Jon Gersh sits in for Sandy Sheehan at WUMB

Edit 1/29/13: Jon's "blurring the lines" program will not be permanent, rather it is a "sitting in for him until he can come back to health." The article's title has been revised.

Received by mailing list from Jon Gersh:

WUMB 91.9fm Trad Folk Sun 9pm - Midnight... now old-time and Vintage Country and bluegrass!Traditional Folk on WUMB 91.9FM has a new format! Jon Gersh is now hosting this show on behalf of Sandy Sheehan. The show runs from 9PM Sundays til Midnite. I'm bringing a big new energy focused on blurring the lines between blues, bluegrass, old-time country, country and western, honky tonk, and western swing.  All vintage, all excellent!Check it out! If you can't hear it on the radio, try http://www.wumb.org and listen on your computer!Another new feature:  The Worst Country Song... each Sunday around 10PM I'll play a really bizarre country song!  Email me your votes for your favorite "worst" country song! Please spread the word!  Thanks, Jon G....

At the time of this writing the WUMB program schedule lists the program as Traditional Folk, hosted by Sandy Sheehan.

ANNOUNCER:
Sandy Sheehan

SHOW:
Traditional Folk

TIME:
Sunday 9pm-Midnight

Contact

Sandy Sheehan started doing the Traditional Folk show in the fall of 1986. One of his goals is to expose listeners to artists and music they wouldn't hear on other programs.

The music on the program usually falls into the following genres: old-time, bluegrass, Celtic, blues, Cajun, cowboy, and anything else that is interesting and traditional. The program usually consists of a set of three or four songs or tunes of one kind of music, and then changes to a different kind.

A lot of good traditional LPs are being reissued on CD. But Sandy still plays LPs and cassettes as well since some of the greats were never reissued. A lot of good traditional music is being done by contemporary artists as well. Sandy draws on all of these resources for his show.

A traditionally-oriented community calendar is also heard on Traditional Folk.

Folk music has interested Sandy since the early '60s. At that time he met some musicians who played traditional music including old-time, Celtic, and bluegrass. Other musicians later introduced him to blues and Cajun music.

Sandy learned to play a little banjo, but was always more of a listener. He spent the '60s getting together with friends to play old-time music and go to contra dances around Boston and New Hampshire. He also attended many area festivals and concerts.

In 1970 Sandy started Sandy's Music to buy, sell, and repair instruments and sell recordings. The store is still on Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge and is one of the area's folk institutions.

Sandy often packs up the store stock and sets up a temporary shop at a some of the summer festivals and concerts throughout the year. Sandy also organize old-time music events. Every Monday night there's a jam session at Sandy's Music, and several times a year Sandy invites musician friends to Johnny D's in Davis Square, Somerville, for an old-time music night.

The WUMB website's "announcers" area does not yet contain a profile for Jon, and the last WUMB Blog
http://wumbradio.blogspot.com/ entry is dated May 30, 2012. For a communications entity they are not keeping their public informed.

I wish Jon good luck, and Sandy a full recovery.

Related Sandy Sheehan Laid Up, Sandy's Music Closing, 1/12/13.

p.s. My nominee for Jon's worst country song feature?
‎3 Second Rule
by Lisa Gail Allred
http://youtu.be/57Sb14dyaUc

Sandy Sheehan Laid Up, Sandy's Music Closing

Sandy Sheehan, musician, music shop owner, host of a weekly old-time music jam, radio producer/host and recipient of  the Boston Bluegrass Union's 2009 Heritage Award is in poor health and is closing his Central Square institution, Sandy's Music.

Jon Gersh posted the following to the Boston Bluegrass Union's listserve this morning

Friends, it is with some sadness that I report the closing of an institution, Sandy's Music in Cambridge. Sandy has been laid up, and the store was losing money, I guess there wasn't much choice. Please come support Sandy at a benefit show at Johnny D's on Tuesday Jan. 22nd. We're hopeful that Sandy himself can be there. Please consider buying $10 tickets in advance (it's a benefit) and making dinner reservations so you can be sure to be able to sit:http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3299534&pl=jdsThe show has turned into a powerhouse showcase of local talent, including the Dreaded Banjo Orchestra, which you are most welcome to join. Thank you everyone for supporting Sandy's Music through the years, this is truly the end of an era. Please support Sandy now, and come out to Johnny D's. Thanks, Jon G.  for more information email me here, or at jon@sandysmusic.org.
The flyer for the show is here:  http://www.planetbanjo.com/SandyOTFlyerJan2013.jpg

Facebook event

In 2009, Sandy, Al Hawkes and the original members of the Joe Val Bluegrass Boys were honored by the Boston Bluegrass Union's annual heritage award.

Rounder Records founder Ken Irwin and BBU President Gerry Katz 

presenting the BBU's 2009 Heritage Award to Sandy Sheehan

photo copyright Darwin Davidson

Sandy Sheehan: Since 1970, Sandy’s Music and its proprietor Sandy Sheehan have been essential lynchpins in the Boston area’s traditional music scene. First captivated by folk, old-time, Celtic, blues, and bluegrass music in the 1960s, Sheehan established Sandy’s as a one-stop shop where one could peruse (and pick) a diverse range of stringed instruments, browse through new and old traditional music LPs and CDs, have instrument repairs done, take a music lesson, and get advice from the laconic, chain-smoking, banjo-picking owner. Sandy’s quickly became a hub for the traditional music community, with Sheehan hosting (and continuing to host) weekly Monday-night jams at the store and occasional old-time nights at Johnny D.’s. Since 1986, Sheehan has also hosted the popular Traditional Folk program on WUMB.

Read the BBU's 2009 press release here.
Read notloB Music's coverage here.


Sandy's bio from :Boston's NPR music station", WUMB.

ANNOUNCER:
Sandy Sheehan 

SHOWS:
Traditional Folk 
Sunday 9:00 pm

Contact

Sandy Sheehan started doing the Traditional Folk show in the fall of 1986. One of his goals is to expose listeners to artists and music they wouldn't hear on other programs.

The music on the program usually falls into the following genres: old-time, bluegrass, Celtic, blues, Cajun, cowboy, and anything else that is interesting and traditional. The program usually consists of a set of three or four songs or tunes of one kind of music, and then changes to a different kind.

A lot of good traditional LPs are being reissued on CD. But Sandy still plays LPs and cassettes as well since some of the greats were never reissued. A lot of good traditional music is being done by contemporary artists as well. Sandy draws on all of these resources for his show.

A traditionally-oriented community calendar is also heard on Traditional Folk.

Folk music has interested Sandy since the early '60s. At that time he met some musicians who played traditional music including old-time, Celtic, and bluegrass. Other musicians later introduced him to blues and Cajun music.

Sandy learned to play a little banjo, but was always more of a listener. He spent the '60s getting together with friends to play old-time music and go to contra dances around Boston and New Hampshire. He also attended many area festivals and concerts.

In 1970 Sandy started Sandy's Music to buy, sell, and repair instruments and sell recordings. The store is still on Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge and is one of the area's folk institutions.

Sandy often packs up the store stock and sets up a temporary shop at a some of the summer festivals and concerts throughout the year. Sandy also organize old-time music events. Every Monday night there's a jam session at Sandy's Music, and several times a year Sandy invites musician friends to Johnny D's in Davis Square, Somerville, for an old-time music night.

2009 BBU Heritage Awards

From Gerry Katz, BBU.

The Boston Bluegrass Union (BBU) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2009 BBU Heritage Awards. The awards are presented each year by the BBU to honor those who have made substantial contributions to furthering bluegrass in New England. The awards will be presented during the 24th annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, Presidents Day Weekend, February 13 – 15, 2009, at the Sheraton Framingham, Framingham, MA. More information on the festival at www.bbu.org

This year’s Music Industry winners are:

Al Hawkes:

Musician, entertainer, record label owner, and collector Al Hawkes has contributed to bluegrass and country music in nearly every possible capacity. In 1956 in Westbrook, Maine, he founded Event Records and released early recordings by such key artists as The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover, Charlie Bailey (of the Bailey Brothers), Dick Curless, and many more. Born in 1930, Hawkes formed his first band in high school, singing and playing an array of stringed instruments. To this day, he continues to be an active performer, and has received over 25 awards. In addition to releasing a number of important recordings on Event, Hawkes is one of the foremost record collectors in New England, whose archive includes over 40,000 45s, 78s, and LPs.

Sandy Sheehan:

Since 1970, Sandy’s Music and its proprietor Sandy Sheehan have been essential lynchpins in the Boston area’s traditional music scene. First captivated by folk, old-time, Celtic, blues, and bluegrass music in the 1960s, Sheehan established Sandy’s as a one-stop shop where one could peruse (and pick) a diverse range of stringed instruments, browse through new and old traditional music LPs and CDs, have instrument repairs done, take a music lesson, and get advice from the laconic, chain-smoking, banjo-picking owner. Sandy’s quickly became a hub for the traditional music community, with Sheehan hosting (and continuing to host) weekly Monday-night jams at the store and occasional old-time nights at Johnny D.’s. Since 1986, Sheehan has also hosted the popular Traditional Folk program on WUMB.

This year’s Musician award winners are:

The Original Members of Joe Val and the New England Bluegrass Boys:

Founded in 1970, Joe Val and the New England Bluegrass Boys featured Joe Val on mandolin and vocals, Herb Applin on guitar and vocals, Bob French on banjo and vocals, and bassist Bob Tidwell. With Val’s stratospheric tenor leading the way, the New England Bluegrass Boys worked tirelessly to bring traditional, hard-driving, Monroe-derived bluegrass to New England audiences. Through their riveting performances and a series of albums on the Cambridge-based Rounder label (beginning with Rounder’s third release, 1971’s One Morning In May), they helped to develop a fervent, dedicated audience for bluegrass and stringband music in New England – a community that still thrives today and gathers annual at the award-winning festival that bears Val’s name.

The Boston Bluegrass Union is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization, dedicated to preserving and promoting this original American music genre. Celebrating our 33rd season, the BBU is the premier source for events, education, and information on bluegrass music in the Northeast.