We’ve had some nice comments re. the previous page on Southern California bluegrass groups, and received further information on other groups active in the region in the 1960s. (Keep those memories and photos coming!)
John Egenes sends a photo of what we called an EP (extended play) record release (331/3rd RPM, 7 inch disc) by the Dry City Scat Band – “The band that made bluegrass obsolete”, which included six short numbers by Steve Cahill (guitar), “Dick” Greene (fiddle, mandolin), David Lindley (banjo, fiddle), and Pete Madlem (Dobro, banjo).
Dry City Scat Band – EP release
Dry City Scat Band – EP reverse
The album art is credited to Lindley. The black square in front may have held a photo, but knowing David, it might just have been a black square! . . . 🙂
John mentions a connection with Chris Darrow as well, and just by coincidence, I received a nice email from Chris with some photos of his duo with Bob Warford. Chris writes: “Here’s picture of Warford and I from 1965. He and I went to high school together and he was in a number of bands with me including my first band, the Reorganized Dry City Players shown here. We started in the 1962-1963 period. And also was in a band called the Mad Mt. Ramblers with me, Lindley and Steve Cahill.”
Chris Darrow & Bob Warford
![MMR ad - Key June 20-27 1963 m copy[2]](https://i0.wp.com/bluegrasswest.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/MMR-ad-Key-June-20-27-1963-m-copy2-192x300.jpg?resize=192%2C300)
Mad Mountain Ramblers – clip
![Mad Mt. Ramblers [2]](https://i0.wp.com/bluegrasswest.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Mad-Mt.-Ramblers-2-276x300.jpg?resize=276%2C300)
Mad Mountain Ramblers – 1962/63
If I remember correctly, Darrow and Lindley later formed the rock group Kaleidoscope, and I remember performing with them at a music festival in the San Bernardino / Claremont area with my band The Scragg Family, around 1966 or 67.
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.
