Let The Picking And Grinning Begin

The world will soon learn what Chattanooga’s have known for decades - our community loves Bluegrass music and we should be the Bluegrass capital of the United States.

The Chattanooga Tourism Co., Tennessee tourism officials and IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Awards) announced Monday the festival is moving from Raleigh, North Carolina and will be held in Chattanooga the next three years, beginning in 2025.

Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp said the event is expected to attract nearly 20,000 and could generate over $30 million.

Tennessee House Finance Committee Chairperson State Rep. Patsy Hazlewood said, “The legislature approved $25 million to attract large-scale events. Tennessee is proud to welcome IBMA’s World of Bluegrass to Chattanooga; this event will be a significant economic driver for our community.”

Let’s look at some of the history of the Bluegrass music in Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia.

Cindy Pinion is no doubt this area’s number one cheerleader for Bluegrass. “I’m so excited IBMA is coming to Chattanooga. This festival will introduce a lot our talent to the world; we will be a part of bluegrass history,” said Ms. Pinion.

The Chattanooga Valley High School graduate grew up in Bluegrass music and has spent a lifetime promoting this family-friendly entertainment. Ms. Pinion is friends with the legends Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, the Country Gentlemen, Sonny and Bobby the Osborne Brothers, Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys, and Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. She’s always been a big fan of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. Her father, Boxcar Pinion, played five instruments and the harmonica, all by ear. Ms. Pinion said her dad knew everyone in the Bluegrass industry and they traveled everywhere playing grand openings, school carnivals, festivals, and shows and never met a stranger. Boxcar Pinion died July 29, 1990, but he’s still remembered with a festival annually at the Mountain Cove Farm in Walker County, Georgia. 2024 marked the 32^nd anniversary to honor Cindy’s late father and his contributions to Bluegrass music.

Fiddling Bob Douglas was an early pioneer of the music when in the late 1920’s his father gave him a 200-year-old fiddle. His Dad told him, “Bob, I want you to make a good fiddle player,” and Douglas did just that. He was one of the first musicians hired for the WDOD radio playhouse in the early 40’s. The 101-year-old Douglas made appearances all across the country before his death Dec. 1, 2022. Those concerts included “Prairie Home Companion” and the “Grand Ole Opry.” Bob Douglas was also a frequent guest at the Mountain Opry on Signal Mountain.

Most everyone in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama will recognize the name “Dismembered Tennesseans.” Four young McCallie students got together in the late 40’s to play their string instruments, just for fun. Frank McDonald, Fletcher Bright, Ansley Mosley and Doc Cullis didn’t need the money as they all had successful careers. As Mr. McDonald said, “We played anywhere people would listen; it was music from the heart through the nose.” The faces have changed but the New Dismembered Tennessee still perform today.

Mr. Bright organized the “3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival” 17 years ago. He said at the time, “Chattanooga has been good to my family and this festival is our gift to the community for the many years we’ve enjoyed tremendous success in the real estate business.” Mr. Bright is known as one of the best fiddle players in the United States winning many awards. In 2023, the festival had a record turnout and organizers are looking for a larger crowd this year, the first weekend in October. The Brothers Comatose, Becky Buller and the New Dismembered Tennesseans are a few of this year’s artists. Bluegrass enthusiast Cindy Pinion once again serves as emcee of the river event.

The late Hamilton County Judge Sam Payne was a big fan of Bluegrass Gospel music. Judge Payne formed a group and made a recording (Jerry, the Judge and the Jury) and for over 10 years the band especially enjoyed entertaining those in retirement centers and nursing homes. Judge Payne said, “Singing the great songs of faith backed up by string instruments brought a lot of smiles and some tears from the audiences."

Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau Chief Bob Elmore came up with the idea in the 70’s of a “Fall Color Cruise” down the Tennessee River, ending at the Shellmound Campground in Marion County. Mr. Elmore, a Bluegrass enthusiast, wanted a weekend event filled with Bluegrass music and a fiddlers contest. The late Roni Stoneman was one of the early guests.

Hamilton County can be proud of the Mountain Opry on Signal Mountain. For over 40 years fans packed the Walden Ridge Civic Center Auditorium on Friday nights to hear their favorite Bluegrass and traditional artists. There were guest appearances by the Grand Ole Opry’s Charlie Louvin and Officer Randy Franks (a great fiddle player) from the TV show, “In the Heat of the Night.”

There was never any admission charge at the Mountain Opry although donations were accepted. Organizer Ken Holloway closed the Opry on March 20, 2020 because of COVID. Mr. Holloway, an accomplished mandolin and guitar player, passed away Dec. 5, 2022, but he’s given credit for keeping the venue open for both musicians and fans.

Mr. Holloway and his wife Thelma missed only a few Friday nights during the more than four decades of performances.

Retired UTC Dean of Admissions Dr. Ray Fox has written a book on his memories of the Mountain Opry. Dr. Fox, one of the early organizers, said the Mountain Opry was proud to help launch careers for artists like Mountain Cove Bluegrass and Hixson banjo player Brian Blaylock.

Musician Cody Harvey said he and some of his friends started playing during lunch breaks at Signal Mountain High School and they formed Mountain Cove Bluegrass. The group became a regular on the Mountain Opry and still performs today. The band has received many awards.

Brian Blaylock has taken his banjo to the Grand Ole Opry and worked with several nationally known Bluegrass pickers. Mr. Blaylock has played for the last 14 years with the Crowe Brothers. He would perform frequently on the Mountain Opry with his family. The young Blaylock plays several instruments, thanks to his parents Clyde and Sue Blaylock.

Dr. Fox noted the Mountain Opry was featured on ABC’s World News Tonight with Peter Jennings and the NBC’s Today show, both bringing national attention to the art of Bluegrass music in Hamilton County.

Dr. Fox said, “The Mountain Opry attracted visitors from all over the world during its 40 plus years of performances; people of all ages came from everywhere just to hear this music. Many UTC students spent their Friday evenings with us, the price was right.”

Dr. Fox said there were dozens more that performed at the Mountain Opry including banjo player Ed Brown from Sequatchie County.

Mr. Brown formed the Cumberland band and has a reputation as one of the most innovative and enduring banjo players in this area.

Mr. Brown helps promote the annual Coke Ovens Bluegrass Festival in Dunlap; the amphitheater stage is named in his honor.

Randall Franks started playing the fiddle during family reunions growing up and he’s described by his contemporaries as a bluegrass legend. Mr. Franks plays five instruments but really enjoys fiddling especially at the Ringgold Depot. The North Georgian has written several books and enjoys sharing his TV experiences.

Other Chattanooga pioneer names in Bluegrass history would be Bob Johnson and Walter Forbes Jr. Mr. Johnson played with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys but received national attention when he recorded “Bluegrass Banjo” with Bill McElhiney and his orchestra for the MGM label.

Although WDEF Radio didn’t program bluegrass music, both Luther Masingill and Jolly Cholly Kraus wore out Mr. Johnson's recording. Luther said, “I had to call Bob and get an extra copy, our audience loved his banjo tunes.”

Mr. Forbes, whose family business was the Signal Thread Company, recorded two LP’s for RCA Victor which again brought national attention to Bluegrass music in Chattanooga.

Curly Fox was one of the greatest fiddle players of our lifetime. The Graysville, Tn. native went to work for WSB radio in Atlanta in the 1930’s and a few years later was playing on the Grand Ole Opry. The late Hamilton County Executive Dalton Roberts called Curly Fox “a true Bluegrass legend.” Mr. Roberts, also a musician, said he enjoyed going to Mr. Fox’s home in North Hamilton County and just jamming. Curly Fox died in 1995 at the age of 85.

Through the years there’s been no shortage of Bluegrass music in Chattanooga with groups like Peanut Faircloth and the Dixieland Drifters, Bull Robinson and Southwind, Dixie Darlings, The Grasscutters, Earle’s Girls, Mountain Top Express, Tom and Mary Morgan, Lookout Mountain Boys, Norman and Nancy Blake, and a host of others.

Forty two years ago the Tennessee Legislature adopted “Rocky Top “as the fifth Tennessee song. As we look forward to this international event in our city next year, it should be noted the popular University of Tennessee fight song was written in 1967 by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant in a Gatlinburg, Tn. motel room and recorded by the Osborne Brothers that same year. The UTC marching band used the song for a while but it’s a pure Bluegrass tune.

Many Chattanoogans travel each summer in August beyond the Scenic City to Pikeville for the Nine Mile Volunteer Fire Department Bluegrass Festival. Some fans say their favorite part is enjoying listening to the picking underneath shade trees.

With all this rich history it’s easy to see why our city should be known as the Bluegrass Capital. When you think Bluegrass music, think Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In this writer’s opinion, the Chattanooga City Council and Hamilton County Commission should honor Cindy Pinion for a lifetime of contributing to and promoting Bluegrass music in our community.

Ms. Pinion will admit it’s not always been an easy sell to promoters but Cindy has definitely been our number one cheerleader for Bluegrass. It’s been her life, and Ms. Pinion’s persistence and excitement is now paying off.