June 27, 2017
Tribute to Stan Elmore
The staff of the Missouri Folk Arts Program extends heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of Stan Elmore. Mr. Elmore was a master artist in the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program in 1996, when he taught shape-note singing to apprentice Steve Ramsey (both pictured above). Mr. Elmore’s brother Johnny also taught shape-note singing in TAAP in 1991, and those lessons were recorded by Gordon McCann, archived now at Missouri State University Archives. Rest in Peace. An obituary for Mr. Stan Elmore can be found here: https://obittree.com/obituary/us/missouri/joplin/mason—woodard-mortuary–crematory/stanley-elmore/2136368/…
June 13, 2017
Tribute to Vivian Hawkins
We are saddened to learn that storyteller Vivian Hawkins of Hannibal, Mo. has died. She apprenticed, along with Deborah Swanegan and Samuel Williams, in 1993 with Gladys Caines Coggswell in Missouri’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. Ms. Hawkins took the knowledge and skills she learned during her apprenticeship (and in life) as far away as Warsaw, Poland–and always close to home, sharing her gift at libraries, schools, social clubs, churches, nursing homes, and festivals. She was especially keen on sustaining the oral tradition in rural communities. We extend our deepest sympathy to her family and friends. RIP [Herald-Whig News…
March 14, 2017
Tribute to Clifford Bryan
In 2017, we also shared the sad news that old-time fiddler Cliff Bryan of West Plains died on March 12. The tribute we wrote about Cliff is published in a PDF, and you can access at the link below. Master Artist Cliff Bryan
Feb. 17, 2017
Tribute to Phil Williams
We’ve received sad news from our colleagues at Northwest Folklife that Phil Williams passed February 16, 2017. Missourians may recall that Phil and Vivian Williams’ Voyager Records has turned out CDs with/of Missouri old-time fiddlers Howard Marshall & John P Williams, Pete McMahan, John White, Travis Inman, and Cliff Bryan, among others. Our sincere condolences to Mr Williams’ family and friends. RIP …From Northwest Folklife: “We are deeply saddened by…
Jan. 15, 2017
Tribute to Alan Jabbour
A lovely tribute (with more links) to Alan Jabbour, born in Florida, from our colleagues at Florida Folklife Program: We are saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Alan Jabbour, folklorist, scholar, and founding Director of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Alan Jabbour was born in #Jacksonville in 1942 to Syrian immigrants. He studied violin at an early age and put himself through college at the University of Miami by playing classical music. As a graduate student at Duke University,…
Jan. 7, 2017
Tribute to John “Preston” Williams
In early January 2017, we learned the saddest news. Master blacksmith John “Preston” Williams, Sr. died in a tree cutting accident. The tribute we wrote at that time is published in a PDF linked below. John Preston Williams 1956-2017
Dec. 5, 2016
Tribute to Donivan Bailey
In December 2016, we were incredibly saddened to learn that Donivan Bailey, a 2015 Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program master artist, had died unexpectedly. Linked below is a PDF with the tribute we published when we learned the sad news. Donivan Bailey
June 21, 2016
Tribute to Homer Boyd
Thanks to our friends at History Museum on the Square, we’ve learned of the loss of Homer Boyd of the famed vocal group the Philharmonics. The Springfield News-Leader shared an in-depth story about Mr. Boyd’s contributions to arts, culture, and history in the region. RIP, Mr. Boyd. https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2016/06/20/homer-boyd-one-million-singer-and-local-black-history-expert-dies-unexpectedly/86151250/ …
March 11, 2016
Tribute to Louis Meyers
Sad news. We learned that Louis Meyer, former director of Kansas City-based Folk Alliance International, died unexpectedly in Austin, Tx. Our sympathies to his family, friends, and fellow musicians. https://www.kcur.org/post/louis-meyers-former-folk-alliance-head-and-imaginer-bluegrass-tommy-dies?fbclid=IwAR0WQL0jOFoAcqEA2AGpFPKFTcleharukzVkitOc9X9qPrUnflQguZaLvzY#stream/0 An obituary for Louis Meyers can be found here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/austin-tx/louis-meyers-8209385…
Nov. 18, 2015
Tribute to Butch Antal
We are sad to learn that Butch Antal of Ashland, Missouri died on Friday, November 13, 2015. Mr. Antal and his band the Storyville Stompers often performed in the 1990s via our small touring project, Missouri Performing Traditions. Audience members from communities like Versailles, Smithton, Marshall, and Van Buren will surely remember the band’s Dixieland Jazz music. We extend our sincere sympathies to Mr. Antal’s family and friends. Rest in peace. You can find an obituary for Butch Antal here: http://www.columbiatribune.com/88b138ae-0954-5fd2-9630-abd2e4b68402.html