Why I Can Write About Music

   I'm going to take a moment and explain my background in music (since my blog hasn't dwelt much on the subject yet). Before WWII my father was a young musician with a weekly show on WRUF, which was then a 50,000 watt clear channel AM radio station. That meant that they covered the entire Southeastern US with their broadcast.  One of the members of their band was Chubby Wise, before he became an original member of the Bluegrass Boys. Dad and his older brother were also members of the Toby Dowdy band at the same time.  My maternal grandfather was a friend of Roy Acuff.

   At the age of three I met Gentleman Jim Reaves when he was a guest in our home. Dad no longer was an active musician, but I got to meet many of his friends who had gone on to Nashville. However, I was a science prodigy and did not learn to play music until I was older.

   When I was 25 and on active duty in the Army, I bought my first banjo.  I struggled, not realizing that the banjo is not a good beginner's instrument (unless you are Earl Scruggs). When I was approaching 40 (1986) my older son started fiddle lessons with the legendary George Custer. Within a year he was playing on stage with George and Red and Murphy Henry. Before he was 16, he was asked to go on tour with Red and Murphy. A few years later Henry was invited to join a old-timey country band and the lead vocalist thought that I looked like I could play the wash-tub base. I finally found an instrument that I could not only play, but became a virtuoso. Then I actually was able to learn to play the banjo, eventually becoming good enough to play on stage for pay in East Tennessee, even playing some on local tv. I also played and sang at a number of churches, including one that had been the TV station where the Flatt and Scruggs show was broadcast.  I played on the stage that was used for that show, and also played at Ciderville.

   When I went to Knoxville in 1993 I had the opportunity to get to know legendary folklorist Tillman Cadle, the folk-music archivist who introduced the song "Which Side are You On"  to Pete Seeger.  During this time I also got to know Anthony Fels (Hopeless Sam), who had been a TV folk musician in NYC for about 7 years after the Vietnam War, until PTSD led him to go another route with his life. We became friends and eventually began to play out and record both our originals and traditional songs. I had to return to Florida to care for my elderly mother and grown children. A few years ago I had a stroke and can no longer pick the banjo.  But I still can listen.

Music Stuff Coming Up Soon

   I have been busy trying to earn a few dollars, so I am behind on my blogging.  I am in the process of writing a few posts about musicians, and keep getting sidetracked by an ongoing debate with a very narrow-minded self-styled Atheist.  I believe that I have already commented on that.

   I will be blogging on Anielle Reid, Bret Dudenhoeffer, and Summer Franklin.  Check out their music, and I will be covering them more.  I also hope to do a post on my late partner Anthony Fels and my late son Daniel Baker.

pendrake's passions: Arguing With Yet Another Rationalist

pendrake's passions: Arguing With Yet Another Rationalist: I have been in a discussion with a rabid Rationalist who insists that there is no historic record of Jesus.  Just for those of you who are ...

Arguing With Yet Another Rationalist

I have been in a discussion with a rabid Rationalist who insists that there is no historic record of Jesus.  Just for those of you who are unfamiliar with this discredited argument, a few writers over the years have been unaware of the writings of Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny the elder, and the Babylonian Talmud.  In addition, there has recently been discovered an ossuary of James the brother of Jesus.  Since this ossuary specifically mentions Jesus, it seems to be archaeological confirmation of the existence of Jesus. It is notable that Tacitus, Pliny the Elder, and the Babylonian Talmud are all anti Jesus in their tone, and some of the writings of Josephus seem to have been edited to not be negative.

The person who was arguing against the historicity of Jesus seemed to be rather irrational, even threatening to "spit in my face".  I suspect that he is in spiritual turmoil, since such irrational argument is abnormal.  I would like to restate that the philosophical concept of Rationalism starts with using arguments devoid of any proof (based on "self-evident" a priori concepts).The person in question starts with rejecting Jesus, and uses that to prove that there is no Jesus, any evidence to the contrary is rejected.

The same person rejected the existence of St. Joseph of Arimethea.  Again, a historical figure (although some accounts are probably embellished).  I just happens that my family is directly descended from him, and family records establish that.