Mac Wiseman: An Appreciation

Mac Wiseman at Camp Springs, NC in 1971

There have been many inspiring testimonials written about Mac Wiseman this past week. I highly recommend the one in The Tennessean.

Those of us who were at Carlton Haney’s Labor Day festival in 1971 remember Mac fondly. Mac's presence was seen and heard throughout Bluegrass Country Soul. He sang “Four Walls Around Me” and played his guitar in the “Fiddle Ensemble” but he was onstage for much more than that. Listening to the tapes recorded by Ken Alexander, the festival sound engineer, you can hear Mac performing alongside Ralph Stanley, later with Jimmy Martin, and then with The Osborne Brothers, as well as Blackwell and Collins. Mac was everywhere. And each time he came onto the stage, you can hear him laughing, as if he had just shared a funny story with those waiting backstage. His laughter was infectious, and set the tone for his music, which was filled with joy and enthusiasm, even if it was a sad song. 

 

His music had no set boundaries. While I’ve heard him described as the last of the Blue Grass Boys, he was not solely a bluegrass singer. He worked with Flatt and Scruggs and Bill Monroe, but he was equally at home singing country and pop hits. I was most surprised when I heard Mac sing “Loveletters in the Sand,” a song I had always identified with Pat Boone. Another of his favorites was “Me and Bobby McGee,” the Kris Kristofferson hit.

 

One of Mac’s earliest hit songs was “The Ballad of Davy Crocket.” For those of us who are “of a certain age,” that song brings with it many memories. Did you know that Mac refused to wear a coonskin cap? Mac was planning to produce yet another album before he died. To paraphrase the New York Times obituary, Mac Wiseman was a bluegrass star and much more. To really understand the vast history of music that Mac brought forth during his 93 years, here's a link to Wikipedia.

Kenny Kosek and Mac Wiseman in the Fiddle Ensemble scene.

Thank you for your continuing support of Bluegrass Country Soul! As ever, please send us any comments and questions you may have.

Best always,

Albert Ihde              Ellen Pasternack

Producer/Director   Executive Director

FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL SUBSCRIBERS

We have received some questions from our overseas readers about the region codes for the Bluegrass Country Soul Golden Anniversary, Legacy Edition box-set. When Time/Life Music released Bluegrass Country Soul on DVD in 2006, it was in NTSC and region 1, which meant many folks around the world could not play it. This time around, we are controlling the release. We want to make sure that everyone will have access to the film, so the Blu-ray and standard DVD will be “region free.” The first batch of DVDs will be in NTSC, but we will also be making DVDs for PAL systems, and can take your order now. Overseas purchasers, please contact us with the system you need. And remember, no matter where you live, please get your order in before April 30 to make sure that your name (or the name of someone you wish to honor) will be listed in the credits of the restored film!

DON'T FORGET TO ORDER YOUR BOX-SET!

Golden Anniversary, Legacy Edition Box-Set Contents (Initial Design Concept)

In our previous newsletter, we announced the special, advance pre-sale of the Golden Anniversary, Legacy Edition box-set of Bluegrass Country Soul. What's in it and why should you order now?

Each clamshell box will contain:

* A restored version of Bluegrass Country Soul in Blu-Ray and standard DVD

* An updated commentary track by noted bluegrass historian Fred Bartenstein

* Two CDs of additional music from the festival

* A new documentary, The Making of the First Bluegrass Movie

* A 168-page coffee table book with photos and stories about Carlton Haney, the bands that played at the festival, and the filmmakers

* A copy of the original film poster

* Selected pages of the Muleskinner News from Spring and Summer 1971, with the original list of performers

* A recipe card for Carlton Haney's famous Brunswick stew, sold by the bucketful at the festival

P.S. Order by April 30 and we'll put your name in the movie!

TALKING WITH LOU REID ABOUT

THE BLUEGRASS BUDDIES

The Bluegrass Buddies in 1971 (from left to right) :

Myron Nunn, Jeff Hooker, Jimmy Haley and Louis Reid Pyrtle

The Bluegrass Country Soul Golden Anniversary, Legacy Edition box-set celebrates Carlton Haney's 1971 festival with additional music and stories that we just couldn't fit into the confines of a feature-length film. We've been having so much fun finding and connecting with everyone who performed at that incredible festival.

This month we feature Lou Reid (known as Louis Reid Pyrtle when he was with the Bluegrass Buddies), a founding member and the original bass player. Lou kindly sent us the photo above for use in our book. What has he been up to since 1971? Lou says: "I started using the name Lou Reid when people couldn't pronounce my last name correctly and was used when I helped form the original bluegrass/gospel quartet Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver on April 1,1979. I have been a full time member of the bluegrass group the Seldom Scene from the Washington, DC area since 1986 to 1992. Left for 5 years and returned in 1997 and I'm still here for a total of almost 28 years."

P.S. Special thanks to G.T. Keplinger and Peter Deachman for their assistance on this story.

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