Stephen Foster: America's First Bluegrass Songwriter?
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Volume 32, No. 1 Copyright © Central Texas Bluegrass Association January, 2010 Stephen Foster: America’s First Bluegrass Songwriter? I ’m sometimes surprised that so many parking lot pickers seem to be unaware of the origins of the jam standards they’re picking. Most folks seem to be aware that Ashokan Farewell was composed by Jay Ungar in 1982, and that it’s not really a Civil War tune, but how many pickers know that Farewell Blues (made famous as a banjo instrumental standard by Earl Scruggs) is a 1922 jazz standard written by Paul Mares, Leon Roppolo, and Elmer Schoebel? How many know it has words? How many know that Elmer Schoebel (along with Billy Meyers and Jack Pettis) also published Bugle Call Rag, another Earl Scruggs signature piece, in 1922? It was a wartime standard for big bands like Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. A travelling salesman had sold Earl’s family a windup gramophone and some records, including an early recording of Farewell Blues. He later recorded it as a banjo instrumental with Lester Flatt and the Foggy Mountain Boys in October, 1950, in a session for Mercury Records in Tampa, Flor- ida. How many fiddlers know that Ook Pik Waltz (sometimes called Canadian Waltz, and at- tributed as ―traditional‖) was actually composed by a fiddler from British Columbia named Frankie Rodgers? How many of you jammers know that Nellie Kane was composed by Tim O’Brien (BMI Work #1053324) and recorded by Hot Rize on its eponymous debut album re- leased in 1979? Stephen Collins Foster (1826-1864), born on July 4 in what is now Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to a large Irish family, is often thought to be America’s first great songwriter. He began writing (about the time of the Mexican War) during an antebellum age when minstrel songs, traveling minstrel shows, and fascination with plantation culture dominated much of popular music. Al- though he never lived in the south, many of his songs were sentimental or romantic ballads with southern or ―plantation‖ themes. In 1849, he signed a contract with the New York music pub- lishing firm of Firth, Pond & Co., becoming a professional songwriter, and later, writing instru- mental ―parlor music‖ as well. During the Civil War, he wrote some songs with military themes. He died, impoverished, in New York at the age of 37, with only 38 cents in his pocket. Hardly any of Foster’s songs have made their way into the bluegrass (continued on page 3)
Transcript of Stephen Foster: America's First Bluegrass Songwriter?
Volume 32, No. 1 Copyright © Central Texas Bluegrass Association January, 2010
Stephen Foster: America’s First Bluegrass Songwriter?
I ’m sometimes surprised that so many parking lot pickers seem to be unaware of the origins
of the jam standards they’re picking. Most folks seem to be aware that Ashokan Farewell
was composed by Jay Ungar in 1982, and that it’s not really a Civil War tune, but how many
pickers know that Farewell Blues (made famous as a banjo instrumental standard by Earl
Scruggs) is a 1922 jazz standard written by Paul Mares, Leon Roppolo, and Elmer Schoebel?
How many know it has words? How many know that Elmer Schoebel (along with Billy Meyers
and Jack Pettis) also published Bugle Call Rag, another Earl Scruggs signature piece, in 1922?
It was a wartime standard for big bands like Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. A travelling
salesman had sold Earl’s family a windup gramophone and some records, including an early
recording of Farewell Blues. He later recorded it as a banjo instrumental with Lester Flatt and
the Foggy Mountain Boys in October, 1950, in a session for Mercury Records in Tampa, Flor-
ida. How many fiddlers know that Ook Pik Waltz (sometimes called Canadian Waltz, and at-
tributed as ―traditional‖) was actually composed by a fiddler from British Columbia named
Frankie Rodgers? How many of you jammers know that Nellie Kane was composed by Tim
O’Brien (BMI Work #1053324) and recorded by Hot Rize on its eponymous debut album re-
leased in 1979?
Stephen Collins Foster (1826-1864), born on July 4 in what is now Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to
a large Irish family, is often thought to be America’s first great songwriter. He began writing
(about the time of the Mexican War) during an antebellum age when minstrel songs, traveling
minstrel shows, and fascination with plantation culture dominated much of popular music. Al-
though he never lived in the south, many of his songs were sentimental or romantic ballads with
southern or ―plantation‖ themes. In 1849, he signed a contract with the New York music pub-
lishing firm of Firth, Pond & Co., becoming a professional songwriter, and later, writing instru-
mental ―parlor music‖ as well. During the Civil War, he wrote some songs with military
themes. He died, impoverished, in New York at the age of 37, with only 38 cents in his pocket.
Hardly any of Foster’s songs have made their way into the bluegrass (continued on page 3)
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The Central Texas Bluegrass Bulletin is published by the Central Texas Bluegrass Association, a 501(c)(3) tax-
exempt Texas nonprofit corporation. Contributions are deductible as charitable and educational donations. Work
published in this Bulletin is used by permission of the writers, artists, and photographers, who retain all copy-
rights.
Jami Hampton, President Central Texas Bluegrass Association
Billy Bright, board member Box 9816
Eddie Collins, board member Austin, Texas 78766
Sam Dunn, board member/Treasurer (512) 261-9440
Mike Hurlbut, board member www.centraltexasbluegrass.org/
Clay Levit, board member Tracy Sloan, board member
Janice Rogers, board member Carrie Thielemann, board member
Rixi Rosenberg, board member Ken Brown, Bulletin editor
From the historical photo archive: Sharon and Cheryl White at the
Kerrville Bluegrass Festival, September, 1980. The song is a cap-
pella, which is Italian for ―we forgot how to play our breaks.‖
Photo by Ken Brown.
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(continued from page 1) canon, perhaps only two or three at most, but they include some fairly
well-known songs.
My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night (Stephen Foster, 1853): Don Reno, World’s Best Five-
String Banjo (with Red Smiley, King KLP-861, 1963).
Hard Times Come Again No More (Stephen Foster, 1854): The best known bluegrass version
is probably the one by the Nashville Bluegrass Band, The Boys Are Back in Town (Sugar Hill
SH-3778, 1990). Also done by Yo Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Mark O’Connor, and Alison Krauss
on Appalachian Journey.
Gentle Annie (Stephen Foster, 1856): I don’t think any bluegrass artists have actually done this
one, but the chorus goes:
Shall we never more behold thee;
Never hear thy winning voice again −
When the Spring time comes, gentle Annie,
When the wild flowers are scattered o’er the plain?
And to me, that sounds suspiciously reminiscent of the chorus of Little Annie, as done by Vern
Williams and Ray Park:
When the springtime comes o'er the mountains,
And the wild flowers scatter o'er the plains,
I will watch for the leaves to return to the trees,
And I'll be waiting when the springtime comes again.
I’m just sayin’, you know?
Angelina Baker (Stephen Foster, 1850): This was published in Foster’s Plantation Melodies,
No. 4, and the lyrics are available at www.pdmusic.org. There are four verses, and the chorus
goes:
Angelina Baker!
Angelina Baker’s gone −
She left me here to weep a tear
And beat on de old jawbone.
If you listen to the MIDI file at
www.pdmusic.org/foster.html (scroll down to 1850, then click on Angelina Baker on the left)
the relationship between the original melody and the fiddle tune known to bluegrassers is not
immediately apparent, but if you listen carefully, it appears that the fiddle tune we know is in
fact derivative from the original melody as written by Foster. You can find some more discus-
sion of its etymology here: www.banjohangout.org/archive/148082
We’ll probably never know exactly how the melody metamorphosed from what Foster wrote to
the fiddle tune as it is played today, but what may be a transitional version can be in this 78
RPM recording: (continued on page 4)
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(continued from page 3)
www.juneberry78s.com/otmsampler/otmsampta.html
Scroll down to ―Angeline the Baker‖ and click on ―Uncle Eck Dunford.‖ In this version, the
melody corresponds neither to the original nor the standard fiddle tune, but is somewhere in
between. Some of the lyrics in the Dunford version are probably related to those in the Foster
composition. A good recording in MP3 format of the standard bluegrass version can be found
here:
www.cumberlandmusic.com/appalachian-bluegrass/appalachian_mt_fiddler.php
In any case, if you examine the original lyrics on the pdmusic.org web site, it becomes clear
that Foster’s Angelina Baker has nothing to do with bakery goods, bakery assistants, flour,
bread, ovens, or anything else of the sort. Foster’s Angelina is a plantation hand, and the object
of the singer’s affection. ―Angeline the Baker‖ is simply an erroneous rendition of the original
title of the Stephen Foster work. There is also some interesting discussion on the Mudcat web
site (see especially the message by Richie Guest, October 20, 2002, with an extensive discogra-
phy). It has been recorded as ―Angeline the Baker‖ by lots of bluegrass artists, including but not
limited to:
Art Stamper, ―Pineywoods,‖ (OH-90167)
David Grier, ―Freewheelin’‖ (Rounder ROU-0250)
Linda Lay and Sammy Shelor, ―Taking the Crooked Road Home‖ (VFH-107)
Robert Shafer and Robin Kessinger, ―R & R‖ (JMP-204)
AcuTab, ―Knee Deep in Bluegrass: The AcuTab Sessions‖ (Rebel REB-1759)
Rob Ickes, ―Contemporary Dobro Artistry‖ (DVD 21785)
Kruger Brothers, ―Choices‖ (DTM-CD015)
Butch Baldassari, ―A Day in the Country‖ (SAR-CD2253)
Nashville Bluegrass Band, ―Idle Time‖ (Rounder ROU-0232)
Recordings with the correct title, Angelina Baker, are somewhat harder to find, but include:
Kenny Smith, ―Tunes and Techniques‖ (guitar instructional DVD, 405-DVD1)
Ginger Boatwright, ―Sipsey‖ (GFA-99012)
Dry Branch Fire Squad, ―Hand Hewn‖ (Rounder ROU-0466)
Grillbillies, ―Album Band, Vol. 1‖ (Yeehaw-101)
Blaine Sprouse, ―Appalachian Mountain Fiddler‖ (CR-5149-2)
Mike Witcher, ―Resonator Guitar: 20 Bluegrass Jam Favorites‖ (instructional book
with CD)
Anyway, that’s the gist of it. That’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it. Now all we have to do is
figure out what a wellumscope is. Oh, and by the way, I always thought that Home Sweet Home
was also composed by Stephen Foster as well. But according to Wikipedia, the music is by
Henry Bishop and the lyrics by John Howard Payne, and it predates Foster by a couple of dec-
ades.
More on Stephen Foster: www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/foster/timeline/index.html
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Annual CTBA membership meeting, December 13, 2009. Outgoing president Tom Duplissey addresses
the crowd. As you can see, Santa Claus even showed up. Who knew he plays the upright bass and looks
a lot like Ray Cargo? Photo by Ken Brown.
Annual Membership Meeting
About 30 people attended the annual CTBA membership meeting at ArtZ Rib House on Sun-
day, December 13. Outgoing president Tom Duplissey delivered a ―state of the association‖
summary, the new board members were announced, last month’s meeting minutes and the
monthly financial report were presented, some new business was discussed, and then we all ad-
joined to pick. As accomplishments in 2009, Tom specifically highlighted membership growth,
increased scholarship opportunities, a successful July band scramble and fundraiser, continuing
sponsorship for Strictly Bluegrass on KOOP-FM, the continuing ArtZ jam, and planning for the
first RiceGrass festival. More detailed information on this festival, scheduled for March 27-28
at Fischer, Texas (with Alan Munde, Byron Berline, Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum, Danny
Barnes, and Sarah Jarosz) is available at www.cabin10.com/riceGrass.htm
In addition to the new board members (Eddie Collins, Clay Levit, Mike Hurlbut, Rixi
Rosenberg, and Tracy Sloan) listed on the ballots previously mailed out, Janice Rogers (of
Ranch Road 12) was also elected at the meeting as an additional board member. New officers
will be elected at the next board meeting on January 20. We’re also still looking for a new Bul-
letin editor. That’s a volunteer position, not an elected one, and you don’t have to be a board
member, just a member with a willingness to help. Contact Jami Hampton if you’re interested.
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Keith Davis works the console during KOOP’s post-Christmas Strictly Bluegrass show, December 27,
2009. Keith has to juggle CD’s, play pre-recorded public service announcements, fill out the track log,
check the signal strength, answer the phone, and keep track of all those sliders and buttons. How does he
do it, and still keep two hours of bluegrass coming at us on a Sunday morning? Photo by Ken Brown.
Bluegrass? Where?
Q: Where can I find some bluegrass?
A: Tune in to Strictly Bluegrass on KOOP-FM (91.7), Sunday mornings at 10 AM to noon.
KOOP’s rotating cast of bluegrass DJ’s serve up breakfast breakdowns and salad ballads,
and when it’s Keith Davis’s shift you’re sure to be treated to some arcane bluegrass trivia
from the elusive Uncle Clarence. The CTBA supports KOOP, and they support us.
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Events calendar: January, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 6:30 PM: Piney Grove Ramblers at Iguana Grill, 2900 Ranch Road 620 N, 266-
8439
Sunday, January 3, 11 AM: The Sieker Band at Hill’s Café, 4700 South Congress; 851-9300.
Sunday, January 10, 8 PM: The Lost Pines at Flipnotics, 1601 Barton Springs Rd.
Saturday, January 16, 7:30 PM: The Lost Pines at Patsy's Cowgirl Café, 5001 E. Ben White Blvd.; 444-
2020
Saturday, January 16, 7 PM: BABA monthly show at Johnny Arolfo Civic Center, 300 W. Walker,
League City, with Steve Kaufman, the Durocher Family Band, and Justified. For more info:
www.bayareabluegrass.org/index.php
Wednesday, January 20, 6:30 PM: Monthly CTBA board meeting at New World Deli, 4101 Guadalupe;
451-7170 www.newworlddeli.com
Saturday, January 30: The Travelin’ McCourys at One World Threatre, 7701 Bee Cave Rd; 330-9500;
www.oneworldtheatre.org
Miscellaneous bluegrass news
The 2010 Argyle Bluegrass Festival has been cancelled; stay tuned for 2011.
The lineup for the Overton Bluegrass Festival (June 11-12) has been announced; it will fea-
ture Alecia Nugent, Marty Raybon and Full Circle, Darrell Webb and several regional or
local bands.
Alison Krauss and Union Station plan to record again and tour in 2010, so Dan and Barry
have disbanded the Dan Tyminski Band, while Adam Steffey and Ron Stewart from the
Tyminski Band are forming a new band, the Boxcars, with John Bowman (fiddle), Harold
Nixon (bass), and Keith Garrett (guitar). Look for a debut CD in 2010.
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CTBA Artists and Bands Austin Lounge Liz-ards Mike Drudge
615-262-6886 www.austinlizards.com
Back Up and Push Ben Hodges , 751-3086 [email protected] www.myspace.com/backupandpush
Blacktop Bend George Rios, 619-8536 [email protected]
Blazing Bows Mary Hattersley, 873-8925
Bluegrass Vatos Danny Santos, 218-4141 danny@dannysantosmusic .com
Brian Byrne and Borrowed Time www.myspace.com/ brian-byrneandborrowedtime 699-9251 [email protected]
BuffaloGrass Don Inbody, 295-6977 [email protected]
Cooper’s Uncle [email protected] 512-736-2664
David & Barbara Brown 361-985-9902 [email protected]
Dear Henry Band Chris Brewster 512-693-4648 www.dearhenrymusic.com
Eddie Collins 512-836-8255 www.eddiecollins.biz [email protected]
Grass Onions Band Jon Ricketts <[email protected]> 217-6437
The Grazmatics L. Wayne Ross 512-303-2188
Howard Rains
7704 Peaceful Hill Lane Austin, Tx 78748 512-577-0851
The Ledbetters Spencer Drake 830-660-2533 [email protected]
The Lost Pines Talia Sekons [email protected] www.lostpinesband.com
Manchaca All-Stars B. Buchanan 512-282-2756 manchacaallstars@ email.com
Out of the Blue Jamie Stubblefield 512-295-5325 [email protected]
The Piney Grove Ramblers Wayne Brooks 512-699-8282 877-899-8269 www.pgramblers.com
Randy’s Rangers Sigi Field 512-869-8076 http://pages. sud-denlink.net/jrf/rr/
The Sieker Band Rolf & Beate Sieker 512-733-2857 www.siekerband.com
String Beans Mike Montgomery 512-517-6753 [email protected]. utexas.edu
Two High String Band Geoff Union
512-563-9821 [email protected]
Wayward Pony Dale Albright dale-mandolin@austin. rr.com www.waywardpony.com
The Wimberley Bunch Charlie & Sally Lewis Box 2077 Canyon Lake, Tx 78133 (830) 899-7511
All bands listed are members of the CTBA. See the membership form on the back cover for information on band membership.
Randalls Good Neighbor Program To designate your contribution to the CTBA, go to the address below,
print the form and fill it out, and take to your local store:
http://shop.safeway.com/corporate/randalls/gn_houston_austin.pdf
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CTBA Business Members
Overton Bluegrass Festival Overton Bluegrass Festival
City of Overton Sponsoring Bluegrass and Gospel Music
www.overtonbluegrass.com
Don Eaves
[email protected] Drawer D
903-834-3171 Overton, Texas 75684
Sponsored by City of Early
Charlotte Parrack
325-646-8531 300 Early Blvd.
P.O. Box 483
Grapeland, Tx 75884 www.salmonlakepark.com
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CTBA Area Jams and Events AUSTIN AREA, CTBA Beginner/Intermed. Jam 1st. & 3rd Thu. 7-9
PM, Steve Mangold 512-345-6155
CTBA 2nd & 4th Sat , ArtZ Rib House, slow
jam begins 2 PM; Beginner/Intermed. Jam 4-6
PM; contact: Steve Mangold 345-6155
Jam Session: Sunday at ArtZ Rib House, 2-6
PM
Live Bluegrass Show: ArtZ Rib House Sun-
day 6 pm; 512-442-8283
AAAMS Jam 2nd & 4th Wed. Leander/Cedar
Park Fine Arts Academy, 200 Buttercup Rd, Ste. 104, Cedar Park, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, 512-
401-8863
AFTM Contradance: 3rd Sat. 3501 Red River
7:30 to 11 pm, $7 453-8936
AFTM Jam Session: 2nd Sun at ArtZ Rib
House, 2330 S. Lamar, Austin, 2-4 PM
FIDDLER’S GREEN jam session in the
BARN out back behind the shop every 2nd and 4th Tuesday from 7 PM to 11 PM.
Phone: 512-452-3900
www.fiddlersgreenmusicshop.com
BANDERA
4th Friday of each month at Silver Sage Cor-ral– east of Bandera. Starts at 6:30 pm. For
more info call (830)796-3969 (Not on Good
Friday)
BELLVILLE
Spring Creek Club Jam/Show Jan. thru Sept 4th Sat; 4pm Jam, 6:30 pm show. Coushatte
Recreation Ranch 979-865-5250
[email protected] Plenty of RV camping and good food.
BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION, Brazos Country Grass Monday Jam, J.
Cody’s, 3610 S. College 6-9 PM
www.brazoscountrygrass.com
ELGIN
3rd Friday of each Month: Blue Fire-Station jam session, FM 696, 7-10 PM
FAYETTEVILLE: Texas Pickin’ Park: Jam 2nd Saturday, each
month beginning at 6 PM on the Courthouse
Square. Acoustic instruments only. For info: [email protected]
www.texaspickinpark.com
GARLAND
Bluegrass on the Square: Saturday, March-
November between Main and State Sts. At 6th, 7:30 PM to 1 AM
GEORGETOWN Randy’s Rangers Thursday Jam: Duke’s
BBQ Smokehouse, 6-8 PM, 512-869-8076 or
[email protected]> [email protected]
THE GROVE
Outside Pick General Store, 15 mi. west of
Temple on Hwy 36, Sat, 6pm until ?
Contact: Moody Anderson, 512-282-1215
HARWOOD
Stage Show & Jam Session 3rd Sat, 9 mi. E. of Luling, Hwy 90, 2 to 9 PM
HONDO
Hondo Hootenanny, 1 PM, Hondo Commu-nity Center, 1st Fri each month 830-426-3438
HOUSTON Second Saturday jam, 1-4 PM, sponsored by
BABA and the Houston Railroad Museum
(April-November), Houston Railroad Mu-seum, 7390 Mesa Road; www. houstonrrmu-
seum.org; 713-319-8906
LEAGUE CITY (BABA)
Jam & Free Bluegrass Show 3rd Sat: Jam 5
PM, Show 6:30 PM Jan- Nov., League City Civic Center, 300 W. Walker St. 281-636-
9419
LIBERTY HILL
4th Sat. Jam Session at 1-6 PM, Hwy 29
West, contact Paula at 512-778-5410
LILLIAN Third Friday show and jam, 10552 CR 519,
Lillian; 7 PM, $4; www.ntbluegrass.com or
817-929-8391
MANCHACA
Open jam every Thursday night from 7-9 PM at The Railroad BBQ on FM 1626 in Man-
chaca
McDADE
2nd Monday of each Month: McDade Jambo-
ree at the McDade VFW Post Hwy 290. 7-10 PM Call: 512-273-2307
MEDINA
2nd Tuesday—each month— all gospel jam at
the first Baptist Church—Medina. Starts at 6 PM; for info Linda Barton 830-589-2486
2nd Friday each month— The Medina Jam session will be held at the Masonic Lodge at
6:30 PM (bring covered dish)
MONTGOMERY
1ST SATURDAY Jam in downtown historical
District from 10 AM– 2 PM. For discount coupons at local KOA contact Dr. Mike
Davis: [email protected]
PEARL Jam & Stage Show, 1st Sat: Jam starts at
noon, show 4:30 PM, Hwy 183, 7 mi South
of Purmela; contact: Ronald Medart 254-865-6013 www.pearlbluegrass.com
SAN ANTONIO
Open Bluegrass Jam Session Tuesdays, 6-8:30
PM, Grady’s BBQ Store No. San Pedro Ave,
at Jackson –Keller (beginner-friendly)
Beginner/Intermediate Bluegrass Jam 2nd
Thursday 7-9 pm at 6418 Ridgehurst, San Antonio. Hosted by Clifton Bowren 210-602
-5544 [email protected]
SHULENBERG
RV Park community Center
2nd Tuesday of every month, 6:30—9:00 PM Laretta Baumgarten 979-743-4388
WIMBERLEY
Bluegrass Jam Fri 8-12 pm, Lane’s Country
Café, Wimberley
Editor’s note: this list of jams
hasn’t been verified in a long
time. Call ahead before check-
ing out an unfamiliar jam, to
make sure it’s still active.
Central Texas Bluegrass Association P.O. Box 9816
Austin, Texas 78766
To:
