LITTLE YORK — Rock ’n’ roll had Alan Fred. Jazz had Willis Conover at the Voice of America. Country had the Solemn Old Judge — George D. Hay, founder of the Grand Ole Opry. And Central New York’s bluegrass musicians have Bill Knowlton, a resident of Meyers Road in Liverpool since spring of 1978.
Musicians compose, perform and record the tunes, but more often than not, non-musicians such as concert promoters, managers and broadcasters such as Knowlton are the ones who assure that the music finds its audience. Knowlton’s been doing just that since 1973, on WCNY-FM.
Every summer since then, on the first Sunday in August, Knowlton has been ringing his bells and introducing the acts at his annual Bluegrass Ramble Picnic. Now considered the oldest bluegrass festival in New York and New England, the picnic resumes its run on Sunday, Aug. 1, at Dwyer Memorial Park at Little York Lake, near Preble.
The picnic started up in Cato at Saplin’s Farm with the stage constructed next to a cornfield, but for the past several years the festival has been presented at Little York Lake in Cortland County.
Knowlton, whose “Bluegrass Ramble” radio program can be heard every Sunday from 9 p.m. to midnight over WCNY-FM 91.3, is a sight to behold when he steps out from behind the studio microphone to host live bluegrass events.
“My signature is my straw hat with all the bluegrass buttons and the plaid pants,” he said, “which I have had custom-designed for each festival and they’re getting wilder and wilder.”
When properly inspired, as by a particularly hot mandolin solo, Knowlton shakes a handful of cowbells.
“And we also have a Pulaski farm bell which we ring as a ritual at the start of the Bluegrass Ramble Picnic every year,” he said. “The Grand Ole Opry had a farm bell they’d ring once in a while, and I just love the sound. To farm people, that bell is akin to the sound of an old train whistle.”
The 48th annual Bluegrass Ramble Picnic resumes its run on Sunday, Aug. 1, at Dwyer Memorial Park. The picnic runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The free event — in which all 17 bluegrass and old-time country acts donate their musical services — will be staged under a tent on loan from the Cortland Repertory Theatre.
To meet expenses, a guitar donated by Ithaca Guitar Works will be raffled off. As usual, food will be offered for sale. And, as usual, plenty of parking lot picking and other jam sessions will take place all day long. If you’re a musician, bring your instrument and tune up.
It’s the music of the hills and hollows. It’s the music of our American history. It’s “The Wabash Cannonball” and “Rocky Top” and “Good Old Mountain Dew.” It’s murder ballads and moonshine anthems. It’s love songs and truck-drivin’ songs and old folks at home. It’s bluegrass, and it’s thriving right here, echoing among the drumlins. It’s music for the whole family, from Granny Mae to Baby Boo.
The CNY bluegrass scene bubbles far under the surface of the area’s commercial radio, concert and nightclub scenes. You’re more likely to hear it played on back porches than at local nightclubs.
Despite its commercial limitations, however, bluegrass thrives in Upstate New York, which has spawned several impressive “New Grass” artists such as banjoists Tony Trischka and Pete Wernick. Old-time country and bluegrass combos such as Salmon River Boys from Pulaski and the Delaney Brothers from Homer have inspired younger pickers across the area.
Traditional bluegrass bands emulate the music of the late Kentucky-bred mandolinist Bill Monroe, who coined the term by naming his band the Blue Grass Boys back in 1945. Bluegrass is said to be country music’s equivalent of jazz, in that arrangements emphasize instrumental improvisation.
With a “high lonesome” sound developed out of the Scots-Irish fiddle tradition in the Appalachians, bluegrass is characterized by its often frenetic rhythm patterns over which each instrument solos and its high tenor vocals, sometimes supported by three-part harmony. Its dominant lead instruments are banjo, fiddle and mandolin and occasionally a Dobro resonating guitar; rhythm instruments are usually an acoustic guitar and a bass — washtub, upright or electric.
Both the Trad Grass and New Grass acts hereabouts have benefited from the mega-airplay Knowlton offers them on his Sunday-night “Ramble.” Radio exposure like that is priceless, and rare for local musicians no matter what style of music they play.
Bill Knowlton has hosted the “Bluegrass Ramble” radio show on Sunday nights since 1973. It’s heard from 9 p.m. to midnight on Sunday nights over WCNY-FM (91.3) Syracuse, WUNY (89.5) Utica, WJNY (90.9) Watertown NY and at wcny.org/radio.
Picnic-goers should use Preble Exit 13 of I-81, then go south on 181 to Dwyer Memorial Park. The exit is north of Cortland and south of Syracuse.
For more information, email Knowlton at [email protected] or call him at 315-457-6100.
