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Intro Beggin Vassille Cherokee Swing 39 Foggy Mountain Breakdown Lonesome Nash

Here is the scoop on this show: Vassar Clements Holiday Band DVD Release Party On Saturday, October 14, join the musical wizardry of Joe Craven, Bobby Lee Rodgers, Ted Pecchio, Mark Van Allen, Alan Dalton and David Black as they honor legendary fiddle player and song writer, Vassar Clements, whose last recording in a long and colorful life, was made in Athens in December, 2004. The performance at the Seney-Stovall Chapel was with the group which Clements, and the show's producer, called 'The Holiday Band.' Bobby Lee Rodgers studied jazz at UGA and went on to Berklee School of Music as a teacher. His song writing skills and stage presence are an essential part of his band, 'The Codetalkers.' Fellow band member, Ted Pecchio, is a former Athens native, who played in a band during high school alongside guitarist and engineer, Mark Maxwell. Pecchio later joined the Athens band, 'Body Electric,' a popular 80's rock band, featuring band leader, Gene Cook. Former Atlanta native, Joe Craven, is a man of many hats, pots, fiddles and talents. Craven teaches rhythm workshops, is a former music museum curator, and was multi-instrumentalist for nearly seventeen years with the David Grisman Quintet. Craven is also featured in the documentary, 'Grateful Dawg,' which chronicles the musical collaboration of Grisman and Jerry Garcia. Craven was also in an unnamed group in high school, with REM guitarist, Peter Buck. Athens' own David Blackmon, often referred to as "the fiddle player for Widespread Panic," has much more under his hat. Presently he is a member of the group, Blueground Undergrass and often performs with his brother, Buddy Blackmon as 'The Blackmon Brothers.' David worked for several years with country star Jerry Reed and many years with The Normaltown Flyers. Holiday Band member Alan Dalton, hails from Jacksonville, Florida and was introduced to Earl Scruggs by Clements. Dalton is a banjo player and author of the new banjo tablature songbook, 'Old And In The Way,' a group featuring Jerry Garcia, Peter Rowan, Vassar Clements and David Grisman. "I really look forward to being in Athens for the dvd release party," says Dalton. "It was a great time by all and a wonderful way to carry on Vassar's love of jamming." Last but not least is band member, Mark Van Allen, known for his pedal steel performances with Herring/Rodgers/Sipe, Grammy award winning band, Sugarland, the musical play of 'Always Patsy Cline,' and a who's who list of performances with such artists as; Caroline Aiken, Keshia Garland and Warren Haynes of 'Government Mule.' Special guest, David Gans, has been the host of nationally syndicated radio show for over a decade, 'The Grateful Dead Hour,' is touted by many as 'the' expert on the music of 'The Dead.' Gans is a former music journalist who schedule as also put him on the stage with Athens' band, 'Cosmic Charlie,' New Riders of the Purple Sage and Jorma Kaukonen, founding member of 'Hot Tuna.' Opening the night is the 'Ralph Roddenbery Acoustic Funk Trio,' featuring bass player Tommy Jones, a former member of 'Dan K. Theory,' and guitarist, Ted Norton who frequented Athens in the 80's and 90's with his band, 'The Grapes.' The Ralph Roddenbery Band performed last year at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and a short segment of that performance was highlighted in the opening introductions for REM and Gregg Allman in Atlanta at the 2006 Georgia MHOF Induction ceremony last month in Atlanta. Special guest for a short pre-show set is pianist, 'Buzz' Clifford who is a former member of the hit-group of the 70's, 'Spiral Starecase' and worked for a time with James Brown. "Buzz is the very idea of a jazz pianist. He has so much of the old 'beat' type vernacular, and he's just a joy to watch and listen to," explains Farley Daniel, producer of the original show, and the dvd release party. "The kind of professionalism, friendship and sense of humor all these guys posses, is the very reason Vassar loved them like he did. He hand picked The Holiday Band..with a little help, but he approved them himself. Ralph has a news song about Vassar that's been a great hit for those who have heard it so far." She also added, "Part of the proceeds from this show will go to Nuci's Space and public school music programming to help support kids who cannot afford instruments, band trips and the like. I have helped edit the dvd and seen it at least eight times. I have never gotten tired of it. Vassar plays his best. Enough said."

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