Saturday, May 17, 2008

Bluegrass Heritage Foundation founded to educate and entertain public

By Pegasus News wire

The Board of Directors is pleased to an­noun­ce the formation of the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Dallas, Texas. The Foundation’s mis­sion is to preserve and promote the heri­tage of bluegrass music in America, with an empha­sis on Texas and the south­western United States. The Foundation seeks to edu­cate the public about blue­grass music through programs and work­shops, public per­formances of bluegrass music, and similar pro­grams.

The Found­ation is man­aged by a five-member board of directors presently con­sisting of Alan Tompkins and Gerald Jones (co-founders of the Frisco Bluegrass Festival), Richard Tucker (founder of the Argyle Bluegrass Festival), Cliff Fitch of Fitch Banjos (Azle, Texas), and Raleigh New­sam (a Dallas attorney and bluegrass enthusiast).

The Foundation held its inaugural event, a fundraising benefit concert featuring The Special Consensus and Blue Moon Drive, on May 3, 2008. The venue was the his­tor­ic Sons of Hermann Hall near downtown Dallas. Current IBMA Presi­dent Greg Cahill (founder of The Special Consensus) and his band entertained the crowd throughout the fun-filled musical evening.

“The plea­sure was truly ours,” said Cahill. “We were honored to be featured for the Found­ation’s inaugural event. We certainly enjoyed the evening, the won­der­fully responsive audience, and the great music of Blue Moon Drive. I hope we can work together again to support the Found­ation.”

Additionally, the Foundation is excited to announce the first annual Bluegrass Heritage Fes­ti­val, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 6 at South Oaks Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. Appearing at the festival will be Mark Phillips & Third Generation, Hickory Hill, Blue River, Warren Hull & Acoux Deville, Blue Moon Drive (featuring The Gerald Jones), Ellis County Bluegrass, Salt Rock Rounders, and more. The Festival will also in­clude banjo, mandolin, guitar, and song­writing instructional workshops.

For more information about the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation or the Bluegrass Heritage Festival, visit BluegrassHeritage.org.

Source: Bluegrass Heritage Foundation

See more stories in:

• Arts > Popular Music > Bluegrass