Maine Country Music - Oct-Nov 2011 Newsletter

Maine Country Music.com

Newsletter
October – November 2011 Edition
I wish to thank you for your support by attending country music jams, contributing at fund raisers and charities throughout the year. Whether you are a musician or fan, your support and interest in the Maine Country Music is greatly appreciated.

Starting with this edition, the newsletter will be a bi-monthly publication which should make it much easier for me to put it together. Thank you again for your patience.

The Northern Chapter of the Maine Country Music Association elected new Officers in August replacing folks who have served the organization in good fashion for many years.

Replacing Hall of Famer “Ginger Mae Dyer” as Chairperson is: Marie Dow Marie had been serving the chapter previously as Secretary.

Hall of Famer Ginger Mae has served the organization in great fashion for many years. Ginger has a country music museum located on Rt. 7 in Newport.

Replacing MCMA Lifetime Member Bob Hughes in the Vice Chairman position is yours truly: Cornell Mac McLellan

Bob Hughes entertained folks on behalf of the MCMA for many years, playing the fiddle & mandolin for shows and music jams around the state and is a regular contributor to the country jams each month in Corinna.

Replacing Gary Knowles in the membership role is: Cornell Mac

The Treasurer’s position formerly held by Cornell in recent years is now the responsibility of Tammy Creswell. Welcome Aboard Tammy!

Maine Country Music. com website wish’s all new office holders the very best going forward in their new posts with the organization.

Plaques of appreciation were presented to GINGER- MARIE – CORNELL AND GARY KNOWLES for their individual contributions to the MCMA.

The Corinna Day’s annual parade and concert that was held in Sept. went very well. The MCMA wagon was hauled this year by MCMA’s own Allen Proctor using his pick up. This proved to be an ideal method compared to the horses that have been used in the past, plus no one had to follow Allen to pick up the poop!

MCMA INVITES ANYONE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER TO CONTACT CORNELL AT 207-368-5205 you don’t have to play or sing to join! Come on out and support your local talented artists. Folks interested in Joining from the central or southern Maine areas should contact Barbara Yeaton at 207-674-5667

· Maine Country Music Artists & Fans. In late 2010, I created the Maine Country Music.com website, dedicated to the promotion of Maine Traditional Country Music in Maine. Since then several artists and bands have been added in 2011. The most recent being The Mainely Country Band, featuring Hall of Famer Sonny Bickford along with band leader Jeff Simon of Stacey’ s Country Jamboree fame and the crew. FMI contact Cornell Mac at 207-368-5205

· The Veteran’s Memorial project in Milo Maine is just about completed now thanks to the tireless efforts of Ron Knowles and the many country music artists who contributed countless hours of singing and playing at the Jamboree shows in Milo and fund raisers for the monument.

· The winner to of the guitar that was raffled over the summer was won by Bobbi Lee Berrach of the Down East County Music Association.

· The Maine Country Music.com website Events Calendar has been updated to reflect events for as far ahead as I have them to report.

· Steve Long – Betty Fiore – Lloyd Buzzell – Jean Person – Lucille Knowles – Ronnie Chase – Alycia Bradley – Ernie Doughty Jr. -Karen Blackman

· The second annual Homeless Veteran’s Country Music Show was held in Waterville on Sept. 25 Featuring Country Super Star Debbie Myers, other featured artists were Hall of Fame Star Slim Andrew’s, Sonny Bickford, The Higgins Family and several other artists and bands performing.

· Lisa Higgins of the popular Higgins Family band earned and was recently awarded the prestigious Realtor of the Year Award at their yearly event held at the Samoset.

· Cornell Mac is actively seeking new members to join the MCMA organization Musician & Fan alike! FMI call 368-5205

· The Coming Together Show was held on Oct. 2^nd at the Litchfield Sportsman’s club featuring all four of the Maine Country Music Associations MCMA – Down east Country Music Assoc. DECMA—Pine Tree Country Music Assoc. PTCMA and Maine Academy of Country Music MACM and was hosted this year by the Maine Country Music Association’s Northern Chapter. All organizations put on a great performance and everyone had a good time. Rumor has it that the northern chapter did exceptionally well ‘per a little birdie!

· Gary “Mr. Music” Knowles made a guest appearance with Debbie Myers and her band at the Cumberland Fair recently. Gary also got to use the bathroom in her tour bus and go for a ride. Way to Go Gary!

· MCMA’s Country Jim Crocker celebrated his 80^th birthday the weekend of the coming together show and everyone sang happy birthday to him at the show. A birthday cake was presented to Jim at the regular meeting of the MCMA/NC and those present also sang him birthday wish’s.

· Maine Country Music lost a few stars over the summer including our close friend Hammering “Hank Hughes”. Hank a Viet Nam era Army Veteran played at all of the fund raising jamborees in Milo since its inception also well as entertaining audiences around the state as part of a Vintage Band. Hank will be sadly missed by fellow musicians and fans alike.

· We are sorry to learn that Hall of Famer Lucien Mathieu passed away on September 4^th. Cards may be sent to Family of Lucien Mathieu 561 Bridge Street Westbrook, Maine 04092

· The Cumberland Valley Boys lost the light of their lives when their female singer Vicky James passed away. She performed with the band for ten years and was featured on two of their CD’s. Vicky was the niece of Country Hall of Famer Slim Andrew’s.

If you have a gift of musical ability please consider sharing it with a young person. If you wish to donate a musical instrument in usable condition for truly a good cause, contact Cornell Mac at 368-5205 or by email: cornellmac@mainecountrymusic.com Your used musical instrument will get to the hands of a young one in the area who cannot afford one. The instrument you donate will also be helping to keep the tradition of music, Country Music in particular an ongoing genres for many years to come.

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· The Maine Country Music Association will be holding its annual country music awards show on Sunday 16^th of October at the Ramada Inn conference room in Lewiston. For more information call MCMA president Lorrie Wilson at 207-966-2771

· The next regular meeting of the Maine Country Music Association will be held at the Corinna fire house annex on October 24 this month instead of the last Monday due to the 31^st being Halloween and with the kiddies out and about we thought it prudent to move it the Monday before.

· The second Friday of each month is Mr. Music’s Country Jamboree held at the Palmyra Community Center formerly the elementary school located just a few miles north of Newport via US. Route 2 toward Skowhegan. The Jam starts at 6 PM with entertainers asked to arrive by 5:45PM Food and beverages are available with concessions sold going to benefit the center 50/50 tickets on sale. FMI contact Gary Knowles at 207-938-3360 ~ Admission by Donation

· The second Saturday of the month Mr. Music presents the Solid As a Rock Band performing the Oldies at the Palmyra Community Center. Show starts at 6pm to 9PM. Food and beverages are available with concessions sold going to benefit the center - 50/50 tickets on sale. FMI contact Gary Knowles at 207-938-3360 ~ Admission by Donation

In the North Country Dusty Allen’s Annual Country Jamboree is starting up again on October 30 this will be Dusty's 11^th year hosting this month event.

Gary Knowles and Cornell Mac are making the trip to Mapleton just outside of Presque Isle to attend this event. Both have been looking forward to the trip for months.

· The third Friday of each month is MCMA’s Open Acoustic Jam held at the Corinna American Legion located on Maple Street in Corinna. The Jam starts at 6pm and runs until 9PM. Food and beverages are available. Admission is by donation. FMI call Cornell Mac at 207-368-5205

Country Sunday October 23, 2011 1 to 5pm Jay Community Building 13 community Drive Jay, Maine featuring

The Alleys’ - Hall of Famer Slim Andrew’s – Blaine & Doug – Bert Hopler – The Crosby’s Adults -$7 Seniors & Members -$6 FMI call Bing at 207-645-2472 ___________________________________________________

Grand Ole OPRY – Deb Grisham Entertainment presents: Master of Art Country Legends Series Featuring

Leona Williams- Ron Williams – Jim Glaser – Robyn Young – Jimmy Payne Opening the show and Emcee Maine’s Own Bob Elston

At the Orion Performing Arts Center 50 Republic Avenue, Topsham Maine * A PORTION OF PROCEEDS TO BIG BROTHER-BIG SISTERS OF BATH/BRUNSWICK

· The Maine Academy of Country Music Country Music Review resumed on Sept. 24^th. Featuring Bob Elston and will be held every 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday of the month Admission by Donation and will be held the VFW Hall located on 1368 Hammond Street Ext. Bangor Maine

· A plague on the wall in my mother’s kitchen read “Wherever You Wonder, Wherever You Roam, Be Happy & Healthy & Glad to Come Home. Several of my childhood friends still remember that plague.

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