Biography: Warren Sutton

Warren Lyman Sutton, 58, of Seminole, FL., passed away Friday, February 6, 2009 at home. He was born November 23, 1950 in Glen Cove, New York to Elsie and Arthur Sutton. In 1955, the Sutton family settled in Krumville, New York, a small country town. Warren was the second oldest of four children.

After graduating high school, Warren got married and moved in next to his parents. Over the years, he worked various jobs, including driving the oil truck. However, with a family, Warren took the advice of his father to get a civil service job and he began working at Eastern Correctional Facility. For twenty-seven years, Warren served as a respected correctional officer at Eastern.

Steve Martin: The Crow

You may know Steve Martin as an outstanding comedian, but he is also an accomplished banjo player.  How good is he?  Earl Scruggs invited him to play on on his "Friends Album" and Tony Trischka asked him to play on "Banjo Spectacular."


 
Over the years Martin has written many tunes which were never recorded.  Martin has the bluegrass bug again and has just released an album with predominently original tunes.
 
The album features some special guests including Doctor Banjo (Pete Wernick), Tony Trischka, Earl Scruggs, Vince Gill, Tim O'Brien, and Dolly Parton.  I really enjoyed the album and recommend it.
 
The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo

A Not-So-Brief Early History of the HVBA: 1994-2000

Upon completion of the HVBA's 5th year–1999—I published in Jamboree a three-part series documenting the formation and evolution of the HVBA.  I did this because a book had been published that year that contained some factual errors regarding the HVBA's founding.
 
Here is an updated 2008 version of the original Jamboree piece, taken from Issue #21, including a "Message from the President," a regular feature of Jamboree.
 
The update includes additional details, including some background about the people I had played with as the association became a reality.

Message From The President

I am absolutely blown away by the recent high quality web content on our website.
 
The most recent examples are articles by Mel Paskell and Fred Robbins.  The HVBA is so lucky to have contributors like these guys.  The fact that Fred has provided, along with his personal recollections, the old Berkshire Mountain Fest links to all star jam sessions with Country Gazette, Vassar Clements, Sam Bush, David Grisman et al is an invaluable service to our readers. And that Bill Keith was there brings it right back to the HVBA.  This recording is 36 years old and a real bit of bluegrass history featuring some of its greatest stars.  That Fred would share it with the HVBA and we can listen to it on a snowy day is truly remarkable.
 
Mel's article is so informative--of the quality you'd expect in a national music magazine like Guitar Player and nicely builds on Rusty's foundation.
 
Rusty's and Kim's articles inspired these.  Thanks for reprinting those, too, and thanks to Rusty and Kim for sharing their experiences and expertise.  Those articles reflect our formative years when Jamboree was the vehicle that brought us together.  With our website, the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association is providing our members the highest quality bluegrass experience right at their fingertips from the comfort of their home.

Yeah,  the HVBA is about the music.  But even more so, it's a reflection of our members, who all mean so much to me.  Thanks everyone.  You make me so proud!
 
Best to all,
Jeff Anzevino
HVBA founder and president
 
PS  I am still listening to the Culpeper Warrenton jam and am in bliss!  "Oh meet me tonight in the moonlight..."
 

Plugging In 102

Member Mel Paskell happened by the HVBA website the other day and saw Rusty Boris' reprinted article about plugging in an acoustic band.   These are his thoughts meant to augment to 1998 article.  Any one else out there want to chime in?

The picture below is of Barebones & Wildflowers taken at Merlefest.  From L to R: Mel Paskell, Doc Watson, Rachel Handman, and Steve Palmer. 

This article is meant to augment the excellent story by Rusty Boris entitled "Plugging in 101."

Back a few years ago when I was with a band called "Barebones & Wildflowers," we had a standing engagement every Friday night at a place in Poughkeepsie called "The Beech Tree Grill."  It was arguably one of the toughest places for an acoustic band to perform due to the shape of the room and the extreme noise level of the audience.

Memories

In response to the previous article on Peaceful Valley v. Winterhawk, member Fred Robbins submitted his following memory from those times.  We welcome other old time memories from all of you who were there.

I was fortunate enough to attend that first Berkshire Mtn. Bluegrass Festival.  I have two vivid memories of that experience, both of which have recent connections, thanks to the internet.

First, I met Fred Bartenstein there on "The Hill."  Two years ago I caught up with him and, amazingly, he remembered me.  In 2007, with help from Fred and Walt Saunders' "Notes and Queries" in Bluegrass Unlimited
(not to mention a very gratifying response from the Dillards' humorist/MC, Mitch Jayne), I investigated my tape of an unrecorded song by the Dillards, "St. Peter's Gonna Put Me Up," that I recorded at the Culpeper//Warrenton Festival in 1973.  You can hear the song and story from Fred's "Banks of the Ohio" radio show here.