News

Michael Miles has left the Old Town School of Folk Music and opened his one-man show, The Magic Banjo, at the Pegasus Players Theatre in Chicago. The show features Miles' musical portrayal of America and the banjo, tracing the history of the instrument using eight different banjos. Miles presents the sounds, songs, and writings of banjo players like Carl Sandburg, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and others. interaccess.com/~banjo/banjo.html

"Woody's Children," a Saturday evening institution on WQXR in New York, celebrated its 30th anniversary this January. Hosted by Robert Sherman, the show presents the highest quality contemporary folk music programming, both recorded and live. Pete Seeger, Odetta, Burl Ives, Judy Collins and Peter, Paul and Mary are just some of the guests who have performed in studio. The show runs from 8-9 p.m. (Eastern) and is broadcast in RealAudio at www.wqxr.com.

Look for Dirty Linen's booth at Merlefest [April 29-May2, 1999; www.merlefest.org]. Dirty Linen is also a media sponsor of the LMNOP festival in New Orleans [April 25-28, 1999; www.offbeat.com/LMNOP]

Folk Image is an online two-hour music show that features the best in folk and acoustic music. The show is broadcast in RealAudio and provides listeners with a link to The Minor Chord Music Store, where they can buy CDs from the featured artists. Also available is a CD containing a year's worth of shows in RealAudio that is playable on your computer. [www.folkimage.com]

The first Cyber Fest Noz was scheduled to be held in Quimper, France, on February 20th and broadcast live on the An Tour Tan web page. The festival planned to feature groups like Bagad Kemper, Bagad Beuzeg and The Goa'tech Brothers. Their site at www.antourtan.org contains information about the festival (in English, French, and Breton), as well as RealAudio samples of the performing artists.

The great Canadian fiddler Graham Townsend passed away December 3, 1998. He was 57. Townsend began playing the fiddle at age eight, and at age nine won his first Canadian National Exhibition Championship. He recorded 41 albums, composed over 350 tunes, toured extensively in Canada and Europe, and performed for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip on Parliament Hill in 1967. Townsend performed all sorts of music: French Canadian reels, two-steps from Cajun country, and Cape Breton Scot tunes. His wife, Eleanor, also played fiddle. His last recording was Country Licks and All That Jazz on the CBC/Margaree Label.

Butch McDale, drummer for the Amazing Rhythm Aces, passed away November 29th after a long battle with cancer. McDale formed the Rhythm Aces with singer Russell Smith in the early 70s and appeared on all six of the Aces' 70s and 80s albums. He toured with the Aces as they began their 1996 comeback, but illness kept him off the road for the last year and a half. McDale was also a songwriter, and he sang two of his own compositions on the group's last album, Out of the Blue.

Bryan MacLean, guitarist and singer in the legendary Los Angeles band Love, died December 25th, 1998, of an apparent heart attack. He was 52. MacLean left the band after their third and most celebrated recording, Forever Changes, considered by some to be one of the best rock recordings of all time. He continued as a songwriter, became a born-again Christian, and recorded both religious and secular music. Recently, Sundazed Records released ifyoubelievein, containing early demos and home recordings of songs written during his years in Love.

Guitarist Jimmy Domengeaux was killed early Monday morning, January 25th, in a motorcycle accident in southwestern Louisiana. It was a great blow to the Cajun and Louisiana music communities, and to music more broadly, as well. Domengeaux's music career stretched back some 38 years; he performed with the band "Black Dog," as well as with Warren Storm, Cajun Heat, and The Gumbo Cajun Band, among others. For the past four years, he has played lead guitar with Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. With the Playboys he became a world traveler, bringing his music to people all over the world. Domengeaux's friends remember a gifted guitarist and a happy spirit. In the words of bandmate Peter Schwarz, "His smile and his high voltage solos lit up the stage wherever he played, and his dynamic style was an integral part of our sound. He was also a caring friend and a brother on the road." Domengeaux was 44 years old. He is survived by his mother and father, Mr. & Mrs. Murphy Domengeaux, sisters Letty Darbone, Judy Theriot, and Nancy Baham, brother Jackie Domengeaux, and daughter Javen Domengeaux, age nine. Anyone wishing to make donations to a trust fund for Javen, please send to: Murphy or Annie Domengeaux/ 210 East Bridge Street/ Breaux Bridge, LA 70517.