THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 18, 1996 TAG: 9607170138
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: CARROLLTON LENGTH: 110 lines
THE BANDS stopped playing shortly after 11 p.m. But even as sound equipment was being secured, pick-up bands continued to fill the outside air with strains of bluegrass.
The performers had joined in a Saturday night reunion of many of the musicians and bands that had brought bluegrass music to Hampton Roads almost 40 years ago.
Knox Automotive, owned by bluegrass lover Johnny Knox, hosts monthly jams, but this had a different flavor.
A record number of fans came from throughout South Hampton Roads and the Peninsula to join in the pickin' and grinnin'. Some even came from as far as Richmond and the Eastern Shore.
By 6:45 p.m., the usual 200 hot dogs hot been sold - 15 minutes before opening - and more were on the way.
The overflow crowd filled the auto body shop, where chairs had been set up, to hear the music and recall the good ol' days, as one band after another performed 30-minute sets behind a semicircle of hay bales arranged to form a stage.
``I started this up because I like bluegrass,'' said a pleased Knox. ``But tonight I've been too busy to listen. It's great, though.''
Many set up chairs outside the open doors or in the parking lot - which was filled to capacity, as was an adjoining field. Four motor homes became focal points for pick-up bands throughout the evening. Latecomers had to park several blocks away at a school.
``I've been pickin' around here for 30 years,'' said mandolin player Ralph Tilson, ``with different groups like Dark Hollow and Tidewater Grass. We had one group, some of the older boys, called the Shade Tree Boys. I think it's great, to get some of the old guys back and have some fun.
``It's family fun, you know. We don't have a whole lot of things like this going on. Not enough, I don't think. I've seen a lot of people I haven't seen in months and months.''
Attendees ranged in age from 3 to 70-plus. The mood was festive throughout the evening, with many spontaneously rising to their feet to dance in the aisles.
But when musician Travis Holloway called for a moment of silent prayer for Bill Colgan Jr., owner of Isle of Wight Instrument Co., who is ill, the shop fell silent except for the sound of the vent fans.
``This is a reunion,'' said County Seat fiddler Hurley Moncus, ``and we're one of the groups that was one of the pioneers to help get it started.''
Moncus began playing in County Seat with Ivy Cooper, Duff Porter, Mike Beaver and John Hackworth. Before that, he played in a band from Newport News, Just A Cut Above. But on Saturday, he was there just to enjoy the music and nostalgia.
Bands performing inside included Southern Transfer, Liberty Grass, the Cripple Creek Boys, Flatland Express, Code Blue, and T. Maroney & Roger Gray & Friends.
Flatland Express, originally featuring David Ratcliffe, Ronnie Barnes, Harold Smith, and Ray Remillard; and the Cripple Creek Boys, originally consisting of Harlan Baumgardner, Grady Howard, Eddie Smith, Bobby Lester, and Otto Shelor, date from the early years of bluegrass in the region. Cripple Creek, according to musician Lester Potter, goes back to 1957.
Knox himself was introduced to bluegrass by Baumgardner. For a time, Knox played with Cripple Creek.
Some of the musicians staging an impromptu jam in Knox's office pointed out the ``old-timers'' had released many albums over the years, including a number on the eight-track format popular in the early 70s.
``I was with the Cripple Creek Boys since day one,'' said Howard, a bass player. ``I've been in Tidewater since 1949. Garland Abbott called me about the reunion. I quit playing 30 years ago, and hadn't touched one of these (bass fiddles) in 20 years, until last night.
``I thought it was nice. I hadn't played in all these years and thought this might be the final hurrah. It's more fun to play for fun than for money. I'm happy. I hope I can find a few notes that blend in.''
Evelyn White was stationed at the table by the entranceway, covered with raffle tickets, a donation can (the jams are free and open to the public), cassette tapes by Southern Transfer, T-shirts and fliers concerning upcoming jams. She was ecstatic.
A huge cake celebrating the reunion was free to attendees.
The reunion was supported by the Tidewater Bluegrass Music Association, which also hosts jams on the fourth Saturday of each month at the Hickory Ruritan Club in Chesapeake. ILLUSTRATION: [Cover, Color photo]
MUSICAL MEMORIES
ON THE COVER
Ty Molleen, left, plays guitar while Chris Gilligan warms up outside
Knox Automotive Saturday before a bluegrass concert. Staff photo by
Michael Kestner.
NEXT JAM
Aug. 10, 7 p.m.
Knox Automotive
21301 Brewers Neck Blvd.
Carrollton
For details, call 238-2158.
Bobby Lester, an original member of the Cripple Creek Boys, played
Saturday during the bluegrass reunion at Knox Automotive.
Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER
Joshua Booth, 4, is dressed for the scene as he enjoys the bluegrass
jam session.
Johnny Knox, right, gets a hug from Eric Bruno, who is so close to
Knox that he calls him Pops.
Joyce Moore, left, and her daughter Alyssa Moore had front row seats
at the free concert Saturday at Knox Automotive in Carrollton. by CNB