Down On The Corner
• As LMN goes to press, word is spreading the Tim Krekel, noted Louisville guitarist/singer/songwriter, has been found to have a tumor in his abdomen. Surgery is scheduled and the optimistic prognosis is for a recovery lasting about six weeks or so. We wish him all the best, along with most of Louisville's music fans.
• With the onset of spring comes the early notice for the Forecastle Fest lineup, which will be announced the day after this issue goes to press. Check The Editor's Blog at Louisvillemusicnews.net for the lineup.
Promoter JK McKnight is also planning a "Spring Tour" for the Fest, with these shows on the schedule:
04/03 – Lexington, KY – Beaux Arts Ball
04/08 – Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall (w. Dr. Dog)
04/23 – Cincinnati, OH – Madison Theatre (w. Of Montreal)
04/24 – Indianapolis, IN – Radio Radio (w. Lucero)
04/25 – Bloomington, IN – Little 500
05/01 – Nashville, TN – Dirty Eye Warehouse
• The collapse of the "Bluegrass Hotel" event was a sad day for Louisville, as well as for fans of newgrass. Sam Bush's website (http://www.sambush.com) has the "Cease And Desist" letter that his attorney sent to promoter Bill Millet, dated March 5. Bush writes that he withdrew from the project because he was unable to determine that all the appropriate clearance, licenses and agreements were obtained by Millet and that he did not demand any money to appear. The Bluegrass Hotel website (http://www.thebluegrasshotel.com) does not have any response to Bush's comments.
We'll have to wait and see if this project can be resurrected.
• While TV news is normally not in LMN's area of concern, some recent changes at WBKI (CW Louisville) and WYCS are of interest. The CW Louisville was set to be auctioned off, although no additional information has been forthcoming. Just prior to that bit of news, it was learned that WYCS Channel 24, which had been managed by CW Louisville, had moved to Indiana 9. This directly effects "Now That's Country" and "The Player's Spot." WYCS has been broadcasting content from The Jewelry Network while programming details are worked out.
Bussey, Timothy "T.T." Shawn, 44, of Louisville died on March 14, 2009. He was a self-employed event producer and song writer who co-wrote songs for the Louisville band Spanky Lee.
Spies, Ed, 91, died Tuesday, March 17, 2009 in Louisville. He was a professional musician during the 1930's until the 1960's, playing the clarinet and saxophone. By age 14, he was playing for the U.S. Post Office Brass band, Police band, Holy Name band, Shriners band, and professionally at country clubs and political rallies. He performed at the National Vaudeville Theatre with Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, the Marx Brothers, the Mills Brothers and the Ink Spots, among others. He also played several times for Harry S. Truman. In 1947, he and his friend organized the French-Spies Orchestra and played all the major hotels and clubs. He was a former member of the Musicians Union.
Stepp, Charles F., 74, of Brooks, KY, died on March 21, 2009. He was the owner and builder of Derby Steel Guitar, a member, Louisville Metro Steel Guitar Club and Nashville Steel Guitar Club.
Wilkinson, Eric Todd, 40, of Shepherdsville, KY passed away Friday, March 20, 2009 in Nashville, TN. He was a member of Shepherdsville Gospel Chapel, Nashville Musicians Union and a self-employed musician and engineer.