Bluegrass Central 1972
Collection: Winfield Notable Artists
Title
Bluegrass Central 1972
Subject
Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival
Article
Description
This article is about the first annual Bluegrass Festival and National Flat-Picking Championship in Winfield Kansas.
Creator
Bluegrass Central
Source
Winfield Public Library
Publisher
Winfield Public Library, Winfield, Kansas USA
Date
ca. 1972
Rights
Format
text/plain
Language
English
Type
Periodicals
Citation
Bluegrass Central, “Bluegrass Central 1972,” Winfield Digital Collections, accessed June 24, 2026, https://winfield.digitalsckls.info/item/185.
Text
-------Welcome----
to the
walnut valley
(
bluegrass festival
& National
Flat'Picking Championship
We would like to invite and welcome you to the first annual Bluegrass Festival and National Flat-Picking Championship in Winfield, Kansas.
The idea to hold a National Flatpicking Championship developed as a result of a small, unpublicized folk festival that was held at Southwestern College
in Winfield last year. Appearing at that event were flatpickers Dave Bromberg and Dan Crary, and these two fine instrumentalists were asked to get together on stage and demonstrate the type of back-room jamming that audiences never hear.
Within the first two breaks on “Arkansas Traveler” the audience was on it’s feet, cheering. This continued for over thirty minutes, as the two instrumental wizards ran through a series of old fiddle tunes, playing harmonies and countermelodies rarely heard on guitar. It immediately became apparent that handled properly, a National Flatpicking Championship could be one of the finest additions to the growing schedule of Bluegrass events.
One of the first moves made was to contact Doc Watson, Dan Crary, and Norman Blake and ask them if they would agree to jam together on stage. Norman Blake and Dan Crary were both interested and excited by the possibility, and Doc said, “I’d be glad to pick with the boys.” This should prove to be one of the highlights of the festival.
The next step was to put together a well-balanced program of Bluegrass music, ranging from traditional to progressive. The venture is quite new to the Kansas area, as Bluegrass activity has traditionally been centered in the Southern and Eastern regions of the country. However, Bluegrass is growing rapidly in the Midwest, and the people of the Walnut Valley welcome you to what promises to be one of the most enjoyable events of the Bluegrass Summer.
We hope that your weekend in Winfield will be remembered as a fine experience, and welcome any comments or suggestions you may have on any aspect of the festival. Personnel involved in the conducting of the show will be wearing green armbands, and will be very happy to talk to you.
Next year’s dates have been set for September 28, 29, 30 and we hope that you’ll return for another three days of Bluegrass and Flat-Pickin’.
ATTEND THE S. L MOSSMAN OPEN HOUSE
Saturday 8 a.m. 'til Noon—Sunday 1 'til 5 p.m. 5-Miles South of
Winfield On Strother Field On Highway 77
Bluegrass Central -7-
Born in Overton County, Tennessee, Lester Flatt began his career as a professional bluegrass musician in 1944, when he became the first featured lead singer with the great Bill Monroe’s “Bluegrass Boys.”
One of the best known and most respected names
in the mainstream of country music, Lester occupies a unique position as a legendary figure among bluegrass fans the world over. The expertness with which Lester Flatt and company present their music has led to concerts in the Far East, at Carnegie Hall, and at
Lester Flatt
colleges across the United States.
The group recorded the theme and background music for the “Beverly Hillbillies” television series
on which Lester made a number of appearances.
Lester’s group also recorded the famous “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” for the soundtrack of the movie “Bonnie and Clyde.” The tune has become a bluegrass classic, and has helped to introduce many people to the bluegrass style of music.
The Nashville Grass are Paul Warren, Haskell McCormick, Roland White, Johnny Johnson, and Jack Martin.
-8- Bluegrass Central
The Lewis Family of Lincolnton, Georgia, is aptly recognized as “The First Family of Country Gospel Music.” Each member of the group is a Lewis by birth. The family de-votes all of its time to gospel music, travelling extensively between appearances at churches, theatres, parks, fairs, and festivals.
The Lewis Family belts out a fast-moving show that includes singing duets, trios, mixed quartets, and group numbers, accompanying themselves on guitar, banjo, autoharp, and bass. Little Roy is a show by himself, picking, singing and wisecracking. Pop plays bass and sings, and Wallace provides guitar backup for Little Roy’s fancy banjo work.
The three Lewis girls, Miggie, Polly, and Janis are primarily vocalists, but also take their turn on the bass.
Their program ranges from traditional gospel and spiritual songs to stomping bluegrass breakdowns. They have recorded a number of albums on the Starday and Canaan labels, and have been seen weekly for over seventeen years on WJBF-TV in Augusta, Georgia.
The Lewis Family has appeared at both the Disney and Hugo, Oklahoma festivals this summer, and was tremendously well-received at both.
The Lewis Family
-10- Bluegrass Central
Jim & Jesse
Jim and Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys recently appeared at the Disney, Oklahoma festival where a good many mid-American Blue-grass fans had their first opportunity to see and hear the boys make the kind of Bluegrass music that has won them such immense popularity from coast-to-coast.
Appearing with Jim and Jesse is the delightful Carol Johnson whose grace and ability comes across the floodlights in a burst of musical talent that can't be beat.
For those fans who have not yet seen Jim and Jesse in person, the Walnut Valley Festival at Winfield, Kansas, this month will be a MUST occasion. The brothers come from the heart of the old Bluegrass country, Coeburn, Virginia, and attribute their love for Bluegrass to their grandfather who was a champion old time fiddle player.
For the past 20-years, the McReynolds brothers have been recording, beginning with Capitol Records in 1952. More recently they have cut records on the Epic Record label, and have out such unforgettable top tunes as Cotton Mill Man, Better Times are Coming, Diesel On My Tail, Yonder Comes A Freight Train, and Then I’ll Stop Going For You.
Jim and Jesse have appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, and were featured in their own TV series, which can be seen on many Eastern stations at the present time. In addition to the TV show, Country Music Carousel, the boys and their band have appeared on more personal appearance shows than they have kept track of.
On the personal side, the brothers admit to having similar tastes in more than just Bluegrass music. They married sisters—for example—and presently make their homes when not on the road, on a rambling ranch near Old Hickory Lake, Gallatin, Tennessee. The ranch is both home and a business operation, for the raising of registered cattle.
The amazing versatility of Jim and Jesse carries over into their produc-tion of ever new tunes, and songs. They and the Virginia Boys will be introducing some to audiences this year that may well be the toe-tapping favorites of their grand-children.
Bluegrass Central -11-
Original Format
Paper
Title
Bluegrass Central 1972
Subject
Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival
Article
Description
This article is about the first annual Bluegrass Festival and National Flat-Picking Championship in Winfield Kansas.
Creator
Bluegrass Central
Source
Winfield Public Library
Publisher
Winfield Public Library, Winfield, Kansas USA
Date
ca. 1972
Rights
Format
text/plain
Language
English
Type
Periodicals
Citation
Bluegrass Central, “Bluegrass Central 1972,” Winfield Digital Collections, accessed June 24, 2026, https://winfield.digitalsckls.info/item/185.Text
-------Welcome----
to the
walnut valley
(
bluegrass festival
& National
Flat'Picking Championship
We would like to invite and welcome you to the first annual Bluegrass Festival and National Flat-Picking Championship in Winfield, Kansas.
The idea to hold a National Flatpicking Championship developed as a result of a small, unpublicized folk festival that was held at Southwestern College
in Winfield last year. Appearing at that event were flatpickers Dave Bromberg and Dan Crary, and these two fine instrumentalists were asked to get together on stage and demonstrate the type of back-room jamming that audiences never hear.
Within the first two breaks on “Arkansas Traveler” the audience was on it’s feet, cheering. This continued for over thirty minutes, as the two instrumental wizards ran through a series of old fiddle tunes, playing harmonies and countermelodies rarely heard on guitar. It immediately became apparent that handled properly, a National Flatpicking Championship could be one of the finest additions to the growing schedule of Bluegrass events.
One of the first moves made was to contact Doc Watson, Dan Crary, and Norman Blake and ask them if they would agree to jam together on stage. Norman Blake and Dan Crary were both interested and excited by the possibility, and Doc said, “I’d be glad to pick with the boys.” This should prove to be one of the highlights of the festival.
The next step was to put together a well-balanced program of Bluegrass music, ranging from traditional to progressive. The venture is quite new to the Kansas area, as Bluegrass activity has traditionally been centered in the Southern and Eastern regions of the country. However, Bluegrass is growing rapidly in the Midwest, and the people of the Walnut Valley welcome you to what promises to be one of the most enjoyable events of the Bluegrass Summer.
We hope that your weekend in Winfield will be remembered as a fine experience, and welcome any comments or suggestions you may have on any aspect of the festival. Personnel involved in the conducting of the show will be wearing green armbands, and will be very happy to talk to you.
Next year’s dates have been set for September 28, 29, 30 and we hope that you’ll return for another three days of Bluegrass and Flat-Pickin’.
ATTEND THE S. L MOSSMAN OPEN HOUSE
Saturday 8 a.m. 'til Noon—Sunday 1 'til 5 p.m. 5-Miles South of
Winfield On Strother Field On Highway 77
Bluegrass Central -7-
Born in Overton County, Tennessee, Lester Flatt began his career as a professional bluegrass musician in 1944, when he became the first featured lead singer with the great Bill Monroe’s “Bluegrass Boys.”
One of the best known and most respected names
in the mainstream of country music, Lester occupies a unique position as a legendary figure among bluegrass fans the world over. The expertness with which Lester Flatt and company present their music has led to concerts in the Far East, at Carnegie Hall, and at
Lester Flatt
colleges across the United States.
The group recorded the theme and background music for the “Beverly Hillbillies” television series
on which Lester made a number of appearances.
Lester’s group also recorded the famous “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” for the soundtrack of the movie “Bonnie and Clyde.” The tune has become a bluegrass classic, and has helped to introduce many people to the bluegrass style of music.
The Nashville Grass are Paul Warren, Haskell McCormick, Roland White, Johnny Johnson, and Jack Martin.
-8- Bluegrass Central
The Lewis Family of Lincolnton, Georgia, is aptly recognized as “The First Family of Country Gospel Music.” Each member of the group is a Lewis by birth. The family de-votes all of its time to gospel music, travelling extensively between appearances at churches, theatres, parks, fairs, and festivals.
The Lewis Family belts out a fast-moving show that includes singing duets, trios, mixed quartets, and group numbers, accompanying themselves on guitar, banjo, autoharp, and bass. Little Roy is a show by himself, picking, singing and wisecracking. Pop plays bass and sings, and Wallace provides guitar backup for Little Roy’s fancy banjo work.
The three Lewis girls, Miggie, Polly, and Janis are primarily vocalists, but also take their turn on the bass.
Their program ranges from traditional gospel and spiritual songs to stomping bluegrass breakdowns. They have recorded a number of albums on the Starday and Canaan labels, and have been seen weekly for over seventeen years on WJBF-TV in Augusta, Georgia.
The Lewis Family has appeared at both the Disney and Hugo, Oklahoma festivals this summer, and was tremendously well-received at both.
The Lewis Family
-10- Bluegrass Central
Jim & Jesse
Jim and Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys recently appeared at the Disney, Oklahoma festival where a good many mid-American Blue-grass fans had their first opportunity to see and hear the boys make the kind of Bluegrass music that has won them such immense popularity from coast-to-coast.
Appearing with Jim and Jesse is the delightful Carol Johnson whose grace and ability comes across the floodlights in a burst of musical talent that can't be beat.
For those fans who have not yet seen Jim and Jesse in person, the Walnut Valley Festival at Winfield, Kansas, this month will be a MUST occasion. The brothers come from the heart of the old Bluegrass country, Coeburn, Virginia, and attribute their love for Bluegrass to their grandfather who was a champion old time fiddle player.
For the past 20-years, the McReynolds brothers have been recording, beginning with Capitol Records in 1952. More recently they have cut records on the Epic Record label, and have out such unforgettable top tunes as Cotton Mill Man, Better Times are Coming, Diesel On My Tail, Yonder Comes A Freight Train, and Then I’ll Stop Going For You.
Jim and Jesse have appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, and were featured in their own TV series, which can be seen on many Eastern stations at the present time. In addition to the TV show, Country Music Carousel, the boys and their band have appeared on more personal appearance shows than they have kept track of.
On the personal side, the brothers admit to having similar tastes in more than just Bluegrass music. They married sisters—for example—and presently make their homes when not on the road, on a rambling ranch near Old Hickory Lake, Gallatin, Tennessee. The ranch is both home and a business operation, for the raising of registered cattle.
The amazing versatility of Jim and Jesse carries over into their produc-tion of ever new tunes, and songs. They and the Virginia Boys will be introducing some to audiences this year that may well be the toe-tapping favorites of their grand-children.
Bluegrass Central -11-
Original Format
Paper