NewVistaKY history

The 1980s: Bluegrass Boomtown In January, 1980 the Bluegrass Newsletter went to a bimonthly schedule, and in March, the CTBA held its third annual membership convention at the Opera House in Bastrop.

In July 1981, Jamie MacLaggan took over as editor and publisher of the Bluegrass Newsletter, beginning with Volume 5, number 4.

In October, 1982, Dave Marcum launched a new radio program, "Bluegrass Sunday Morning," on KVET-AM, in effect a forerunner of the current "Strictly Bluegrass" on KOOP-FM.

The first of these, held February 10, 1984, featured the Doc Watson Trio with Sam Bush, Hot Rize, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, and the Fire on the Mountain Cloggers.

On March 2, 1985, the second Winterfest was presented, with the Johnson Mountain Boys and the Whites featured.

If you're interested in local bluegrass history, I'd also like to remind you of the comprehensive two-part history of Austin bluegrass bands published by Tom Ellis in the February-March and April-May, 1988 issues of the Bulletin.

Bill Monroe passed away on September 9, 1996, four days before his 85th birthday.

In May 1997, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because of the profound influence of his style on popular music.

Can’t You Hear Me Callin’, The Life of Bill Monroe, Father of Bluegrass, Da Capo Press, 2001.

The Hospice of the Bluegrass℠ Patient Census reaches over 800 served for June 2005, and continues to be 800-plus each month through the rest of the year.

Bluegrass, Newgrass, Old-Time, and Americana Music, Pelican Publishing, 2018.