Here’s a message from the Interim Executive Director of The International Bluegrass Music Association, Nancy Cardwell:
During the past few months, the worldwide bluegrass community has been stunned and saddened by the deaths of four of our most beloved pioneers.
As we prepare this issue of International Bluegrass, I ask you to join the staff, officers and directors of IBMA in extending your thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of Earl Scruggs, Everett Lilly, Doug Dillard and Doc Watson.
Earl Scruggs
Each of these men was responsible for bringing many of us to the “fold,” introducing us to the music we love so much, inspiring untold numbers of artists to create their own sounds, and adding tremendous joy to our lives.
Please join us for World of Bluegrass in Nashville in September for a week of unforgettable tributes, performances and storytelling sessions dedicated to the friends we have lost this year–Earl Scruggs, Everett Lilly, Doug Dillard and Doc Watson–with participation by the folks who toured and recorded with them. Registration is open now; details are below. As the worldwide bluegrass community gathers to remember these pioneers of bluegrass music, we hope you’ll be there, too. You won’t want to miss a single minute, word or note.
We’re also looking for a few good stories about Doc.
Just a few days after she began working with us as interim editor and special projects director, author and journalist Caroline Wright started writing stories about Doug and Everett. She collected stories and tributes from their friends and peers and wrote two extraordinary articles about them for this issue. We’ve also included a reprint of her wonderful 2002 interview with Doc Watson fromBluegrass Now. To see these and other stories, click here.
Caroline would like to hear from the people who loved Doc and his music. She invites Doc’s fans to send their favorite stories, memories and reflections of the beloved American musician to caroline@ibma.org (about 100 words or less would be fine; use more words if you need them). A selection of tributes will appear in the story Caroline is planning for our July edition. Deadline for submission is June 15.
You’ll likely notice a few changes in the look of International Bluegrass this month. With a skill set that includes graphic design, website design and digital video production, Katherine Coe, our new administrative/media assistant, is already working with our team to develop exciting new ways to deliver news about the worldwide bluegrass community to your doorstep. Katherine came up with the design we’re using for World of Bluegrass marketing and merchandise this year, and we’re also premiering her gorgeous new full-color graphic magazine version of International Bluegrass with this issue. As they settle into their new roles, Katherine and Caroline have already made many exciting contributions to the quality and value of our communication.
I look forward to seeing you in Nashville in September for our last World of Bluegrass in Music City for the next few years; to sharing music and memories of Earl, Everett, Doug, and Doc; and to telling you more in the months ahead about Raleigh, N.C., which will host World of Bluegrass in 2013-2015.
Thank you for all you do for bluegrass music – Nancy Cardwell, Interim Executive Director
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