In Memory of David Schnaufer...

Several years ago I was taking a music class at the Augusta Heritage Arts Workshops in Elkins, West Virginia. One day at lunch in the cafeteria, my friend Keith Young, a well known mountain dulcimer builder, introduced me to David Schnaufer, a brilliant dulcimer player. At one point, David had lived with Keith and his wife Mary in their home in Falls Church, VA.

I learned later that David was THE significant dulcimer player in Nashville. To quote his Web site, "Schnaufer won the first National Mountain Dulcimer Competition in 1976 as well as winning seven additional local, state and regional contests. He was a member of N.A.R.A.S. (Nashville Chapter), and was the first dulcimer player to ever accumulate enough major label master sessions to qualify for membership.

Schnaufer's Nashville projects included award-winning videos of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Fisher's Hornpipe" and special musical projects with Emmylou Harris and Johnny Cash. His session credits included work with The Judds, Kathy Mattea, Holly Dunn, Dan Seals, and Hank Williams, Jr. He toured as opening act with the Everly Brothers and appeared on Mark O'Connor's "New Nashville Cats."

Schnaufer's solo recordings included collaborations with several of the world's most respected pickers including Chet Atkins, Mark O'Connor, Mark Knopfler, and Albert Lee. He also developed learning materials including "Swing Nine Yards of Calico," a book and tape set, and "Learning Mountain Dulcimer," an instructional video.

A dulcimer program at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music began in 1995 under Schnaufer's guidance as Adjunct Associate Professor of Dulcimer. This program grew to include over 50 community and university students. A Master Class in the summer of 1996 brought 14 students representing 9 states to Blair for dulcimer study. Schnaufer also taught numerous workshops throughout the United States including Appalachian State University, Boone, NC; Kentucky Music Week, Louisville, KY; Augusta Heritage Center, Davis & Elkins College, WV; and the Denver Folklore Center."

He was a very influential musician. I saw him in concert a couple of times and was amazed at the music he could produce from such a humble instrument.

David playing for our anniversary, July 2005

In July 2005, Mary Ann and I celebrated our first anniversary by spending a weekend in Nashville. I learned that David was going to be presenting a dulcimer workshop on Sunday at the Country Music Hall of Fame and suggested to Mary Ann that we attend. While she was in the CMHOF Gift Shop, I sneaked into the venue where David was setting up and asked if he would play his rendition of "Southwind" as an anniversary gift to Mary Ann. We sat in the front row, and halfway through David's performance he turned to Mary Ann and announced to the audience that he was dedicating his next song as an anniversary gift to both of us. We both cried at the beautiful rendition of this haunting melody.

Sadly, David died a few months later. It was a huge loss to those of us who treasure traditional and old time music. I invite you to enjoy this video:

YouTube Video of David Playing "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"

In Humble Gratitude...

Today, through the grace of God, the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, and the love and support of my loved ones and friends, I celebrate 25 years of sober living. Mary Ann gave me a beautiful sterling silver commemorative medallion to carry. I trust that I'll never forget where I've been.

A Guided Tour...

Igor, Fire Up the Theremin...

This week I've been working with my former leader, Paul Bolinger. We also welcomed a new worker, Barbara Minke, to our team. Last night, Paul and his lovely bride Camille, Barbara, and I all went out to dinner. On the way, we drove by 112 Ocean Avenue, the site of The Amityville Horror.

Camille had researched the location where, in November 1974, Ronald DeFeo, Jr. killed his mother, father, two sisters, and two brothers. In 1977, the book The Amityville Horror was published, describing alleged paranormal events that had beset George and Kathy Lutz and their three children. The Lutz family had purchased the house and moved in in December 1975. The book became the basis for a series of movies.

So now I feel that I really have been to Amityville...

We went to dinner at Bellissimo Ristorante Italiano, a marvelous place indeed. I had Tortellini del Nonno, a cheese filled pasta with shrimp and sundried tomatoes in alfredo sauce. Very dietetic!

An Erection Lasting More than Four Hours...

Last week, as I indicated recently, I went home and erected a new gazebo. It was a great experience! My friend Monty Love gave generously of his time. He came up from Huntsville both Saturday and Monday evening.

On Saturday we completed putting the floor in place and getting the posts and rails put in place.

Monday evening we put up the roof panels. Later in the week, I got the rest of the roof decking finished and ready for the roofers to come.
When they have finished, I'll add a picture of the final product.

Thanks Monty and Dinah! And thanks to Mary Ann for overseeing the setting of the foundation slab and patience!

And as promised, here's a picture of the finished gazebo!

A Life Well Spent...

Today I attended the beautiful memorial service for Joan Mead, my sister-in-law. In many ways, Joni was more like a sister than an in-law. We were very close to contemporaries and she lived with my parents for the better part of a year in the 1960's while my brother Willy was deployed with his Marine Corps fighter squadron. For many years I was the bachelor brother and Bill and Joni hosted me on many holiday weekends. Joni was very much a part of my life.

Mark and David, her sons and my nephews, both spoke eloquently of her life, her love, and her influence. I was proud of them both, along with Laura, David's wife. Laura was a major caretaker in Joni's last months.

Joan died peacefully last week. Her obituary is so beautifully written, I want to share it:

Joan English Mead entered peacefully into God’s arms July 2, 2008. Born in Baton Rouge, LA, May 28, 1940 as Joan Marie English, she enjoyed her early childhood in Bay St. Louis, MS, returning to the MS Gulf Coast during her marriage. Joni as she was known, graduated from Christ the King girls school in Atlanta, GA, and counted those years as some of her best. During her years on the Gulf Coast, she was a librarian for the city of Pass Christian, MS. For many years, she enjoyed a career with the NOAA library at the Stennis Space Center. She was also a friend of Bill W. and was active in helping many women through that friendship. Joni loved art and creative writing; she spent her early retirement years taking classes at the local college in those subjects. Recently relocated to Orlando, FL to be near her son, daughter-in-law and grandsons, Joni was a resident of The Bridge. There she was a popular resident during her stay, as she volunteered her writing services to other residents and took notes on their life stories on her laptop computer. Joni will best be remembered as Grandma Joni to her family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Emmett and Marie English, her brother John and husband William H. Mead. She is survived by her sons, David Richard Mead of Orlando, and Mark William Mead of Costa Rica, her daughter-in-law, Laura Mead and her grandsons, Canon Harrison Mead and Forrest William Mead, son-in-law, Michael Brown, her brothers Richard English, Robert English, Michael English and sister Mary Kludac along with numerous nieces and nephews. She will be missed by all. The family asks that remembrances be made by donating to your local Hospice office or to the cancer research organization of your choice. Joni’s memorial service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church, Winter Park, FL on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 11:00 am.

Rest in peace, Joni...

A Major Project...

I'll be going home next weekend for a much-needed rest. But I have a project waiting for me that is very exciting and may well prevent getting that rest. And here's the rest of the story...

Several years ago, a group of our friends who are amateur musicians started having informal music parties that were hosted by members of the group. Sometimes we had a few people and sometimes many, but we had these get togethers monthly for several years. The host would prepare a main dish like chili or hamburgers and the guests brought salads and desserts. We usually had at least one guitar player, a mandolin, a banjo, sometimes a fiddle, usually at least one hammer dulcimer, and lots of fun. I always played my autoharp and we usually had group singing on at least a few songs. The parties gradually died out as people moved or got busy with other interests.

As Mary Ann and I acquired the land on which her new building now stands, we decided we had the perfect location for a "music gazebo" in which we could start having music parties once again. We selected a lovely spot under the trees and poured a concrete pad on which to put it. We have run water and electricity to the spot, and now the gazebo kit has arrived!

We've recruited the assistance of our friends (and fellow music lovers) Monty and Dinah Love, and next weekend we'll start putting it together. Here's a picture of what the finished product will look like, all 12' x 18' of it:

I ran across a video of a gentleman building a smaller one as a good will gesture. I couldn't help noticing the army of people in the video working on it! What have we gotten ourselves into?? Stay tuned...