Ohio Fingerstyle Guitar Club

e-Newsletter - Feb 6th, 2020

We are dedicated to preserving the thumb picking finger style guitar music of Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, Jerry Reed, and Tommy Emmanuel in and around Ohio.

Hello Ohio Fingerstyle Guitar Club Members and Friends,
State of Fingerstyle Guitar Address:   Will it survive into the future?  Well, Chet Atkins and Merle Travis were definitely the driving force behind our "finger" and/or "thumb picking" styles of playing guitars - both styles with heavy emphasis on bass lines syncopated with song melodies.  I wasn't fortunate enough to have met Chet, but one could tell from his actions that if for no other reason than to simply extend his career and talents by reaching out with his fame and "gathering" the likes of Jerry Reed, Lenny Breau, Mark Knopfler, John Knowles, Tommy Jones,  Guy Van Duser, Doyle Dykes, Mark O'Connor, Thom Bresh, Steve Wariner, Paul Yandell, Ray Cummins, Earl Klugh, Pat Bergeson, Ohio's own Terry Efaw, and others - that he, by design or not, was in effect attempting to secure those styles for future generations.  

 

All of those talented performers above have had fairly, if not very, successful careers in their own right, but none seemed to have been popular enough in mainstream entertainment to perpetuate those styles into future generations - other than a few talented younger folks that happened by the annual Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention in Nashville.  Buster Jones, Richard Smith, Pat Kirtley, Eddie Pennington, Muriel Anderson, John McClellan, Julian Smith, Robert Anderson, Adam Rafferty, Tim & Myles Thompson, Mark & Loren, and many others are (or, were) all were very popular at that annual Chet convention, and had varying successes in touring and recording - however, again the popularity of Chet Atkins style guitar music in mainstream America had waned and those folks, unfortunately, were left with little to do with the future of the style - except little pods of avid guitar players around the globe.  But, nothing on the scale that Chet had in his heyday and what is needed for our "style" to survive into the future.

To me, some 20 years ago, all seemed quite doomed for our beloved finger style guitar outside the wonderful talent packed 4 day CAAS Convention and Merle's birthplace, Muhlenberg Couty, Kentucky.  And, then one of Chet's last "gatherings" started to gain in mainstream popularity - a fairly young polished Australian guitarist with a fire in his belly seldom before seen in our somewhat nerdy sport, and in possession of an extreme talent - Tommy Emmanuel (pictured above.)   Tommy took advantage of the bit of exposure he got when he came to America and recorded "The Day the Fingerpickers Took Over the World" album with Chet, and with his "I'm never getting back on that family bus in the Outback, again" gritty attitude, practice and fiery drive started garnering himself National media exposure and filling theaters around the globe.  And, he pays tribute to Chet and Merle during every one of his concerts, keeping their names and their relative styles alive.  But, most importantly - there is now a slew of young guitarists (and, a number of us old "Chet wanabees") attempting to "play like Tommy" all around the world!  And, a number of them, all superb players, are coming to the CAAS Convention and developing successful tours of their own.  Thank you for your drive and talents, my friend..

Palmer Moore - Organizer, Ohio Fingerstyle Guitar Club

PS  I could list some of my favorite YouTube clips of Tommy right here - BUT, being rather narcissistic I would rather sign off with my favorite clip:  Tommy wishing me a happy 45th, er 55th, OK, my 75th birthday....  (clip)

News You Can Use

Quiet conversations in certain "pickin" circles with idiots like me sometimes wonder, "Well, in that Tommy is no "spring chicken" (actually he is very healthy - aw, he gives us a little scare every now and then - but, he's fine for many more years) - so we continue our inane query, who is going to be his heir apparent?"  I'm not willing to "pull a sheet over his head," yet, but there will be a time way down the road for him to "head to the barn."  (Just a little humorous speculation, here.)  Well, there are a lot a potential suitors, but I want to bring your attention to the fact if you look at Tommy's schedule of current concerts on his website ("tommyemmanuel.com") you will note that young Joe Robinson is sharing the stage with Tommy all over the country - A LOT!!!!  And, he OPENS for Tommy!!  I've seen several of Tommy's concerts over the years - and, NOBODY "OPENS" for him.  Joe does!!!!  Now, I'm not saying that Joe is going to be Tommy's successor (yet,) but if I were you - I'd keep an eye on him.  And, there would be no better way to  do that (what a smooooth segue) than to go see him at The Refectory Restaurant here in Columbus either March 16th or 17th. Call (614) 451-9774 for reservations.  Yes, it is rather expensive - but, do yourselves a favor and go see him.  (You can txt me "thanks" from debtors prison if you go!

Joe Robinson (aka, "Smokin" Joe Robinson) is the youngster that won Australia's Got Talent TV show when he was 16 based on his amazing Tommy Emmanuel style rapid precise finger style guitar playing.  And, he played at that intensity for a few years after that gaining a decent notoriety primarily in the youth segment of guitar fans.  But, lately he has dropped the "Smokin" moniker - I believe because he has disclosed, yet, another amazing talent he had tucked under his hat: He can SING LIKE A BIRD, and thusly has become soooooo much more than just "Smokin"!!!  Take it from old Palmer - this kid is the real deal!!!

(Nice long sample of Joe's amazing pickin' and singing)

IN FACT, if enough of you would commit to come spend only $20 to see him - I'll see if I can't convince the management at our club home, "The Peggy R McConnell Arts Center," to book him for a concert!!!!  Please send me an email of your support - "palmer@ofgc.net" - Thanks...

More Sad News

Fred Kelly, manufacturer of guitar picks and accessories, passed away on January 17, 2020 in Grayling, Michigan.  One of the nicest people on earth - and, a heck of a good pick designer - and, not a bad picker, either.  We are going to miss him a lot.  I'll save the "rest in peace" jargon because I never met a man more at peace, right here on earth.  

One of the toughest things for us "thumb pickers" is to find a thumb pick WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH AND CAN USE!  Fred Kelly was a skilled plastics molding expert in the automotive industry and and guitar player, and took note of "our" dilemma and decided to design and manufacture a "better thumb pick" - and, boy - did he.  (I think he made them in his garage.) - Well, 20 some years ago when I went to my first Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention in Nashville, I had that problem as a "newbie" picker that was looking for any excuse to explain my lack of talent - and, Fred had a booth set up in one of the vendor rooms.  I went up to him, pulled the fat heavy pick I had bought at a guitar 

Fred and Helen Kelly - at an 
OFGC Pickin' Party in January, 2002 
store here in Columbus, Ohio out of my pocket and told him what my problems with it were.  He kindly listened and suggested I try his "Regular" thumb picks. I agreed and he handed me this big bag FULL OF PICKS that had a label "$20 bucks" (somewhere in that neighborhood) on it.  "TWENTY bucks,"  I barked, "I don't want to go into the thumb pick retail business - I just want to try your pick!"  He gave me one of his patented wryly smiles and shrugged his shoulders - which made me understand that the man had quite an investment in being at the convention and selling thumb picks at a buck each wasn't going to get much of that investment back.  So, I leaned over and gave him MY little smile and said,  "Why don't I give you $5 bucks and you give me ONE?"  He smiled back, reached in his pocket, and said, "Why don't I just give you one."  I've liked that man, his constant drive to develop picks and accessories pretty much around thumb style guitar, and his "smile" every since that day.  Now, I didn't particularly like his Standard pick - and, I tried the Speed pick, nope.  But, I've had a Slick pick or two in my pocket everyday for many years.  -  Aw, ok, "smiley" - Rest In Peace - and, save me and "Jammer"  a spot.

Monthly Pickin' Party (2nd Saturday of each month) 

Our next Pickin' Party will be held THIS Saturday, February 8th 2020 (10 am - 4 pm.)  Pickin' Parties are where avid Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, Jerry Reed and Tommy Emmanuel fans from all over Ohio drive to Columbus to share the fruits of their labor of practicing hours and hours on playing the music they so love.  Please feel free to bring your guitars and amps and sit in the "circle", or just come and enjoy some great thumb pickin'.  Free lunch!   McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St, Worthington, OH 43085.... 


"Cafe MAC" Tues Schedule - 6 - 9 pm - McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St., Worthington, OH  (614) 432-0329 

Every Tuesday evening (6-9) the McConnell Arts Center makes a big pot of coffee for the enjoyment of the many people that visit the MAC for a variety of reasons:  Song Writers Group, "Nashville" Song Writers Group, scheduled classes offered by the MAC, general visitors to the "arts," and scheduled "jams" in the Main Gallery - along with the current art displays.  Below is a listing of the "jams" in the Main Gallery (or, the Theater:)

First Tuesday  OFGC Club Jam
Second Tuesday Standard Time - Matt Ellis (small "big band")
Third Tuesday  OFGC Club Jam
Fourth Tuesday Jackie LaMuth's Group Jam (folk, bluegrass, country)
Fifth Tuesday (if there is one) OFGC Club Jam

If in doubt as to which Tuesday is "this" Tuesday - just check our Calendar...

Thanks to everybody for your continued support.  Keep on pickin,


Palmer Moore - Organizer
Ohio Fingerstyle Guitar Club