Join Us. 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting

Blogs

Classically Speaking

Eclectopia Blog

Want to comment on a blog?

Log In
User Name:
Password:
Remember me next time.

Forgot your Password?

SPONSOR

West Virgina 150. Celebrating our 150th Birthday

Mountain Blog

News and Notes

NewSong Contest This Saturday

Permanent link

By Mountain Stage

· October 9, 2009

This Saturday in Charleston, WV the Culture Center Theater plays host to the 8th Annual Mountain Stage NewSong contest for performing songwriters. WV Public Radio's Mona Seghatoleslami has an interview with NewSong director Gar Ragland and you can hear her story HERE.

Some of this year's finalists have been featured this week in the Charleston Gazette and The Charleston Daily Mail. Tickets for the contest can be found HERE and the show starts at 7:30 pm. One of the co-winners will perform on Mountain Stage Sunday night in Athens, OH. There are still tickets available HERE.

Last Edited by Mountain Stage at 10/9/2009 12:27 PM Comments (0)

Steve Ferguson, NRBQ guitarist dies.

(Recollections) Permanent link

By Mountain Stage

· October 8, 2009

Revered guitarist, singer and songwriter Steve Ferguson (b. Nov. 21, 1948), a founding member of famed R&B rockers NRBQ, passed away Wednesday after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 60.

Ferguson appeared on Mountain Stage in 1991 along with his band Brother Stephen & The Humanitarians (see below) and performed with late pianist and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-er Johnnie Johnson, who Ferguson backed on his landmark release "Johnnie B. Bad." He returned to Mountain Stage in 1993 with Mark Horn.

You can still contribute to the Steve Ferguson Fund here to help pay for the medical bills incurred while undergoing treatment for cancer.

"He certainly changed my perspective and approach to music," says Mountain Stage Band guitarist Michael Lipton, whose group The Carpenter Ants worked with Ferguson for many years and often invited him into the studio and on stage. "He was the proverbial triple-threat; not just a guitarist but an amazing singer and songwriter too," Lipton said.

A feature in a Louisville, KY newspaper by Keith S. Clements tells his story here and you can get a glimpse of his timeless sound on his MySpace page. "Steve Ferguson - Who is He?" it says beside his profile picture. The man never got the recognition or notoriety he deserved. Hopefully a lot more people will be turned on to his music now.