Southeastern Bluegrass Association

One of the most treasured, and yet perhaps underappreciated, assets of the Pee Dee Region of South Carolina is its rich heritage and expertise in the musical genre of bluegrass. After many years of wonderfully talented local musicians applying their love of stringed instruments to the sound of bluegrass in many local venues, the many music lovers and pickers got together in 1990 to form The Southeastern Bluegrass Association of South Carolina (SEBGA). Before attempting to review the varied history of this unique body of music, allow me to define certain terms regarding bluegrass. Keep in mind, during our review, that it would be virtually impossible to call the names of so many, local and beyond, great contributors to this effort toward the organization and promotion of this wonderful toe-tapping type of music in the Pee Dee...alas, music that is cherished not only locally but nationally and internationally.

Bluegrass Music: A musical genre; which developed in the late 1930s in the Appalachians region of the United States; was performed with acoustic (un-amplified) stringed instruments (guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, bass); blended with elements of old English / Scottish / Irish music, the blues, jazz, gospel, and country; featuring off-beat notes, improvised performances, and rapid tempos.

Bluegrass: A bluish-green grass that was introduced into North America from northern Europe; grown for fodder for animal feed; found mostly in Kentucky and Virginia. The origin and growth of a musical genre called bluegrass originated in this area of Appalachia in America in the mid-to-late 1940s, largely through the efforts of Kentucky native, Bill Monroe and the [Kentucky] Blue Grass Boys. Their classic and signature song is Blue Moon of Kentucky...Keep on Shining.

Bill Monroe, born in 1911 in Kentucky, was undeniably the father of bluegrass music and formed the Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys, in the 1940s. He took old-time string music, played on acoustic instruments, blended it with many other genres, and developed a truly unique style of music – fast, off-beat, highpitched, improvisational, and all on acoustic stringed instruments. In the 1980s in the Pee Dee, the interest in bluegrass music was growing steadily. Small groups of friends (pickers and non-pickers) got together and played in homes, parks, and churches, and always seemed to have covereddish food and plenty of pickin'. By 1991, Tom Loudin (banjo player) hosted a group at his home called The Carolina Bluegrass Band on a newly-constructed outdoor stage. These early crusaders were Roffie Greggs, Andy Poston (dobro), Bobby Welch (banjo), Rocky Springs (dobro), Bill Smith, Ulis Welch, Keith Beckman, and Jimmy Stone (guitar). Word got around to other small groups and McRoy Gardner (guitar),

Southeastern Bluegrass Association's Monthly Bluegrass Music Concert & Jam Session 1st Saturday at the Grand Old Post Office, 201 Pearl St., Darlington www.sebga.org • www.thegrandoldpostoffice.com

Peanut Springs (mandolin), and Bill Wheeler from Lane, South Carolina joined in. A seven-man board of directors was appointed, including Jimmy Stone, Andy Poston, and Bobby Welch. First President was Andy Poston. Events were planned at public venues in Effingham, Marion, Darlington, and Jimmy's Fish Market in Johnsonville. Admission to the public was free, Rocky Springs donated sound equipment, and John Earl Lee (owner of Riverside Electric Motor Company in Olanta) a long-time bluegrass fan joined the group. A small hiccup in the group caused a division, leaving Andy Poston and Jimmy Stone with the Pee Dee Group. Andy was still president. Events were kept in Effingham, Marion, and Johnsonville. A regional name, The Southeastern Bluegrass Association of South Carolina was selected for the newly re-formed group. John Earl Lee was instrumental in adopting the Lynches River State Park as the regular venue for the SEGBA of SC. Sadly, in 1993, while doing what he loved to do, Andy Poston, jamming with his bluegrass friends suffered a heart attack and died. Bobby Welch was interim president, and John Earl Lee became the second elected president. Rob Jordan (CPA from Darlington and guitar player) facilitated the non-profit status, incorporation, and by-laws adoption of the new group. Thereby, the date of incorporation was July 8, 1992. In 1999, Tom Loudin became the third elected president and planned a tenth-anniversary event. Membership in SEBGA was growing at Lynches River and in April 2001, Charlie Calder became the SEBGA's fourth elected president. SEBGA was a success at Lynches River due to the hard work of many individuals. For approximately twenty-three years, SEBGA concerts were held at Lynches River Park. An impressive list of entertainers numbered well into several hundred performed on the stage at Lynches River during those years. Many recordings were made and preserved, in digital format. Sadly, some of these great musicians have passed on, but not without entertaining thousands of bluegrass fans with their unselfish, country-style musical charm, wit, and reverence. The historical legacy of their contribution to the Pee Dee is irreplaceable. In 2015, at the urging of one of SEBGA's board members, the late, charismatic, and incomparable Winfred Flowers, SEBGA relocated to the newly built and beautifully accommodating Darlington Music Hall on Harry Byrd Highway and continued to present concerts through the fall of 2019 when the organization was forced to relocate due to a change in ownership of the Music Hall facility. With the exception of interruptions caused by Covid-19, SEBGA has continued to present its monthly concerts, securing bands from Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. Thanks to increased marketing efforts funded by 2021-2022 accommodations tax funds received from Darlington County, SEBGA was able to significantly increase attendance at its monthly concerts. In March 2021, SEBGA relocated its concerts to the Grand Old Post Office (GOPO) in Darlington. SEBGA board and members are excited to be able to be a part of this facility and to participate in what is believed will be a significant first step in the revitalization of the City of Darlington and the creation of a significant visitor and tourist attraction. The Board believes that, with an increase in accommodations tax funds, it will be able to coordinate its marketing with GOPO and create significant recurring visitor activity events in Darlington County.