Bluegrass First Class

It was a sell-out performance to a very a receptive audience. This has to be one of the best Concerts DSSB has performed in its little over two year history. Many, many positive compliments were received; both at the half time intermission and after the shows’ three encore numbers. This was the first HH Concert  performance for the two newest DSSB members, Gene Collins (electric bass) and Bob Frankot (fiddle). I received positive comments about having two fiddles as well as the added entertainment value that Gene gave to the band. Bill DeVinney responded to an audience request by singing “The Tennessee Waltz” and Fiddling Sam Brown, once again, brought the house down when he sang “Out Behind the Barn” (another request from the audience). The final number of the night featured Banjo Bill Paul doing a blistering rendition of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”. Through the performance DSSB lived up to its MOTTO:  “if it ain’t fun – it ain’t us!”

DSSB knew that having one fiddle was good. Can’t get enough of a good thing, so why not have two fiddles. Pictured above is Bob Frankot the band’s new fiddler. The picture was taken at the recent Family Bluegrass Night performance. I met Bob last night at the first DSSB practice I’ve attended since I returned to AZ and certainly did enjoy is contribution to the band. Now with Bob and Sam we have twin fiddles to add to the entertainment. The practice was mostly all business as new material is being fine grooved for the Jan 20th Concert at the Heritage Highlands clubhouse. Gene Collins, the band’s new bass player could’t make the practice due to bug he caught. The plans were laid for a practice on the Thursday Night before the Friday Concert. Gene should be up to par by then. My next report will be about the concert,

Charlie Sides

As the editor of this Blog, I’ve been delinquent for a time. You probably don’t want excuses, but I’ll explain anyway. As of this writing , I am in the State Of Washington. All the other members of the “DESERT SUN String Band” (DSSB) are resident of AZ in the Tucson area. I am what they call a “Snowbird”. I live in AZ during the winter months and in WA during the summer months. Normally I go to AZ in Mid-Oct and leave for WA in Mid-May. This year I will not get back to AZ until Jan 8, 2012. The delay has been a result of some health issues , now resolved. DSSB has been playing some Gigs that I haven’t reported on (hard to write an article about something I didn’t see or hear). The next major performance will be a concert at Heritage Highlands on Jan 2oth. Tickets will  be available at the door. I have been informed the band will be playing at the Bluegrass Family Night starting at 7:00 PM on Thursday, Jan. 5th. The venue for Bluegrass Family Night is O’Shaughnessy’s Steakhouse & Piano Bar  2200 N. Camino Principal (Right behind Tanque Verde BrakeMaster & Dairy Queen). It’s free, so enjoy the music!
 

"Guitar Playing Singer" (BILL DEVINNEY)

Guitar Playing Singer

•  One day at a bluegrass jam of mine
• A guy was playing guitar just fine
• I told him you’re be up before long
• Are you ready to sing us a song?
•  ________________________________
• He nodded yes and gave me a grin
• So next song I gave the mic to him
• I found out he could really bellow
• Or back way off and just sing mellow
• _____________________________
• His song was a hit with the locals
• And I was impressed with his vocals
• At that first meeting, little did I know
• How close Bill D. and I would grow
• ______________________________
• He can do more than play and croon
• Like, write lyrics and compose a tune
• One he wrote is, a favorite of mine 
• Titled “Slow Dancing”; Man, it is fine!
• _____________________________
• We’re both members of a bluegrass band
• And his rhythm guitar is truly grand
• As for his vocals, I’m his biggest fan
• Guitar play and sing, Bill D.’s “Da Man”

"Fiddling Sam" (SAM BROWN)

 

Fiddling Sam

•  There a guy with a fiddle in Tucson town
• Known by everyone for miles around
• He been around the corner, and back
• Eighty eight years old, and that’s a fact
• ____________________________
• He’s stays active by riding his bike
• Seven plus miles is the ride he likes
• At fiddle events where Sam abides
• His wife, Georgia, is there at his side
• ____________________________
• Long a member of Old Time Fiddlers
• And that’s the fiddle style he prefers
• Sam has a notebook in his pocket
• With the fiddling dates on his docket
• ________________________________
• It was at the first Dove Mountain Jam
• That I first saw this Old Fiddling Sam
• Knew right away Sam’s a real showman
• Watching Sam perform was an omen
• ________________________________
• We’ve played lots of music together
• At many jams in all kinds of weather
• We’re even members of the same band
• And that experience has been grand
• _________________________________
• Now Sam and I are very good friends
• A close friendship that will see no end
• You’ll never heard a musical yarn
• Like Sam singing, “Out Behind the Barn”

BANJO BILL (BillPaul)

Banjo Bill

• It was spring when he arrived in town
• Came to Tucson, just to look around
• He was seeking weather that was right
• Wanted to pick Bluegrass every night
• ______________________________ 
• Heard about a new picker in town
• “Hot banjo” was the word going round
• When we met, he said, “I’m Banjo Bill”
• Down from Iowa with time to kill
• _______________________________ 
• He and wife Cindy came to my jam
• Heard his Banjo and I thought “Hot Damn”
• I hope he sticks around, this guy’s good
• He may be moving here; knock on wood
• ______________________________ 
• Soon he said what I wanted to hear
• In the autumn, we’ll be moving here
• So easy going and fun was he
• His skill on the banjo impressed me
• _________________________ 
• Bill moved to Tucson five months later
• His banjo play couldn’t be greater
• Today he plays in four different bands
• As a banjo picker, “He Is Da-Man!”

Charlie Sides, Band Leader, has started writing poetry. A few months past he wrote the lyrics to a song named: “If It Ain’t Fun – It Ain’t Us” as a theme song for the DSSB. He has also composed a bluegrass poem titled “The Bluegrass Band”  These two poems are posted below. All of Charlie’s poems can be read on Poetry Soup at the following URL:

http://www.poetrysoup.com/poems_poets/poems_by_poet.aspx?ID=25827

IF IT AIN’T FUN – IT AIN’T US”

 We are the Desert Sun String Band

We spread our music cross the land

We sing, we play, because we must

If it ain’t fun – it ain’t us

_________________________

Hear those lonesome bluegrass songs

About pains, trains, a love gone wrong

Don’t cry, don’t moan, don’t make a fuss

If it ain’t fun – it ain’t us

_____________________

If you want a Bluegrass thrill

Come and hear ole Banjo Bill

When you get right down to the crust

If it ain’t fun – it ain’t us

 ____________________________

Fiddlin’ Sam’s someone to know

Boy he can really saw a bow

He’s got to fiddle or he’ll bust

If it ain’t fun – it ain’t us

 ___________________________

Gene, Bill D. and Charlie grin

Play bass, guitar and mandolin

Your entertainment is a must

If it ain’t fun – it ain’t us

 __________________________

Now you heard and seen our show

It’s over, now it time to go

We’ll see you again we hope and trust

If it ain’t fun – it ain’t us

A Bluegrass Band

You just have to have a banjo

To get that Bluegrass sound

 The bass is a necessity

 To nail the rhythm down

________________________ 

When the fiddler plays a lead

Tingles shoot up your spine

A guitar helps to keep the beat

Or pick melody line

______________________ 

 Mandolin plays the offbeat chop

And makes the Bluegrass whole

Greater than the sum of the parts

 This music’s solid gold

The DESERT SUN String Band had it’s first practice with Gene Collinns, its new bass player. Since I am in WA, and this took place in AZ, I can only report on the information I received. Here is an excerpt from the the e-mail I received fron Bill DeVinney:

“I am as excited about the DSSB as I have ever been. The first practice with Gene Collins was AWESOME!!! He will be such a great addition to the band.  Gene’s is not just a bass player but he will add such a tremendous amount of additional material to the band that I am excited about adding his songs to the set list. As you know I have sung and played with Gene for many years so I kind of had a good idea of what he could bring to the band. But when we added Bill Paul and Sam to the mix it was just such a wonderful blend that I cannot wait to show us off.” 

I also had conversations with Bill Paul and Sam Brown re: the first practice with Gene. It seems everyone was positive about the future; comments like ” a good bass player and wonderful addition” and “he knows a lot of people and has lots of good contacts”.

From here in WA state, all I can do or say is:  Welcome Gene, we are a band again!

The DESERT SUN String Band (DSSB) took to the stage again at the monthly Family Bluegrass night on Tucson’s east side. Band members Bill Paul, Sam Brown and Bill DeVinney were joined by guest bass player Rudy Mamula. Rudy Mamula plays bass for the Dusty River Boys and was kind enough to accept our invitation to pitch in on bass.

DSSB started the evening’s entertainment at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, July 5th. The band opened with the up-tempo song “Hello Mary Lou” and kept up the energy all the way through the end of the set. Bill Paul and Rudy got together for a corny joke during the set and Bill DeVinney followed that up with a short pun-filled poem that got a lot of groans from the audience. Sam Brown, as usual, got a strong audience appreciation of his version of “Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes” and Bill Paul tore it up on the banjo when playing “Mountain Dew” and Ballad of Jed Clampett”.

There is good news on the DSSB search for a bass player. Long time musician and entertainer, Gene Collins, has agreed to join the band. He is eager to begin work with the band as soon as possible. Gene brings another strong voice to the band, plays bass, mandolin and harmonica. Gene is also an accomplished stage magician and has entertained audiences throughout Southern Arizona. Welcome to the band Gene!