Benny Martin: 1928-2001 "May He Roar in Peace"

Richard D. Smith reports:

"I have just received sad news from John Hartford by way of Sonny Osborne that that fiddle great Benny Martin passed on last night (Tuesday, March 13, 2001), at age 73. Benjamin Edward Martin was born in May 8, 1928, in Sparta, Tennessee, east of Nashville, where he was also living at the time of his death. Bluegrass fans will know him as a Bluegrass Boy c. 1948 (although he did not record at the time with Bill Monroe) but especially for his work on classic recordings by Flatt & Scruggs in the early 1950s, featuring his memorable -- indeed, stunning -- breaks on *+Why Did You Wander*-, *+Flint Hill Special*-, *+Dear Old Dixie*- and *+I'll Go Stepping Too*-. Martin also played with the some of the biggest names in classic country music, including Roy Acuff, Kitty Wells, and Johnnie & Jack. He was a popular performer in his own right, appearing solo on the Grand Ole Opry and recording popular singles, notably *+Me and My Fiddle*- and *+Rosebuds and You*-. In recent years, he recorded several of well-received albums, many of which featured banjo picker/singer- songwriter John Hartford, who championed Benny's music and was his close friend and certainly his greatest fan.

"Although plagued in his last years by spasmodic dysphonia, a nerve disorder that affected his larynx and made it difficult for Benny to sing or even talk, he continued on -- joyful, outrageous, indomitible, amazing. One of his last projects was the CD THE "BIG TIGER" ROARS AGAIN (OMS-25010-2), featuring an all-star cast of Benny's friends and admirers, including Hartford, Earl Scruggs, Tom T. Hall, Del McCoury, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Bobby Osborne and Chrystal Gayle. Benny's wonderful and quite candid reminiscences for its booklet won last year's IBMA award for liner notes of the year.

"Benny Martin was rightly called "The Big Tiger" for his leaping, almost roaring sound, but he was also capable of great lyricism and gentleness in his fiddling. He was also a real character, hefty in body and spirit, and greatly loved.

"I've only touched on a few highlights of his colorful life and career. He will be missed."

NWBN Correspondent Mike Hall (NCBS, Bay Area, CA) adds:
John Hartford to Martin: "Benny, you taught me everything I know."
Martin: "I didn't teach you how to make all that money off 'Gentle On My Mind'."
Hartford: "Now, Benny, (pleadingly), you aren't going to hold that against me, are you?"

Martin also introduced his band of recovering alcoholics: Martin, himself, hadn't had a drink in about 8 years, the bass player in 6, two others in 3 years, and the young guitarist? "He ain't had a drink since we started this set."

Napster appears to be swamped with users looking for a last minute download, as the company commences implentation of systems to block access to copyright material. With no aparent interest by the record companies in Napsters US$1 Billion offer to buy on-line rights, Napster has began the job of Blocking offending material. It has been reported that this week on one of Napster's 80 servers, over 11,000 users swaped nearly 2.2 million song files including songs like Metallica's `Unforgiven' which the band requested be blocked. Napster promised to implement their song screening technology after a hearing last Friday before a U.S. District Judge. The Judge will shortly decide just how Napster must alter its service to appease the record industry companies which are suing for copyright infringement.

The Andy Townend Award 2001

The Award is a cash prize of £150 for a musical composition (song or instrumental) in bluegrass style by a musician born or resident in the UK and under 31 years of age on 31st December 2001.

• Entries may be on cassette, CD, or written in tablature or standard music notation.
• Entries must be sent to Rick Townend, 2 Fairview Cottages, Balaclava Lane, Wadhurst E.Sussex TN5 6EQ by 15th June 2001. The Award will be presented at the St Julians 1 Day-Festival on August Bank Holiday Monday.
• Copyright remains with the composer, but with permission for the piece to be played on radio or TV or published in the media.
• The judges' decisions on all matters are final

This Award is presented every other year, in memory of Andy Townend, whose mandolin-playing gave pleasure to so many people during his life. Thanks are due to all the people who have generously contributed to the prize fund

O Brother music article - National Post

Recently (29th Dec 00) Toronto newspaper The National Post, at the same time as reviewing the movie O Brother, wrote a great article just about the music. The fellow who wrote the article (Robert Remington) just plain nails it right on the head. I don't know where he got his information but he either did a lot of great research or he has very knowledgeable sources. Here's the first two paragraphs of the article to whet your interest.

"In the Internet chat rooms and magazines of the bluegrass underground, the talk these days is of the overthrow of Nashville, with George Clooney as the leader of the resistance.

"The cause of this little insurrection is the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? and its soundtrack, which features music by artists revered by fans of bluegrass music: Ralph Stanley, Gillian Welch, Dan Tyminski, the Cox Family, the Whites, Tim O'Brien and others -- most of whom can't get played on mainstream country radio because their music sounds 'too country.' "

(See http://www.nationalpost.com/ and then in the archive section at the right of the page type "O Brother" and nothing else. below the subject line where you see "All NP" select "Arts/Life" instead. Press search and on the list it goes to select the title "This music goes right to the roots". Stick to these instructions cause it's real finickity).

Sent by Allan Benner, Tottenham, Ontario, Canada Write to: cofac@idirect.com

"The Coens...have treated one element with respect this time around, and that's made quite a difference. Fans of traditional American music, country, blues and bluegrass, they've worked with composer T Bone Burnett to select nearly 20 prime examples and seen them superbly recorded by top-of-the-line contemporary musicians such as Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch (who has a cameo as a record buyer) and Ralph Stanley.

"As a result 'O Brother's' music is more than pleasant background; it is a living presence, and with apologies to an excellent cast, just about the star of the picture".

English guitarist, Ben Manning, has joined Dick Kimmel & Co.

DICK KIMMEL & CO is an entertaining traditional bluegrass band based in Minnesota, USA. This band has performed bluegrass music throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. They have recorded five highly-acclaimed CDs for Copper Creek Records and have had cuts included on CDs released in Europe. For more information on the band, sound bytes, and photos; visit their web site at www.dickkimmel.com. The most recent addition to Dick Kimmel& Co is guitarist, Ben Manning. Ben is a native of England; his formative years were spent on the Wirral Peninsula, a ferry ride across the Mersey from Liverpool. He has now lived in the US for three decades after coming to Minnesota for a "one yearassignment" for his day job. Ben has performed bluegrass music with many bands in England and the US. In Philadelphia he played with Shady Dell Almanac and Shady Deal. In Minnesota, where he currently resides, he has performed with Woodrush, Wheatstraw Suite, and Bluegrass Inc.Ben's bio includes a stint playing rock & roll with his band, The Rooters, at The Cavern in Liverpool (during the early Beatles era). However, he was most influenced by the bluegrass and old-time music that he heard in England during the mid-1960's.Ben is very active on the local Minnesota bluegrass scene, having served as president of the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old Time Music Association (MBOTMA). Ben was the executive producer for the 1998 recording, "Hand Stitched"(MBOTMA CD-9801), for whichhe added his own version of the Don Reno tune "Better Luck Next Time." With Dick Kimmel & Co Ben plays guitar and adds some lead vocals to the band's repertoire.

23rd Feb 2001