more familiar and ‘friendly’ keys on the mandolin. Almost all of this style of tunes, and fiddle tunes for that matter, would require the use of all four of your noting fingers (index, middle, ring and little) to fully represent all of the notes for a ‘true’ melody. I know that some versions are played ‘without’ all of the tradition- al melody notes, but we aim to play it fully and correctly, as it compares to the written melody, and as the singer would sing the lyrics with an unlimited and natural voice. In the key of ‘A’, there are many ‘open’ notes that don’t require a noting finger, so that the responsibility can pretty much depend on ‘three’ fingers and not ‘four’. The ‘open’ notes can be considered as replacing a ‘finger’, as they are ‘free’ notes that you don’t have to com- mit a noting finger to. One of the lessons here is to consider ‘open’ notes as an extra ‘finger’ that isn’t needed from your hand to make the tone. When we focus on the ‘B-flat’ version of the tune also shown here (Bb), we no longer can rely on the ‘open’ notes for the proper melody, thus the fourth finger is required to make up the difference. The small letters below the staves shown here, are noting finger ‘suggestions’ or ‘guides’, and can help you navigate your way and set your hand posi- tions properly to be able to reach the notes as needed. There are a couple of ‘hand shifts’ in these versions as well, yet another interesting subject and study. Give these two versions a try, and notice the differences be- tween the two versions. Hopefully this will help in your efforts to play melodies ‘truly’ and ‘accurately’, and make better and more strategic use of your noting hand for any tune. Emory Lester is an icon in the Canadian bluegrass scene. Although he is a Virginia native, Emory now calls Ontario home. His mandolin playing is revered worldwide. By Emory Lester Emory demonstrates playing in more challenging keys Sawing on the Strings When you advertise in Bluegrass Canada, you: Target a niche demographic Get seen in digital and print Support Canadian Bluegrass To learn more, contact: Arlene Jamieson arlene@venture.interiors.com David Featherstone davidfeatherstone58@gmail.com Introduce yourselves to our readers 8 BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF CANADA BLUEGRASSCANADA.ORG MANDOLINWhen you advertise in Bluegrass Canada, you: Target a niche demographic Get seen in digital and print Support Canadian Bluegrass To learn more, contact: Arlene Jamieson arlene@venture.interiors.com David Featherstone davidfeatherstone58@gmail.com Introduce yourselves to our readers SAWING ON THE STRINGS Key of variations by Emory Lester 55740455220222 A 2520 204 0 E 234 0 A 000 A 0024240 D 0 55 222 A 200 204 0 E 34222 A Key of A Bb 4 0024240 D 0 55 222 4 A 2520 204 0 E 234 0 A 000 A A 200 204 0 E 34222 0024240 D 0 55 222 4 AD 6686 810 66 101081010 Bb 3631 315 1 F 345 1 Bb 11 Bb 1135351 Eb 1 66 333 Bb 311 315 1 F 45333 Bb 5 EbBbBb 1135351 Eb 1 66 333 5 Bb 3631 315 1 F 345 1 Bb 11 Bb 311 315 1 F 45333 1135351 Eb 1 66 333 5 RIMIRMRIRRIIM IRMRRLLIMMIIMM IRMRRLLIMMIIMM IRMRRLLIMMIIMM RIIMRRMMIIMM RIIMRRMMIIMM MILMRIIMIRRMII MILMRIIMIRRMII IMIIIRIIMMRI JULY 2021 BLUEGRASS CANADA MAGAZINE 9 MANDOLINNext >