NEWS FEATURES, July 23, Acoustic Americana Music News 2008

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"Tied to the Tracks"
ACOUSTIC AMERICANA
MUSIC CALENDAR & NEWS
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NEWS FEATURES for July 23, 2008
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copyright (c) © 2008, Larry Wines. All rights reserved.
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The Acoustic Americana Music Calendar with updated posts and our popular “anniversaries” of things that happened each day in the history of music, entertainment, and the rest of the world, is now at http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com. Myspace has made changes that limit the size of posts, and that makes it far too time-consuming and ponderous to post the calendar there in small pieces.
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Our myspace site, www.myspace.com/laacoustic is still the place to go for news of the syndicated “Tied to the Tracks” radio show, and its new TV counterpart that launches soon.
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FUTURE EVENTS are all moving to our Blogspot page. Archived NEWS FEATURES are still found on our myspace site, where you can also peruse radio playlists and other old things, back to when acoustic music was made by indigenous natives pounding on hollow logs with rocks.
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NEWS FEATURES:
July 23, 2008
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1) CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES ANNOUNCED
Y’know, it offers yet another proof that what passes for “country” music in the states these days is simply off in its own incongruous world of red-state-trailer-park-rock. The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) has announced their 2008 inductees into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Take a look at the folks recognized in Canada, slated for induction during Canada’s Country Music Week 2008, in Winnipeg, September 5-8.
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The inductees are:
a) PRAIRIE OYSTER, six-time winners of the CCMA “Group of the Year” Award.
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b) BRIAN FERRIMAN, recipient of the CCMA “Manager of the Year” award on eight separate occasions. Brian has been instrumental in the careers of many artists, including TERRY SUMSION, TERRY CARISSE, THE GOOD BROTHERS, GARY FJELLGAARD, and MICHELLE WRIGHT, all of whom released some of their major hit recordings on Savannah Records, a label founded by Ferriman, who currently manages R.W. HAMPTON, BRENN HILL, and MICHELLE WRIGHT from his Nashville, TN office.
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c) WES MONTGOMERY (posthumous award) will always be remembered as one of the most successful morning show hosts in history. A true country fan, Montgomery would often play country music on his local Top 40 radio station in Edmonton, Alberta. Montgomery died in 2005 and posthumously received the CCMA Award for “On-Air Personalities of the Year, Major Market,” with his co-host, JACKIE RAE GREENING. This induction follows three years later.
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“We are thrilled that the inductees will be taking their rightful place in the Hall of Fame alongside their peers,” said CCMA Hall of Fame Committee Chair LYNNE FOSTER. “Each of these inductees have played a significant role in the development of the Canadian country music industry and are all truly deserving of this distinction.”
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For more about Country Music Week and the CCMA Awards, visit www.ccma.org. The 2008 CCMA Awards Nominees will be announced July 30 at press conferences in Winnipeg and Toronto.
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R.W. HAMPTON, who has performed live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks,” joined fellow artists managed by designated Hall of Fame inductee BRIAN FERRIMAN to call him, “a true ‘Champion’ for the music,” noting that he “continues to bring his winning efforts and hard work to Western Music and its artists. We anticipate great things from Brian and all the artists at Savannah Music and thank him for all of his efforts in the promotion of Western Music.” [signed] RW Hampton, www.myspace.com/rwhampton, Brenn Hill, www.myspace.com/brennhill, Michelle Wright www.myspace.com/michellewright.
Here at Acoustic Americana Music News, we add our congratulations to Brian, as well, and to the other Hall of Fame inductees.
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2) “McCABE’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY: A LIVING HISTORY OF MUSIC”
It’ll sell-out quickly. It’s a mega-concert, coming Thursday, Oct 2, at 7:30 pm, to the UCLA Live series in Royce Hall, on the UCLA campus (at Royce Dr between Westwood Bl and Hilgard Av), West L.A. UCLA ticket office: 310-825-2101 or www.uclalive.org. The show honors Santa Monica’s McCabe’s Guitar Shop in an all-star concert with JACKSON BROWNE, RICHARD THOMPSON, ODETTA, DAVID LINDLEY, JENNIFER WARNES, THE SAVOY-DOUCET CAJUN BAND, BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY, RICKY JAY and other special guests who have contributed to the iconic cultural institution. McCabe's has served three generations of musicians and music lovers through its retail store, music school and world-famous concert series, becoming a civic treasure and international icon of the acoustic music community. The legendary weekend concert series on the shop’s intimate backroom stage now reaches back five decades. There, McCabe’s has presented a breathtaking variety of roots music, songwriters, jazz singers, punk bands, bluegrass groups, Cajun orchestras, Gospel choirs, outsider poets, and, of course, amazing guitarists of every flavor and stripe. McCabe’s roster reads like a “who’s who” of music in the last half century, from Bill Monroe and Sun Ra to Jeff Buckley and Cat Power. Nancy Covey and Lincoln Meyerson – McCabe’s concert directors past and present – produced this extraordinary concert celebrating 50 years of musical history in the making, featuring many of the artists who have contributed to the continuing saga of music at McCabe’s. Indiv tix went on sale July 23: $60, $46, $32 ($17 UCLA students).
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3) ANGIE STEVENS, DENVER’S HOTTEST SONGWRITER, HAS NEWS
When she played the Hotel Café in Hollywood, she was relegated to a 7 pm weeknight spot. Among the few in the audience were your editor and Alaska-based singer-songwriter TOM BEGICH. Crazy, because indie ANGIE STEVENS is, officially, the hottest songwriter in Denver, several years running. Angie had quite a week in Colorado. First, she sang the National Anthem at the Rockies / Dodgers game at Coors Field July 23, and she closes her weekend on Sunday, July 27, performing on Denver's Channel 9 at 7:50 & 8:50 am. In between is the big Saturday, July 26 event in Denver: it’s the annual “SUMMER BREW FEST” (4-7 pm) at Coors Field Main Parking Lot A, 2200 Blake St, Denver, CO 80205; 303-921-9107; www.denverbrewfest.com. It’s a celebration of Colorado craft brews with over 70 different kinds of beer to sample – unlimited samples – and those in attendance receive a free commemorative drinking cup. All proceeds go to the Colorado Environmental Coalition, www.ourcolorado.org. And of course there’s music. Angie Stevens performs with her band, commenting it’s, “A fun event for a good cause.” Fest tix are $25 adv, $35 gate.
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Meanwhile take some time and check-out ANGIE STEVENS, who records on her Boss Koala Records label, is “Proudly sponsored by Coors,” won “Best Singer-Songwriter 2007” (voters choice) at Westword, won “Independent Artist of the Year 2006,” HapiSkratch Ent., won “Best Singer-Songwriter 2006” (editors choice) Westword, had her song, "Stand Up Girl 2" voted one of the best albums of the year 2006 at Westword, and won “Emerging Artist of the Year,” 2005 HapiSkratch Ent.; info & tracks atwww.angiestevens.com and www.myspace.com/angiestevens .
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4) ROARING ‘20S FEST WAS A HOOT, BOOP-BOOP-A-DOO…
Last weekend, July 19 & 20, was the annual “TICKET TO THE 1920s” at the Historical Homestead Museum, 15415 East Don Julian Rd, City of Industry; 91745; www.homesteadmuseum.org. Like its past editions, it was a free event, at the easy-to-reach museum, 20 miles E of downtown L.A. There were many musicians there, on two stages, and dancers enjoyed the Charleston on the portable dance floor, most following the advice of JANET KLEIN to turn-out in “‘20s picnic frocks and searsucker suits and straw boater hats.” GRAMMY winner IAN WHITCOMB performed with his dance band, the excellent BENNY BRYDERN was there, performing with the wonderful big band of DAVE MORA’s MODERN RHYTHMISTS, there were the NIGHT BLOOMING JAZZMEN, and of course, no celebration of the ‘20s would be complete without JANET KLEIN & HER PARLOR BOYS. As Janet had said, the museum is indeed “an idyllic nook,” perfect for all the “period-style picnicking, wonderful music, vintage cars,” and the on-site food offerings were excellent and quite reasonable. There were tours of the historic Workman mansion, a fashion show by the Art Deco Society, and collectors of old records who shared them on large, windup Victrolas. In short, it was a thoroughly enjoyable and exemplary event, and thanks to the folks at the museum, it was FREE. That deserves special acclaim in this summer of extortion at the gas pumps. Stick a post-it on your December calendar, to be transferred to July 2009. You’ll want to catch this next year!
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5) R.I.P., ARTIE TRAUM, FOLK SINGER-SONGWRITER
Russ & Julie, hosts on the long-running house concert series (www.houseconcerts.us) wrote to tell us the news. They said, “Artie Traum was a true American icon. Julie and I were unbelievably fortunate to host a House Concert for Artie Traum just this past February. He put on a great show and really wowed the audience in our living room. He was really incredible as he shared the night with WENDY WALDMAN left everyone wanting more. Yesterday evening we received the terrible news that Artie Traum had died. He died at home, on his favorite couch, with friends and family at hand.
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“Artie was an amazing musician. His latest CD, ‘Thief Of Time,’ was our favorite new album last year. We've played it over and over and over... (Wendy Waldman produced it and did a mighty fine job.) We've lost a truly incredible musician, but more importantly a really great guy... We feel so blessed that we were able to share Artie's amazing talents with many of you. We know that those of you who were here will never forget the evening. We feel very lucky to have gotten to know Artie and his wife Beverly.
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“You can view a few photos we took of Artie Traum and Wendy Waldman that night at our House Concert at www.jrp-graphics.com/houseconcerts/concert133.html.
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“For those of you who wish to, you can post your thought and remembrances on Artie's website www.artietraum.com. “

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6) R.I.P., KEN GRIFFIS
Ken Griffis, western music historian and author of notable books about the SONS OF THE PIONEERS and the SONS OF THE SAN JOAQUIN, died Thursday, July 10, of lymphoma. He was 83 years old and had suffered from cancer for several years. He wrote "Hear My Song – the Story of the Celebrated Sons of the Pioneers," and " The Songs, The Music, The Men," the story of the Sons of the San Joaquin, and "Painters of the West in Song," about the REINSMEN. The Sons of the San Joaquin are familiar to listeners of “Tied to the Tracks,” and they have been guests on the radio show. Accolades began to arrive quickly in Ken’s memory: “He was a wonderful man and true friend. He will be sadly missed.” – Valerie and Tom Lassiter. “He will be greatly missed.” – Elizabeth MacDonald. “What a gentlemen he was! I wrote to him once inquiring about the book on the Pioneers and he responded with such a lovely letter and an autographed copy of the book. It is a treasure to me now more than ever.” – Olga Barnes. His book on the Sons of the San Joaquin is still available through the band’s website, www.thesons.com.
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7) WESTERN MUSIC ASSOCIATION FOUNDER DIES
Wilma “Willie” Schooler died July 12. She celebrated her 87th birthday on May 27. Willie was one of the founding members of the WMA and was very proud of that fact. She and her husband Keith, who preceded her in death, were recipients of the WMA’s “Bill Wiley Award” in 2000. They had lots of friends in the WMA and they were among the organization’s strongest supporters. Her daughter Phyllis said of Willie, “She was always happiest when she was involved with, or listening to, western music.” R.I.P.
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8) THIS WEEK’S MUSIC VIDEO
Thanks to a question in the WMA artists web group, we learned about this old gem. It’s a song sung by the hillbillies in the 1939 Betty Boop cartoon, "Musical Mountaineers." Like most of the musica obscura, it's on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEEXylFBfKk
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NEXT WEEK, we’ll bring lots more news.
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copyright (c) © 2008, Larry Wines. All rights reserved.
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Be sure to check EVERY WEEK for
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+ the extensive and always huge Acoustic Americana Music Calendar’s event listings
at http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com, or at www.myspace.com/laacoustic.
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+ the latest NEWS FEATURES from the acoustic music universe!
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