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Bluegrass, BBQ and Nostalgia at United Methodist Service
Bluegrass, BBQ and Nostalgia at United Methodist Service
By John E. Ross
he Sunday service on June 30th at Middleburg United Methodist Church will be a little different than what most folks around here are used to. Foot tappin’ bluegrass music will bookend the service. Music begins at 11 a.m., the service at 11:30, followed by more bluegrass and then barbeque for all at 12:30.
Performing will be renowned bluegrass and country musicians, Wally Hughes and Lisa Kay Howard of Airmont. They will be joined by Shannon Bielski and Robbie Benzing for this musical service at the historic church on Washington Street.
In addition to using his fiddle and dobro, Hughes will play modern and traditional tunes on the centuryold violin belonging to parishioner Leah Ferguson’ s father, Luther Dawson of Baltimore. To her, he was Daddy Lu. Dawson was in high demand for social events like the reception given by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Demme for their son on his 21st birthday.
As covered by the Feb. 18, 1912 Baltimore Sun, the Demme’s soiree was “held at their residence . The rooms were tastefully decorated with ferns and cut flowers, entwined among colored electric lights, the dining room being transformed into a grape arbor, showing clusters of grapes with an electric light in each.
The evening was spent very enjoyably. Selections on the piano were played by Miss Holmes and Mr. Defalco and on the violin by Mr. Dawson and Mr. Lind Supper was served at 12 o’clock.”
Daddy Lu was vice president of a wholesale company and not a professional musician. Leah said the last time she heard him play the violin, she was 9 or 10 years old. His favorite song was Anniversary Waltz. He married Carolyn Davis on Christmas day, 1912. Every Christmas, Leah recalled, he would sing the song to her as he played it on the violin.
Selections performed at Bluegrass and BBQ by Wally and Lisa Kay’s quartet will include Ashokan Farewell as well as traditional hymns.
Details: https://middleburgvaumc.org/.
