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"Mountain Memories" Bluegrass Band
This is the nicest bunch of folks around and they all love the music and the friendships. I am proud to be a part of this great band!
www.mountainmemoriesband.com
From the Left: Jim Harris, Bobby Hillis, Doug DeMaire, Lee Schlafley, Pete Lissmann
Uncle Josh Graves
 We all mourn his passing on September 30, 2006 but his music will live forever. He was a giant in bluegrass had it not been for Uncle Josh, doubt we'd be hearing dobros in bluegrass music... maybe not much dobro in any style of music for that matter. I heard him when I was a kid in Paducah, KY area with Lester & Earl. That "sound" never left my soul. Uncle Josh launched millions of dobro players and will always be part of our lives. Uncle Josh, God Bless You!
This photo above is courtesy of Bobby Wolfe, from his great archives
"Big Jim" Furniss
That's Big Jim Furniss on the right, sitting next to Ben Eldridge (Seldom Scene legend & buddy). Jim's ball cap is "Unclaimed Baggage Band" that we sometimes wear at these gigs. This was a fund-raiser we played and as it turns out, the last time I played with Big Jim. Got a phone call early on Memorial Day 2007 that he had died from a heart attack at about 3:30am. We were supposed to go to Big Jim's condo at Noon that day and play at a big pool party. Big Jim and I talked and/or emailed every day and I surely miss him. Most of all, I miss his music and upbeat & fun attitude about life. He always had time to pat you on the back and say something to make you smile. The entire bluegrass community will miss Big Jim forever, for he was a very special person to us all. Jim sang some great songs that will always make us think of him, like Ben Eldridge's favorite, "Wrap My Body In Old Glory," and "Pass Me Not" (O' Gentle Savior) that we dedicate to Big Jim anytime we play it now at a gospel show.
Larry Prentis Rice
We lost our friend Larry on Saturday, May 13th, 2006 to lung cancer. Larry was a very special person to close friends in the world of bluegrass. Larry leaves wife Linda, his family and brothers Tony, Ronnie and Wyatt. Larry we will miss you. Uncle Frank says he will look you up some day and continue the picking, big time. Larry was not only a great picker and awesome song writer and singer, he was just plan and simple real people. Larry Rice and his music lives in our hearts forever.
 Elson Smith
The late Bluegrass Shop founder & owner and dear friend who went clear in November of 2005. Elson did a lot for the Bluegrass Community in our area. But, beyond all that, he was a really sincere man who made us all smile every time we met up with him. He was a great guitar teacher who made it fun for his students. His focus was on life and friends and not concerned about making a profit. Saturday mornings, I will always miss his smiling face and jokes when we'd go by the Shop. We all love you Elson and really miss you. Rest in peace.
Laurie's Photos as Official Photographer for Lonesome River Fest 2006 were done for Don Miller's Just Right Productions!
www.jrp3.com
Above: Matt Leadbetter picking my
Scheerhorn at the 2006 Festival.
Now Matt is part of the LRB!
To the right: Laurie is enjoying a visit with Louise Rice backstage at the 2006 Rice Brothers Concert in Tallahassee. This is Mom to all the Rice Brothers and a classy lady! And Frank & Leon Poindexter's much better looking sister. For sure.
SITE CONTENT: Most of the content of this site is photographic. We have included several Galleries for you to enjoy. We also have included links to some of our friends' and favorite folks' websites. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at info@bluegrassnotes.com
Notes from Bob: Photography displayed on this site is 98% Laurie's work and I am the editor/art director with PhotoShop. Having been in the ad biz for over 40 years, I finally figured out what I am doing.
We travel to many festivals during the year and mainly shoot photos with the NIKON D-70 and a bag full of Nikon lenses. Plus, there is an N-70 in the bag for film requirements. (Can't remember the last time we shot film.)
OUTSIDE PHOTO CONTRIBUTIONS: If you have any pix you want to share with visitors to this site, email them to us at this site and we will attempt to publish as many as we can. Please make them no larger than about 150k in size.
This is Emma & Jody Rainwater with Laurie. Jody was #2 bass player for Flatt & Scruggs! Nice folks we just ran into at the Lonesome River Band Festival in March 2005 at Live Oak, Suwannee Music Park. They currently live in Virginia and Jody just celebrated his 84th as of this photo!
The
Swanigan Code
Warning: This story is true and very scary. Please govern yourself accordingly. Wimp.
Life was normal and I was perfectly happy picking guitar, upright bass and banjo and just plain fat & comfortable, just like I had good sense. It was an illusion, except the part about being fat. Birds were singing, it was a great day at Ft. Desoto Park at Swaniganfest, an annual music fest and birthday celebration. Food was good. People were warm and friendly. And did I mention, birds were singing? Yes, I did. Now, where was I... Oh yes... Then a devious person handed me a dobro and it ruined my life. This chromatic devil and music pimp was none other than a good friend, Rod Swanigan, who is a great musician and music teacher. Sure, a dobro. What can it hurt? I know lots of dobro players who never got hooked. Well, maybe one. First it was just fun. Then it became an obsession. Then on to the hard stuff...we got a Ported Wolfe dobro. But by then it was really starting to control me. I tried a voluntary rehab program but I never liked dulcimers. And that is socially incorrect, but I can live with it. But after several agonizing attempts to beat Dobro Addiction Syndrome, I just couldn't fight it anymore and we bought a Scheerhorn. Well, you know the rest of the story. If you do, call me so I can finish this copy. I'll get a pen and paper.
If you have actually heard me play, I'm sorry. If you want to complain, call Rod. Wouldn't blame you if you did. Go ahead. BRINGE SCHOOL OF MUSIC:
727-822-7664
Rod Swanigan is pictured above during one of his more innocent moments, but right after he handed me the dobro. Actually this might have been his only innocent moment now that I think about it. Things have never been the same. But since when are things ever the same? Even identical twins ain't. Rod is just like the woman who drove me to drink, I 'm sorry I never thanked. No, Rod is not a woman. If he was, he'd be the ugliest woman I ever saw. Thanks Rod, you California Hillbilly! See, he has to live with this crap because it's our website and he can't defend himself. Hahahaha!
PS: Rod is really and legally insane. But waaayyy beyond that level... is his wife Karen. What a combo of fun!
SOME GREAT LINKS:
Jerry "Flux" Douglas
http://www.jerrydouglas.com/
What can you say about the best? Jerry sure changed the way people pick dobros nowadays and made his mark forever in music. Plus, he is just a really good guy who cares about people and always takes time to say hi to fans and friends.
Ferrell Stowe Link
www.ferrellstowe.com
Ferrell is the real deal on dobro! Winner of SPBGMA Midwest Dobro Player Of The Year Nine times! Plus Album of the year. Go check this site 'cause you'll like it!
Frank Poindexter Link
www.frankpoindexter.com
This is my best buddy...
a top dobro player in the music world right up there with Jerry, Rob, Phil, Ferrell and others. IF you like The Rice Brothers' recordings, live and studio, that was probably Frank on the dobro track!
 Dobro, banjo, mandolin & guitar top quality straps from
The King of Straps!
Bobby Poff
www.rpoffmaker.com
The album below are some recent Poff straps. You'll find more all over this site if you go looking!
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Dobrojan's strap
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Dobrojan's strap
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Dobrojan's strap
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Dobrojan's strap
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Click image to see a larger version
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The"Intergalactic Dobro Shootout 2005" in Davidson, NC. L to R: Johnny Bellar, Frank Poindexter, Richard Rez Edenfield, Brad Harper. Also in background Mr. Stapleton and Bobby Wolfe. This was taken in Bobby Wolfe's reso shop in Davidson, NC. Reports are scattered from Jupiter to Uranus.
DISCLAIMER: By the way, before you get all squirrelly about it, we acknowledge trademark rights to the name "Dobro" as property of Gibson. We use the term here to indicate resonator or resophonic guitars as a generic term for that genre of guitars. This is a non-commerical site, so get a life. As we stated on the opening page, if your photo is on this site and you don't want it here, just drop us a note and we will remove the content with no questions, but we will probably talk about you afterwards behind your back. Bet on it. If you want to use any of these photos, please contact us first and obtain permission. If you want a pizza, call Dominos. If you need help, your call is important to us so please hold on and it will be answered in the order it was received. If you are a banjo player, please leave and realize you have wasted your life. There is no way to fix that now. There is no guarantee for anything on this site, but if there was, it would be void where prohibited. Some assembly required. Batteries not included. Do not view this website and try to operate heavy equipment. Ask your doctor if this site is right for you. Tax, title and substitutions extra. Take two aspirin and call somebody who cares in the morning. Never floss your teeth with a chainsaw. Is there anything else we can help you with today? And, most of all, have a nice day. Not a great day, just nice. Don't overdo it.
Photos and site content: © 2008 Bobby & Laurie Hillis.
NOTE: We have included DESKTOP/SCREENSAVER shots for our "reso-inclined" dobro(TM) friends and a fiddle shot for you crazy sawin' folk. Download them and use as you will. They are at the bottom of the DOBRO WORLD page and the FIDDLE PAGE. Not sure of the dobro's vintage, but Bobby Wolfe says early 80s Regal. Great old sound comes from this box! The fiddle is #31 by Lebron Batey of Sylvania, AL
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