Women with Mandolins

**journeybear** · May-11-2010, 10:25am

Well, I got my flyer for this year's Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and it looks like an off year. In fact, if you take out Gandalf Murphy, The Kennedys, and The Nields you ain't left with much, as far as I'm concerned. Even Jimmy LaFave can't save it.

But I did see Red Molly are playing there, a bit of a homecoming for them (they met in the campground in 2004). So I thought I'd post some pics of Carolann Solebello playing mandolin. Little did I know what such a seemingly simple task would entail. An hour later, after scanning through their recent "Tour Photos" albums and coming up empty

- even the folder of pics from a recording session showed only some GUY playing mandolin (yes, a human being with XY chromosomes) - I grew disheartened. Then I started going through their photo archives from 2005 - 2007. Before my eyes glazed over at the prospect of having to scan through 7 pages of 131 folders containing 2358 photos, I did find these. I have to wonder, though, as I haven't seen them play - Does Carolann play mandolin live? Much? Any more? Because I haven't seen much evidence in my searching, and none since 2007. If anyone has some input, I'd like to hear it.

BTW & FWIW, Laurie MacAllister plays banjo and fiddle, but not mandolin (and oddly, her fiddling isn't mentioned in their bio). I also included an artsy photo of Abbie Gardner's much-worn polka dot dress, matching shoes, and dobro.

**roscoestring** · May-11-2010, 11:42am

My daughter Amy. This was taken one week before she died in an automobile accident. She was 18. Loved bluegrass and loved Cherryholmes. 2007.

**MikeEdgerton** · May-11-2010, 11:57am

Originally Posted by roscoestring

My daughter Amy. This was taken one week before she died in an automobile accident. She was 18. Loved bluegrass and loved Cherryholmes. 2007.

I'm sorry for your loss.

**David Newton** · May-11-2010, 3:42pm

Roscoe,
What can I say? So sorry.

**JEStanek** · May-11-2010, 4:07pm

I hope the pain of three years ago has subsided somewhat for you Roscoe, and you can remember the joy and lessons your daughter taught you. I'm sorry for your most tragic loss.

Jamie

**roscoestring** · May-11-2010, 6:35pm

Nah, it never goes away. She was a whiz on mandolin though. She was pretty good on guitar and bass also. My world has been empty for the last three years. On a happier note though my son and his wife should have a new little girl by this time next week. Still, I'm too young to be a gramps.

**Django Fret** · May-12-2010, 6:28am

Roscoe, I add my condolences and hope your grand daughter will be a joy to you and your family.

**journeybear** · May-12-2010, 5:48pm

I get emails ... Friend of mine (OK, Patti again) posted a picture on facebook from an old gig, and while scanning through the photographer's work found this. That's all I know.

**mandoisland** · May-13-2010, 3:14am

Alex Pangman of Lickin' Good Fried: http://www.lickingoodfried.com/

**Phil Goodson** · May-13-2010, 6:57am

Originally Posted by journeybear

.... I have to wonder, though, as I haven't seen them play - Does Carolann play mandolin live? Much? Any more? Because I haven't seen much evidence in my searching, and none since 2007. If anyone has some input, I'd like to hear it......

Yeah, I love Red Molly.
Although Carolann does play mando on some songs, seems that she's playing guitar or bass guitar most of the time these days. I think they all do a great job.

**journeybear** · May-14-2010, 9:26am

Originally Posted by mandoisland

Alex Pangman of Lickin' Good Fried: http://www.lickingoodfried.com/

TWO mandolins! THAT'S what I'm talkin' about! Rhythm AND lead - there ya go! That's Andrew Collins on the other one. They're from Toronto. Alex survived a double lung transplant, BTW.

**tree** · May-14-2010, 2:05pm

Whoa . . . Art Carney lives!

**roscoestring** · May-14-2010, 3:24pm

Well, she hasn't started actually playing yet but she did get her first exposure to a mandolin. Emily Brooke was born yesterday. She weighed 3 lbs/13 oz. I hope she can grow into this thing. The mandolin is hers now. It belonged to her aunt Amy.

**mandoisland** · May-14-2010, 4:28pm

Originally Posted by journeybear

TWO mandolins! THAT'S what I'm talkin' about! Rhythm AND lead - there ya go! That's Andrew Collins on the other one. They're from Toronto. Alex survived a double lung transplant, BTW.

Thanks for adding the pics!
You can listen to a concert on demand with Lickin Good Fried at the CBC concert on demand site http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/cod/concerts/20091103lickn

**CES** · May-14-2010, 4:54pm

Roscoe, that's awesome! Congratulations...I bet she'll have good callouses in a month or two

**journeybear** · May-16-2010, 12:17pm

This is what happens when one's computer is down ... one misses out on things ... like our very own Mystery Mandoliniste

deciding to step out from the shadows and no longer hide her light under a bushel ... a courageous act.

Hope you don't me doing this.

Just remember - she may be all smiles here, but she's a Chordbanger!

**Wesley** · May-18-2010, 8:59pm

Roscoe - They just don't get any cuter than that. Congrats.

**journeybear** · May-23-2010, 4:13pm

Did a little more searching and came up with more pics of Linda King from Citizen's Band Radio. Tough gig, having to put up with five hairy guys.

Included a non-MC shot for you fashionistas.

**brunello97** · May-24-2010, 10:16pm

Oooh. She has what looks like an EM150 there.

Mick

**journeybear** · May-24-2010, 11:42pm

Sure looks like it.

Can't make out what the F-style is, though.

**Schlegel** · May-25-2010, 3:39pm

Nice, Roscoe! My daughter was born the very same day... she got that same pink hat, too. I just could not get it to stay on!

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**journeybear** · May-25-2010, 8:09pm

Guys - I don't want to be a killjoy or party pooper but -

Maybe family pix should be another thread. "Babies With Mandolins." I dunno.

Not trying to start any trouble, or even a discussion. Just a suggestion.

Peace.

**D C Blood** · May-25-2010, 8:47pm

Hey JourneyBear, I especially like Linda's Sunset Park TeeShirt...

**journeybear** · May-25-2010, 9:26pm

It is a nice design. Is that from somewhere in your neck of the woods?

Glancing through recent posts I see some have grumbled about a slowdown on this thread. I apologize for my hand in that, as my computer was gephlunkta for the greater part of April. That meant using machines at work and the library, severely limiting my access. Now that I've got it running again, although mysteriously not as spiffily, and also inheriting a pretty spiffy laptop (though it's a Mac and I'm rusty with these, plus the '/" key doesn't work (cut and paste does, though

), I've been able to resume my participation at The Forum. Hopefully I'll be getting back up to speed soon.

But I also got to thinking - maybe a reason why this thread has been slowing down is due to a dearth of concert appearances of female mandolinists as witnessed by members. Hopefully that will pick up as festival season gets in gear. I know that the list is pretty short for me, and includes Lorraine Duisit (Post #1), Nina Gerber, Marti McGuire, Carrie Rodriguez, The Ditty Bops, and maybe one or two more - and only the first two were live, the others were on TV one way or another. The vast majority of pics I"ve posted have been found via internet searches. I know mandolinists are a rare breed, and apparently female ones even more so, but it has been one hope for me that this thread would help increase awareness of the contributions of female mandolinists to our culture. I keep hoping ...

**journeybear** · May-25-2010, 9:35pm

For the milestone Post #2000 I thought it might be fitting to present something community-oriented rather than single out an individual. So - mandolin orchestras! Some of these have appeared before. but it's good to remember. Some from back in the day, some from much more recently. Some of you may recognize at least one member, plus a few honored guests ...

I apologize for the layout. Seems to be out of my control.