As the Will McLean Music Festival nears, organizers are celebrating another major development cementing his legacy. In recent weeks the song lyrics, poems, recordings, correspondence and personal items from the late Will McLean (1919-1990) have been transferred to the University of Florida. McLean, known as the “Black Hat Troubadour,” is the first folk artist inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame.
McLean’s guitar
On behalf of the Will McLean Foundation I am thrilled to have Will McLean’s song lyrics, correspondence and personal artifacts such as his guitar, harmonica and black hat preserved in the Special Collections Area of the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries,” said Margaret Longhill, President Emeritus of the Will McLean Foundation.
McLean’s black hat, harmonica, glasses and whet rock
Will McLean is considered to be the Father of Florida Folk. “Inspired by his travels with his grandfather, Will McLean captured the heart of Florida in his poetry and lyrics. As the late Pete Seeger once said, ‘Will’s songs will be sung as long as there is a Florida.’ Having Will’s special collection at the University of Florida will make it possible for a wide audience to research his materials,” said Longhill.
Curator of Popular Culture Collections in the Department of Special and Area Studies of the George A. Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida, Jim Liversidge, said UF is excited about the opportunity to celebrate the life and art of the “Black Hat Troubadour.”
McLean’s poem, My Soul Is a Hawk
“This extensive and colorful research collection of Will McLean’s personal ephemera, recordings and artifacts is now available to students and researchers who will have the opportunity to relive or discover the musical and poetic output of the “Father of Florida Folk,” said Liversidge.
The Will McLean Collection is housed at UF alongside the papers of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Zora Neale Hurston, John D. MacDonald and others in support of Florida history, popular culture and the performing arts.
“The George A. Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida is proud to preserve and present the historic and culturally-important legacy of the state’s premier folk artist,” added Liversidge.
Meanwhile, festival goers and organizers are gearing up for the 29th Annual Will McLean Music Festivalscheduled for March 9 – 11th at the Sertoma Youth Ranch near Brooksville. The festival features multiple stages and acoustic instrument and vocal workshops for adults and youth throughout the weekend as well as activities for children, food and vendors featuring arts and crafts.
Click here to see the evening lineup for the festival.
To learn more about Will McLean, the Father of Florid Folk click here.
Hundreds are expected to turn out for the 29th Annual Will McLean Music FestivalMarch 9 – 11th at the Sertoma Youth Ranch between Brooksville and Dade City. The festival which honors the “Father of Florida Folk” has become one of the most popular venues for Florida songwriters.
The festival will feature multiple stages and acoustic instrument and vocal workshops for adults and youth throughout the weekend. There will also be activities for children, food as well as vendors featuring arts and crafts. For more information about the Will McLean Music festival schedule and ticket prices go online to WillMcLean.com. See links and pictures below for the music lineup for Friday and Saturday nights March 9th and 10th.
Grant Peeples8 p.m. Fri. March 9- Grant, a Tallahassee singer-songwriter, is a self-described “tree-hugger” who watches NASCAR known for his axe-sharp socio-political tunes, raucous humor and heart-gigging ballads. In 2014 he was the recipient of the Focus Foundation Award for Creative Excellence, which cited the “humor, compassion and wisdom of his songs,” as well as their unflinching social insight and cultural acuity.” He was a 2016 Finalist in the prestigious New Folk Songwriters Showcase, sponsored by the Kerrville Folk Festival.
Mindy Simmons 8:45 p.m. Fri. March 9- Mindy is truly a genuine performer who guides her audience down the bumpy road of life smiling all the way. Mindy combines quick wit and charm with a voice that moves flawlessly from satin smooth to gutsy, creating a memorable performance that feels like an evening with your best friend. Based in Sarasota, Florida, Mindy performs at major folk festivals throughout the State. At the South Florida Folk Festival, The Will McLean Festival, and The Gamble Rogers Festival Mindy has shared concert stages with Loudin Wainwright III, Cliff Eberhardt, Cosy Sheridan, Asleep at the Wheel, Vance Gilbert, and John Hammond Jr., to name just a few.
Brian Smalley9:30 p.m. Fri. March 9- Brian blends a soulful, earthy voice with high-energy acoustical guitar. A review from Florida State Parks described him as a musician who truly “gets Florida” and is inspired to write about it in ways that are both moving and humorous. He spins tales that captivate listeners and take them on a Florida experience, ranging from his Civil War ballad (Chickens Pigs) to a contemporary meditation on the rusting boats along a Key West wharf.
Brother Brother 10:15 p.m. Fri. March 9- This brother duo of Bradley and Brett Anderson describes their music as Indie Rock with a banjo. They began their musical odyssey a few short years ago at the Will McLean Music Festival. The grass-roots, home-town band from Sarasota, Florida was invited to perform at a theatre in Branson, MO where they went from having played 10 shows a year to 10 shows a week year-round. The brothers now have two professionally recorded CDs. They describe the newest album as a cool fusion of acoustic guitars, electric banjos, synthesizers, and a really fun indie rock energy.
Belle and the Band 7:30 p.m. Sat. March 10- Suncoast Emmy Award-winning Belle and The Band combines masterful song-writing with instrumental prowess to deliver an acoustic sound that is thought provoking, melodic, and memorable. While Kathryn Belle Long’s many years of experience as a professional vocalist and Walt Disney World performer has seamlessly transferred into a prolific song-writer, the “Band” also includes some of Florida’s most recognized and accomplished acoustic musicians—Mickey Abraham, Kevin Robertson, and Mike Snelling. The group has performed at several premier roots music festivals in the Southeast including Roots Revival, the Florida Folk Festival, Suwannee Springfest, Magnolia Fest, Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival, Baygrass Bluegrass Festival, Florida State Bluegrass Festival, Southern Music Rising, and the Gamble Rogers Festival. The lead singer, Kathryn Belle Long is this year’s winner of the Will McLean Best New Florida Song Contest.
Sam Pacetti 8:00 p.m. Sat. March 10- Fingerstyle wizard Sam Pacetti from St. Augustine is a songwriter capable of haunting depth and wry humor in the space of one song. He is an impassioned and ecstatic vocalist, as well as a mesmerizing live performer, seamlessly melding head-spinning guitar pyrotechnics and raw emotion into one breathtaking package. His musical style has been influenced by the great guitarists Chet Atkins and Merle Travis. But it was Gamble Rogers, the legendary picker and raconteur from St. Augustine, who took the young guitarist under his wing for more than a year who was Pacetti’s most influential mentor.
Amy Carol Webb 8:45 p.m. Sat. March 10- Serving as both a musician and a minister, Amy Carol Webb says her life’s path has taken many forks in the road. She was born into a music and ministry family. Her father was a music teacher and a gospel preacher and her mother was a singer and taught Sunday school. The family lived in a lot of places in both Oklahoma and Texas. Music was a part of her family’s daily life. She has a BSE in Performing Arts. After college she toured all over the world and began writing and recording her music. She’s also an educator who has taught music, creative writing, songwriting and life-skills development from the halls of the University of Miami to the cells of maximum security women’s prisons in Florida. In addition to performing at festivals around the country Amy is currently a board certified hospice chaplain and bereavement group facilitator and a minister at the River of Grass Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Davie, FL among many other music and ministry activities. She’s recorded at least 13 albums and is a fan favorite of the Will McLean Music Festival.
2PM 9:30 p.m. Sat. March 10- “2PM” is Pete Price, Pete Hennings, and Mike Jurgensen, a trio of talented musicians who blend their varied musical talents into an eclectic mix of material, from original songs, to obscure covers, to well-known standards. With Price on guitar and bass, Hennings on guitar, bass, mandolin, and violin, and Jurgensen on guitar and harmonica, these three performers combine tight instrumentation with pristine vocal harmonies to delight audiences of all musical tastes. All three are talented songwriters and have performed solo as well as with other bands: Hennings and Price with Jon Semmes and the Florida Friends, and Jurgensen and Hennings with Myriad. The combination of Pete, Pete, and Mike as “2PM”, however, is a unique trio that has delighted audiences at acoustic venues and folk festivals around the state of Florida. “2PM” has released two CDs: “Keepin’ Time”, and “Let’s Just Play One More.”
Patchwork 10:00 p.m. Sat. March 10- Patchwork is a group of five women who play everything from original Florida folk, country and bluegrass to forties swing and rhythm & blues, all on acoustic instruments! The band hails from Gainesville, Florida, and performs at concerts, festivals, schools, clubs and parties throughout the state. In addition to adding their feminine Florida flavor to special events at the Appleton Museum in Ocala, the Cummer Museum in Jacksonville and the Sunday Sampler in Dunnellon, they have also been broadcast live on national public television and radio. They are a favorite at the Florida Folk Festival, where they have played for more than twenty years. Members of the band are Cathy DeWitt (vocals and guitar), Jolene Jones (vocals, mandolin and harmonica), Annie McPherson (vocals and bass), Tammy Murray (vocals, banjo, fiddle and guitar) and Janet Rucker (vocals, banjo and guitar).
For more information about the Will McLean Music festival schedule and ticket prices go online to WillMcLean.com
President Emeritus of the Will McLean Foundation, Margaret Longhill, is credited for her work helping to get the late Will McLean into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. McLean (1919-1990), considered the “Father of Florida Folk,” was inducted in 1996.
Shortly before his death, Longhill and some of McLean’s closest friends were instrumental in establishing the Will McLean Foundation, dedicated to promoting the work of Florida folk artists and passing along the state’s history through song for generations to come. Longhill also spearheaded the creation of the Will McLean Music Festival. The festival, a favorite for Florida songwriters, is held each March at the Sertoma Youth Ranch near Brooksville.
In January of 2016 multimedia producer Donna Green-Townsend sat down with Longhill to have a conversation about her efforts to keep Will McLean’s legacy alive as one of Florida’s premier songwriters and poets.
Official website of the Murrow Award-Winning Documentary, “Apalachicola Doin’ Time” and various updates
Rally for Apalachicola Bay in August before a Senate field hearing on the health of the bay. (photo by Donna Green-Townsend)
Tuesday, January 9, 2018 UPDATE: The U.S. Supreme Court began hearing arguments on Monday in the 30-year-old water dispute involving Florida, Georgia and Alabama known as the Tri-State Water War. Molly Samuel from public radio station WABE in Atlanta attended the oral arguments. Click to hear her report.
June 1, 2017 UPDATE: Florida asks U.S. Supreme Court to Save Apalachicola River, Oyster Industry:
TALLAHASSEE — Florida is telling the U.S. Supreme Court that it represents the state’s last legal remedy for saving the Apalachicola River and the oysters and people who depend on it. Gov. Rick Scott in 2013 sued Georgia in the Supreme Court, seeking to cap Georgia’s water use upstream on the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers. But a court official recommended in February that the case be dismissed because Florida had not included the Army Corps of Engineers, which operates federal reservoirs on the Chattahoochee River. In a brief filed Wednesday, Florida argues that the court had never found that a state was harmed by upstream water use but then determined it was powerless to do anything about it. If the court dismisses the case, Georgia would be free to continue or increase its water use, Florida said. ….Click herefor the full story.
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October 2013 UPDATE: Florida Governor Rick Scott and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi have moved forward with their plans to file a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court over the decades old Tri-State Water War. The lawsuit is primarily aimed at Georgia over that state’s withdrawals of water from the Chattahoochee-Apalachicola-Flint River system—a river system Alabama, Florida and Georgia all share. At the heart of the ongoing debate is the health of Apalachicola Bay and Florida’s seafood industry.
Click here to view highlights of the Senate field hearing held in Apalachicola on the issue in August of 2013. To learn more about how the Apalachicola community is affected by the “water war” listen and view segments below:
2000 Edward R. Murrow Award Winning Documentary
Fishing boats along the Apalachicola River bayfront (photo by Donna Green-Townsend)
Donna voicing the “Apalachicola Doin’ Time” documentary at WUFT with co-hosts Daniel Beasley and Josh Azriel in 1999
Various locations around Apalachicola, Florida and some of the people interviewed for the documentary.
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Musical Murrow Celebration
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Just prior to the RTDNA Murrow Award ceremony in Minneapolis, MN, singer songwriter Mark Smith had a celebration at his home which included several of the songwriters who had music utilized in the documentary. In this video Dale Crider sings the song that inspired the documentary.
Crider holding a portrait given to him by Donna Green-Townsend and George Floyd painted by Mary Ann DiNella
For more than three decades Dale Crider worked as a wildlife biologist for the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission. During that time he also followed his other passion, songwriting. Crider wrote many songs about environmental conditions in Florida. “Apalachicola Doin’ Time” was one such song. It was by chance nearly 30 years after Crider penned the song that Apalachicola resident, George Floyd, happened upon one of Crider’s music tapes and heard his song. On that day the concept for the need to tell the story of the Tri-State Water War was born. Crider is considered to be Florida’s Environmental Troubadour. He has inspired musicians across Florida to write songs about the environment.
Listen to an hour-long special on Across the Prairie on WUFT regarding the Re-release and update of the Apalachicola Doin’ Time Documentary Dale and documentary co-producer Donna Green-Townsend were special guests on the longtime Sunday afternoon program on WUFT, Across the Prairie with host Cathy DeWitt. Click on the audio button below.
Cover of Apalachicola Doin’ Time CD
Copies of the two-CD set of “Apalachicola Doin’ Time,” including the music companion CD, are available through the non-profit Will McLean Foundation. Will McLean is considered the “Father of Florida Folk.” He’s the first folk artist inducted into theFlorida Artists Hall of Fame. It was his mission to save Florida through music.
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In 2001 several of the musicians whose songs were used in the documentary were featured at not only the Will McLean Festival (March, 2001) but also the state’s official festival, The Florida Folk Festival (May, 2001). Click on the audio button below to hear the live presentation at the Will McLean Festival. The late Jan Glidewell, longtime columnist with the Tampa Bay Times, introduced Donna Green-Townsend who hosted the special musical event.
Dale Crider, Josh Azriel, Donna Green-Townsend and George Floyd and friend
Funding for the “Apalachicola Doin’ Time” documentary was provided by a grant from George Floyd in memory of Jim Floyd and George Kirvin, two of the earliest heralds of the rivers and bays and their value as an undisturbed natural resource.
Apalachicola Documentary Awards
1st Place National RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award, Best Documentary
1st Place Southeast Regional RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award, Best Documentary
1st Place Florida Associated Press Broadcasters, Public Affairs category
Silver Reel from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, documentary category
Finalist, Atlanta Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Green Eye Shade awards (Southeast 11 state Region)
Finalist, Society of Professional Journalists Sunshine State Awards, Public Affairs category
1st Place, BEA Student Interactive Multimedia competition in the Online category
Silver Addy in the Collateral Material – CD Category for the Apalachicola Doin’ Time CD cover, insert and tray card.
Some of the stations that have carried Apalachicola Doin’ Time:
KBAQ Mesa, Arizona KBOO Portland, Oregon KERA Dallas, Texas KJZZ Phoenix, Arizona Utah Public Radio/KUSU FM Logan, Utah WABE Atlanta, Georgia WETS Johnson City, Tennessee WFSU Tallahassee, Florida WFSW Panama City, Florida WJUF-FM Inverness, Florida WKGC Panama City, Florida WQCS Asheville, North Carolina WSLU Canton, New York WUFT-FM Gainesville, Florida California Public Radio Georgia Public Radio
Documentary Summary by- Co-Producer, Donna Green-Townsend Two hundred yards below the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, the waters of the Chattahoochee River begin a 500 mile journey south. The river flows each day through Atlanta, past Western Georgia cities like Columbus and along the state boundary between Georgia and Alabama — past more than a dozen dams and locks on the way to the Gulf of Mexico. At the Florida-Georgia border the Chattahoochee meets up with Georgia’s Flint River and takes on a new name –The Apalachicola. Sixteen billion gallons of water flow down the Apalachicola into the Bay every day making it Florida’s largest waterway and it’s at the heart of a tri-state water war.
This documentary is an audio journey to the community at the end of the drainpipe so to speak — Apalachicola: a Florida seafood community that worries about being at the mercy of its northern water using neighbors. We journey to the city’s famous waterfront, hear about the history of this unique river town and find out how the community’s affected by the rapid development of ecotourism and growth. We also talk with the key negotiators involved in the current water war involving Alabama, Florida and Georgia as the clock ticks down on a deadline to resolve differences over shared river resources.
There’s a lot at stake for all three southern states: rapid growth in Atlanta creates a strong need to secure drinking water for the future. Farmers want to maintain the ability to irrigate their crops, Alabama residents want to maintain peak hydro power and navigational use, and in Florida, at the end of the Apalachicola River, the seafood industry worries about the future of its oysters, scallops, crabs and shrimp.
To read the full written script with photos click here.
Apalachicola’s oyster industry see historic collapse in 2012 from drought and salinity (originally aired April 26, 2013)
The severe drought in 2012 caused an historic collapse of Florida’s oyster industry. During the past year a variety of state agencies have been working for the Florida Sea Grant Program to try and understand all the causes for the fishery disaster. The cooperative effort is working toward designing a plan to help restore and manage the industry in the future. WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with the Director of the Florida Sea Grant College Program, Karl Havens, who is heading up the University of Florida’s Oyster Recovery Team, about the findings outlined in the group’s special report this week.
Upper Chattahoochee River Keeper: The website of the non-profit organization that keeps tabs on everything that deals with the Chattahoochee, including a section on tri-state water issues. Background information on the river, legal issues, and information about joining the group.
Apalachicola Chamber of Commerce: The online home to the Apalachicola area. Find out about the historic nature of “Florida’s Forgotten Coast.”
Tupelo Honey: The largest and densest stands of Tupelo trees grow in the swamps of the lower Apalachicola and Chipola Rivers. Nowhere are Tupelos so dense that honey can be made from and certified pure Tupelo.
Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve: The Apalachicola Reserve includes two barrier islands and a portion of a third. The Reserve also includes the lower 52 miles of the Apalachicola River and its associated floodplain, small portions of adjoining uplands, and the Apalachicola Bay system. The overall high water quality of the Apalachicola estuary, with the combined effects of other factors, provide the ideal living conditions for estuarine biota and have resulted in the creation of a highly productive estuarine system. The myriad of habitats found within the Reserve support a wide range of plant and animal species, many of which are threatened or endangered.
Corps of Engineers: The various recreation sites on the Chattahoochee, Flint and Apalachicola river system, including various lakes, locks, dams, and campgrounds.
Read the original 1999 interviews with key players in the tri-state water war:
Residents all along the coast of Texas are bracing for Hurricane Harvey expected to come ashore either late tonight or early Saturday morning. At 7:30 p.m. forecasters with the National Hurricane Center reported winds are sustained at 130 mph making Hurricane Harvey a category 4 storm. Catastrophic flooding is expected due to heavy rainfall and storm surge. The hurricane is moving to the northwest at 10 mph.
Because current weather patterns moving across the country will block the storm from moving north, weather specialists predict rainfall amounts could total as much as 35+ inches in areas closest to landfall and 15 to 20 inches in a widespread area of southern Texas. The system could also stick around until early next week and move along the Louisiana coast dumping more rain. Mandatory evacuations are already in place and highways are packed with motorists fleeing inland ahead of the hurricane.
Boats washed ashore from Hurricane Hermine (photo credit AP)
Floridians watching the reports about Hurricane Harvey headed toward Texas remember all too well the damage caused by last year’s Labor Day Hurricane Hermine followed by Hurricane Matthew that skirted across a major section of the state’s east coast.
Many beach communities are still recuperating from the beach erosion and damage caused by the storms to highways, roads, piers, homes and other infrastructure.
Twelve years ago Hurricane Wilma took a hard right-hand turn from the Yucatan and made a beeline for South Florida as a Category 3 storm with winds at 120 mph before it made landfall near Cape Romano, FL on October 24th, 2005. Just a year before Wilma, 2004 became one for the history books as Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Jeanne and Ivan wreaked their havoc on the Sunshine State.
It was also 12 years ago on August 29th when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast near Buras, Louisiana and took its toll on New Orleans and the Mississippi coastline, becoming one of the most costly storms in U.S. history. According to NOAA, the damage estimates from Katrina reached $108 billion dollars. The official death toll from Katrina is 1,200 making it the 3rd deadliest storm in history behind the 1900 hurricane which hit Galveston, TX leaving 8,000 dead. The 2nd deadliest storm was the Lake Okeechobee storm in Florida in 1928 killing approximately 3,000 people.
Scene from the aftermath of the 1900 hurricane that struck Galveston, TX
For Floridians who lived in South Florida during Hurricane Andrew, the thought of any tropical system brings back painful memories.
Hurricane Andrew, August 1992
It was on August 24th, 1992 when the catastrophic storm struck Homestead and South Florida with winds of 150 miles an hour with gusts up to 175 miles an hour. Andrew is listed as the 4th worst hurricane to hit the United States with a damage total of more than 25-billion dollars. Nearly four dozen people were killed.
In 2011 Homestead resident (and former mayor) Steve Bateman, talked with Donna Green-Townsend about living through Hurricane Andrew and how Homestead has worked toward economic recovery. At the time of the interview, Hurricane Irene was churning in the Atlantic.(from Donna’s audio archives).
Florida has experienced many devastating hurricanes through the years. Some of the worst storms didn’t even have names. The1928 Category 4 stormthat pushed Lake Okeechobee over its banks offically killed 3,000 people, but is believed by many to have drowned 4,000 souls. Many were migrant workers who ended up in mass graves following the storm….some marked and some unmarked. There are many accounts from people recalling the storm describing how they were tied to trees by their families so they wouldn’t be swept away.
The late singer songwriter Will McLeanwrote his most famous song about that tragedy. “Hold Back The Waters” has become somewhat of a Florida anthem in folk circles. McLean was the first folk artist inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. See a video of the late singer-songwriter singing his famous song below:
The 1928 storm was before television and the weather channel so there was no real advance knowledge about the hurricane. It’s been written that the Seminoles living in Florida may have warned the storm was coming but people didn’t pay attention. This storm is the reason there is now a dike all around Lake Okeechobee in South Florida. As the category 4 hurricane moved inland, the strong winds piled the water up at the south end of the lake. Ultimately the weaker earthen levee gave way flooding an area 6 miles wide and 75 miles long.
Listen and Watch song samples from the new “Tribute” CD below: The newest video just added is, “Lost Tourist’s Letter Home.”
Jessie and Lee’s CD is the newest professional recording for this sister/brother duet.
(To order a CD, please send $15.00 to: Jessie Townsend, 13501 SE 171st Lane Hawthorne, FL 32640)
Jessie, Red and Chris Henry and David McBrady in the studio
Jessie and Lee Townsend recently went back into the studio to record six more songs to add to their CD Sampler. The CD will now have 12 songs and be titled, “Tribute” as it will have songs from several of Florida’s best songwriters past and present including Will McLean, Steve Blackwell, Jim Ballew, Dale Crider, Don Grooms and Ann Thomas to name a few.
Lee Townsend in the studio
Below you will find music videos of six of the songs included on the project followed by audio samples from all of the songs on the CD including “Lost Tourist’s Letter Home,” written by the late Ann Thomas about a tourist travelling by bus from Boston who was headed to Miami, but got off in the Florida scrub by mistake; “Crying Bird,” written by the late Will McLean about the potential demise of the Florida Limpkin; “Lonesome Wind Blues,” written by the late Wayne Raney and made popular by the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe; “When I Die” written by the late Jim Ballew; “Oh Kissimmee River” written by environmental troubadour Dale Crider from Windsor, FL and “Wild Birds” written by the late Don Grooms.
Jessie and Lee were joined in the studio for this CD by Chris Henry (guitar, mandolin and vocal harmony), Red Henry (fiddle, mandolin and vocal harmony), David McBrady (bass and vocal harmony), Jason Thomas (mandolin). Gabe Valla (rhythm guitar), Christian Ward (fiddle), Elisabeth Williamson (vocal harmony) and Lon Williamson (bass). The lost tourist in the first video, “Lost Tourist’s Letter Home,” is portrayed by Harriett Meyer.
Lost Tourist’s Letter Home
Crying Bird
Lonesome Wind Blues
When I Die
Wild Birds
Oh Kissimmee River
Song samples:
Jessie and Lee Townsend (all photos by Donna Green-Townsend)
Kentucky Borderline(written by Rhonda Vincent and Terry Herd) Performing on this fast-paced bluegrass tune that was the 2004 IBMA Song of the Year are Lee on banjo, Jessie singing the lead vocal, Jason Thomas on mandolin, Gabe Valla on rhythm guitar, Christian Ward on fiddle, David McBrady on bass and Elisabeth Williamson singing vocal harmony.
Bury Me Beneath The Willow This traditional bluegrass song features Jessie singing the lead vocal, Lee on guitar and David McBrady on bass and vocal harmony.
Nails In My Coffin(written by Gerald Irby) This song orginally written in 1946 features Lee on banjo and rhythm guitar, Jessie singing lead vocal, Elisabeth Williamson on vocal harmony, Christian Ward on fiddle and David McBrady on bass and vocal harmony.
If I Needed You(written by Townes Van Zandt) features Jessie singing the lead vocal, Lee on guitar, Christian Ward on fiddle, David McBrady on bass and Elisabeth Williamson and David McBrady on vocal harmony.
Lee and Jessie Townsend with David McBrady performing Macclenny Farewell at the Will McLean Festival in March, 2016
Macclenny Farewell(written by Will McLean) This love song written by the late Father of Florida Folk features Jessie on the lead vocal, Lee on guitar and David McBrady on bass.
The Line(written by Steve Blackwell) The line was written by the late Steve Blackwell from Punta Gorda who penned this beautiful song about someone reflecting on all of the family members who have gone on before. This rendition of the song features Jessie singing the lead vocal, Lee on guitar and Lon Williamson on bass.
Oh Kissimmee River (written by Dale Crider) Oh Kissimmee River written by environmental troubadour from Windsor, FL, Dale Crider, brings attention to the disastrous environmental effects of trying to straighten the Kissimmee River. This version features Jessie singing the lead vocal, Lee on banjo, Chris Henry on guitar, Red Henry on mandolin and David McBrady on bass.
Withlacoochee River
When I Die (written by Jim Ballew) When I Die is one of the most beautiful songs ever written by the late Jim Ballew. It features Jessie on vocals, Lee on guitar, Chris Henry on mandolin, Red Henry on fiddle and David McBrady on bass.
A Florida Limpkin
Cryin’ Bird (written by Will McLean) Cryin’ Bird by Will McLean brings attention to the potential extinction of Florida’s Limpkin because of the lack of food resources the Limpkin eats in the Wakulla River. Jessie sings vocal, Lee plays guitar, Chris Henry plays mandolin, Red Henry is on the fiddle and David McBrady is on bass. Elisabeth Williamson adds vocal harmony.
Lonesome Wind Blues (written by Wayne Raney) Lonesome Wind Blues is a very traditional bluegrass song. It was originally recorded in 1947 by Wayne Raney and later made famous by the Father of Bluegrass Bill Monroe. In this version Jessie sings the vocals with harmony added by Chris and Red Henry. Lee plays banjo, Chris Henry plays guitar, Red Henry is on the mandolin and David McBrady is on the bass.
Wild Birds (written by Don Grooms) Wild Birds is a love song written by the late Don Grooms. Jessie sings the vocals, Lee is on guitar, Chris Henry is on mandolin, Red Henry is on fiddle and David McBrady is on bass.
Lost Tourist’s Letter Home (written by Ann Thomas) In this tongue-in-cheek song the late Ann Thomas pokes fun at what a lost tourist would write home about if he or she got off a tour bus in the middle of Florida. Jessie sings vocals, Lee plays banjo, Chris Henry is on guitar, Red Henry is on mandolin and David McBrady is on bass
Jessie and Lee have been performing for several years. Venues have included the Florida Folk Festival, the Will McLean Festival, the Alachua and Micanopy Festivals, bluegrass events in Waldo, the Christmas Candelight program at Disney World and a variety of other church services and community events.
To order a CD, please send $15.00 to:
Jessie Townsend 13501 SE 171st Lane
Hawthorne, FL 32640
To book Jessie and Lee for musical performances call 352-575-3042, or send an email to townsendjessie@gmail.com.
(Listen to 23 minute interview with Reaves from 1997 below)
Former All-American quarterback at the University of Florida and pro quarterback for the Tampa Bay Bucs and Bandits, John Reaves, was found dead in his South Tampa home on Tuesday. Authorities are investigating the cause of death. Reaves, who was 67, was found by his son David on Tuesday afternoon. He told authorities it looked as if he had passed away in his sleep.
Editor’s note:
Reaves was considered to be a legend at the University of Florida. He was the starter on the 1969 Gator team that finished the season 9-1-1. By the time his career ended at UF in 1971 he was the NCAA’s all-time leading passer and held the SEC record for touchdown passes with 54.
He then went on to be a first-round draft choice in the NFL and played pro football for 14 years from 1972 to 1987. Ten years were in the NFL and 4 in the USFL. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Houston Oilers, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Bandits, and the Bucs. From 1990 to 1994 Reaves was an assistant coach at the University of Florida. In 1995 he became an assistant football coach at the University of South Carolina where he worked coaching quarterbacks and serving as the passing game coordinator.
He also struggled with demons, namely alcohol, with a variety of sessions in rehab. It was a subject he was not afraid to talk about during a 1997 interview with me, just before the 1997 NFL draft.
Reaves weighed in on the subject of Gator players leaving school early for a chance at the pros, as in the case that year for Gator players Reidel Anthony and Ike Hilliard who were expected to be first-round NFL draft choices. It was just four and a half months after the Gators won the College National Championship beating FSU 52-20 under the leadership of signal-caller, QB and Heisman Trophy winner, Danny Wuerffel.
In our interview below from 1997, Reaves talked about the pros and cons of leaving school early. He also addressed how academic standards had changed since he was in college and how he thought that was a good move to help players find more meaningful paths once their football careers were over. And he addressed his struggle with alcohol after growing up with family members who also faced the same addiction.
Short segments from the interview above were included in an award-winning sports feature titled, “The Dream To Go Pro.”
It was one of my favorite features to work on and included interview segments from not only John Reaves, but also Peyton Manning, Danny Wuerffel, Chris Weinke, Billy Donovan, Jeremy Foley and Perry McGriff to name a few.
Reaves, who divorced some time after the interview above, continued to battle drugs and alcohol throughout his life, but turned to religion for solace. At times in his life he was active with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, his son David Reaves said his father was among the plaintiffs in a suit filed by former NFL players against the league over concussions and brain trauma. The family is looking to donate Mr. Reaves’ brain toward research for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head hits
He had three grown children and five grandchildren. A public funeral will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at South Tampa Fellowship Church at 5101 Bayshore Blvd.
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Tampa Bay Times article:
John Reaves, former Robinson, Gators and Bucs quarterback, dies at 67
TAMPA — He sprouted on the college football landscape when psychedelia was at its heyday. In the immediate wake of Woodstock, John Reaves dropped back and tossed spirals with fearless, free-spirited aplomb.
“I never saw him intimidated, afraid, in the least,” former University of Florida backup center Larry Morris said.
“He would throw an interception and never think twice about dropping back the next time he got the ball and letting it go. He was just a damn gunslinger.”
It was the type of abandon that partially defined the era. On and off the field, Mr. Reaves experimented, took risks, flourished, fizzled. As decades passed, he became a legend.
And a cautionary tale. Click hereto read more of this article in the Tampa Bay Times
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Former Gators QB John Reaves, one of school’s most prolific passers, dies at 67
John Reaves, one of the most prolific quarterbacks in Florida Gator history until the Fun and Gun Era under Steve Spurrier, died on Tuesday at his Tampa home. He was 67.
According to tampabay.com, Reaves was found by his son David, who checked on him after he was not heard from in several days. His death is under investigation by the Hillsborough County Medical examiner.
Reaves played at Florida from 1969-1971 and broke the passing records that were held by Spurrier. Reaves is still seventh on UF’s all-time school career passing yardage list with 7,549 in three years (freshman could not play varsity sports at the time) and eighth in TD passes (54).
When he left school, Reaves was the NCAA career leader in yardage and touchdowns. UF went 20-12-1 during his three years, including a 9-1-1 record when he was a sophomore.
To read more of the Jacksonville Times Union story Click here:
Comedian Bill Cosby giving a 1979 press Conference in KS (photo by Vickie Cooper)
Editor’s note: I was so excited to meet the famous comedian back in 1979. I had memorized many of his comedy routines to use in my speech classes in high school. I remember how shocked I was during the press conference (hear an excerpt below) when he was SO serious about everything. I had expected him to be funny. Now all these years later I realize there was a lot more going on with this man than comedy…..
June 17, 2017: Judge declares a mistrial in Bill Cosby sexual assault case
NORRISTOWN, Pa. — A Pennsylvania judge declared a mistrial Saturday after a jury was deadlocked on sexual-assault charges against Bill Cosby, the comic legend whose legacy as a promoter of wholesome values has been tarnished by a years-long sex and drugging scandal. Click here to read more….
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June 8, 2017: Bill Cosby Trial Day 4: More Testimony, but No Mrs. Cosby
With the major prosecution witnesses now finished testifyingat Bill Cosby’s trial on sexual assault charges, who will the defense introduce soon as part of its rebuttal? Mr. Cosby has said he will not testify. Might he change his mind?
The prosecution plans to call a forensic toxicologist to testify about the effects of quaaludes and other drugs, which prosecutors say Mr. Cosby used to incapacitate women. Click here to read more:
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June 6, 2017:By Donna Green-Townsend
A 50-year-career in the entertainment business is on the line for 79-year-old comedian Bill Cosby.
Cosby is on trial this week in a sexual assault case which many say will “define his legacy” as a father and family man both on screen and off.
Cosby’s private life has been targeted by dozens of young women who say the actor drugged and sexually assaulted them. The majority of those claims will never be decided by a court because of the statute of limitations….basically the women waited too long to come forward. But that’s not the case for former Temple University basketball staffer, 44 year-old Andrea Constand, who will take the stand in suburban Philadelphia this week and tell her story in public for the first time.
There is a bit of irony in the latest troubles facing the revered comedian. In a 1979 press conference, five years before he played the character of Dr. Cliff Huxtable on his popular sitcom, Cosby was critical about the lack of good role models on television. The press conference took place before his show at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, KS.
Excerpt of the 1979 press conference at the KS State Fair:
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First version of story Dec. 4, 2014:
Amid the wave of sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby, the comedian resigned Monday from the board of trustees of his alma mater, Temple University.
Bill Cosby’s troubles continue to mount. On Tuesday a Riverside County, California woman, Judy Huth, filed a lawsuit against the beleaguered comedian alleging he sexually assaulted her in 1974 at the Playboy Mansion when she was 15 years old.
The lawsuit is the latest in a series of sexual assault accusations against 77 year old Cosby. Cosby’s attorney Martin D. Singer, describes the recent accusations as “unsubstantiated, fantastical stories.”
Meanwhile, many of Cosby’s scheduled stage performances have been cancelled. Television executives have halted two of Cosby’s television projects and have also yanked reruns of the popular, “The Cosby Show,” off the air. The sitcom dominated television ratings from1984 to 1992. Before the show, most people primarily knew the comedian for his jello pudding commercials and Fat Albert cartoons along with his many stand-up comedy routines.
Dante Wyndam from Sebring enjoys a swim in Blue Springs
Update February, 2018: Florida officially added Blue Springs as the 175th state park.
Update June 14, 2017: On Wednesday morning the Florida Cabinet approved purchasing Blue Springs Park in Gilchrist County. The state has agreed to pay $5.25 million dollars for the 407-acre property which includes frontage along the Santa Fe River. Real estate sites indicate the value of the property is closer to $10 million dollars. Environmental organizations are praising the purchase decision and have described Blue Springs Park, which has been privately owned since the late 50’s, as an environmental jewel and a win-win for the state.
The park, like many springs in North Central Florida, is packed on a typical summer weekend with swimmers, snorkelers, kayakers, tubers and picnickers.
The video below depicts a typical summer weekend at Blue Springs Park.
(videography by Donna Green-Townsend. Song Blue Springs Swing by Lauren Heintz. Wildwood Flower performed by Sam Pacetti and Gabriel Valla)
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Earlier post: June 19, 2015: Friday morning in Tallahassee, Florida’s Acquisition and Restoration Council unanimously voted to add Blue Springs and the 405-acre property on the Santa Fe River near High Springs to the list of first-magnitude springs the state is seeking to buy with Florida Forever funds.
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Original post:
On June 19th, the state’s Acquisition and Restoration Council will decide whether to add Blue Springs to its larger “First Magnitude Springs” aquisition project. Hundreds of people have signed a petition urging the state to purchase Blue Springs Park in Gilchrist County and turn it into a state park. Environmental groups like, “Our Santa Fe River,” and others point out the purchase would protect the spring from future development and make it available to the general public. They point out how the park already has campsites, parking, boardwalks and other infrastructure which would make the transition to a state park easier.
The 405-acre property along the Santa Fe River in Florida has been privately owned by Kimberly David and Matt Barr since the late 1950s. Blue Springs has been a very popular recreation destination for years. Environmentalists say Blue Springs is a unique treasure and protecting the popular water body is what Floridians had in mind when they voted for Amendment 1, the land conservation constitutional amendment that voters overwhelmingly approved in November.
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An online petitionis circulating asking folks to support the state’s acquisition of Blue Springs Park. The petition reads:
To be delivered to Mr. Hank Vinson, Staff Director, Acquisition and Restoration Council and Mr. Gary Clark, Deputy Secretary for Land and Recreation Designee
Dear Sirs: Your council will soon meet to determine the fate of one of Florida’s finest remaining natural resources and a prime example of what our state can boast as a unique treasure. Gilchrist Blue Springs seems made to order for what the people of Florida had in mind when they voted in Amendment 1. This spring is categorized as a second magnitude, just short of a first magnitude producing approximately 40 million gallons of fresh clean water each day, and as such is one of Florida’s major springs. There are 4 large springs and 2 smaller springs on the property, which has multiple buildings and 25 campsites with electric and water. In addition there are 100+ primitive campsites, nature trails, and a long boardwalk to the Santa Fe River. Wildlife is abundant on the property and especially important for two reasons: it boasts ten species of turtles, second only to the Ichetucknee in the Santa Fe basin, and it has a very high populations of snails, one of which, Elimia sp., is important for controlling nuisance algae. The surrounding land totals nearly 400 acres, which would then be protected from development and would further enhance the overall designation of the Santa Fe as an Outstanding Florida Waterway, ecological greenway, and paddling trail. The venue is already a park and has recreational facilities for swimming, camping and picnicking. The availability of the Gilchrist Blue Springs property comes at an opportune moment, when Amendment 1 funds have been assured by law. Our Santa Fe River encourages your council to grasp this opportunity to preserve this beautiful and invaluable part of the pristine Florida for which it is renowned.
If interested in signing the petition you can go to:
Editor’s note: I’m tickled to say that even though he didn’t use his rifle to shoot down this year’s magnolia blossom, my husband kept his Mother’s Day tradition alive this year (2017).
Here’s the audio version of the chapter called, “Mother’s Day” by Shelley Fraser Mickle. (full written text with pictures can be found below)
I’m proud to call Shelley Fraser Mickle a friend. Shelley is one of the most entertaining writers I’ve ever met. For many years radio listeners were able to hear her commentaries on life on not only WUFT-FM, but also nationally as she contributed her talent doing commentaries for NPR‘s “Morning Edition.” She’s also an award-winning author of several novels.
I always looked forward to the days she would come in to the station and record her commentaries because on those days we had the opportunity to catch up on life. That being said, as a journalist I should have known that some of the “Cross Creek” stories I shared with her would one day make it into print. I’m actually quite pleased she was listening so closely. My family is very proud of the chapter she wrote on my Cross Creek romance called, “Mother’s Day.” She genuinely captured some of the unique qualities of my husband Lee Townsend in our “courting days.”
(Full text of chapter called “Mother’s Day” from Shelley Fraser Mickle’s book, The Kids are gone; The Dog is Depressed & Mom’s On The Loose.)
I have a friend who lives at Cross Creek. She moved there over a decade ago from up North, and she would have left probably any number of times except that she fell in love with a man from the Creek. And that made all the difference. Apparently men at the Creek take the romancing of a woman very seriously.
For instance, a first date might be only a midnight fishing trip under a full moon on Orange Lake. It might be a frog gigging, or a beer shared out on a wooden bench near the Creek until it is dark and quiet, so that then you can listen to the alligators bellow in Lochloosa.
And you’ll know when the courting gets serious if a fella invites you to ride a boat out into the cypress woods after a big rain to watch the water run into the lake.
But no matter if you are fishing, gigging, or watching water, it’s a pretty sure fact that all the while, a certain magic is being practiced on you. So that afterward, it is very likely, your life will never be the same.
Creek men are aware of their power. And they strut it comfortably. For instance, it was reported that at the Marjorie Rawlings’ house, the staff spotted a snake sneaking into one of the rooms, and out of desperation, called one of the Creek men. After all, a man who has grown up at the Creek knows more than you ever want to know about snakes and how to handle them.
As the story goes, this Creek man sauntered up the steps to the house, saying he’d handle that snake, just point him to it. Then went into the room where the snake was and shut the door. In a few minutes he came back out and announced, “That’s a female chicken snake. And it won’t take me but a minute to get her to move on out of here.” One of the caretakers was really curious and asked, “But how do you know it’s a female snake?” The creek man didn’t even blink. “Because she quivered when she looked at me,” he said.
I guess that really does say it all. Yes, the men at the Creek have a certain powerful charm. And it’s said that everybody knows when a creek man is seriously courting a woman, because that’s the only time he wears shoes.
So after my friend fell under the spell of one and married him, then stayed there to raise a family with him, she had to learn how to take on all sorts of new ways of thinking and saying things.
When she became pregnant with their first child, she says she had to relearn how to announce that fact. For out at the Creek no one is ever pregnant. No. Rather it’s that you’re fixin’ to have a youngin’.
And then when the second one came, it was that she was fixin’ to have another one.
In fact, my friend says, since she has made her life at the Creek, she has found that almost everything she does has the word fixin’ it it.
Last year on Mother’s Day, she was in the kitchen fixin’ to have a cup of tea when her husband sauntered up behind her, put his arms around her waist, and said to follow him, that he was fixin’ to give her a Mother’s Day present.
He then led her outside, and on the way, grabbed his rifle, so that in only a minute they were standing under the giant magnolia that shades the whole side of the backyard. Then he propped his rifle on his shoulder and aimed it up toward the tree.
My friend says the blooms were like round white stars, perfuming the air with a sweetness that was like the smell of warm honey, or of spun sugar. Then her husband said to her, “Pick out one darlin’.”
And when she raised her hand toward a bloom near the top, he focused his eye down the rifle’s barrel and shot it down.
“Happy Mother’s Day,” he said, as he bent down and picked up the sweet white blossom that had fallen at her feet.
As the Will McLean Music Festival nears, organizers are celebrating another major development cementing his legacy. In recent weeks the song lyrics, poems, recordings, correspondence and personal items from the late Will McLean (1919-1990) have been transferred to the University of Florida. McLean, known as the “Black Hat Troubadour,” is the first folk artist inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame.
Because current weather patterns moving across the country will block the storm from moving north, weather specialists predict rainfall amounts could total as much as 35+ inches in areas closest to landfall and 15 to 20 inches in a widespread area of southern Texas. The system could also stick around until early next week and move along the Louisiana coast dumping more rain. Mandatory evacuations are already in place and highways are packed with motorists fleeing inland ahead of the hurricane.
The Line (written by Steve Blackwell) The line was written by the late Steve Blackwell from Punta Gorda who penned this beautiful song about someone reflecting on all of the family members who have gone on before. This rendition of the song features Jessie singing the lead vocal, Lee on guitar and Lon Williamson on bass.
(Listen to 23 minute interview with Reaves from 1997 below)
Editor’s note: I’m tickled to say that even though he didn’t use his rifle to shoot down this year’s magnolia blossom, my husband kept his Mother’s Day tradition alive this year (2017).
