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Memories of folk music's departed will burn bright

By JAN GLIDEWELL
Published March 5, 2007

If you hang around an institution long enough, even if you aren't an integral part of it, and even if it doesn't have marble halls and gilded ceilings, you get a sense of the meaning of the word.

People come and go, ideas are born and discarded, but eventually institutions - like the Will McLean Music Festival, which had its impromptu beginnings in a funeral home parking lot when McLean died in 1990 - take on a life of their own that supersedes the individuals who have come and gone.

So, in a year when some of Florida folk music's most beloved have left us, we can begin to see that the institution of the festival, indeed, survives. We also see that those who know the phenomenon and know the people can understand why the word "festival" still applies to what will happen at the Sertoma Youth Ranch on County Road 41 north of Dade City.

This year festivalgoers will mourn the death of Steve Blackwell of Punta Gorda, who has performed on stage with three generations of his family at the same time; Bill Hewitt, who, along with his wife, Jean, was a longtime pillar of the Friends of Florida Folk organization; Dash Moore, an old-time St. Augustine street musician; widely known area guitarist Bill Wasel and musician Eric Von Schmidt of Siesta Key.

Blackwell is a good representative of what I am talking about. He was a teacher and a wrestling coach, a devoted husband and father, a superb songwriter and performer.

Just weeks after Hurricane Charley destroyed his home on Aug. 13, 2004, he was back on stage performing.

Last year, knowing he might well be in the final stages of his battle with melanoma, Blackwell told friends, "All I know how to do right now is to be the best me I can," and he did, up until his death in September.

Don't get me wrong. It won't be all tears and minor chords for the festival beginning Friday. There will be three days of music on three stages, food and fun and hours of nighttime music around a score or so campfires.

Among new and semi-new faces, look for Cheyenne River; Surf Road Project (Eric and Garrett Alvare); Andy Leach and the remaining members of Steve Blackwell and Friends; and others.

Also new will be Pair-O-Docs, who are Paul Linser and Ed Lowe of St. Augustine.

Among longtime favorites (referred to by festival organizer Margaret Longhill as "the usual suspects") will be Amy Carol Webb, Ally Smith, Dennis Devine, Val C. Wisecracker, Rod McDonald, Frank Thomas, Mindy Simmons, Mary Ann DiNella, Boomslang, Bobby Hicks and Mark Smith.

And, returning this year after a few years' absence will be former Seminole tribal Chairman James Billie, a singer and songwriter well-known in Florida folk circles.

A celebration of Blackwell's life will take place at 8:15 p.m. Saturday on the festival's main stage, and I hope someone will remember to perform my favorite Blackwell song, The Line.

In it, Blackwell wonders whether he could pick his ancestors out of a line of the ghosts who have preceded him, and takes note that he, himself, will one day be part of the line.

More precious than gold, the song ends, jewels or fine wine, are the ones from the past all standing in a line.

I remember the first time I heard him sing that line, and I want to remember it one more time among friends.

See you there.

[Last modified March 4, 2007, 20:48:06]