What are some of your first memories of music , dance and song?

[Ron N Deb]

My father is from eastern Tennessee, left home at 17 and joined the Army.  He was stationed in Germany where he met my mother.  I was born there in 1965.  We lived in Germany until I was in elementary school.  When we moved to the states we stopped in Tennessee for a family reunion.  They were all meeting my mother, me and my brother for the first time.  Even though we were my dad's kids were about as "un-southern" as we could be and Dad never talked about his family.  So they were all strangers.

I remember being in a large park with huge trees.  There was a group of people under a tree playing music.  It was like something I had never heard before.  I remember just lurking around listening.  At one point this tall man - probably 6'4" set a guitar down against a tree.  When no one was looking I went over to check it out.  I was just about to touch it when the big guy came back and said, "Girl you know how to pick that thing?"  In total terror I sprinted over to my mother.  That was the end of that.

Five years ago at the urging of my friend Joe Cox from Fishbone I went to my first bluegrass festival.....Telluride.  I pulled up late Wednesday to the Fishbone camp.  Joe met me on the street we hugged, and then he took me into the tarp majal and there for the first time since I was that dumb little German kid I heard that music again.  My parents never played bluegrass or mountain music when I was growing up.  It was just pop radio.  I will never forget how I felt that night hearing bluegrass again - it was like I knew it on a cellular level.  I remember telling Joe I have to learn to play this music.  Have to.  It was never going to be enough to just listen.

Been a junky ever since.  

Joe is a good Man ....and Bless him for bringing you to this Motley Crew ..

[BigGriz]

Lots of variety growing up, Big bands, Mitch, and my older sisters Who, Zep, Airplane, Beatles, then.................. year 1 of college, John Hartford and Vasser playing at the county fairgrounds to a smallish crowd but an overjoyed & happyfooted griz~ 

 Listening to: Greencards

[ilovethelorax]

Sitting on the couch (I think I was about 4) listening to my mom play guitar and sing Me & Bobby McGee. It was the first song I knew all the words to. There was a lot of Janis Joplin in that house. Pearl was the first album I bought for myself and still is so great! I also grew up with a lot of Joan Baez, Emmylou, Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, Peter, Paul and Mary. I suppose I'll never really understand what happened when my mother turned to the Statler Brothers after all that. 

 Listening to: some crazy good hip hop flute player

[tczues]

9/3/77 Raceway park. Englishtown, NJ. The grateful Dead, The allman Brothers and New riders of the purple sage. I was 7 and my Dad took me.

[landshark]

9/3/77 Raceway park. Englishtown, NJ. The grateful Dead, The allman Brothers and New riders of the purple sage. I was 7 and my Dad took me.

Wow New Riders Of The Purple Sage, my first Bluegrass as a young teen.....

[landshark]

My mom (from Knoxville TN.) watching HEE HAW with Flatts and Scruggs when my step dad was not home... He called it Hillbilly music.....he was a city slicker..

My mom waxing and buffing the floors in the rec room, then moving all the furniture so we could slip around and dance to Nat King Cole, Harry Belafonte, Etta James, Johnny Mathis.

Trying to teach my step dad how to twist

[bouzouki]

One night I saw a band, stood close to the speakers, listened with my eyes closed, and went home after the show was over.  I had my eyes closed and one of the songs ended, I opened my eyes and I was lying in bed, imagine my surprise.

[Jimtown Farmergirl]

Dancing to my daddy's piano playing  - "Kitten on the Keys" was a favorite.

I wore out Dolly Parton's album with "Coat of Many Colors" and "Jolene".

First bluegrass festival at Adams County Fairgrounds in 1981 and Hot Rize became my favorite band.

 Listening to: The Nashville Sessions, Leftover Salmon