The Floyd County KFTC Chapter held their 1st Annual Mountain Music Gathering as a Picnic and Friendraiser today, the even was a huge success. About 60 people came out to the Dewey Lake Picnic Shelter to hear some relatively new and some very old traditional mountain music. Larry Webster and the Mule Band kicked things off with a song from the mid 1800's that mentions the Breaks in the Mountain near Elkhorn City in Pike County.

    There were loads of traditional old-time mountain musicians performing in front of the PA system and gathering in circles for jam sessions. The highpoint of the day was definitely when Joseph Ratliff went on stage. Joseph is a former preacher from Floyd County and is the father of Dolvin Ratliff. According to Dolvin this was the first time his father had ever played in front of an audience besides family and friends.

    A few months ago at a Floyd County Chapter meeting Beverly May mentioned that Joseph Ratliff had a unique style of banjo picking, well unique is an understatement. Apparently he uses his thump as well as his other fingers to pick in a style different from most. It was incredible.

    When Mr. Ratliff got up on stage he opened up by saying "There are two types of Bluegrass music, flatland Bluegrass like what Bill Monroe use to play and Mountain Bluegrass which is what I play. I don't have a lot of people who try to play along with me because I play so fast, it's just the way I've played since I was 8 years old. Bill Monroe use to play fast, but I play a whole lot faster than Bill." He then proceeded to play about five banjo tunes and everyone was amazed by how fast he could play. After about the third song Mr. Ratliff said it's getting harder for him to play because he's got arthritis in his hands. He finished his set off with an a cappella version of Amazing Grace.

    There were a host of other great musicians who performed, John Hawood and Ponty's Camper, John Harrod and Tona Barkley and Ada and Jimmy McCown and many others. Members of the Floyd County Chapter of KFTC provided hamburgers and hot-dogs, chips drinks home-made desserts as well as a host of great door-prises for everyone attending. We got some new members, raised some funds, and had members sign-up for our Each One Reach One Campaign. Special thanks to KFTC members Sr. Kathleen, Rick, Beverly, Betty, Kathy, Nathan, Glen, John, Kris, Charlene and Dolvin for helping to make this an excellent event.