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Marcellus The Official Newspaper of the Greater Marcellus Community Chamber
Fall 2005
Pickin’ and Grinnin’
Bluegrass has become Marcellus’ natural resource of fun It’s like stepping back in time to a country dance in a Kentucky holler. For the past seven years, a unique jam session, which started with three Bluegrass musicians looking for a place to play, has grown into a Friday night sensation at the American Legion hall in the Village of Marcellus. All you need is an instrument and the ambition to play. Or you can sit back, keep time with your foot, sing-along and share a cup of coffee or a cookie. “Sometimes we get upwards of 70 people or more,” explained one of the phenomenon’s original pickers Bob Hayden of Marcellus. “And some weeks, it all fits together so well, we’re playing until two or three in the morning.” The cost is only $2 per person to pay for the heat and lights. Many bring cookies to pass. The music is homespun and traditional from songs like ‘This Land is Your Land’ to ‘In the Sweet Bye and Bye’. Everything is cordial and comfortable. The room is lined with every type of stringed instrument you can think of. The players share a smile and their songs. They take turns leading a song by announcing which key to play. “We like to hear any type of music,” said Hayden. “We have two fellows who sing ‘Danny Boy’ so well, it’ll bring tears to your eyes.” Some are seasoned, others are newly musically motivated. “We’ve had many spectators turn into players,” said Hayden. “It’s
Les Hathaway on banjo during the Friday Night Bluegrass Jam at the Marcellus American Legion. contagious, I guess.” Hayden says they are grateHayden says he and his two ful to Sam Murphy, the American friends, Jack Burns and Thom Legion hall’s caretaker, who lives Russell began playing together upstairs. “We’re fortunate he is just for fun in a hangar at the a little hard of hearing. When Marcellus Airport. When cold he gets tired, he just goes uptemperatures forced them to look stairs and turns his hearing aid for a place indoors, they found off. He just reminds us to turn a new home at the Marcellus -CONTINUED PAGE 4American Legion.