Fall 1996

In this issue

1. Greetings!
   by Murphy Hicks Henry Murphy celebrates the newsletter's third year and thanks subscribers for their support.
   Editorial: A Bone to Pick by Murphy Hicks Henry Murphy's critical analysis of the severe underrepresentation of women performers at the IBMA Awards Show and calling for proactive inclusion.
2. Mary Gibbons
   "My Focus is on the Singing" by Elena Corey and Mary Gibbons A profile of Mary Gibbons, who balances a demanding career as a forensic scientist with her role as a vocalist in the All Girl Boys bluegrass band.
3. RAG, MAMA, RAG...
   More About Choices by Kathy Chiavola A letter from Kathy Chiavola echoing Missy Raines's sentiment about the painful, conscious choice to forgo children for a music career.
   Moment of Awareness by Martha "Scotty" Scott Stey (printed “Martha "Scotty" Scott” [sic]) A letter from Martha "Scotty" Scott realizing her band's name, "Delta Darlin's," inadvertently reinforced stereotypical, disempowering treatment.
4. Spotlight on…Patsy Stoneman: The Young’un With the
Strongest Backbone
   by Murphy Hicks Henry An introduction to an extensive interview with bluegrass pioneer Patsy Stoneman.
   "One Of Our People's Been Hurt" by Murphy Hicks Henry and Patsy Stoneman Patsy Stoneman tells the story of how she organized benefit concerts to raise money for Frank Wakefield's family after a car wreck.
   Hard Times in Mississippi by Murphy Hicks Henry and Patsy Stoneman Patsy recounts leaving music for farming, her battle with cancer, and subsequent divorce.
   Back to Music by Murphy Hicks Henry and Patsy Stoneman Patsy describes her difficult return to music in Washington D.C. after her divorce, playing solo and eventually forming a band with Red Allen.
   Patsy Meets Bill Monroe by Murphy Hicks Henry and Patsy Stoneman A humorous anecdote about Patsy accidentally performing Bill Monroe's songs right before he was to go on stage.
   Patsy's Mom by Murphy Hicks Henry and Patsy Stoneman Patsy discusses her mother, Hattie Frost Stoneman, whom she identifies as the first woman of importance in country music.
   "The Family's Got to Find Out About the Family" by Murphy Hicks Henry and Patsy Stoneman Patsy explains her motivation for creating a show and later a book to preserve her family's musical heritage.
   Patsy Records for Edison by Murphy Hicks Henry and Patsy Stoneman Patsy tells the story of being invited to record on Edison cylinders using her father's original intended song list.
   Learning to Play: The Stoneman Method by Murphy Hicks Henry and Patsy Stoneman Patsy describes the informal, self-taught method by which the Stoneman children learned music.
   I Was Never Boss But... by Murphy Hicks Henry and Patsy Stoneman Patsy reflects on her collaborative, rather than authoritarian, leadership style with the talented musicians in her band.
   I Liked to Have My Own Spot by Murphy Hicks Henry and Patsy Stoneman Patsy insists on carving out her own space in the family band to perform her father's original songs.
   The Old Songs by Murphy Hicks Henry and Patsy Stoneman Patsy discusses how many songs her family recorded decades ago became bluegrass standards, often without credit.
   Folk Singers by Murphy Hicks Henry and Patsy Stoneman Patsy shares an anecdote about the Stonemans being billed as "folk musicians" to get on the Steve Allen Show.
5. Campfire Girl
   by Nancy Hicks Pate Nancy Hicks Pate writes about the joy and challenges of leading singing for a children's summer nature club at her church.
6. Ratifications
   by Casey Henry Casey Henry writes about playing a frat party banjo gig with renowned local picker Alvin Breeden at the University of Virginia.
7. To That Mansion in the Sky
   by Murphy Hicks Henry An obituary for Nancy McLaughlin, a tireless bluegrass supporter and friend
8. Subscribe Today!
   by Murphy Hicks Henry A subscription renewal notice celebrating the start of the newsletter's third year.
9. Ee Gads! My Subscription Expired!
   by Murphy Hicks Henry A humorous note from a reader who let her subscription lapse, used by Murphy to remind others to renew.

Photos

• Mary Gibbons, page 2. Photographer unknown. On Omeka
• Donna Stoneman, Oscar James “Jimmy” Stoneman, Patsy Stoneman, Van Stoneman, page 6. Photographer unknown. On Omeka