ldyboxr - 7-22-2005 at 09:41 AM
Listed below is an article written in our local newspaper. The couple that is singing is friends of my familys. The entire family (13 children) all
have musical talent. At our church on Sundays it is not unusal for the entire family to play including Grandparents, Grandchildren, grandchidren,
Aunts and Uncles.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Musical career resurges
Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks entertain packed tent
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Jim Greer, Shirley McPherson and Bob McPherson, from the left, of the Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks, perform Wednesday night. (Examiner photo by Miriam
Baier)
By Miriam Baier
Examiner Assistant Editor
7/21/05
Jim Greer and the Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks have picked up where they left off some 30 years ago.
The Logan County group began playing in the late 1950s and cut its first album, Bluegrass in Ohio, in 1963. They performed in a tri-state area and
appeared regularly on radio for about 10 years before various other obligations kept them from the stage.
About three years ago, they resumed where they had left off and the group hasn't looked back.
Jim Greer and Bob McPherson are the only members of the original group, but the "bluegrass with a country flavor" that the group produces has been
readily accepted and they are keeping busy.
"It's been so much fun," said Mr. Greer at a recent practice before their appearance Wednesday night at the Logan County Fair. "It's really amazing to
me that we have had the public acceptance that we have had coming back this time."
All the current musicians, including Phil Godwin of Bellefontaine, who plays bass; Frank Bard of North Lewisburg, a dobro guitar and an award-winning
harmonica player; and Steve Shaw of Lima (banjo, mandolin and dobro) can't read music.
Mr. McPherson taught himself to play the guitar after sending off for one from a catalog. A cousin by marriage, for whom he was working when he was
about 12 years old and who sometimes played during breaks, taught him some chords and that sparked his interest.
"I practiced 'til my fingers bled, I'm telling you," he said with a smile.
The group, minus Mr. Shaw, played at the fair before a packed entertainment tent.
Mr. Greer's musical career began early. His first radio performance was locally when he was 5 with his two older sisters, who performed together as
the Greer Sisters. He learned to play the mandolin at an early age and then learned banjo and guitar.
The musicians play by ear and have even written some songs. Their first album, which is being rereleased on CD, contains five songs written by Mr.
McPherson, who sings lead and also plays guitar; and one by Mr. Greer, who plays guitar and mandolin. The other group member is Shirley McPherson
(married to Bob) who sings high tenor.
In addition to Mr. Greer and Mr. McPherson, the original group featured Mr. Greer's sisters, Bonnie Faber and Valeda Wentz; his brother-in-law, Jim
Wentz, featured on the dobro guitar; and Dalton Burroughs, who played bass.
Soon, Bonnie dropped out, and fiddle players, Sonny Collins and Aaron Hicks later joined them at different times.
They became every-other-week regulars on WWVA's World's Original Jamboree in Wheeling, W.Va., for more than three years, with their lively
performances interspersed with a dose of gospel and a sprinkling of humor. The nightly broadcast reached Pennsylvania and helped increase their
popularity. Over the course of their initial career the group rubbed elbows with such musical greats as Porter Wagoner (and a young Dolly Parton),
Buck Owens, George Jones and other notable musicians. The folks also produced four more albums, Log Cabin Songs, Country Favorites, Memories in Song
and Gospel Singing Time.
"We were doing so much but not enough to support totally the families of all the people involved," said Mr. Greer, and "things were placed on hold."
A performance at Gretna Brethren Church at the request of Mr. and Mrs. McPherson, who are members of the church and whose musical career had continued
throughout the years, sparked the group's resurgence, which they eagerly anticipate.
Mr. Greer would like "to bring our style of music to the general public" as people sometimes have a preconceived notion of what bluegrass is going to
sound like, he said.
The Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks since have been busy playing private gigs and for various area community events. They returned April 30 to WWVA on the
jamboree for a memorable and meaningful performance.
The group's name was taken from the historical Mac-O-Chee Valley area near West Liberty where Mr. Greer was born and reared. The picture for their
first album was made around a tree stump at the Mac-O-Chee Castle and is being reproduced on the CD.
The music may be the same, (with an added flavoring of harmonica), but the outfits have changed. No more white socks, checked string bow ties or
bright pegged leg, cuffed Sansabelt pants for the men.
fetiche - 8-10-2005 at 03:46 AM
That's pretty cool. Being an old school hilljack, I've always enjoyed bluegrass music.