You don’t
want to miss a fantastic day of classic ole time Fiddle music. The event is the
106th Anniversary of the DeKalb County Fiddlers’ Convention held
tomorrow at the Rotary Pavilion in historic downtown Fort Payne at 202 5th
Street N.E. For only $10.00 (children under 10 are free) you get an entire day
of the best ole time Bluegrass Fiddle, Dobro, Mandolin, Guitar and Upright Bass
music you will ever hear. The artists
will be competing for 1st and 2nd place in each category. Over
$4,500 in cash prizes and trophies will be awarded with proceeds to support the
Big Wills Arts Council and the Forty Payne City Schools Arts in Education
program for 2014-2015.
The event
begins with an onsite registration for artists at 11:00 A.M., the music will begin at 12 noon with the Dobro competition followed
by P.W. Fiddler, Mandolin, O.T. Banjo, Jr. Fiddler, Guitar and at 4:30 P.M the incredible
Leroy Troy takes to the stage. Leroy can be seen on RFD TV on the Marty Stuart
Show . The competition begins again at
6:00 P.M. with the Upright Bass
then B.G. Banjo followed by Sr. Fiddler,
B.G. Band and the O.T. Band will end the completion starting at 9:45 P.M.
Needless to say this is a major event and you will not be disappointed.
This year at
the Fiddlers’ Convention Mr. Marvin Downer will be awarded the Roland Walls
Lifetime Achievement Award
Here is some
information from event planner Russell l Gulley about the award.
Fort Payne:
Roland Walls was more than the morning man at WZOB radio, he belonged to all of
DeKalb County, had a heart of gold and a wonderful humor and wit. Roland served
The DeKalb County Fiddlers Convention as host and M.C. since its revival in the
1990’s by the Big Wills Arts Council (BWAC) and continued to do so until his
untimely death in 2011. He was a man that truly loved traditional music whether
it is Southern Gospel or Ole’ Time Music and Bluegrass. He supported all of the
BWAC efforts to preserve, present, and encourage an on-going participation in
local heritage and traditions. It was in his memory that in 2011 the Big Wills
Arts Council initiated The Roland Walls Lifetime Achievement Award with the
first presentation to master fiddler, Mr. William E. “Gene” Ivey.
The organizers of the DeKalb County Fiddlers
Convention are proud to announce the recipient of this year’s award to be
presented at the 106th Anniversary gathering set for June 7th, 2014. The
recipient is Mr. Marvin Downer, lifelong resident of DeKalb County and master
Bluegrass Musician known for his chart topping recordings with the Sand
Mountain Playboys, and for leading his own group, Marvin Downer and the
Bluegrass Four for over four decades. A multi-instrumentalist, Downer is best
known for his first love, the mandolin, and has served as the inspiration and
mentor to some of the area’s most successful musicians.
Downer, who started performing in the 1950’s,
entertained the troops while stationed in Korea with the 301st Signal Battalion
and continues to perform today with some of the best musicians to come out of
North East Alabama. “I wouldn’t be playing today if it weren’t for Marvin
Downer” states master fiddler James Bryan, who studied at the age of 16 with
Downer.
If you have
not been to a concert at the new Rotary Pavilion you will love that too. The
sound is good and the location is scenic in itself nestled at the foot of
Lookout Mountain with the Alabama Walking trail next to it along with Fort
Payne Depot Museum and Fort Payne City Park and the historic 1889 historic
Opera block all in the same area.
I like to
pass on a special thanks to Russell Gulley and the Bills Wills Arts Council for
planning and hosting this great event each year. A lot of work all year long is
put into making this annual event the very best in can be.
John Dersham
