Day Jobs?

[mandopete]

Another thread about professional musicians made me think about bluegrass musicians who have employment outside of bluegrass music. #One example that was cited was the Seldon Scene. #I'm curious as to what some of these well known bluegrass musicians do for a living (if it's not the music).

[ourgang]

J.D. Crowe just retired from the U.S. Post Office

In the case of the Seldom Scene you had a mathmatician (Ben Eldridge), a commercial artist (Mike Auldridge), a cartographer (Tom Gray), a surgeon (John Starling) and a person who did instrument repair for a music store (John Duffey).

Caveat: #This my memory of what was listed on the back of their first album.

[jjboone101]

There's that great Johnny Staats who still works during the day at UPS as a delivery man. He's out of this world!

[Moose]

I may be mistaken, but I believe JD "leased" & "maintained" a fleet(!?) of trucks to USPS - the experience/expertiese -I'm sure - comes in handy for the same use of his and others' "tour busses. Of course, let us not forget Monroe... who "farmed"..didn't he..!!?? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[mandopete]

Fascinating stuff - keep 'em comming!

The only one I know of is Emory Lester as he once gave me his card which said that he is a technical illustrator.

[Scotti Adams]

..hey...carry this a step further....what do ya'all do for livin?.....Im a Maintenance Supervisor for our local school system....been here starting my 16th year July 1st...

[mandofiddle]

I'm a graphic designer. A good thing to be when you're in a band http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Flowerpot]

For years and years, Del McCoury cut wood in the winters and did the bluegrass festival circuit in the summers, until he and the boys were able to go full time.

Myself, I'm an engineer designing analog integrated circuits. As far as day jobs go, it ain't too bad at all.

[Moose]

Flowerpot: Thank you for that "anecdote" - yes, Del "worked in timber' for a living early-on. I have a long-time friend in New Jersey that "befriended" Del - and also sold him a herringbone D28 - also years ago ; not sure if THAT'S the Martin he is currently using. Also another of my music friends - in nearby Pennsylvania - gave - and provided "inspiration" - to Ronnie for his mandolin "journey" when he was a VERY young man. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[mandopete]

..hey...carry this a step further....what do ya'all do for livin?.....Im a Maintenance Supervisor for our local school system....been here starting my 16th year July 1st...
Scotti - we've done that one before!

I'm more interested in what the "professionals" do for a living.

[cutbait2]

best source is bluegrass unlimited, they usually feature an article or short clip about somebody who was on the road 10 yrs then quit to work for Lockheed. musicians are now folk heroes i think in the old time days they were considered loafers unless they had a day job.

[Scotti Adams]

..hmm..I must have missed that one...sorry Pete....David Parmley runs a tour bus fixer up shop......Barry Berrier is one excellent autobody man.....Joe Mullins owns his own radio station..WBZI 1500 am, Xenia, Ohio.....Ricky Wasson..guitar player with Crowe owns a music store...Dwight McCall, mando player with Crowe owns some kind of moving business....Mike Lilly..once a pro drives a big rig now....Harley Allen....big shot song writer in Nashville...Ray Deaton owns Deaton Entertainment....Steve Dilling..banjo player with IIIrd Tyme Out works in a music store....Red Allen once worked for NCR and Frigidaire while playing full time.....give me time..I will think of others...

[LeftCoastMark]

Jerry Garcia, a man with a passion for OT and Bluegrass, had a great day job with some other band......I don't recall the name.....

[Moose]

Thank you....Scotti A. for your informative answer(s) - PHEW!!! (I wonder what some of these "newbie" folks must really think of us - when they ask a very innocent and valid "newbie" question...)- Carry on. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[mandopete]

Gee, I hardly think of myself as a "newbie" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

It's really just idle curiousty and nothing else. I had heard at one time that Tex Logan used to work at Bell Labs. I really find it fascinating to find out that many of our bluegrass heros are just ordinary working folks during the week days. It does seem that spending any amount of time as a bluegrass performer provides a good introduction to auto mechanics. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[neal]

I have a "Little Debbie" distributorship In Milwaukee. I think I'll be doing this for some time...... God I hate cake.

[jim simpson]

A musician friend from the D.C. area told me a lot of the folks he knew in the biz were house painters. He would get pick up work with folks like the Stanley Bros., Red Allen, etc. He was good friends with Buz Busby, Scotty Stoneman and family, and others I've forgotten. The best thing I enjoy is all the musician stories I hear from him as he is a bit older than me (me being a kid of 50!)

[rixter]

Saw in another newslist that Mike Compton also has a day job, but they didn't say what it was. Can anybody here verify that?

[Scotti Adams]

..I think Compton works at a print shop...

[AlanN]

David Harvey, Fred Carpenter - instrument repair
Bobby Clark - Recording Engineer
Brian Aldridge (DBFS) - knucklehead http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[GVD]

neal Posted on June 08 2004, 16:39

I have a "Little Debbie" distributorship In Milwaukee. #I think I'll be doing this for some time...... God I hate cake.

Yeah but do you like Camel Walk by Southern Culture on the Skids ? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

GVD

[Scotti Adams]

...nope actually Brian owns and operates a spouting company handed down from his father, Howard...a fine banjo player in his own right...Ron Thomasson...english teacher...its true..at least he was before Dry Branch went on to bigger things..

[AlanN]

I knew that, Scotti, jes' messin with my pal Brian. He's lookin good, lost some weight, must be that new-fangled DBFS diet...Don't Buy Food Soon... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[JDARTGOD]

Jeff Parker of LRB did ALOT of contractor painting while doing some music stuff in and around Central Kentucky back in the 80s. We did alot of construction work (roofing/siding) with my dad when painting got slow. Not sure how much "real work" he did during those Renfro Valley Music Barn years, but he now runs a humble music shop by his house in Berea, while keeping a very full LRB schedule.

I am nearly 17 years into a very satisfying military career as a US Navy Submarine Senior Chief Mechanic.

[Ken Berner]

Jeff, you don't look old enough to have been in the Navy 17 years! Almost time to retire; then what?

[Moose]

Hey mandopete..: no harm intended! - I was referring to the "I'm-a-newbie" folks who ask for opinions/info on such "topics" as "define Bluegrass"..., the most important CD to have..", Radious or "flat" fingerboard..etc. and we(!) folks go off waving our flag(s) for OUR VERY subjective opinions and/or preferences - hence the new-to-mandolin poster gets a "barrage"/spectrum/range of answers - ALL trying to help, but sometimes just confusing the said poster. (I've done it myself!!##). Regards, Moose. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Scotti Adams]

I knew that, Scotti, jes' messin with my pal Brian. He's lookin good, lost some weight, must be that new-fangled DBFS diet...Don't Buy Food Soon... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
..must be....I know we were on that Adkins diet at the same time...he had the will power to hang in there....me?...I need my bread..... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[cutbait2]

jdart, i was a MM on a boomer in the early 70's, we used to pic in the lower level MC, had a guitarist, banjo picker, and myself on harmony A mando. BG and nuclear weapons, quite a combo..........

[JDARTGOD]

Well Ken, the crystal ball has me leaving my current shore duty in Pensacola and returning to the Deep Blue Sea for 3 or 4 years. After that, a Shore Duty to set up retirement @ the 24 year point. You never know though, after this next sea tour, if something comes along too good to pass up....? I'll be involved in BG music in some capacity, but I have no grand visions of "STARDOM"... I just love playing, being around those who do as well, and all the cameraderie that BG breeds. I'll have a "day job", I'm sure, until actual retirement.

Cutbait, Nuc or A-gang? I'm the A-Gang Submarine Mechanic Advancement Exam Writer for the Navy. I've been on the USS Sandlance SSN-660 and the USS Kamehameha (SSN-642). (Formerly SSBN-642) She was converted to a Special Operations (Navy Seals) platform in 1993. I was on her from 1998 until her decommissioning in 2002. My Martin(s) and 12 String Ovation have been all over the world!

[Dru Lee Parsec]

Jerry Garcia, a man with a passion for OT and Bluegrass, had a great day job with some other band......I don't recall the name.....
But do you know what a Dead Head says when the drugs wear off?



"Dude! This music sucks! "

[cutbait2]

jdart, i was a nuc MM1 (eventually) on the 643, part of which is now a display at kings bay. my harmony A fit well in my seabag and traveled to some interesting places, though neither of us saw them (being underwater).

[John S]

I'm a research engineer at Abbott Labs for my day job, doing work mostly on solid dosage forms (tabletting/capsuling of drug compounds). And I won't be quitting my day job, either http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[garyblanchard]

Jerry Garcia, a man with a passion for OT and Bluegrass, had a great day job with some other band......I don't recall the name.....
But do you know what a Dead Head says when the drugs wear off?



"Dude! #This music sucks! "
As a "Dead Head" who is not only clean and sober but who is an addictions counselor, I would certainly not say that. There were times when the jams didn't work, but it was always great music. That having been said, I was always more a fan of Jerry's acoustic side ventures. I would never have considered mandolin if it weren't for the Garcia/Grisman "Shady Grove" CD.

[mandopete]

......any chance we could get back to orignal subject?

[Bobbie Dier]

John Hartford was a river boat pilot,or was that a hobby? Jack Tottle is a teacher and runs the bluegrass program at ETSU, I think Tim Stafford is a proffesor there also. Ed Snodderly owns/runs a picking parlor/coffeehouse.

[Scotti Adams]

..cool....Don Rigsby teaches at Morehead U. Teaches something to do with music...

[duuuude]

What, we're supposed to work? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Won't that cut into my pickin' time?

[mandocrustacean]

Does Chris Thile have a day job or go to college?

[dixiecreek]

he went to college in I think Kentucky for awhile, but he had to stop going 'cause he got too busy with the band... as far as day jobs, he plays his mando for 4-8 hours a day, how's that for a job? (I know 'cause I asked him, haha) ;)

[Salty Dog]

Scotti, you have mentioned Joe Mullins. #Do you know where the other members of the "Traditional Grass" are now and what they are doing?. #I have every CD they made and think they were one of the best bands ever, especially their gospel stuff.

[Scotti Adams]

..well..my dad was the origional bass player for a few years and he lives right down the road from me here in Xenia, Ohio....Mike Clevenger is a carpenter living in Athens Ohio...Moon Mullins works for Joe and lives in Middletown Ohio.....Gerald Evans has his own band now..Paradise....Ive set in with them a few times and he lives in Lynchburg Ohio...Cookie Inman..payed bass some with the Traditional Grass..hes living in Tenn. and plays bass now with Geralds group....Mark Radar is living in the Middletown area....Im not really sure what he is doing now a days..maybe selling insurance. Joe and Moon also have the WBZI Bluegrass Band that plays around the area....mostly car lot openings, fairs, goat ropings and the such....hope this helps...

[AlanN]

<<<mostly car lot openings, fairs, goat ropings and the such>>>

Goat ropings, huh? I gotta get me out to Ohio, and see that for myself http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Scotti Adams]

..and dog and pony shows.... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ethanopia]

Didn't the Osborne Brothers work at NCR in Dayton for a while?

Back when NCR acutally made cash registers http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Scotti Adams]

yup..

[Cactus Jack]

Allison Krauss is a band/CD/etc. producer. Although I have a hunch she doesn't really NEED a "day job!" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Tim Saxton]

Danny Barnes (mandolin) of Pine Mt. Railroad is an electrical contractor when he is not on the road.

Tim Saxton

[Mike Bullard]

Can't really verify this but I heard Vasser Clements was a bread salesman running a route years ago.

I work from noon to one each day, take an hour for lunch and two fifteen minute breaks...semi retired Fleet Manager. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[John Flynn]

Curtis Buckhannon is an offset printer. The other half of the Buckhannon Brothers, guitarist Dennis Buckhannon, is a house painter.

[mandopete]

Allison Krauss is a band/CD/etc. producer. #Although I have a hunch she doesn't really NEED a "day job!" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
I think you might mean Alison Brown. #She and her husband run Compass Records.

It's interesting to look at this list of jobs held by various bluegrass musicians. #Seems like the job of "house painter" comes up pretty often.

All of this reminds me of a saying that I think was attributed to Charles Bukowski...

What you want to do and what you got to do are the same thing.

[Ken Berner]

Scotti, I'm amazed that syrup soppins aren't among y'alls favorite venues; 'course I realize that you can't be everywhere at once! Best wishes for the future, as you might get to play at one yet!

[Scotti Adams]

..ha ha..cant say Ive ever been to one of those Ken...have to put that on my "To Do" List...

[danman]

Mike Marshall worked in music stores at one time. Tony King, guitar player with JD Crowe was a Toyota saleman. Marty Rabon worked in construction. Red Johnson, fiddler with Hank Williams, Sr. and Louvin Bros. worked for a canning company for 30 years during the day.

[Scotti Adams]

Bill and Charlie Monroe worked in car factories in Detroit..

[Brian Aldridge]

hello Alan and Scotti, sorry I am late in on this thread! Actually I play music for a living and put up gutter for fun! Alan, you were my major inspiration to loose some weight. I figured if you could do it so could I! BTW... I got Dorsey Harvey's album on CD now. He gets me fired up about playing all over again.

[Patrick Gunning]

Greg Spatz (fiddler with John Reischman + Jaybirds) teaches English at Eastern Washington University, and is also a published author.

[Scotti Adams]

..yea..Dorsey was the man....its a shame more people didnt get to enjoy his playing.....I think Lil' David said something to the effect that he was remastering that record and adding different players behind Dorsey...bringing it more up to date...