Any world leaders into Bluegrass?

[Keith Erickson]

I was just reading the news that Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi is a huge Elvis fan and having a blast down in Graceland.

I was wondering are their any heads of state that could be a big Bill Monroe fanatic (or bluegrass in general).

Disclaimer: Thread originally meant to be just for fun. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Scotti Adams]

Sen. Robert Byrd is a fiddle player...Ive got an album by him.

[mandopete]

Not sure about bluegrass, but I think W is really into disco-punk!

I give this thread 24 hours to be shut down.

[AlanN]

Sen. Robert Byrd is a fiddle player...Ive got an album by him.
Yep, with Doily Lawson and Bailey James...

[Keith Erickson]

Sen. Robert Byrd is a fiddle player...Ive got an album by him.
I did not know that. Interesting tid bit. Not surprising that West Virginia has lot's of great musicians.

[Scotti Adams]

Sen. Robert Byrd is a fiddle player...Ive got an album by him.
Yep, with Doily Lawson and Bailey James...
Yep.

[Jim MacDaniel]

(This thread looks like an ideal opportunity for some of you Photoshop users out there to practice your skills. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif )

[Jonathan James]

I know Mike Compton and NBB played at the White House when one of the heads of state from China visited recently...

As Mike said at Merlefest, a couple days in DC to clear all the security loopholes, played for about 10 minutes and didn't get paid a dime.

[Elliot Luber]

Is it true that our president plays the banjo? Just asking.:D

[Keith Erickson]

I hope that this wasn't a bad idea. #My idea for this thread was inspired by the Prime Minister of Japans visit to Graceland. #He really looked like he was having a good time and his visit to Graceland was a life long dream.

My intent was just to see how much bluegrass is respected and accepted around the world and have a little fun in the process. #My hope was never to create a thread that would eventually end up locked.

[AlanN]

That dude is skinny, very un-Elvis like...

[Elliot Luber]

I heard Clinton fiddled around, so Hilary as second fiddle makes sense!

[Elliot Luber]

I think the media recently said what President Bush and VP Dick Cheney had on their ipods, but I don't remember the details other than it was nothing earthshattering.

[Philip Halcomb]

Jimmy Carter had the Bluegrass Boys and Doc Watson over at the White House in 1980.

[Bluegrass Boy]

Got a picture of Bill and Bill (Clinton and Monroe) together from the book "Can't You Hear Me Calling." Not sure whether Clinton is into bluegrass but I hear tell they're both into chasing women. Bet those two could swap a yarn or two.

[Bob Sayers]

This brings back fond memories. I was working for the Smithsonian Folklife Office in 1980 and Ralph Rinzler invited me, harmonica player Charlie Sayles, and a couple others to a Labor Day picnic at the White House. We drove through the WH gates in Ralph's gigantic 1930s limousine (don't remember the make). We sat on the south lawn a few feet from Jimmie Carter eating fried chicken and listening to Doc Watson. I believe that folklorist Archie Green officiated. An amazing experience!

Bob

[James P]

http://talkleft.com/bushplaysguitar.jpg

Heckuva job on the G maj, George. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Wish I could play piano half as well as Condi Rice.

[Keith Erickson]

http://talkleft.com/bushplaysguitar.jpg

Heckuva job on the G maj, George. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Wish I could play piano half as well as Condi Rice.
I don't mean to be a sticker, but I think he's playing on the wrong fret. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

This kind of hits a sour note with me. I used to play in another church choir years ago and the one guitar players would always fret the chord wrong and it would sound terrible.

[BluegrassGirl26]

I don't mean to be a sticker, but I think he's playing on the wrong fret. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
That's probably why it looks like Mark Wills is running towards him with his hand about to grab the guitar, and his face doesn't have a pleasing look on it either. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Keith Erickson]

Hey BluegrassGirl,

Yeah I'm pretty sure I gave those same exact looks.

The strange thing about it was that guy I played in the choir with would sometimes get on a roll and play the whole song off by one fret. #Then he would start making strange faces throughout the song like something wasn't right. #I can't count how many times that I would try to get his attention and he would shew me away like a fly.

At then end of mass he would complain to me that he needed a new guitar because his was totally out of tune. #....and every week I would tell him that he was totally off by one fret. #I never knew why I would even bother. # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[barry k]

Ex- head of the state of Georgia, Zell Miller , former Governor and Senator, is a mandolin player, and bluegrass fan .Dont know if that counts?

[swampstomper]

If we're going historical, I nominate Jimmie Davis, the Singing Governor. Of course he was a country star and songwriter well before he sang his way to the governership. And I believe he pardoned Leadbelly off the farm in Angola, LA.

[andy.bole]

Sen. Robert Byrd is a fiddle player...Ive got an album by him.
I did not know that. #Interesting tid bit. #Not surprising that West Virginia has lot's of great musicians.
Tid bit....that a funny expression, in the U.K we say Tit bit....i wonder how it got changed and who by, the Brits or Yanks....
World leaders tend to be Rockers i think.
here's a pic of our so called leader.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38467000/jpg/_38467649_blairguitar300.jpg

Tony rockin out
http://www.bloggerheads.com/images/tony_blair_guitar.jpg
and here's Brazilian president Luiz lula da silva with Lenny Kravitz
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40947000/jpg/_40947461_kravitz200.jpg

[andy.bole]

http://www.dcguitar.org/wgs/images/KerryGuitar2.jpg
John Kerryhttp://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39873000/jpg/_39873725_kerryap203body.jpg

#NOW THIS LADY REALLY DOES LOOK LIKE THE REAL DEAL.

#Rebecca Latimer Felton
The first woman to serve in the United States Senate, Rebecca Latimer Felton (1835-1930) of Georgia took the oath of office on November 21, 1922.
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/graphic/large/FeltonGuitar.jpg

[kestrel]

I believe G-dubya is into "noo-Q-lurr" Rock. I won't even go there, or mandopete will be right. Way less than 24 hrs.

[Keith Erickson]

....that a funny expression, in the U.K we say Tit bit....i wonder how it got changed and who by, the Brits or Yanks....
World leaders tend to be Rockers i think.
here's a pic of our so called leader.
Hey Andy,

I'm willing to be that I'm saying it wrong. #My Mom and Dad are from Pennsylvania and they had a way of saying things that I'll never understand.

Heck I'm in Texas and I'm sure that we butcher the English language daily to the point that it would make one wince #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I have to say that I've learned quite a lot of interesting facts on this thread. #

However I was lóóking for something pretty spicy like: The supreme ruler of Turkmenistan would listen to black market Flatt & Scruggs records when he was a kid and is a huge bluegrass fanatic. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

...but I'm not disappointed in the musical trivia.

# http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[swampstomper]

We gave Kruschev a chance to bring along his balalaika and pick with Jimmy and JD and Big Paul.... but AFAIK he was too busy stomping his shoe in the rhythm section.