Greentree Festival

Vesta Johnson with members of the Missouri Fiddlers and Country Music Association

 

Kirkwood, Missouri 9-16-2006

 

 

Ragtime Annie - Sugar in the Gourd -  Hoghouse Rag

 

 

Left to Right:  Mike Vanhover-Mandolin - Steve Hall-Guitar - Vesta Johnson-Fiddle   Dan Horner-Banjo Steve Russel-Guitar - Marlene Wisely-doghouse bass - Tim Murray-Guitar

 

 

 

I can't say that I have been more enthusiastic about anything to do with music than I was when I got the opportunity to tape the video up above. This clip was filmed at the Missouri Fiddler's tent at the annual Greentree Festival in Kirkwood, Missouri yesterday - September 16th. Sorry for the quality, but dusk was setting in and the lighting in the tent wasn't very good for filming. Here is the lineup of the pickers on stage during this video.

Vesta Johnson and Dan Horner  have strong ties to John from the early days of John's music career. John was mostly playing local St.Louis dance halls at this time. He as well as many other musicians such as Gene Goforth & Don Brown use to jam at Vesta's house, back in the early 60's. Dan went to high school with John and John taught him his first licks on the banjo.  One other comment I must make here, is that in talking with Vesta, she told me she is 84 years old and that her mother was playing the fiddle at 104.  You're going to find this nothing short of remarkable as you watch her play. Vesta's grandson Steve, is the president of the Missouri Fiddlers and Country Music Association. You will see clips of him playing both the mandolin and fiddle later as I find time to process the video I shot at the Missouri Fiddlers tent.

To download clip just right click on this link and save to a local folder. You can also just left click the link if you would like to view it in your own player.