Mike Seeger

Some of the most fun I had in the mid 60s was watching the New Lost City Ramblers at the Ash Grove. They were scholars of southern and Appalachian mountain style folk music, who remembered that the point of the excercize was fun. At its core was one of the amazing Seeger clan, Mike, on banjo, fiddle and guitar. These are the guys who weaned me away from the slicker pop-folk acts and helped me develop my taste for mountain music of the homemade variety. To everything, there is a season, and sad to say, we're losing him. Ed Ward just posted this note from Alice Gerrard to my online musicians forum.

Topic 1812 [music]: Musicians in Need
#12 of 13: Flavor of the Weak (captward) Thu Jul 30 '09 (09:50) 17 lines

Not so much in need, but I guess this is where this goes:

From Alice Gerrard:
I don't know if you've heard the news re Mike Seeger but I thought you
should, and also pass it along to anyone you think should know. Mike
has been fighting non-Hodgkins lymphoma for a long time as you probably
know, but very recently it kind of morphed into a multiple myaloma
leukemia that involved blood, bone and throat. He underwent radiation
this past week but it didn't work, and he's opted to go home and
receive hospice care. It is probably a matter of days according to his
wife, Alexia. Her email is alexia at rockbridge.net and she prefers to
receive emails rather than phone calls. They will leave the hospital
where he's been receiving treatment and go home tomorrow.

Sad days...

Alice



And, although I never met him, I feel like I'm losing an old friend. So long, Mike

"Some went on...."

"...to make commercial recordings...
said Hank.
And Rik Elswit was one of them. How ironic that
"Everybody's making it big but me..." with Dr. Hook, made
him BIGTIME. One of the hip young nobody's who walked into
the little funky Paradox with hope and wonder and climbed
on up the Stairway to Stardom to become a Star.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band became stars too.
Jim Fadden and Bruce Kunkle hold the stage with
Jim Fielder of Blood, Sweat and Tears playing bass.
Just how these young kids, Elswit, Fadden, Kunkle, Fielder and the rest
had the stuff to be professionals at that age I can only wonder.

Two more Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founding members, (with Jim playing bass).
That makes 4 Dirt Band founding members on the Willow Valley Stage.
Amazing.
Fielder, a superb master of Bass, JB, a superstar still, and Ralph Barr,
destined to become a legend with amazing, spellbinding guitar and song.
Different paths for these extremely talented and practiced musicans.
They each confided in me that they were pretty sure it
was the Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Old Friends of Mine

While Steve Noonan was the first guitar of this Paradox crowd,
he was also the first friend I had among them.
I met Jackson, who sits in the audience about the same time.
The most recent addition to the Paradox musical
review must be Cat Girton, daughter of maestro John Girton
whom I met 15 some years later.
Three old friends from opposite ends of the timeline,
brought to the stage by those same two
firestarters.
Bob and Helen Sheffer sure know some good folks.

New, Old, ???

My old friend Rob, who I hardly ever even knew. But the atmosphere at
ReUnion '09 was so great, everybody seemed like old friends. It was
just great to meet Rob again, for real this time.
Rob's performance on guitar really stood out as extra fine to my ears. He really has that
instruments voice singing sweetly. Great playing and singing.
When Jan sang with him it was like a time machine, right back
to that olden' day of the Paradox.

The Green Room

The Heart of the Matter

....is musicians and instruments.



Click on the images for giant enlargement.
Attn:Bob and Helen...can you see these? I can make them smaller.
I have reduced them but I can reduce more and still have more
picture than anyone needs here.
Your complete collection is now ready and will be mailed on a
CD soon.
.

A Musical Place

Michael Ray Cox at Paradox Reunion

Hi All - Michael says he's not online much but liked the idea of a youtube video. If anyone runs into him, let him know he's on! Thanks, Mandie

Next Reunion and a Proposal (No - not that kind)

I sent this yesterday: "Pen",

First things first, I'll presume you got home safely and all that. What with work and all, it took me two or three evenings to finish your book. Absolutely wonderful. (I, of course, would've expected nothing less.) I'm writing this as I listen to the music on the Paradox blogsite. It's not just a trip down memory lane. It's an open door to the pathway of our road in life. "And the band played on", indeed. We must make the next one, no matter what. I have a proposal I'd like to make to everyone, that somehow, we consider finding a way to put on a telethon for some worthy cause. I know there's still enough "Star Power" amongst us to get that done, but there's another reason, and a good one, I believe, as well. It's the concept of "Out of little acorns, mighty oaks do grow". And by that, I mean that if the entire theme of the telethon, besides the worthy cause, of course, is to show how one little idea, "The Folkswingers" (how '60's), started at just one club, has led to everyone's rising influence in not only music, but in the greater community as well. By way of demonstration, I would propose that not only the original 40 or so musicians, club owners, promoters, et al, that were involved with the safe space to meet and experiment musically that was created for us at The Paradox be in this thing, to be a part of it, but those with whom the core group later went on to perform with be included as well. I know, I (trust me) know, the ego clashes would be nothing short of monumental (if we let them be) - so what! After all, at this stage in our lives, I believe the best thing we could do would be to "pass it on" by showing, in very clear, graphic (telegenic) terms, just what power a small contribution to the arts can accomplish. Besides, it could be one hell of a ride. And fun besides.

I think I'm going to post this (and I hope you don't mind) on the Paradox's site and see what apples (no lemons please) shake out of the tree. With your permission only, of course.

Your Friendly Curmudgeon,

John "J. B." Besharian

I received this reply today: Sure John! Go ahead and post. Did you go to the reunion?

Pen

Sent from my [her] Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Last Call!

I still have several of Gary's beautiful 100% cotton reunion t-shirts for anyone who didn't get one, or who would like to treat a friend to a lovely memento of the weekend. For only $20 and your address it is yours.

We Are the Paradox logo cups, and reunion totes with everyone's name on it, are also still available for $15 each.

All proceeds help support the expenses of the reunion.

On The Radio

Norma and I are sitting in the KPFA studios, listening to Steve tuning up and getting ready to be interviewed on David Gans' "Dead to the World". And since I don't use Twitter, I figured I'd post to the blog. Live blogging, I think they call it. Since David's an old friend and singing partner of mine we figured to show up and be family and moral support for him and Steve both.

Well, it's 9:00 and it's just music for another half hour. David just wiped some stuff he had on his computer and is typing like mad into his computer trying to access his carts. And he's done it. Amazing how computerized everything in the world is. Steve just passed David the Edge Of The World album in a perfectly executed Nashville Handshake.

OK, event announcements and Steve opens by playing one live. He's on, and he's ON. Sounds great. You can hear this stuff at kpfa.org. Opened with "Bringing it Back Home" On to "Buy For Me The Rain".

Discussion of the state of the biz and the fact that it's devolving to a model of a small record company for each artist.

More music. Don't know the material enough to know the titles of the new stuff, but he's in great voice. "A Very Different Mile" No wonder I didn't recognize it. Not recorded yet. If I had any money, I'd pay to hear this.

Last tune. Next DJ just moved in to set up his intro music. This is going to time out perfectly.

Fielder Redux

I lightened this up a little, I hope you don't mind.
That Strato-Mando looks like fun.
What a fine looking bunch. I bet they sound
great. Thanks for sharing this fine photo.

THE FIELDER FAMILY MINUS ONE

Here is Jim playing with our two boys at church. Hamlyn, in the middle is on Mandocaster, and Gentry, on the right, is playing electric bass.
I am the photographer.
Love,
Alyse

Paradox Reunion 2009

Hi Paradox Folks. It's Mandie. Here's a little MandRand overview of our fun weekend at Bob and Helen's home. We're still talking about the folks, the music, and the beautiful land. Thanks for a wonderful time.



NEW TO THIS POST.....YOUTUBE VERSION NOW AVAILABLE....
A LITTLE BETTER QUALITY IN ALL WAYS.....
YOUTUBE LINK...CLICK HERE.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7qy2EfrUK0

WELL, THE CLICKABLE DON'T DANG WORK.
PASTE IT IN OR JUST GO TO YOUTUBE
AND SEARCH "PARADOX REUNION 2009"

Eureka! Gold discovered in California!

Ralph Barr.
Amazing. A Whole new level of something beyond.
A voice and a guitar that go further into their beauty than anyone ever has.
Legendary names could be mentioned as Ralph Barr moves beyond them.
The Tone.
He has Tone everywhere.
Appolo and Orpheo had it.
David had it.
Ralph has it.


Jim Fadden, a virtuoso with a black case of silver instruments
which he plays like a jeweler, sparkling chains, rubys and diamonds,
keeps company.

A real musical flash from the past....

Lavender

Lavender Bassman
As consistant as the rolling sea. He's always
there. Words could
never say how much he brings and shares.
Beautiful music comes through him whether
he's playing his instrument or simply being.
Jim Fielder.

THE PARADOX BALL

Specal thanks to Ralph, Michael Ray, Uncle Bob, Lavender Jim and the Paradox Choir for turning my words and a few chords into a song.
It was the first time I ever had a dog in the race and it was a major rush to hear it become a reality. Bravo!