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