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Our Story
My life as a Bluegrass promoter
began when my wife and I decided to have a New Years Eve party.
As we planned the party we never dreamed it was going to change
our lives. At that time my wife's cousin Charles Fincham and my
cousin Bill McCauley had a bluegrass band named Southern Comfort.
Other band members at the time were Mike McCourt, Tom Posey and
Larry Cook. They played at our party, and afterward they asked me
to be their manager. My life in bluegrass had begun.
We bought a bus and with the help of
the band, Joe Olesh and Earl Blake we remodeled it and began a lot
of traveling.
Southern Comfort played a lot of festivals
and shows. They made two albums titled, "32 Acres" and
"Southern Comfort Volume One". Some of the musicians that
played over the years with Southern Comfort were, Don Krocker, Butch
Conrad, Ben Conrad, Greg Posey, Jeff Fincham, Basil Hare and probably
some I've forgotten. Virgil Hardberger replaced Larry Cook on fiddle
and was with the band for many years.
In the late 70's we had our first Bluegrass
Festival, something every band should do at least once. It really
gave us an understanding of how much work is required. We went on
to do five more festivals. We rernted Crestwood swim club from our
neighbors Ray and Mary Bickel. We had a lot of help with the festivals
Mike & Eulla McCourt, Tom and Sally Posey, Bill and Rita McCauley,
Charles and Vicky Fincham, Virgil Hardberger, Dan Riffle, and our
neighbors Joe and Audrey Olesh. Joe and Audrey's children were very
small at the time and now 20 years later Keith and Stephanie help
us with our hall shows our daughter Randi and Tom and Sally Posey
also help, we couldn't get along without them.
My years with Southern Comfort were
great. Our families spent a lot of time together and remain treasured
friends. My love of bluegrass music began as a small boy listening
to the Grand Ole Opery hoping to hear Flatt & Scruggs, Ralph
Stanley and Bill Monroe. That was the highlight of Saturday night
on our farm in Orlando, (Braxton Co.) W.VA. I never dreamed that
years later doing M.C.work in W. VA. I would get to present Bill
Monroe with a birthday cake. I had seen his shows many times over
the years but the night of his birthday was the last time I saw
him. Other highlights were introducing Jett Williams, (Hank Williams
Sr.'s daughter) at the festival. I was also privileged to meet Wilma
Lee Cooper, Kitty Wells, Grandpa Jones, Don Reno and many other
great Bluegrass and country stars.
Wilma Lee Cooper - Jimmie Skinner -
Don Reno
When Southern Comfort decided that
they were to busy to give the music the time it deserved and broke
up they still had three of the original members, Charles Fincham,
Tom Posey and Bill McCauley.
We had been having indoor bluegrass
shows with Southern Comfort as the house band for quite some time.
My wife and I decided to continue the shows, it was a lot of work
without their help. I bought a new sound system and with the help
of Joel Ashcraft learned to use it. I taught Kieth and Stephanie
and Shalersville Town Hall became "Bluegrass Junction"
and the show went on.
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One very sad time for
us was when Bill McCauley died in a fall while hunting.
Bill had played our first show and was also a dear friend.
We will always miss him.
At the time of his death he
was a member of the Pressed 4 Tyme band with Butch, Ben,
and Rodney Conrad and Paul Moore.
One favorite memory of Bill
is of him coming off stage and setting his guitar down to
shake hands and talk to people. He always had time for the
fans.
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At Bluegrass Junction we provide a
place where all ages can visit and enjoy the music.
No Alcohol is allowed and no one will be offended by what they hear
on stage.
At Bluegrass Junction you're never
a stranger, Only a friend we haven't met.
So come to a show and become one of our Bluegrass friends.
Meet the
Bluegrass Junction Staff
Visit the
Bluegrass Junction Photo Album
Click
Here for the Full Season Lineup
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