Hey guys I know that is a very long headline, but I wanted to be sure all of the important stuff was there for you. Yes, you read it right, John Cowan, most famous to my readers as part of the seminal New Grass Revival, will be in the WSVS studios. John, along with Sam Bush, Courtney Johnson and Ebo Walker formed the original New Grass Revival. Several of these guys had also been part of the band who bred so many Newgrass styled band, The Bluegrass Alliance. These two longhaired, hippie Bluegrass bands became the "Fathers" of a new and still continuing and growing and expanding branch of Bluegrass music known simply as newgrass. John Cowan will be in the WSVS studios for and intimate interview and to perform some of his music on this Wednesday, December 14th, 2011. Please, this is important. The studio will be CLOSED to the GENERAL PUBLIC for this live show. Do not attempt to enter the building as the doors will be locked.
Today, John is a member of the long-lived rock band, The Doobie Brothers, but the band is taking a short holiday break and, so John is using this time off to take a tour of the eastern United States on a solo tour. WSVS was chosen as a stop along the way. But, why is this, you may ask? Good Question. Read on. WSVS first went on the air in April of 1947 and believe it or not, they occupied the same spot on the dial as the famous WSM radio of Nashville, Tennessee, 650AM. Back then country music fans never had to adjust their radio dial. They had great local programming of WSVS and when darkness fell they were treated to WSM and the Grand Ole Opry at night. In 1952, Jody Rainwater (Real name Charles Johnson) left as Bassist and comedian for Flatt & Scruggs and joined the staff of WSVS as their morning air personality. I, personally can recall hearing Jody on WSVS as early as 1953 when I was just four years old, since my mother listened to WSVS every day. Jody, and his lovely wife, Emma, still live in the Crewe area.
For about six months, from August 1954 until January 1955, Flatt & Scruggs made WSVS their home radio station and recorded many of the "live" shows for Martha White Mills at WSVS. These "live" shows were sent to Nashville where they were aired every morning on WSM's early morning "Martha White Show."
Since those heady early years WSVS has continued to bring the best of traditional country music to south side Virginia, but in the not too distant past began bringing live music, specifically Bluegrass and Old Time music, back to the station with the Saturday live show, The High Noon Hoedown. This live show hosted by Mel Payne has presented most local and regional Bluegrass bands for hour long performances. There have also been bands from far and wide, such as Missy Raines & The New Hip, The Quebe Sisters and most recently, one half of the famous Hazel & Alice duo, Alice Gerrard, for a few great songs and an in depth interview. The studio used is called "The Flatt & Scruggs Studio" because it is the actual studio in which Lester & Earl recorded their shows. It has been totally restored and is a beautiful piece of radio and Bluegrass history and that brings us back to my question; why would John Cowan choose to stop at a little out of the way country radio station? Well, you just read the reason, WSVS is a most important part of the early life of Bluegrass music and John recognizes this. WSVS is as important today as it ever was, but our economy is handing many small radio and TV stations very small paydays.
Therefore, the decision was made to apply for a non-profit charter as, "The Virginia Museum of Radio Entertainment" (The VMRE), which has since been granted, allowing the VMRE to raise funds through public performances and public donations.
This is quoted from www.BluegrassToday.com, "Board members include the WSVS station manager since 2007, Chris Gowin, Bobby Wilcox, the Broadcast Projects Director for VMRE, Jim Eanes (no relation to the late singer with the same name), the Historical Projects Director, and the Director of Public Relations Penny Parsons, who is well known for her work in various capacities in the bluegrass music industry for over 30 years. The organization is in the process of creating an advisory board, which will include prominent veterans from the bluegrass, country and Americana music fields." To read the entire article announcing the formation of the VMRE in BluegrassToday click here.
The VMRE is a most important endeavor and may I ask you to support their efforts by mailing donations, in any amount, to The Virginia Museum of Radio Entertainment, Crewe, VA, or call the station at 434-645-7734. Help keep live music on the airwaves!
The word was spread and various performers and personalities have made the pilgrimage to the WSVS studios. One such pilgrim appeared as a surprise during the performance of The Quebe Sisters on the High Noon Hoedown one Saturday. None other that Eddie Stubbs, announcer for The Grand Ole Opry and former Fiddler for the famed Johnson Mountain Boys walked through the front door. He knew of WSVS from his very early interests in the history of Country and Bluegrass music (Eddie is a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge of early Country and Bluegrass). He came by to help and support WSVS in it's efforts to preserve traditional Country and Bluegrass music and WSVS and the VMRE in keeping live music on the radio.
And for that very same reason, John Cowan is giving of his valuable time to help WSVS and the VMRE continue in their quest. So, please plan to listen to this important live interview and performance by John Cowan on WSVS this Wednesday at 11:00 AM. Those of you too far from Crewe, Virginia and the 10,000 Watt range of WSVS may listen on-line by going to www.wsvsam.com/ and click on the the "Listen Live" button. And remember: The doors to WSVS Studios will be locked and the general public is asked to not attend this show. It is a closed studio performance, but do listen in on WSVS, 800 AM or on-line. (Note: if I should, somehow, be invited to this show I will write another blog with pics and quotes from the show in the very near future.) With that I'll say.....
..... "Nuff Said!"
