The Marionville festival in question was the 1977 "Marionstock". The headliner of the two (2) day event was Nashville recording star, Billy "Crash" Craddock. This was the one and only "Marionstock" festival.

I don't even know where to start on that one. How about this: I'll bite, what summer festival in Marionville?

Be happy and careful and curious

Arrr, tangents, as derivied from the latin term tangentia, which, by the way, was the name sported by a "fusiongrass" ensemble which our own David Wilson fronted in the mid 70's. This group achieved a degree of muted, if nonetheless somewhat regional success at the time, and must accept the responsibility for any of the effects resulting from the two (2) albums released on Springfield's now defunct 'Queen City' record label. Both releases were produced by a then unknown Ned Reynolds, who is now the 'sports voice of the Ozarks' and can be seen and heard frequently throughout the area. Artistic differences between Reynolds and Tangentia resulted in an acrimonious parting of the ways in 1976 after dissapointing reviews of the group's "bicentennial themed revolutionary fusiongrass" lp, titled 'The Ballad of Bunker Hill'. One of the major difficulties with the album was that it was a double live recording from a summer festival in Marionville, which was beset by electrical and hence recording problems when power lines connecting the band's equipment were chewed through by the famous local white squirells. This resulted in lacking enough material for 4 complete lp sides, so the group decided to leave the 3rd side completely blank, and titled it 'Calm before the Storm'. It was a "concept piece", according to David Wilson, who now, by the way, has bought all rights to the recording and is selling them from his home address or via phone order.
The end of the group came as pre-production activity was underway for an album of extended free-form improvised jam compositions based upon assorted fugues in D Minor. While setting up studio mikes around the two (2) drum sets to be used by percussionist Lonny Roark, Wilson accidently tore the ACL in his right knee, requiring a postponement of the planned activities, in which said hiatus other band members simply lost interest or had to move away in order to take advantage of seasonal employment opportunities with the U.S. Forest Service.
According to unpublished reports, David Wilson still has hopes of re-uniting former band mates in an effort to complete their final project. This may be difficult since several of them have fallen from the radar screen, moved far away, or developed other careers. Most notable among these would be Wilson's friend, actor Harry Dean Stanton. Still, there have been some signs of life from former fans of the group, and tentative plans for a reunion concert are rumored to be possible, according to former roadie, Ronnie Pine, of Rocky Comfort, Mo.
More details when they happen.

Tangents, I believe, are what they are called. Little side trips that can be annoying as the dickens when you want someone to get to the point, but fun has all get out when you need something fresh. To that end, I submit the new Mystery Link to the right. Enjoy.

Be happy and careful

a nice Smithsonian photograph 

Regarding the identity of the RGNC guys playing music in the photograph below, I recall your attention back to the glory days of our west coast branch... At that time, America was a different place, and it was not uncommon to find one's free time being filled with high quality, actually humorous entertainment which poured forth like a stream of visual gold from the television sets of a grateful nation. Yes, my friends, those were the days when the airwaves were graced with a wonderful little slice of Americana known simply as 'The Andy Griffith Show'. And even though the program (at least the good episodes) was filmed in black and white ( a big set-up for the following gem), the characters and storylines lines remain as colorful as ever in the memories of those who were blessed to have watched them not only at their regularly scheduled time, but in syndication as well. And when said storylines contained even a mere hint of musical seasoning, it is a well known show-bidness fact that Mr. Andy Griffith his own self would make an in-depth perusal of whatever musical talent from the local area might be suited for helping to bring an authentic sound to the music to be played, and that music was Bluegrass music, dear friends. Which brings us to a resolve re: the identity of the non-Darling musicians shown with Anj, and they are none other than our own RGNC legends, The Kentucky Colonels. The Colonels, of course, were one of the all-time greatest BG bands, and the focal point for their continued relevance and popularity some 40 (more accurately, 30, ed.) years after their last official gig, is the fact that they produced the greatest guitar player of all time, bar-none; Mr. Clarence White. Yes, Clarence is truly the finest player of the guitar ever, regardless of style or era. And we are proud to be able to have called him one of our own here at the RGNC. May his memory be eternal.

So, there you have it. The story of a different time, a different America, a different RGNC. Perhaps someday, we will have an opportunity to tell the entire RGNC story in all of it's richness and glory. That would certainly be a worthy undertaking that would be warmly received by a nation so hungry for heros and inspiration. But for now, let us just remember some of the boys who helped put us on the map, and hope that someday we may have a place in RGNC lore alongside them when the stories are told.

be good.

Listening to a radio talk show today, I heard the following rankings compiled by a philanthropic research group in these parts. I offer their findings for your consideration.

Least charitable states per capita:
1. New Hampshire
2. Rhode Island
3. Vermont
4. Connecticut
5. Maine

Most charitable states per capita:
1. Mississippi
2. Arkansas
3. Louisiana
4. Tennessee
5. South Carolina

From personal experience, I can vouch for these findings.
be good.

Thanks for the drooler of Wilson Peak Mark. Now, how about some ID on them other fellas in the most recent pic. That does't look like your garden variety Darlings. Wonder who them boys is? Almost as much of a mystery as the whereabouts of the rest of this outfit (weak attempt at a guilt trip).

I think I smelled Autumn in the air this morning. That first whiff is always at trip. Amazing what a little aroma can do to those little memory circuits in the brain. Second only to what music can do, IMHO.

Be happy and careful and sniff a lot.

I was rumaging through the RGNC archives today and came across this snapshot of some of the fellas from the West coast branch in days gone by.