Down On The Corner
• The benefit for Steve Ferguson, who recently underwent heart surgery, will be held at Headliners, Stevie Ray's, The Rudyard, Barretones and the Lighthouse on Sunday, November 17. The lineups haven't been set, but no doubt there'll be plenty of fabulous Louisville bands there to help Fergie out. Ferguson is a Louisville icon and an incredible player who was always there to help out others, so BE SURE TO GO! Understand?
• Rick Forest got the ax when Public Radio Partnership cut their staff by seven people. He said he couldn't put a column together for this issue, as he was still in some degree of shock. Watch for it next month.
• Longtime Louisville musician / promoter / peace activist and world traveler Michael Kessler has published a book, History of the Future, which he describes as an effort to promote the idea of global nationhood and world peace. Email him at mk4eracism@hotmail.com for more info.
• The Cumberlands got quite the write-up from the Courier-Journal Scene on October 12, just in time for the IBMA Trade Show. Two projects by the Cumberlands are being released by Copper Creek Records, a set of new recordings, Bridging the Gap, and a re-issue of some older material on The Gap. For more information, log onto http://www.coppercreekrec.com/ .
• The First (To-Be-) Annual Blue Sky Jamfest reported at over 10,000 music fans attended the event on September 20-22, despite a Friday night rain and windstorm and competition from many other events. Plans are underway for the 2003 event.
• The North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance is holding the 15th Annual International Folk Alliance Conference in Nashville on February 6-9, 2003. The event is a joint meeting with the Network of Cultural Centers of Color. You can find out more at www.folk.org.
• The Governor's School for the Arts will host a series of Artshop master classes and seminars in Kentucky. High School students have an opportunity to study their art form in a supportive environment. The classes will be held on November 2 in Somerset and Danville; November 9 in Lexington and Williamsburg; November 16 in Whitesburg, Hopkinsville and Murray; November 23 in Covington and Frankfort and on December 14 at Bellarmine College in Louisville. For additional information and/or an application, call 1-502-562-0192.
Codas
• Dorothy Drillette Bohannon, 89, died in Louisville on October 19. She was charter member of the University of Louisville School of Music and a pianist.
Thomas Fletcher, 95, dies in Louisville on October 22. He was a musician.
• John Wesley Landreth, 89, died on October 8 in Louisville. He was a songwriter.
• Larry E. Wynn, 47, died on October 9 in Louisville. He was a musician for various churches and gospel groups.