The following presentation is an overview of the upcoming Annotated Mix-Tape that I have been working on as part of my final project. I am proud to present: San Diego Bluegrass. Enjoy!
Track One: Proto-Grass and Encinitas
“Yes Sir”
-Milton Brown and his Musical Brownies (1936)
- Who were The Encinitas Ranch Hands?
- What did they play?
- Where did they play?
- Where were they from?
Track Two: Migratory Music
“Just When I Needed You”
-Maddox Brothers and Rose (Late 1940’s)
(Recording courtesy of the Lou Curtiss Sound Library)
- The Maddox Brothers and Rose (Boaz) arrive in California
- Slap Bass, and other “color”
- Their role in San Diego (and everywhere else out West)
- Their sound as an example
Track Three: Bluegrass Erupts
“Shady Grove”
-The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers (1963)
- Chris Hillman (Los Angeles) and The Blue Guitar
- The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers:
- Kentucky, Minnesota, etc
- “Blue Grass Favorites” and beyond
- How does shared space make great music possible?
Track Four: The Role of Venues
“You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone”
-Jim Ringer & Sweet Mills String Band (1970)
(Recording courtesy of the Lou Curtiss Sound Library)
- The Sign of the Sun (1960-late 1960’s)
- The Blue Guitar (1961-today)
- The Heritage (1963-1972)
- Folk Arts Rare Records (1967-today)
- The Old Time Cafe (1979-1988)
- Java Joe’s (1991-today)
- Adam’s Avenue (more on that later)
Track Five: Lou Curtiss and the Collegiate Scene
“Coal Black Choo Choo”
-Alice Gerrard and Mike Seeger (1970)
(Recording and image courtesy of the Lou Curtiss Sound Library)
- “Folk Music” in San Diego
- San Diego State: A new kind of musical migrant
- Sam Hinton (Tulsa) and the San Diego Folk Song Society
- Lou Curtiss (Seattle) and Folk Arts Rare Records
Track Six: Geographically Rooted Music
“North County Breakdown”
-Squatter’s Last Rights (1977)
- “North County Breakdown” and the Homegrown Albums (1973-1983)
- What’s in a name?
- The Encinitas Ranch Hands
- Pacificly Bluegrass
- San Diego Grass and Electric
- Box Canyon
- Hwy 52
- Lighthouse
- Old Town Road
- Palomar Pickers
- Faultline
- Back to The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers and The Golden State Boys
- San Diego as the “Home Place”
- Outside Bluegrass: Tom Waits, J.J. Cale, Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh
Track Seven: Local Organizations and Institutions
“Highway 52”
-Hwy 52 (1998)
- A funny story (not quite 20 miles)
- The San Diego Troubadour (since 2001)
- Four friends and a crazy idea
- local writers, local music
- 16 neighborhoods, 170+ locations
- San Diego Bluegrass Society (Rick Kirby of Pacificly Bluegrass)
- North County Bluegrass and Folk Society (Summergrass, Jams and more)
Track Eight: The Nickel Creek Story
“Reasons Why”
-Nickel Creek (2000)
- Beginnings: That Pizza Place
- What’s with Bluegrass and Pizza?
- Idyllwild
- Local Success
- Big Success
- Alison Krauss
- Reasons Why
- Chris Thile and co. Today
- Fiction Family
- Lifestyle Diversity in San Diego
Track Nine: Adam's Avenue and Lou Curtis Today
“Prisoner’s Song”
-The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers (2004)
- Adam’s Avenue
- Street Music and Festivals
- Lou Curtiss Today
- San Diego Troubadour
- Folk Arts Rare Records
- The Lou Curtiss Sound Library
Track Ten: From Gospel to the Galapagos
“On the Road to Julian”
-Lighthouse (2007)
- Wayne Rice (San Diego)
- Brush Arbor
- Lighthouse
- Bluegrass Special (since 1977)
- The Galapagos Mountain Boys and “Scientific Gospel”
- Dr. Stephen Baird (Oklahoma)
- Hallelujah! Evolution!
- Water on Mars
- Darwin, Darn It!
Bonus Track: Bluegrass and Me
“Backyard Jam”
-San Diego Bluegrass Society (2012)
- My Bluegrass Story:
- Country Radio
- The Star of India
- Summer Camp
- Eli Turner
- Contra Dancing
- Today’s Pizza
well done for the post