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Not a color nor a forage ... Bluegrass comes alive in sound |
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By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition |
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July 4, 2002 -- Deep in the hills of Kentucky is a musical sound like no other, the sound of bluegrass. Banjos, mandolins, bass, fiddlers, guitars, all come together in perfect harmony. But, bluegrass is not only in those hills, it is being heard across the country at festivals and backyards. Bluegrass clubs are springing up like weeds. "Bluegrass is all about family," said Brenda Burks, director and promoter of the Red River Valley Bluegrass Club in Paris. The Williams is a family that has been involved with bluegrass music for about six years. The family, consisting of Ron, wife Debbie, son Adam, 17, son Zachary, 15, and sister Marilynn, play gigs in the Northeast Texas area. "My dad and granddad played bluegrass music. It was something I grew up with," said Ron. "The boys started playing (in public) when they were little. Debbie and I just chauffeured." Some chauffeuring was from their home in Greenville to Sulphur Springs, where Joe Smith taught the boys once a week. Smith, a popular fiddler player, played country western swing but swung over to bluegrass music after going to a bluegrass show. Smith, who died in 1999, was a bluegrass promoter and began the bluegrass festival in Canton. "Joe was one of the greats in the area," Ron stated. Smith taught the Williams boys - Adam, Zachary, and brother Dusty. They made several guest appearances with area bands-Adam on mandolin, Zachary on fiddle, and Dusty, bass. Dusty had taken to teaching his mother how to play bass, because he was learning to play the banjo. But, tragedy changed the family three years ago. Dusty was killed in a car accident; his pregnant wife was injured. "It was awful. Thirty minutes after Dusty died, his son was born," Ron said with emotion. "We had to lean on our faith, family and friends. We took about a year off and then regrouped as a family. The family now plays the mid-June Texas State Bluegrass Festival in Canton, senior citizen centers and churches. At the Canton festival, June 18-22, the next generation was there. Dusty's three-year-old son, Dusty, also loves bluegrass. "When we pick him up from his mom's, he will ask if we are going to go play 'boograss.' He has his own fiddle and loves to play with us, even though he doesn't really know how," Ron pridefully said. "Bluegrass is just a big family. I don't worry about the kids when we are at a festival," Ron cited. "We can go to bed and the boys can stay up late picking and we don't worry. Everyone watches out for everyone." Family bonds are also key to the Williams. Adam will be going to college in the fall of 2003, but doesn't plan to go far because of the family and bluegrass. "I really like that we play together as a family. It is very important. I love everything about it (bluegrass), but it wouldn't be the same without the family," Adam replied. "I will probably go to (Texas A&M) Commerce and major in some agriculture field." With the growing popularity of bluegrass, especially after the movie and hit soundtrack, "Oh, Brother Where Art Thou," the Williams family plan to continue playing the music they love. "If you love the music, pursue it; the earlier, the better. After all, you can't teach an old dog new tricks," Ron laughed. |
