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Quotes and Stories from Fellow
Artists
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Randy
Sparks is in the center of the New Christy Minstrels'
Grammy photo (do you recognize Dolan?) |
| Read about Randy Sparks |
| New Christy Minstrels Web Site |
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Dolan Ellis, I'm happy to report, is playing and singing better
than ever! I just saw him in concert in Scottsdale (February,
'05), and his performing defies logic or belief. He's an
old man, just like the rest of us, but he's still very
much like the kid who excited all of our audiences in the
sixties. By the way, I was never able to adequately replace
him in my group, The New Christy Minstrels, even though
I had access to the very best folk musicians at the time.
Dolan has always loved being on stage, and it still shows.
He has also been able to communicate that passion to his audience, and if I had
to hazard a guess about the secret of his popularity, I think that would be my
first choice. I'm proud to claim him as an alumnus of my group, and it's gratifying
to have played even a small role in his continued success. |
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Randy
Sparks was not only the founder
and the original leader of the New Christy Minstrels. Randy
likes to use the term "inventor" in describing his role. It
was Randy's concept to put ten outstanding folk artists together,
letting the talent of each individual shine, while giving the group
a unique character that viewers and listeners would find incredibly
appealing.
They were clean-cut kids in their
early 20s, but all had already enjoyed a level of success, as solo
acts or as part of small groups. Randy wrote many of the songs
the group sang and innovative arrangements and adaptations for
others. The performances were high-energy, but Randy, as
musical director, knew the importance of mixing in beautiful,
quiet songs such as his original "Today" to
give both performers and audience a needed change of pace. The
group's success was unprecedented. Just one bit of proof is
the Grammy they won in 1963. Another was their contract to
appear as a group on each of the 39 Andy Williams shows in the
1962-1963 season. The New Christy Minstrels were included in
many skits and songs by themselves, with Andy Williams, and with the
exciting guest artists. Variety shows were great in those
days, and the Andy Williams Show came into millions of homes every
week. The New Christy Minstrels were
sizzling!
In the intervening
years, Randy Sparks has been involved in numerous projects.
Lately, he's the leader of Randy Sparks & The Minstrels, who
will appear in Arizona for one night only on Saturday, April
2nd, at Queen Creek Performing Arts Center, south of
Phoenix. Dolan Ellis will be a special guest, and there will
be a total of six of the original Minstrels in the show. Randy
also will bring out his new group, The Bear Back Riders of America,
a group he calls an experimental cowboy music group, one that he
believes represent where the Sons of the Pioneers would be today
had they continued to evolve with Bob Nolan still as their
writer.
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Randy Sparks is in the center
of the New Christy Minstrels' Grammy photo (do you recognize
Dolan?) |
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| What Randy Says About Dolan |
Dolan Ellis, I'm happy to report, is playing and singing better
than ever! I just saw him in concert in Scottsdale (February,
'05), and his performing defies logic or belief. He's an
old man, just like the rest of us, but he's still very
much like the kid who excited all of our audiences in the
sixties. By the way, I was never able to adequately replace
him in my group, The New Christy Minstrels, even though
I had access to the very best folk musicians at the time.
Dolan has always loved being on stage, and it still shows.
He has also been able to communicate that passion to his
audience, and if I had to hazard a guess about the secret
of his popularity, I think that would be my first choice.
I'm proud to claim him as an alumnus of my group, and
it's gratifying to have played even a small role in his
continued success.
Randy Sparks
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About Tim
Wiedenkeller
Tim is a
great musician, a true virtuoso who is best known for his banjo work
because he composes and plays classical banjo music. He just
completed his first CD of classical banjo music, "Milagros," and
only a couple of weeks after it was released, it was already being
played on NPR. It's a wonderful CD that very possibly will
receive the worldwide recognition it deserves. You can listen
to samples of all the tracks when you click on his "Recordings"
page.
Tim also plays the guitar and mandolin
at the world class level, and he's working on his next CD, which
consists of his original vocal songs in numerous styles: bluegrass,
Sonoran, jazz, etc. Tim's beautiful voice touches the
hearts and souls of his listeners, and this CD, "Soul House," is
destined to be another favorite.
A
cover story about Tim declared him "A Musical Explorer."
He recently appeared in a concert with Stephen James, who is often
referred to as "the major Sarod disciple
of Pandit Ravi Shankar in the west." And yet Tim is just as
much at home with bluegrass, classic country, and Western genres,
and has played with the best in all. He also has appeared with
symphony orchestras, and has been highly successful writing scores
for films.
Dolan "discovered" Tim at a Red Cross
benefit in Tucson soon after 9/11, soon after Tim had moved to
Tucson from Los Angeles, and since then they have been the best of
friends and occasional playing partners, as well as mutual
admirers.
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| What Tim Says about
Dolan |
| Dolan Ellis entertains
and captivates an audience in a way that is rarely experienced. His
secret weapon is rare and precious-talent! |
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About Marshall Trimble
Marshall Trimble has done
remarkably well for a man so young (in the stroller in 1959 must
mean he was born about '57 and not even 40 when he became
Arizona's Official State Historian in 1997). .Unless,
of course, he lied about that stroller thing.
Seriously, Marshall Trimble has been a
great friend to Dolan Ellis, to the state of Arizona, and to
all of those interested in keeping the traditions of the American
West alive. Marshall communicates important messages, using
stories, humor, and music to make them interesting, proving that
history can be a very exciting subject. Be sure to check out
his Web site (link above) to learn about his appearances, books, and
CDs.
(While you're on his Web site, read
about all the fun he had near Wickenburg on February 12th.)
We're glad that, up until the last
paragraph, Marshall regaled us with his humor, with Dolan as
the "victim." .Unless, of course, all of the stuff he said
about Dolan is true.
By the way, Marshall and Dolan perform
together occasionally, and will be making another of those memorable
appearances in Scottsdale on April 1st (April Fool's Day).
That's the night before the big New Christy Minstrels Reunion
concert, and we hope you'll make your reservations for both.
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Dolan and Marshall
with newly elected Governor Janet Napolitano as she reappoints
them to their respective positions, Dolan as Arizona's
Official State Balladeer, and Marshall as Arizona's Official
State Historian |
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What Marshall Says about
Dolan |
I first saw
Dolan perform at Portafino's in Old Town Scottsdale in
1959. It was called New Town then. I was just
a little kid and was taken there by my parents. Sitting
in my stroller I never dreamed that someday I'd be performing
on stage with him. We've been performing together
since about 1978 and still having a good time.
Dolan is a true music lover. When he hears a beautiful woman
singing in the shower he puts his ear to the keyhole.
Despite his age Dolan still attracts the women wherever he
goes. The other night he went into a cocktail lounge in Sun City,
sat down at the bar next to an attractive local, ordered a drink, took a sip,
then turned to her and said, "Tell me, do I come in here often?"
Another night in Scottsdale I saw him with a beautiful
blonde who couldn't have been over twenty-two. I said, "Dolan, having sex
with that woman could bring on a heart attack."
He replied confidently, "If she goes, she goes."
Over the years we've been roommates, neighbors and spent many
hours together on the road. He's always been there for me. He was
there when my horse fell on me and broke my leg. He was there when that
grizzly bear chased me up a tree and chewed on my boot. He was there when
that rattlesnake crawled into my bedroll and bit me on the behind. He was
there when I accidentally sat down in a campfire. He was always there. You
know what? I think he's bad luck!
Dolan is one of the best and most loyal friends I've ever
had. He's certainly the greatest showman I've ever had the pleasure of
working with. He loves the entertainment business, is absolutely
ageless and will never retire. I expect we'll both die on stage. There
are many who say we've already done that a number of times. |
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About Lucille
Riley
Lucille is a
favorite at the Arizona Folklore Preserve. For most people,
the thought of watching someone play two folk instruments,
the hammered ducimer and the autoharp, for 90 minutes or more,
sounds like a bore. Lucille manages to keep the audience
looking on with amazement as she plays the instruments with her high
level of expertise. The time flies when she's on
stage. She's a great musician, a great teacher, and a
really funny lady who charms her way into the hearts of all who see
her.
Lucille has registered the name "The
Dulcimer Lady," and her Web site has the same name. Her
credentials are very impressive and her awards are many. Best
of all, she has been National Hammered Dulcimer Champion and has
been International Autoharp Champion twice.
For a sample of Lucille's wit, check
out this page from her Web site: http://www.thedulcimerlady.com/pr2.htm.
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What Lucille Says about
Dolan |
| Gosh, what does one say about
Dolan Ellis? He's kinda like the big brother I never
had (thankfully he's never pulled my hair; I'll pass on
that thought). All that aside, Dolan is a great entertainer,
and we've always managed to "read" each other on stage
when I've joined him for a closing song at the
Arizona Folklore Preserve, something I'll look forward
to doing again soon! |
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