A Bluegrass Happening in Wisconsin
By Rob Billings
Wave Pointe Resort and Marina in Door County, Wisconsin USA was the host
for a gathering of 1st Generation Bluegrass performers during the 2nd Annual
Bill Jorgenson Bluegrass Festival September 13-14-15 2002. 1st generation
bluegrass performers are usually defined as performers who have been on stage
with Bill
Photo: Kenny Baker (left) Kenny Baker, long time fiddle player for Bill Monroe, and Josh 'Mr. Dobro' Graves put on an amazing performance under the big tent. Kenny's great fiddle playing and straight man comments was the perfect companion for Uncles Josh's wit and wonderful and spirited Dobro playing. Uncle Josh has maintained his great stage presence and sense of humor even after the loss of his legs. Asked by Bill Jorgenson, how he was doing he replied, "I can't kick!"
Josh Graves (seated) and Bill Jorgenson (next to banjo) Joining Josh and Kenny was 1st generation Bluegrass Performer Bill Jorgenson, the father of Wisconsin Bluegrass. The three amigos reunited at Wave Pointe to perform some of the numbers of the CD Nashville they had cut the year before. Bill, Kenny, and Josh go back 15 years when they performed together for the weeklong Manitowish Waters Bluegrass festival, which was also held in Wisconsin. The crowd gave the trio a standing ovation and local radio host Julie Steele commented to the audience that there was almost 200 years of bluegrass experience between the three icons. We even had a wedding on the grounds with an impromptu Bluegrass Jam...
...what a way to tie the knot! The wedding bluegrass band included Bill Jorgenson, Art and Stephanie Stevenson and several other excellent jammers. Bluegrass is alive and well in Wisconsin! Rob Billings Write to
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Monroe, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and have helped to define this music
we call Bluegrass. Three such icons reunited for a wonderful performance
of traditional Bluegrass tunes.
