AMERICANA MUSIC ASSN CONFERENCE
I’ve been busy recently. I was in Nashville for the Americana Music Association’s annual convention where I participated in a showing of “For The Love of the Music” (Todd Kwait and Rob Stegman’s documentary about the Club 47) along with Betsy Siggins and Taj Mahal. I had recently gone to see Taj at a concert in Lebanon, NH, and was blown away by his continuing creativity and energy. I also did a reading and book signing at Howlin’ Books from “In It For The Long Run” and “Bossmen: Bill Monroe and Muddy Waters.” It was a nice surprise to see my friend Greg Trooper there. It’s interesting store specializing in books about music run by Will Kimbrough’s wife Jessica. Later the same day I was a guest on the Thacker Mountain Radio Hour, a wonderful radio show which normally originates from the On The Square Bookstore in Oxford, MS, and is broadcast over Mississippi Public Radio, I read some of Muddy Waters words describing how he brought the Delta Blues sound to Chicago, then I sang “Sitting On Top Of The World” (originally recorded by The Mississippi Sheiks and which I learned from Bill Monroe) with the great house band. I had a great time and would love to do it again.
A NEW TOM PAXTON ALBUM
Following that, my dear friend Tom Paxton came to town and we recorded a new album (our fourth studio album together). Cathy Fink served as executive producer on this project and helped organize a very successful Kickstarter campaign to support the recording. Cathy played banjo on several tracks and also sang harmonies on a couple of songs with her longtime partner Marcy Marxer. Tom had a great collection of 14 songs, most of which were written in the past 5 years. On the title song, “Redemption Road” (co-written with Geoff Bartley, who played National steel body guitar on the track) Tom was joined by none other than Janis Ian. It is a beautiful, moving recording. John Prine joined Tom on a very sensitive song called “Skeeters’ll Gitcha (If Your Screens Ain’t Tight)!” Many of my favorite musicians joined Tom on the sessions, including Mark Howard, Al Perkins, Pete Wasner, Kirk “Jellyroll” Johnson, Tim Crouch, John Mock, Dave Pomeroy, Pat McInerney, and long time accompanist for Tom, Robin Bullock. Suzi Ragsdale and John Wesley Ryles sang harmonies. We recorded with the one and only David Ferguson, assisted by Sean Sullivan, at The Butcher Shoppe. I think this will prove to be one of Tom’s best albums in his long and illustrious career. On Thursday night Tom joined me and Rooney’s Irregulars at the Station Inn. He sang “Ramblin’ Boy, “Bottle of Wine,” “Can’t Help But Wonder Where I’m Bound,” and “A Lesson Too Late For The Learning.” Everyone in the place sang every song. It was one of those unforgettable moments. You had to be there.
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IBMA CONVENTION
After that I headed over to Raleigh, NC, to the IBMA convention. There I had a chance to meet Laurie Matheson, the editor-in-chief of the University of Illinois Press, publishers of “In It For The Long Run.” They had many of their books about music on display, including Neil Rosenberg’s definitive “History of Bluegrass Music.” I first met Neil at Bill Monroe’s park at Beanblossom, Indiana. Neil was elected to the Bluegrass Hall of Fame this year in recognition of his lifetime spent writing about Bluegrass. The recognition was well deserved. A personal highlight came for me when the IBMA gave my long time partner (55 years!!) Bill Keith a Distinguished Achievement Award. Banjo player Alan Munde recounted all of Bill’s singular achievements, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that Bill was one of the most significant innovators in the history of the banjo. Bill has never been one to blow his own horn. This recognition, if a bit overdue, was very gratifying.
Now it’s back to Vermont to finish getting my wood in for the winter, watching the leaves change colors and playing for a dance during my stepson, Matthew’s annual Ciderfest on Columbus Day Weekend. The fun never ends!
with Bill Keith circa 1974
(photo by McGuire)