robbif - Posted - 06/11/2015:  17:26:54

"And now for something competely different."

robbif - Posted - 06/14/2015:  17:39:24

They continue to blow us away with their growth as writers, instrumentalists, singers, and great friends to be around. This was recorded before their very first full length album, "Deep Waters" was released. You'll get a sneak preview of some of their new beautiful writing and singing, and I highly recommend you check it out:  How can they get any better? Just keep watching. I'm looking forward to seeing them again at Grey Fox in July. So if you think I'm a little biased here, you're absolutely right. And I'm not the only one! OK, rambling over..here:

robbif - Posted - 07/20/2015:  13:01:53

Bluegrass Today: Fleck, Trischka and friends honor Bill Keith at Grey Fox Banjo Summit

I'm thrilled and honored, as a longtime Grey Fox video media volunteer,

to have captured the entire historic, emotional event celebrating my

good friend Bill Keith. I have footage from 4 camcorders and will be

gathering still photos and additional video from my fellow media crew

members. The entire coverage will eventually be available on the Grey

Fox website and YouTube channel. Please be patient while all the sources

are gathered. My sincere thanks to all those who envisioned this event

and made it a reality! 

robbif - Posted - 08/25/2015:  05:48:03

A few days ago, Fred Bartenstein assembled some historic items for the Fincastle 50th anniversary.

It was the first multi-day bluegrass festival.

I'm proud to make them all available, thanks to several more contributors.

Fincastle 1965

robbif - Posted - 09/27/2015:  10:27:34

After a two-month journey, I'm proud to finally announce the most involved, historic, and emotional event and video I've ever attended and recorded and edited. It's a gathering of some greats* to celebrate the genius of my good friend,  Bill Keith. * Ryan Cavanaugh, Béla Fleck, Tony Trischka, Marc Horowitz, Mike Kropp, Mike Munford, Noam Pickelny, and Eric Weissberg My sincere thanks to the great artists, Tom Lindtveit, Grey Fox Assistant Director Mary Burdette, Grey Fox Media Crew  Chief Steve Ide, and Claire Armbruster, for envisioning and helping make this event and my video a reality. And above all, my thanks to Bill Keith for being an inspiration to me for over four decades and a good friend for many years.

robbif - Posted - 10/06/2015:  18:40:57

Before the Grey Fox 2015 festival, a good friend (you know who you are!) told me this set was important to record.

So I planned on it, not knowing what to expect.

Well, before it was over, I could not imagine not having seen this incredible performance!



Here's just one example...

Edited by - robbif on 10/06/2015 18:42:04

robbif - Posted - 11/28/2015:  06:02:47

Just a reminder, please take some time to scroll through the list to see what's new or something you might have missed.

Current count=2,700 MP3s!​​

They're all downloadable, too!



http://frobbi.org/picking.html

          Artwork by Greg Rich

 

Edited by - robbif on 11/28/2015 06:15:14

robbif - Posted - 12/05/2015:  19:23:01

I just "discovered" this 2010 impromptu clip of a jam after Byron Berline

did a concert for the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association.

I grabbed my ancient point-and-shoot camera and at least got this much

of my two friends playing "Kansas City Kitty"...

robbif - Posted - 12/09/2015:  19:01:30

Hi Folks,



I've just put together still images from my video of the Grey Fox 2015 Keith Style Banjo Summit...



frobbi.org/slides/keithsummit/



The original videos are at youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Z...igpN6wUEV



I have to again thank so many involved in the historic, emotional event...



Additional Video - Steve Ide; Still Photography - Darwin Davidson,  Jim McGuire,

Phil Zimmerman, Jon Herron, Wendy Cody; Sound - Cobra Sound;

Thanks To Banjoists - Bill Keith, Ryan Cavanaugh, Co-Hosts Béla Fleck & Tony Trischka,

Marc Horowitz, Mike Kropp, Mike Munford, Noam Pickelny, Eric Weissberg;

Creekside Stage Emcee - Kate McNally;

Coordinated by - Tom Lindtveit, Mary Burdette, Claire Armbruster  



The great photos from my fellow Grey Fox media volunteers were recently made available on

the Grey Fox website at...



greyfox.zenfolio.com/2015/keith



Thanks, as always to all by volunteer friends, and especially Media Crew Chief Steve Ide for

the daunting task of culling and assembling all of this year's images at...



greyfox.zenfolio.com/2015



My tribute site is at frobbi.org/billkeith/



All my best for the holiday season,

Fred

 

kenneth - Posted - 12/10/2015:  19:16:40

Well, hi Fred, long time no speak. I trust you and yours are well?  and I am glad to see you maintaining your amasing achieve, I feel very privileged to have access to this invaluable document of American Roots Music and sort of wondered if there was some way that it could be considered by, say The Library of Congress or some other body that would give it the recognition it deserves. People do not realise how valuable, unique and important this database is. Regards from Yorkshire UK- Kenneth

robbif - Posted - 12/23/2015:  15:27:32

Hi Folks,



Recently Happy Traum posted my photo of him and and Eric Weissberg at Grey Fox 2015 before the Keith Style Banjo Summit..



Well, today, since the pre-Christmas scramble has quieted down, I was finally able to take some time

and put together the few photos I took before recording the historical event.



frobbi.org/slides/prekeithsummit/



I hope you enjoy the bittersweet memories as much as I have.



I want to repeat my sincere thanks for all the generous and talented members of our extended bluegrass family

that made this historic and emotional tribute possible.



And my wishes to all for a blessed holiday season and a healthy and musical New Year.



Fred

robbif - Posted - 12/29/2015:  09:17:46

Holiday Greetings,



I'm happy and proud (as usual) to kick off the new year with a new bluegrass collection from yet a

new generous contributor, Dennis Schut.



The Dennis Schut Collection:  frobbi.org/schutcollection.html



Dennis' collection starts off with his ever-increasing series videos, currently totaling about 180!



He's promised me he'll soon dust off his tapes and reel-to-reel recorder to begin making

his audio clips available. I'll hold him to that promise as a new year's resolution!



A link is also available in the From My Friends section of my Picking Page frobbi.org/picking.html



Thanks Dennis, and to all of you, enjoy the music with my best wishes for 2016.



Fred

robbif - Posted - 01/01/2016:  06:19:16

Auld Lang Syne

Bill Keith & Jim Rooney, Gerdes Folk City, 1965

Recorded by Marc Horowitz



frobbi.org/audio/horowitz/gerd...0Syne.mp3

robbif - Posted - 01/01/2016:  14:17:54

Banjo Newsletter editor Donald Nitchie started my new year off beautifully.

I'm thankful and honored that he used my photo of Bill Keith on the cover

of the January 2016 issue in Bill's memory. It's my favorite image of my friend

from his 2013 Grey Fox banjo workshop.







Donald also generously made two articles from that issue available to the public.

   Excerpt from Keith Biography by Bob Carlin  https://banjonews.com/2016-01/from_the_bill_keith_biography.html

   Callous Thumb: Remembering Bill Keith  https://banjonews.com/2016-01/callous_thumb_remembering_bill_keith.html

 

 I've added all of the above to my tribute page... http://frobbi.org/billkeith/

Edited by - robbif on 01/01/2016 14:29:40

robbif - Posted - 01/03/2016:  10:21:02

Here's a group jam on the last day of the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association's Evolution of Bluegrass

class series for the Marist Center for Lifetime Study in 2012...



Andy Bing-dobro, Kalia Yeagle-fiddle, Rick Brodsky-bass, Joan Harrison-banjo,

Wayne Fugate-mandolin, Korey Brodsky-guitar, Bill Keith-banjo



VIDEO: youtu.be/lsp2dy4W698#t=20m10s

robbif - Posted - 01/13/2016:  08:39:33

New Bill Keith Photo



Kevin Lynch just sent me one he took in 1995 of Bill, Wynn Fay, and Jim Rooney.



I created an additional page in my Bill Keith Tribute for great contributions like this.



frobbi.org/billkeith/photos.html



Thanks Kevin!

Fred

robbif - Posted - 01/14/2016:  06:45:10

robbif - Posted - 01/16/2016:  09:56:29

More Bill Keith Treasures

Hi Folks,



In just the last few days I've been blessed with several new Bill Keith treasures.



Tom Morgan sent me the result of his wonderful effort gathering tribute autographs...

   frobbi.org/billkeith/BNL2016co...phed.html

                

Hans Holzherr contributed two full 1970s concert recordings from Switzerland...

   frobbi.org/audio/hans/mahogany/index.html

                

I discovered Jim Rooney's podcasts which he generously allowed me to link...

   frobbi.org/billkeith/rooneypodcasts.html

   

They're all available on my tribute page: frobbi.org/billkeith/index.html



My continued thanks to Tom, Hans, and Jim!



Fred

robbif - Posted - 01/21/2016:  05:57:09

Here's a fun pre- (or maybe post-) holiday music from a lot of young talent,

The Grey Fox Bluegrass Academy for Kids - "Christmas Time's a Comin'".

I dedicate this to the departed artist who wrote it: Tex Logan.



 

robbif - Posted - 01/25/2016:  16:42:13

robbif - Posted - 01/25/2016:  18:12:02

Two New Bill Keith Finds

Thanks to heads-up from friends today, I located these...



Banjo Workshop, Grey Fox - Keith, Shelor, Trischka & Washburn, 2005

 youtube.com/watch?v=xxS5-6Au2m0

 

Salt Creek tribute to Bill Keith, Midwest Banjo Camp, 2015

 youtube.com/watch?v=FAnqtg1tLRg

 

They're now in my tribute page: frobbi.org/billkeith/

Edited by - robbif on 01/25/2016 18:17:54

robbif - Posted - 01/30/2016:  07:52:35

I'm thrilled to give you a dynamic Showcase Concert Sampler from the

Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association...

Michael is about to release his unique new album, "Orchids and Violence".

One CD is Bluegrass/traditional; the 2nd CD has modern electric versions of many of the same songs.

I hope I described the album correctly! For the details: http://www.nonesuch.com/albums/orchids-and-violence

https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDavesMusic

http://www.michaeldaves.com/



Jen, whom I've known for several years, has a great CD out with Michael called "Burning House".

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jenlarson

http://tinyurl.com/JenLarson-Amazon

https://www.facebook.com/JenLarsonMusic



Both Michael & Jen were part of Michael Daves & Friends at Grey Fox 2015. I hope to have a few songs

available from that set sometime soon via the Grey Fox Blog & YouTube channel.



Disclaimer: I'm plugging their work only because I consider them good friends and great talents.

robbif - Posted - 02/01/2016:  06:10:51

"Discovered" recording - Woodstock Mountains Review 1977

Hi Folks,

Recently I'd been listening to Jim Rooney's podcasts that include Bill Keith and the

Woodstock Mountains Review; and it dawned on (read "hit") me that I have my original

recording of them at the Last Chance Saloon, Poughkeepsie, NY, in 1977. The cassettes 

were at arms length from my computer and I never got around to digitizing them...until now.

As far as we can tell so far, based on the intros early in Set 1, on stage that night were

Jim Rooney, Bill Keith, Happy Traum, Roly Salley, Eric Andersen, John Herald, and Pat Alger.

At this writing, Happy is trying to figure out who's playing mandolin. One thought was 

Bernie Leadon. But Gordon Titcomb confirms he and Bernie were not there.

I'm also hoping to hear back from the rest of the living participants so I can update the

web page with more history.

Meanwhile, please enjoy!

http://frobbi.org/audio/wmr.html

robbif - Posted - 02/06/2016:  08:29:34

robbif - Posted - 02/06/2016:  15:41:44

Larry Marschall Plays Bill Keith Tunes

I've been lucky, blessed, and busy in the last few days with so many contributions coming in.

Here's yet another one...



Larry just pointed these out to me, recorded at the Christchurch Folk Music Club in New Zealand in 2014,

along with Tony Hale and Neill Pickard



Devil's Dream/Sailor's Hornpipe (Larry speaks about Bill): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfV_Aw-P5ek

Caravan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr-b0BQV34c

Salt Creek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1xaV65MqVc



I've added them to my tribute: http://frobbi.org/billkeith/

robbif - Posted - 02/08/2016:  06:49:32

Here's another gem from the Appalachian-Himalayan Music Project at Grey Fox 2015

with Christian Apuzzo, Mary Simpson, Raj Kapoor, Shyam Nepali, Tara Linhardt, Abigail Washburn, and Tony Trischka

robbif - Posted - 02/08/2016:  10:45:01

More Bill Keith Recordings

Thanks to Thierry Schoysman who spotted more of Takehiko Saiki's recordings with Bill Keith than I knew about.



I now have the complete list and have made a separate page: frobbi.org/takehikokeithcollection.html



I've corrected the link in the Audio section of the main tribute page: frobbi.org/billkeith/index.html



Enjoy!

robbif - Posted - 02/12/2016:  10:47:35

Yet More Recordings with Bill Keith

Takehiko Saiki has just given me 5 more recordings with Bill, including 2 with Monroe.



I've added them to Take's page frobbi.org/takehikokeithcollection.html

and marked them with an asterisk*.



Note: On each YouTube screen, be sure to scroll down and

click on SHOW MORE to see complete song and performer lists!

robbif - Posted - 02/19/2016:  19:14:33

I just "discovered" another one of my cassettes,

Tony Trischka Band, Bear Mtn Bluegrass Festival, 1981

with Tony Trischka, Dee Dee Wyland, Barry Mitterhoff, Danny Weiss, and Larry Cohen.

The festival was run by Towne Crier owner Phil Ciganer.



frobbi.org/audio/Tony_Trischka...-1981.mp3



NY Times: nytimes.com/1981/07/31/arts/be...ival.html

robbif - Posted - 02/20/2016:  11:42:02

quote:

---

Originally posted by robbif

 

I just "discovered" another one of my cassettes,

Tony Trischka Band, Bear Mtn Bluegrass Festival, 1981

with Tony Trischka, Dee Dee Wyland, Barry Mitterhoff, Danny Weiss, and Larry Cohen.

The festival was run by Towne Crier owner Phil Ciganer.



frobbi.org/audio/Tony_Trischka...-1981.mp3



NY Times: nytimes.com/1981/07/31/arts/be...ival.html

---

Here's the slightly corrected version, since I wanted to make everything

historically correct.



frobbi.org/audio/Tony_Trischka...-1981.mp3



There were questions about the band name being "Tony Tricshka & Skyline"

instead of "Tony Trischka Band". However, band member Barry Mitterhof and

festival organizer Phil Ciganer confirmed that the band had not used "Skyline"

yet.



Also my file name is corrected from "Bear_Mtn_Music_Festival" to "Bear_Mtn_Festival"

as per Phil's short name for the festival. For the record, the full name, is

"Bear Mountain Festival of World Music & Dance".

        

robbif - Posted - 02/28/2016:  13:52:12

Please support Korey Brodsky

I met Korey three years ago, before he shot up about a foot and a half!

He's as gifted now as he was "back then".



He just announced his fund raiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f3qtbyrg



Please get to know this talented young man, who is not only a great musician

but a real gentleman. 



I'm proud to consider him a good friend and honored to have made the video you

will see at his site above.



I hope you'll consider giving him some well-deserved support.



Thanks,

Fred

robbif - Posted - 03/04/2016:  07:35:47

Another Bill Keith Recording Right Under My Nose

A couple days ago, Tekehiko Saiki asked me if I knew of the album "12-String Dobro - Tut Taylor & The Folkswingers".



I sure did. I remembered having the beautiful, translucent-red World Pacific vinyl. It still looks as good as day 1!



What I didn't remember was that "BILLY" Keith (as the liner notes called him) was on it!



Take just added a link to the album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylsPebkUm1s 



I added the link to my page of Take's Bill Keith collection: http://frobbi.org/takehikokeithcollection.html



I still get a kick out of the series of World-Pacific "12-String Guitar" albums by Glen Campbell

where "The Folkswingers" were actually The Dillards.

robbif - Posted - 03/08/2016:  04:54:56

Some more fun...



 

robbif - Posted - 03/08/2016:  09:22:29

Here's another rediscovered recording. Dillard & The Expedition, Valentine Studios 1970​

I have to thank Byron Berline who gave me a copy back in the 1970s.



Some good stuff by Byron and Doug Dillard...



frobbi.org/audio/DillardExpedi...-1970.mp3



I've also added a link in the From My Friends section of my recordings page: frobbi.org/picking.html

robbif - Posted - 03/10/2016:  17:12:12

Here's another recording Byron Berline graciously gave me back in the 1970s...



Dillard & The Expedition - House of the Rising Sun - 1970



Doug Dillard, Byron Berline, Billy Ray Lathum, Roger Bush



frobbi.org/audio/Dillard&E...-1970.mp3

robbif - Posted - 03/19/2016:  11:19:06

Hi Folks,



While going through the 6,000+ MP3s on my iPod, I rediscovered a recording with a

blockbuster lineup. Byron Berline graciously let me copy it in the 1970s and immediately

said make it public, now that I finally got around to asking him today.



Byron and I think it was probably recorded on the Teac tape deck I bought for Byron

when I was in Vietnam.



Jam Byron Berline House

Van Nuys, CA

April 14, 1973



Doc Watson

Byron Berline

Skip Conover

Roger Bush

Alan Munde

Eric Weissberg

Steve Mandel



frobbi.org/audio/Jam-BerlineHo...4_73.html



As usual, I've added a link in the From My Friends section of my recording page:



frobbi.org/picking.html



Enjoy,

Fred

 

robbif - Posted - 04/02/2016:  07:08:38

I'll be shooting video again for the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association's

3rd hosting of its 6-class series on the "Evolution of Bluegrass" for the

Marist Center for Lifetime Studies.



For info on the new series...

 

   hvbluegrass.org/articles/news/...goal.html



Here are the previous series' videos...



   youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD0...zmGwSrMMb

robbif - Posted - 04/11/2016:  18:28:39

Bluegrass Picking - My Recordings

 

FROBBI.ORG

 

 

robbif - Posted - 04/18/2016:  10:23:39

Here is the first of six classes in the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association's third

"Evolution of Bluegrass" series for the Marist Center for Lifetime Study.



Week 1 features our presenter David Gandin, who will be presiding over all the classes.

The Week 1 theme is Bluegrass: Origins & Roots.



We also had a wonderful discussion and full band performance by our friends,

Jim Gaudet & the Railroad Boys, who graciously offered to entertain us.  

robbif - Posted - 04/19/2016:  07:01:05

Yesterday I discovered a Country Gazette Facebook page...

facebook.com/groups/162043930557712/



Wanting to share my Gazette stuff led me to rummage through my files.

I found 3 sets from the 1976 Berkshire Mtns Festival already on my website

with no public links. So I just remedied that...



Alan Munde - banjo, Kenny Wertz - guitar,

Roland White - mandolin, Roger Bush - bass



frobbi.org/audio/gazette-berks...1976.html

robbif - Posted - 04/20/2016:  15:59:12

Here's comes another "discovery" that's been sitting under my nose for a while.



When I "discovered" the Country Gazette Facebook page a few days ago and began the

search through my files, I also found Dennis' recordings waiting for me to finish

the web page that's been lingering around for 2 years. Fortunately, I did find 2 more

Country Gazette recordings, which are included.



So, belatedly, here it is, the Dennis Satterlee Collection



         frobbi.org/satterleecollection.html



Please, be sure to read Dennis' history of recordings on the page.



Just in case you didn't know, Dennis is the author of this book, which I could not put down!





​

robbif - Posted - 05/01/2016:  11:07:58

Thanks to The Gather Rounders for a great evening at the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association. Stay tuned for video at a later date..

robbif - Posted - 05/01/2016:  11:43:48

P.S. Look for them at Grey Fox this summer.

slowhand - Posted - 05/01/2016:  12:09:22

Hurry up with that video, Fred!

robbif - Posted - 05/04/2016:  07:00:29

Here is the second of 6 classes by the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association for the Marist Center for Lifetime Study.

 

Early Years and First Generation

  Presenter: David Gandin

  Class Mgr: Michael Foley

  Videographer: Fred Robbins

  Dobro: Andy Bing

  Bass: David Gandin

http://www.hvbluegrass.org/

robbif - Posted - 05/06/2016:  06:24:00

Here is the third of 6 classes by the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association for the Marist Center for Lifetime Study.

The Banjo

  Guest Presenter: Dick Bowden

  Class Mgr: Michael Foley

  Videographer: Fred Robbins

  Banjo: Dick Bowden

http://www.hvbluegrass.org/

robbif - Posted - 05/11/2016:  05:13:13

Thanks to the generosity of Bill Knopf, I now have a "new" recording to offer,

JD Crowe & The New South, McCabes, Santa Monica CA, 1975



frobbi.org/audio/JDCrowe-McCab...ndex.html



As usual, it's also in the From My Friends section of my Picking Page: frobbi.org/picking.html



Enjoy,

Fred  

robbif - Posted - 05/11/2016:  06:01:25

I forgot to mention Bill Knopf's YouTube Channel.

robbif - Posted - 05/18/2016:  09:48:38

Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association vs. Sony

Here's an issue I'm gratetful was handled successfully by the longtime diligence of a determined friend in the HVBA.



hvbluegrass.org/articles/news/...tors.html