Down On The Corner
• Earl Meyers Steps Down After seven and a half years of coordinating the Louisville Workshop of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, Earl Meyers has decided to relinquish the job of coordinator. I can relate, Earl.No word yet on a replacement.
Speaking of Earl, the 50th of his "Earl's Pearls" was printed in the May 1995 issue of LMN.
• The Bluegrass Brewing Company in St. Matthews has scheduled a "Summer Fest" on Friday and Saturday, June 16 and 17, complete with a specially brewed wheat beer and live music. Jim Wilson's Wilson Project will open at 6:00 pm for Identity on Friday and lovesauce & soulbones on Saturday.
• The 23rd Anniversary of the Toy Tiger will be celebrated during the week of June 19-24. They'll be doing some promotions, no doubt. Watch that sign.
• The Creative Black Tie Bash, to benefit the American Cancer Society, will be held on Saturday, June 10, from 9 pm until 2 am, in the Medallion Room of the Seelbach Hotel. Live music will be presented by the Heat.
Tickets are $35 and can be ordered by calling 584-6782.
• Drummer Colby Inzer from New Albany, Ind., recently got a short mention in the May issue of Downbeat magazine. Inzer, son of Denny (and) Inzer, is in the jazz studies program at William Paterson College in Wayne, N. J.
• Local guitarist John Grammer has been selected as an Alvarez Yairi Endorsing Artist. Grammer performs solo and with groups and teaches at Bill Edwards Music in Plantation.
• Speaking of Bill Edwards Music, Rob Pickett of the Mudcat Blues Band and Scott Hardin have joined the store as sales staff.
• Gregory Turay II, of Lexington, KY, was one of ten winners of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, held on April 9. Turay, who was also the youngest of the winners at age 22, and the other winners traveled to New York to perform on the Met stage on April 23.
• The Renfro Valley Barn Dance picked up the award for "Promoter of the Year" at the first annual Traditional Music Association Awards, held on April 15 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
• The Nashville Entertainment Association has announced that it is seeking unsigned acts for Music City Music '95, a two-day showcase staged for top professionals in the Nashville music industry. Deadline is May 31. What!?
There are, of course, entry forms, rules and costs. Call 615-327-4308 or write Music City Music '95 Selection committee, Nashville Entertainment Association, P. O. Box 121948, Nashville, TN 37212.
• Sing Out!, the Folk Song Magazine is celebrating its 45th anniversary. Yeah! Way to go, etc. The magazine will reprint its first issue, with "The Hammer Song," written by Pete Seegar and Lee Hays, as a special commemorative. Hard to believe, it survived the folk scare, the Communist scare and the disco scare to keep on writing about folk music. You say you thought it was history? Ha! Write 'em at POB 5253, Bethlehem, PA 18105-0253 or call 610-865-5366. You could subscribe, even.
• Audition time, students. The Louisville Youth Orchestra has announced that audition slots are open for interested students for the 1995-96 season. Auditions will take place during late August and early September.
Contact: Melody Welsh, Executive Director, Louisville Youth Orchestra, 623 West Main St. Louisville, KY 40202 or call 502-582-0135.
• Need Some Yucks? Division. But Seriously: The American Comedy Box, 1915-1994 is available from Rhino Records on CD. A 4-CD box, the collection contains selections from America's greatest comedians. The package includes extensive notes on each track, plus a list of comedy awards the performer received, plus recommended reading.
Compilations often promise more than they can deliver, and if you're a fan of one or another of these comedians, then there surely won't be enough of that performer. Nonetheless, you'll hear comedians and rountines you never heard before. Call Rhino at 800-432-0020 if you can't find it in your local record store
• Betcha Didn't Know Dept. The World Jazz Network headquarters is in Midway, Kentucky. Founded in 1988 by Diz Greer, the WJN promotes jazz around the world and publishes an annual directory.
Contact:World Jazz Network, c/o Melanie Sunbeam Smith, 53 Harmony Lane, Midway, KY 40247-9739, U.S.A.
• Call Kamran Javid about the Misfits on Monday.
• Is This a Habit or What Division? Kentuckian Steven Curtis Chapman won 6 Doves at the Gospel Music Association' 26th Annual Dove Awards, held on April 27. Chapman picked up Doves for best artist, songwriter and male vocalist. He also picked up the award for best contemporary song and album for "Heaven in the Real World."
Chapman has won the songwriter award seven years in a row.
• Agency Notes. X.O.X, The Rumors and the Cyclone Rangers have signed up with Triangle Talent.
• Festivals and More Store. The festivals continue to show up on the old radar. Here are a few to look forward to:
Yellowbanks Dulcimer Festival, Owensboro, Ky., June 2 & 3. Call 800-489-1131.
Seedtime on the Cumberland, Whitesburg, KY June 2-4. 606-633-0108.
W. C. Handy Blues and Barbeque Festival, Henderson, KY. June 11-18, 1-502-826-0234.
The Master Musicians Festival, in Somerset, KY, June 15-18. 800-642-6287
The Great American Brass Band Festival, Danville, KY, June 17-18. 800-755-0076.
Rosine Bluegrass Festival, Rosine, KY, June 23-24, 502-274-7269.
2nd Annual MERF/Phoenix Hill/WDJX Blues Festival and Bar-B-Q Cookoff, Phoneix Hill Tavern (rear parking lot and Saloon), Sunday, June 25, 1 pm - 1 am.
Waterside Art and Music Festival, Water Tower, July 1-2. 502-896-2146
Dulcimer Camp in the Mountains, Morehead (Ky) State University, July 9-15. 606-783-2077.
20th Annual Kentucky Music Week, Iroquois Park, Louisville, July 31 - August 4.
Old Joe Clark Bluegrass Festival, Renfro Valley, KY, June 30-July 2. 800-765-7464.
Dulcimer Camp in the Mountains, Morehead (Ky) State University, July 9-15. 606-783-2077.
21st Old Time Fiddlers Contest, Rough River (Ky) Dam State Resort Park, July 21-22. 502-259-3578. Fiddle 'til you fall over.
Jazz in Central Park, Central Prk, Louisville, August 24-26. 502-562-0100.
Strange Music Weekend, Carter Caves State Resort Park, August 25-26. 800-325-0059.
Great American Dulcimer Convention, Pine Mountain (Ky) State Resort Park, Sept, 22-24. 800-325-1712.
• Margaret G. Henry, 74, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, died at her Louisville home on April 13, 1995. Henry, a native of Patrick Country, VA led Forgetful Molly and the Music Reckers, performing throughout the country, as well as on the Grand Ole Opry.
Henry was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.
• Jimmy Raney