Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 8, 1995 TAG: 9509080113
SECTION: NATL/INTL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: A.W. HAUSLOHNER LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: PINEY CREEK, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
The private jet of billionaire David Rockefeller is scheduled to pick up the Courthouse Ramblers this morning at Mountain Empire Airport near Wytheville and fly them to Tarrytown, N.Y. There, the Ramblers will entertain a select, black-tie group of 150 assembled to celebrate the 55th wedding anniversary of Rockefeller - retired CEO of Chase Manhattan Bank - and his wife, Margaret.
Labor Day weekend saw the group's eight members gathered at the home of Rob and Bet Mangum in Piney Creek, N.C., going over small bits of the music that, when assembled, will entertain the rich and famous this weekend.
Rob Mangum explained how they got the job in the first place. The story involves R. Philip Hanes, a North Carolina textile heir and conservationist who has been active in protecting the New River in North Carolina and Virginia. ``Phil Hanes, who we've played a lot of music for over the years, invited us to play for the national meeting of the American Farmland Trust. Peggy[that's Mrs. David to the rest of us] Rockefeller was the founder" and attended the meeting.
``The best part was when she asked [band member] Leon [Frost] how to play spoons and he said, `Well, lady, just cock your leg up on that chair,' and she put her skinny leg up on the chair,'' band member Lenora Rose of Mouth of Wilson said.
None of the group knew who she was as she complimented them on their performance and invited them to come to New York. Sure, they said - never expecting to hear from her again.
That was three years ago, so it was rather unexpected when the Rockefeller secretary called asking the group to play for David Rockefeller's 80th birthday party in June. ``And we turned it down,'' Mark Rose said. It just wasn't convenient.
A second offer: How about the anniversary party in September?
``We asked if they wouldn't send a private plane down because we couldn't be gone long being four self-employed couples,'' he said with a mischievous grin. ``We negotiated. She said, `Bring the spoons.'''
``We can't use the Rockefeller silver for that?'' Lenora Rose said.
``I was running off copies of the invitation at the library and it says, `No presents please.' The librarian looked and said, `No peasants?' and we thought, `Oh no, there are going to be eight of us there.'''
The Courthouse Ramblers have been playing together since 1983. Three of its members are from North Carolina - the Mangums and Tim Terry, of Rougemont. The other five are Virginians: the Roses; Edwin and Becky Ward of Galax; and Frost, also of Galax.
The group has played for fund-raisers at the 1908 Courthouse (whence the name ``Courthouse Ramblers") but generally only performs four or five times a year, now mostly for private parties.
Their irreverent conversation carries over into their performances, which range from cornball to comic to charmingly musical.
Rob Mangum describes their musical repertoire as ``old-time bluegrass run amok.''
``We're a good-time band,'' Lenora Rose said.
She's not much of a commercial flier, so she's glad the Rockefellers are sending a plane.
``They've got a nine-seater,'' Mark Rose said. ``Perfect for eight people and a bass.''
by CNB