News & Articles

NIBA News & Articles

2017 NIBA Officers & Board of Directors

· President: Kim Kraemer (815-383-9329)

vp@nibaweb.org, kimkraemer@comcast.net

· Vice President: Tom Gerber (815-312-3964)

pres@nibaweb.org, tgerber.card@gmail.com

· Treasurer: Cindy Kline (224-569-6210) drpepper@ameritech.net

· Secretary: Mary Krasko (815-879-2414)

Board Members

Jim Berkland 630-479-6610

Dave Erickson 630-746-1445

Joyce Kraemer 630 852-8088

Rich Krasko 815-879-2414

Ted Seed 815-246-6333

Please make all submissions for this newsletter by the 15th of each month to niba@nibaweb.org. Send all printed copy and photos to: NIBA, PO Box 310, West Dundee, IL 60118. This newsletter is copyrighted by the NIBA.

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Including (but not limited to) member submissions, bio/song of the greats

Text Box: Hello Bluegrass Enthusiasts! NIBA Key Dates to Remember Jun 1 : NIBA Bluegrass Festival – Yorkville Sep 22 : NIBA Picnic – Illini State Park Dec 15 : NIBA Christmas Party – Sugar Grove

Text Box: Other Key Dates 2/28-3/3 Shorty’s Strickly Bluegrass Festival 7/13-14 Frankfort Bluegrass Festival 8/31 Chet Kingery Memorial Festival

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Text Box: A Note from your Pres Greetings to our Bluegrass Community! Winter’s has been a downer this year! A number of jams cancelled, cold, driving was nasty many times and the Polar Vortex. Spring starts on March 20th, let’s hope that the weather cooperates! On the bright side, the jams that were not affected by weather provided a welcome relief. I hope to see you all at an upcoming jam. The NIBA holds several events each year and typically it’s the same few people who volunteer to help. Please let one of the board members know if you can assist in anyway. These events only exist because of volunteers. Joyce and I are starting exploratory panning to hold a Naperville Bluegrass Festival in 2020. Let us know if you would be willing to help out at that event. Shorty’s Strickly Bluegrass Festival is Feb 28-3/3 at Stony Creek Inn in East Peoria. Not only are there terrific Bluegrass and Gospel band performances, this is by far one of the best festivals for pickin’ anywhere! Be sure to pre-order your 2019 NIBA Festival tickets to make sure you get a seat before we are sold out We are already getting pre-order sales! See Page 2 for details on Pre-ordering tickets. Kim Kraemer President, Northern Illinois Bluegrass Association

Text Box: Mac Wiseman passes The great Mac Wiseman, known widely as The Voice with a Heart, died this morning in an Antioch, TN rehab facility. He was 93 years of age, and had been experiencing kidney failure these past few weeks. One could argue that there was no more distinctive singing voice in the history of bluegrass or country music than Mac’s. Never was it unclear who it was when he was singing, a quality he retained into his old age. Though his singing days were behind him, that signature tone was still evident in his speaking voice right up to the end. Wiseman’s life in music began with the appearance of bluegrass, working with Molly O’Day before joining Flatt & Scruggs after they had left Bill Monroe. Before long, Mac also did a stint with Monroe, before launching his own career as a headliner. He found great success in his native Virginia on the Old Dominion Barn Dance in Richmond, which he worked for many years. He recorded dozens of albums during his career, and often enjoyed sharing that he had cut more than 200 songs in his day. Early hits included Jimmy Brown The Newsboy and ‘Tis Sweet To Be Remembered in the late 1950s. A number of memorable compilation projects were made in the ’60s and ’70s with Lester Flatt and The Osborne Brothers. Later in the ’80s Mac toured and recorded with Chubby Wise, and those live shows were like a lesson in bluegrass history. Mac was famous for arriving in town with no supporting musicians, and assembling a band from whomever was jamming or picking in the vicinity. Everyone knew his music, so he would lead a band full of strangers to the stage with confidence anywhere he went. He was instrumental in the founding of both the Country Music Association and the International Bluegrass Music Association, and has received Hall of Fame status from both organizations. Perhaps the highest honor he can claim is that, despite nearly 70 years in the music business, one never hears a word spoken against Mac Wiseman. He was widely and truly loved by his fans, his fellow entertainers, and people in the music industry alike. Just prior to his passing, he had accepted an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Glenville State College in West Virginia. R.I.P., Mac Wiseman.

The Special Consensus band members and their significant others at the Grammy Red Carpet!

Congratulations to The Special Consensus for being nominated for a Grammy!

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There is a new jam group started by our very own Cheryl Moredich.

The Handsome Ladies Chicago jam is open to all levels of players! Thank you to Down Home Guitars for providing a jamming space for the ladies this month! Keep your eyes peeled for our mixer jam in March.

Though this jam is specifically for the Ladies, Men will be invited from time to time.

Check out/Like the Facebook page below for details:

NIBA Festival Information

Be sure to put the Jun 1^st 2019 NIBA sponsored Bluegrass Festival on your calendars! The Special Consensus, Truman’s Ridge and Mackville will be featured as well as other great member bands! Spread the word to friends and family! Due to increased costs to rent Lyon Farm as well as band fees will have a new price structure. Ticket prices are $20 at the door or $18 to pre-order.

To pre-order tickets send a check made out to NIBA and include a stamped self-addressed envelope to: Kim Kraemer, 1612 Champlain St. Ottawa, Il 61350 or if no envelope is enclosed then your ticket info will be held will-call at the door.