Fun_People Archive
11 Apr
Garrison What's his name?

Date: Thu, 11 Apr 96 14:43:39 -0700
From: Peter Langston <psl>
To: Fun_People
Subject: Garrison What's his name?

Date:	 Wed, 10 Apr 1996 22:53:42 EDT
From:	 DICK KIMMEL <ZGJK74A@PRODIGY.COM>
To:	 "Bluegrass music discussion." <BGRASS-L@LSV.UKY.EDU>

It always interests me when Garrison Keillor's name pops up in bluegrass
circles.  I've heard many horror stories about his feelings about bluegrass
and the five-string.  Remember some folks up here in Minnesota picketed him
to leave earlier than intended when he first abandoned Prairie Home
Companion.

One horror story related to a trip to New England many years ago.  Prairie
Home was traveling with their house bluegrass group, Stoney Lonesome (with
Kate MacKenzie).  Joe Val and the NE Boys were also to be on the program,
but, from what was related to me, ended up performing as a Joe Val/ Dave
Haney duet with the rest of the band watching from the wings, so the show
wouldn't have 2 bluegrass bands.


When I first moved to Minnesota in the early 1980's, Paul Horrisberger and
I went to Prairie Home Companion to interview for a Bluegrass Unlimited
article that Pete K. had requested.  I left with such a bad taste in my
mouth for the show that I abandoned my involvement in the BU article.  I
later interviewed Noah Adams and guests on the short-lived Prairie Home
replacement and found a much better attitude towards bluegrass and happier
performers on the show.
 Noah is a real fan of bluegrass, having done some bluegrass radio work
earlier in his career.  Some of us were sorry when Noah returned to public
radio news and even more sorry to see Prairie Home return.


Some musicians, like Kate and Peter O., have certainly had careers furthered
through work on Prairie Home, but when I hear that some of the shows higher
ups don't really like bluegrass -- I don't really want to wade through
Bertha's kitties, the hopeless Gospel stuff, and all the clever little
stories, waiting for a token bluegrass performer, once in a great  while.

Just one Minnesotan's viewpoint!

© 1996 Peter Langston