Utah Phillips, RIP

 

Utah Phillips

 Bruce “Utah” Phillips

On Sat, 24 May 2008 18:39:32 -0400, Ken Irwin wrote:

>This is being forwarded from the Folk Alliance list
>
>Dear All,
>
>I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I got the news
>from our mutual friend Haywire Brack, that Bruce ‘U. Utah’
>Phillips passed away last night in his sleep, ending a roughly
>ten year bout with congestive heart failure.  Other than
>those bare facts, not much is known.

Well, we know he was an individual, willing to stand up for causes he
felt were just and to defend others who were attacked. We know he
was a fine performer and song writer, with a real talent for the
turning of a phrase and the lilt of a melody. We know he placed people
and ideals first, before the almighty dollar. We know he offered his
best and that he complained little about the debillitating illness
he suffered for the past ten years.

He did what he could. He did it elegantly, with love and with grace.

When I used to call him & he wasn’t home, his phone machine
offered the following message: “Woof! woof! woof-woof-woof!, woof!” <tone….>

May you rest in peace Bruce, and may I see you on the next north-bound freight.

-Pete
http://www.BlueGrassWest.com

About Peter Feldmann

Peter Feldmann has long been a musical mainstay in Santa Barbara and Southern California. Besides actively performing bluegrass and old time music with a variety of groups, Peter is also known as a bluegrass historian, collector, music consultant, teacher, and producer, both of live concerts and radio/tv programs throughout the area. His music has been heard in clubs, concerts, saloons, universities, pre-schools, at weddings, wakes, parties, barn-raisings, calf-ropings, rodeos, auctions, fund raisers, wine tastings and chili cook offs. Peter founded Santa Barbara's Old Time Fiddler's Convention (1972), UCSB's Old Time Music Front (1964), and The Bluebird Cafe (1971). Through these and other outlets, he was the first to bring many prominent folk, blues, and bluegrass artists, including Bill Monroe, Mance Lipscomb, The Stanley Brothers, The New Lost City Ramblers, Fred McDowell, Furry Lewis, Rose Maddox, the Balfa Brothers, and many others to the Santa Barbara area. Peter also helped others access the music by teaching privately, and in group classes for Santa Barbara Continuing Education, UCSB Extension, and McCabes Guitars. He was the first on the West Coast to produce and market instruction Lps - three on How To Play Country Fiddle, and one each on Clawhammer Banjo, and Maybelle Carter Style Guitar. He still presents lectures on country music history at UCSB, Santa Barbara area libraries, and for various interest groups, festival workshops, etc. In 2006, he presented his monograph titled "The Big bang Of Bluegrass Music" (describing the origins of bluegrass 1938 - 1946) to the worlds first International Music Symposium at the University of Kentucky at Bowling Green. He has also been very active in radio, television, and film work, producing weekly shows on country and bluegrass music over a 21 year period on various commercial and public stations. Peter currently maintains three music-related websites, a music blog, and an entertainment service company, "BlueGrass West!", based in the Santa Ynez Valley in Southern California. Peter performs tunes and songs from the heart of America's musical treasure chest. His shows can include fiddle, guitar, banjo, and mandolin. Well-known as a historian and teacher, Peter is first and foremost an entertainer, sharing his respect, energy and love for the music with his fellow musicians, friends, and audiences.
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