Loose Leaf Notes

~The following first appeared in The Floyd Press newspaper on March 8, 2012.

Irish songs in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, sea shanties and storytelling were all part of Saturday night’s Floyd Radio Show, a variety show in the style of the Grand ole Opry and Prairie Home Companion performed monthly at the Floyd Country Store.   “And now a word from our sponsor” and a radio drama about a pirate sailing on the New River with a pet bird named Hokie were all done in good fun during the fast-paced radio hour.

Co-host and fiddler Anna Roberts-Gevalt warmed up the full-house with jokes from the audience.   Liam Kelly, a member of the local band Jugbusters, performed songs, stories and other shenanigans as “Old Man Kelly.”

Renowned guitar player and instrument luthier, Wayne Henderson accompanied Roberts-Gevalt, who recited Shakespeare and nursery rhymes to Henderson’s guitar picks that represented commas, periods, question marks and exclamation points.   “I don’t think I’ve ever done that before.  Probably nobody has,” he commented after the number.

For those listening to the show’s live stream on the Country Store webpage, the hosts described Jimmy Costa’s red hat in between his songs and stories.  “He looks like Sherlock Holmes,” said co-host and ballad singer Elizabeth La-Prelle.  Costa, a banjo player and storyteller from West Virginia sang a song titled “I tickled Nancy,” which he concluded with rousing laughter.

There was a second hour of musical performances following the Radio Show hour. While tuning her guitar for a duo with Henderson, Helen White spoke of the Wayne Henderson Festival, held on the 3^rd Saturday of June at the Grayson Highlands State Park. The annual event has a great turnout and the festival’s guitar pickin’ contest attracts some of the finest guitar players and national champs, White said.  “It’s a fast track to getting a Henderson guitar,” she joked.

Legendary for his handcrafted guitars and a recipient of a National Heritage Award, Henderson has been sought after by famous musicians, such Eric Clapton and Brad Paisley, both of whom have waited for and received Henderson instruments.  Tina Liza Jones, a Floyd collector and performer of Appalachian tunes, waited two decades for her prized Henderson guitar.

Describing the process of crafting an instrument, Henderson told the crowd, “I just whittle off the part that doesn’t look like a fiddle.”  He invited everyone to stop by and visit his guitar shop, just off the Crooked Road in Grayson County.

The next Radio Shows are the first Saturdays in April and May.  Tickets are $5.   The show will take a break for the summer and return in the fall, said Country Store owner, Woody Crenshaw.    ~ Colleen Redman

Post Notes: Watch a video clip that showcases Wayne Henderson’s pickin’ HERE and one of the radio show ensemble performing a skit HERE.