We host two official jams, one on the 1st Sunday of the month at the Audabon Society and the Offkey Easy Jam which happens every Sunday from 2-5pm at Biddy McGraw's
See the Jams Link in the Menu above for more details
Join the OBA on FacebookCheck out the new menu link above! Chick's Kids. The OBA is helping support this great project Chick Rose started. Make a donation from that page or from the link at the bottom, right of this page and keep the music coming for generations to come!
The meeting was short and sweet as the sun shined bright outdoors and beckoned everyone to come pick a tune or two (dozen). Plenty of food & drinks and a well supported raffle kept us all fed and happy. Then to top it off, Chick's Kids gave a little show case concert and blew us all away! Ask around about the Xylaphone...
Thoughts on the passing of Earl Scruggs - -
We all have special memories for the man who changed music history and brought us (as
Hylo Brown would say) a "whole heap of joy."
While I met Earl several times, the thrill of a lifetime was his handing me his banjo and
asking me(!) to play him a tune. This was 40 years backstage at Knott's. I managed to
uncork a brief piece I'd made up in Scruggs style. He said, "That's real nice."
I don't think my feet touched the ground for days. When I got to reflect on that incredible
session with Earl, I felt humble, fortunate and was determined that my banjo would be just a
little different.
What always impressed me the deepest were Earl's politeness, his joy in what he did and
feel for the situation in his live playing. It was so exciting to see him pull off unusual licks
and ideas right in front of me. Things he would not as likely do in the studio.
For a boy in fragile health to come from hard circumstances in Appalachia, lose his dad at
age four, play an instrument hardly known outside the South and proceed to set the world
afire with his sparkling banjo is inspiring to us all. Earl has come to be the world’s most
imitated musician.
There would be no OBA or IBMA without Earl. Without Louise Scruggs's persistence, vision
and acumen, we might never have heard bluegrass on the West coast. The music was so
regional in nature until Louise realized that the urban folk revival was made to order for Flatt
& Scruggs.
Dave Guard of the Kingston Trio was the most heard 5 string player in the late 50's. He had
learned from Pete Seeger's instructional book on banjo and outfitted one of his 5 strings with
Scruggs pegs. As the Kingston Trio sold over half of Capitol's records in '59, the banjo was
getting out there. It wasn't long till us SoCal folkies woke up to Lester and Earl. First thing
you know, they're on the Beverly Hillbillies, one of the most wildly successful shows of all
time.
While many fans and musicians in the South were hearing all sorts of bluegrass, our menu
was sparse. We did get to see the Golden State Boys, featuring Tony Rice's dad Herb, and
eventually the Dillards.
I believe, that without Earl, Pete, Dave and Louise, I would not be playing any music
whatever. I owe them and many others many thanks for the thrills, travel and good times
that I've had bringing joy to others.
Thank God we have the youtubes, CDs, 33s, live radio tapes et al to keep our musical
imaginations alive.
Thank you, Earl. Your kind compliment about my playing, no matter how unwarranted, has
buoyed me over these many years.
You will always be the best.
You made us all so happy.
Larry Wilder, A banjo picker
| Events on 05/17/2012 |
|---|
| No Events found for today |
The WBA hosts a fine calendar of Festivals, here's a link to it!
Portland, Or - A fundraiser benefiting
Port City Development Center. Friday night gala at the Secret Society Ballroom, Festival
on Saturday at Port City North Facility. Jamming, Workshops and great local bands!
Here's some pictures taken by our official OBA photo journalist, Cleve Friedman, cjfriedmag @ gmail.com
Online Registration for new and renewing members is now available. Click here or the Membership link above and get the next issue of the SPBGMA award-winning BG Express and a discount on all OBA sponsored events!
Make a Tax Deductible Donation to the OBA and/or the Chick's Kids Fund Click here to Support the OBA
Drive it Home with OBA Merchandise! Click here or the Merchandise link above and pick up an OBA T-Shirt and help keep bluegrass alive in Oregon!
