Clayton McMichen photographer unknown These poems, stories, songs, quote, and art have been gathered from all over the world, partly via FIDDLE-L, an online list for fiddlers and those who love fiddle music. dhebert@crocker.com

Staying in One Key - Forever by Betty Vornbrock Billy & I met at a jam session in Independence, Va, hosted for over 40 years, every Tuesday evening, by Blanche & Ellis Nichols in their rather small kitchen. Blanche is a niece to Wade Ward, of Galax banjo fame. She's a guitarist, and is one notable female musician of this area who didn't lay her music down-- played dances and festivals and whatever, all her life. Anyway, that jam is notorious for starting a 7 pm in A, then changing to D about 8 pm, then G for a spell before breaking up at about 10. The last chunk might include a few waltzes, or tunes from new jammers, or if Wayne Henderson dropped in, then he was obliged to pick whatever he wanted as fast and in whatever key. But there was always somebody who would look at the clock and notice when it was time to change keys, "Hey-- it's G O'clock!" or when it happened to be "D:18" or "D:28"... Blanche, a year or two ago, was moved from her home to a nursing home here in Hillsville. The jam missed a couple of Tuesdays, then just moved itself to her new place, and continues on, now entertaining the other residents after supper on Tuesdays. She still can hold her guitar and strum, but unfortunately her abilities are not quite the same. Heath Higgins, nephew of Charlie Higgins, had also been part of that jam until recently. He has a very simple, but sweet fiddle style - my favorite version of Liberty is from his playing. Betty Vornbrock is a Virginia fiddler and fiddle teacher.