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CLL BLOG UPDATED 5/4/13 Chris Ethridge's favorite expression: Lord Have Mercy! the perfect Southern gentlemanly expression. Live from the April 20 Sucarnochee Revue! Waiting For The Hard Times To Go You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
12/8/12 . . . I'm goin' fishin'! Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm goin' fishin'. Fishin' in the rain, just fishin' in the rain . . . That's akin to mixed musical metaphors.
7/26/12 Our Western Trip A special thank you to all my California friends for sharing the wonderful gift of music with us. Piper, Olivia (Livi, my 5 year old granddaughter), and I made the trip from Mississippi to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains for a delightful time of music and friendship. Piper and Olivia are the queens of camp and I am just their footman. I've never been prouder to be anything more than I was then. Livi was a real trouper on the long trip, traveling like a pro all the way. She got to see the Grand Canyon and enjoy a romp in the desert, and during our stop in Needles, CA, got to find out what a place that is REALLY hot is like. "But that dry, desert heat is tolerable," I can hear some of you saying. Let me assure you, during the middle of a monsoon where the rain is falling all around, evaporating before it hits the ground just filling the air with humidity, 123 degrees is HOT, HOT, HOT. Even the people of Needles said we were there on a really bad day. I'd say so, too! California is a land of extremes . . . from the sublimely beautiful, to the most intensively farmed land you can imagine, to some of the harshest and most remote places on the planet. It has been my joy and pleasure to spend much time there in that remarkable place and to make so many friends I will keep for the rest of my life. Thank you all for our wonderful hospitality. We Mississippians pride ourselves on our hospitality, but let us never think we have a lock on it; people the world over extend the most gracious hospitality towards others, and Californians are no exception. I will be posting some videos soon, but here are audio recordings from my ZOOM H2N recorder, which I placed on the stage with us during our 7/19/12 set at Will's Cantina, located within the confines of a magical place near Fresno. To Will, I say, "Salute," and thank you for the wonderful venue you have worked hard to provide for us share our music with others who seem to enjoy it so much, and for the delicious food you prepare, every plate of which is its own work of culinary art and skill. The only food canned in California is that which is exported to Mississippi. There's nothing quite like fresh California produce. The ZOOM recorder picked up every nuance of noise from the stage, including foot tapping on the plywood floor, and the creaks of the stage as it groaned from all 250 lbs. of me moving around on its surface. Thanks, also, to Nick, who worked hard to schedule all the music at the Cantina. Thanks to Kevin and Calvaleigh. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard, those seen and unseen, to create this magic time and space for a us all to expand to fit. It is larger than we think. This is LIVE music. If you like LIVE music, then I hope you will enjoy the following tunes. Thank you for listening. All songs are ©J. Christopher Sharp, except Poor Mississippi Me, Why Not Tonight, and Angelina Baker. Poor Mississippi Me is ©Piper E. Lauderdale. The publisher for all my tunes and Piper's is Stump Whipped Music/ASCAP. Why Not Tonight is an old Hymn. Angelina Baker is attributed to Stephen Foster, but there is some disagreement among those who study these things as to its actual origin. I can live with Stephen Foster!! Piper and I are playing guitar and singing. The sublimely talented band of friends accompanying us is: Mayne Smith, Dobro; Markie Sanders, Bass; Bob Applebaum, Mandolin; and Blaine Sprouse, Fiddle. What a band! I was so beside myself with joy that folks in the crowd were wondering if there were two of me on stage. You can right click on these MP3's and download them if you'd like. From a Sow's Ear We'll Have a Silk Purse CLL Blog Updated 7/6/12 From the March 2, 2012 SUCARNOCHEE REVUE 2/18/12 From Mississippi Public Broadcasting and picked up by NO DEPRESSION! Thanks, Max Shores, Producer of The Sucarnochee Revue TV show!
Here is a link to NO DEPRESSION's website: http://www.nodepression.com/video/sucarnochee-revue-things-mississippi-chris-sharp-and-the-jang-a 2/11/12 We will welcome friends and fellow traveling minstrels LARRY HANKS and DEBORAH ROBINS for a stop at Timberview Lodge along their USA Tour. They will be giving a concert at the Lodge on Sunday afternoon, February 26, 2012. This is FREE to the public and we can hardly wait. Won't you come?
A few MP3's for your listening enjoyment! Riverboat Song - with the incomparable Butch Robins on Banjo! From a long ago session never released. Bach Diddley an instrumental MP3 file from my friends STRING MADNESS (Mitch Greenhill, Peter Spelman, and Bob Applebaum) Uploaded by permission. Enjoy this!! I sure did! 12/16/11 New Song Uploaded: Sweet Maggie's Eyes Listen to the MP3 at the link below. I am starting to work on a new studio album that will feature all original music. This will be one of the songs. I hope you like it. This song is dedicated to my baby granddaughter, Magnolia Mae. Everything you hear on "Sweet Maggie's Eyes" is me. Now when I get the band up here, we'll record it with that synergy you can only get with a band. ©2012 J. Christopher Sharp Stump Whipped Music ASCAP CAE0095431 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED A new record of live music is in the can (I do love LIVE music so!) and masters have been delivered to Silver Wolf Records' Murray Krugman. Artwork is next, then a release in April 2012. It has been a rather long hiatus, but you regular readers understand the adventures I have been on. I've been so busy writing my blog that I have neglected writing music, and SURELY neglected the recording of it. Volume II of THE CHRONIC DIARIES now ready for download. Some Day You'll Be Mine
Heart Still in Louisville
WHY NOT TONIGHT
From the 9/16/11 Sucarnochee Revue
WHY NOT TONIGHT is a fabulous Louvin Brothers tune! Thanks, Piper! David is chewing up the scenery with that Slide Resonator Guitar.
SOMEDAY YOU'LL BE MINE is one of my new songs. This was our first performance of it. Songs Recorded LIVE at the MILL The band was: Bob Applebaum - Mandolin; Mayne Smith - Dobro; Markie Sanders - Bass; Ray Bierl - Fiddle; Piper Lauderdale - Guitar and Harmony Vocals; and me! You can right click your mouse on the link and it should start playing, or feel freee to download it. More on my trip to California in a couple of days. I am the writer of all these songs except POOR MISSISSIPPI ME and BORN AGAIN. POOR MISSISSIPPI ME was written by Piper Sharp Lauderdale. The publisher of all those songs is STUMP WHIPPED MUSIC/ASCAP, except for BORN AGAIN, which is a Louvin Brothers tune. All we Bluegrassers are mourning the passing of the great Kenny Baker. Never has one graced the stage with a bow arm like him. It is not arguable that he was one of the greatest fiddlers to take up a bow. His influence will continue to live on after him. May God's peace be upon his family and friends. I managed to acquire some of the Cobalt Power Picks from finger-pick innovator Bob Perry. I have used Bob's Cobalt picks for a long time now, at least 7 years. I have no others in my pick arsenal. All my old Nationals have been retired to a drawer in my china cabinet. I'm keeping them for posterity, but I use the Cobalts every day. Please, visit Bob's website at: www.cobaltbp.com Below is a link to a video on Facebook shot by my friend Rick Courtney. It is from the July 1, 2011, Sucarnochee Revue. Allen Sibley and I are having a good time with Bill Monroe's TOY HEART. New videos from the 5/6/11 Sucarnochee Revue
THINGS is about how tornadoes can tear things up. From my own experience in December, 2000, and dedicated to all those people who lost more than mere THINGS on April 27, 2011.
New videos featuring some hot fiddling with my Jang-A-Langers and Blaine Sprouse, from 4/1/11! ANGELINA BAKER is just SMOKIN'!!!!!!
And from Mississippi Public Broadcasting, here's my song INNOCENT. THE SUCARNOCHEE REVUE weekly series on MPB started on 4/8/11. Tune in to you rlocal MPB TV station each week, Friday nights at 8:30 and again on Saturday night at 11:00.
3/20/11 The full MOON was glorious last night! I hope you saw it. If you didn't, here's a photo for you.
3/11/11 Extraordinary fiddler and friend BLAINE SPROUSE will be performing with me at the Sucarnochee Revue on April 1, 2011. Don't miss this treat of one of the nation's finest fiddlers. Blaine has worked with The Osborne Brothers, Jim and Jesse, Charlie Louvin, The Cluster Pluckers, The Dreadful Snakes, Legendary Bluegrass Fiddler Kenny Baker, Bill Monroe, and the highly influential group, THE BLUEGRASS BAND, with friends Butch Robins, Alan O'Bryant, and my fellow band-mate, the late, great Ed Dye. Read more about Blaine at his website BLAINESPROUSEMUSIC I am looking forward to this. You should be, too!
3/7/11 I also missed yesterday's Magnolia Music Festival in Philadelphia. I didn't miss this many musical performances when I was in chemo. Sorry, y'all. I'm on the mend, but just can't go right now. 3/5/11 I was unable to be at the Sucarnochee Revue last night. read more about it on my CLL BLOG. Thanks to all you well wishers who sent me e-mails and posted on my FB page. I am looking forward to the 4/1/ Sucarnochee at the Temple Theatre. My long-time friend, fiddler Blaine Sprouse will be performing with me. You'll be in for a treat to see this world-class fiddler. More later. 2/9/11 Thanks to all of you who came out to Meridian Community College on Tuesday, February 8 to the McCain Theatre for the BLUEGRASSARAMA! We had a large turn out and an extremely good time. Joining me were my friends Larry Wallace and the Larry Wallace Band, Bill Ellison (Host of Mississippi Public Broadcasting's GRASS ROOTS) and Temperance Babcock, with bassist Jeff Perkins; My long-time friend Gene Bush, as well as MCC student Cousin Ricky who provided some monkeyshines on the banjo. I will post some photos in a few days. Thank you for helping make this show a great success. We are planning on returning next year! http://www.meridiancc.edu/artsnletters/bluegrassarama.html
Tubal and Jubal VIDEO 1/2/11 12/31/10 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! Happy new decade!!! May this year and this decade be the one that brings you continuous joy in the most profoundly unexpected ways. I have recorded and uploaded a new song to the website. You can click on the link to listen to it as an MP3 file, or right-click on the link and download if you'd like. ©2010 J. Christopher Sharp/Rachelle McClendon Carver/Stump Whipped Music/ASCAP/All Rights Reserved Man was created with music in his soul. The first musician we have record of in the bible was Jubal-Lee. His name is the source of our modern word jubilee. We owe him a great debt. Thanks to Rachelle for her help and inspiration for this song from her writings on prehistoric music. MERRY CHRISTMAS!! From the 12/4/10 SUCARNOCHEE REVUE It's Christmas Time - a Louvin Brothers song. The Christmas Season - One of my songs
10/31/10 I made some corrections and added some text that had been omitted from THE CHRONIC DIARIES 10/30/10 My CLL Blog had just gotten too cumbersome. I have updated it with some new entries and Volume 1 of THE CHRONIC DIARIES, which you may download as a PDF file. It is in chronological order. Additionally, Microsoft no longer supports FrontPage, and it will not work with Windows 7. Over the years, my website has gotten HUGE. Many folks who find it for the firs time say they have spent hours on here looking, watching, and listening, and for that I thank you all very much. I will be making some changes and will no doubt make some mistakees as I learn to use a new program. It took me months to get used to FrontPage, and it will take me months to get usedt to a new program and to convert my website over to it. If things disappear that you wanted to revisit, there is a website called ARCHIVE.ORG which has a machine called WAYBACK. They scan and archive webpages forever (at least as long as HUMANS can contemplate forever.) A link to that website is http://www.archive.org/web/web.php Just remember, anything you put on the internet will be captured and stored there FOREVER. Don't put anything on the internet that you may later be ashamed of. 10/24/10 Politics this time, with AUDIO COMMENTARY (NEW!!!) I am all bent out of shape over the NPR/Juan Williams controversy. I could not let it pass without comment. The audio commentary is new. I may start doing this on a regular basis. I could do it as video, but it just seems to be too much trouble. In the meantime, I have posted some new music video on my Facebook site. Please visit me on Facebook and see these new videos. Debbie and I are on the way to Houston today. She is carrying a load of hats she has made for children battling cancer at M.D. Anderson. She makes the most wonderful, creative hats. For every hat she sells, she makes one to donate to M.D. Anderson. I will hardly have room in the car for my luggage, since we will be packed with hats. She has a Facebook Page. Visit her there at BoHo Sprouts. From the July Sucarnochee Revue: A tribute to Chris Ethridge!
A big time was had by all at June's Sucarnochee Revue at the Temple Theatre in Meridian. Below are some clips from the 6/4/10 performance of yours truly with the Jang-A-Lang String Band. It was good to have Clint and Augie back on the show.
May 7, 2010 The all gospel Sucarnochee Revue was a great success! It was always good to see one of Bluegrass music's few remaining first generation bands, The Sullivan Family. Enoch and Margie were and still are musical inspirations to me. I was glad for the chance to fill in on the bass since their long-time bassist, Joy DeVille was unable to be at the show. I have long looked forward to the opportunity to play with them. Below are some videos from the show.
And if that weren't enough, below is me with my daughter, Piper; Bryan Hayes; and my son-in-law, David. We just NAIL my all-time favorite tune, GREEN PASTURES. I hope you enjoy this. I sure enjoyed its performance!
May 6, 2010: Had a big time at Timberview Lodge and Stump Whipped Studio in Porterville this past Thursday. We hosted the great Spider Murphy for a recording for future podcast of The APEX RADIO HOUR. Ol' Spider was in rare form with his tenor banjo and tenor guitar. It's been a while since I was able to enjoy the tenor banjo, particularly someone playing one who played it so well. I was glad to sit in with Spider on the Bass, while John Rowdy held down the percussion. Also coming in for he recording were Daniel Sharp, David Lauderdale, and Amy Lott, of ALL AROUND HOUNDS, and the inimitable LOGAN LIBERACE, on loan from the band DARK SUNDAYS. Loof for this firite podcast wherever you are used to finding THE APEX RADIO HOUR in the near future. In the meantime, here's Spider and me from a few videos that I posted on YouTube! Spider Murphy, coming soon to a gig near you. This is FUN music. Go see him if you get a chance, or even HALF a chance. California, here I come. Off in July for some music in Northern California. Taking my son with me. We're preparing for a good time! THERE'S AN OPEN ROAD. Live from the Sucarnochee Revue 4/16/10:
4/10/10 Thanks to TurnRow Books, Jamie and his family, the folks who work there and all the folks who turned out to see Tricia Walker, Davis Raines, and Me at the Summer Songwriter Series this past Friday evening. It was GREAT! I was just glad to be there with such talented songwriters and performers. I have some video of the events and will post some later after my video computer gets through with its marathon compiling session. Those Hi-Def files tale some time on a FAST computer to compile after editing. There is more posted on this on my CLL blog. Thank you, Tricia Walker, for inviting me to come and participate in this event! Be sure and visit the website of my friend Jacky Jack White
Piper, David and Me from the Magnolia Music Festival in Philadelphia, Mississippi on March 20. The above song is called SWEAT TO GOLD Cornbread Man
Hard Times
And from Friday night, March 26, 2010, at The Sucarnochee Revue at The University of West Alabama, in Livingston, Alabama, a sultry, lonesome, and powerful rendition of Merle Travis' DARK AS A DUNGEON. Great Harmony singing by Bryan Hayes and Piper. Enjoy this!
Thanks to Peggy VanDevander for coming out to see us in Philadelphia! Come see Mississippi Chris at the 2nd Annual Magnolia Music Festival in Philadelphia, Mississippi, on Saturday, March 20. Kicking things off Saturday with me will be Piper and David Lauderdale. This show is a benefit for the United Way.
FRIDAY, MARCH 19 9 – 9:45 Rico & the Border Patrol
The Magnolia Music Festival benefiting the United Way of Neshoba County is the brainchild of two local musicians.
"After we were done playing at this festival, we talked about having something for Neshoba County and local musicians," Sharp said. "Ben really took this idea under his wing and made it happen." "It's a music festival featuring local musicians," said Hardy. "We decided that it would be even better if we did it for a great cause, like United Way." "There is so much local talent here and we wanted everyone to have a chance to see it," Sharp said. Leigh Allyn White, executive director for United Way of Neshoba County, said that all proceeds of this event will go to helping the United Way's goal or ensuring full funding this fiscal year for all 18 agencies it is supporting.
She said. "One of my personal goals was to bring United Way back home to our community, and we will have the agencies give testimonials throughout the event. I believe that this festival is a great time to make the connection with local groups and bands coming together to help the United Way and show the talent that lives in our county."
Here's a video clip from the 3/5/10 Sucarnochee Revue Gotta Keep on Moving Blues
1/10/10 New Videos posted and CLL Blog Updated! Eight more Miles to Louisville -Terry Baker on Fiddle, Bryan Hayes on Guitar, and me from The Sucarnochee Revue 1/1/10. One of my all time favorite songs. Hats off to GrandPa Jones on this one.
The Family Who Prays - My daughter, Piper Lauderdale and Me with this Louvin Brothers song. Bryan Hayes on Guitar.
Weapon of Prayer - another of my favorites. Always seems to fit our nation, which seems to always have troops at risk somewhere in the world. I salute them all for their service and sacrifice. Another Louvin Brothers Tune.
Born Again - Piper and I seem to be unable to get away from those Louvin Brothers Duets . . . and why would we want to?
Audio files from 12/4/09 Sucarnochee Revue Dig a Hole in the Meadow - Traditional Arrangement ©2009 J. Christopher Sharp/Stump Shipped Music/ASCAP - - A sultry arrangement. I am playing the Mando-Cello. Me, Augie Joachim on bass, and Bryan Hayes doing a fine job on the resonator guitar. The Christmas Spirit - ©2005 J. Christopher Sharp/Stump Whipped Music/ASCAP - - A Christmas song I wrote several years ago. We did not do a multi-track audio recording of this show. This was recorded on my Zoom H4 which I placed beside the FOH mixer. A rouge cell phone which beeped and beeped and beeped messed up the intro of this song. You do not hear the beep since I cut it out, but you do hear Barry Roebuck (FOH engineer) and one of his assistants discussing this during a break in the song. I usually do this as a duet with my daughter, Piper, but she was unable to be there, helping her mother at a Christmas party at Timberview Lodge. Enjoy these songs! 11/11/09 Clint Jordan puttin' it in there on "Wild Horses." from the 11/6/09 Sucarnochee Revue
"I Will Some Day" Gene Bush and Me! 11/6/09 Sucarnochee Revue
"I'm Goin' Fishin'" video from 11/6/09 Sucarnochee Revue
11/5/09 CLL Blog Updated!
10/27/09 Had a great visit with Larry Perkins and Rhonda Hampton. They were down to help Avil Linton capturesome old tunes. Also helping out were friends Lyle Meador and Raymond Huffmaster. Here's a couple of photos of Larry and me on the ED bench, and Miss Rhonda and her spiced morning coffee!!! Videos to come, soon!
10/8/09 Piper, Augie and Me from The Sucarnochee Revue, 10/2/09. "The Wind Against My Sail"
9/14/09 Added link to new YouTube file ROCK ISLAND LINE - From the Sucarnochee Revue of 11/08, with the late remarkable Cousin Ed Dye cuttin' up on the stage!
From the 8/28/09 Sucarnochee Revue - My daughter, Piper, and me with the rest of the band doing her song, "Poor Mississippi Me."
From the 8/28/09 Sucarnochee Revue The Luckiest Man T'was Born. With Clint Jordan, Bryan Hayes, Augie Joachim, and the great Gene Bush on dobro!
Thanks to John Lawless at The Bluegrass Blog for his report on the Ed Dye Memorial Bench!
8/9/09 I was glad to have the full Jang-A-Lang effect on this past Friday's Sucarnochee. Thanks to the guys and to my lovely daughter, Piper! Also thanks to my friend C.P. Bush for the raw video footage!
8/5/09 "Take Your Burden to the Lord" and "Friend"
Both done at the ED DYE Memorial SUCARNOCHEE REVUE. May 1, 2009. 7/21/09 You Tube Posting "Bye Bye Birdie" 7/20/09 Check it out! I just posted this on YouTube. My first posting. 7/9/09 Incontrovertible evidence that rural Mississippi has made enormous strides in making all the conveniences and comforts of modern American urban civilization available to its citizens, as seen in this photograph I took of a sign on the door of a restroom in a country store in Preston, Mississippi, in Kemper county. Now, rural Mississippians no longer have to feel like second rate citizens. Things not heretofore found in rural Mississippi, things formerly available only to the citizens of America's cosmopolitan areas have finally come to the country. There is no longer any reason to move to the city, since there's One of my close friends from the Northeast once callously and ignorantly remarked, "Going to Mississippi is like going to a third world country." It turns out that my friend had never been to Mississippi, nor had he ever been to a third world country. From time to time I remind my friend that he once said that. Over the years, something keeps bringing him back this third world country that is Mississippi. Maybe it's something in the water. Maybe it's our mild winters. Maybe it's our hot, torpid summers. Maybe it's the pace we set during those hot summers. Maybe it's the people. The song says, "I've been everywhere, man!" I have, too. Everywhere I've been, as my wife will attest, I come back saying that where I just was was a really great place. Maybe some folks enjoy their own company and the company of others in such a way that the PLACE is irrelevant. Maybe some folks can't do that. I know one thing . . . I look out over the hills at my home in the mornings and I like it here in Mississippi just fine . . . but then again, I was born here. Lucky me! The sign on the bathroom door is really an indictment that rural areas have slunk to the level of urbanity. That's a shame!
Thanks to Eva Herod for providing me with these photos she took at the Sucarnochee Revue, July 3, 2009. From left: CHEESY ME, Bryan Hayes, Piper Lauderdale. Thank you Ms. Eva, for sharing these photos. 7/6/09 New music from the Sucarnochee Revue. My daughter, Piper Lauderdale, played the July 3, 2009, show with me, Bryan Hayes, and Augie Joachim. Listen to the links below for the duets we did. It is always a joy and a pleasure to sing duets with Piper. 7/1/09 NEW STORIES!!!! Saturday, July 4, 2009 will be my 52nd birthday!! 6/11/09 Performance Schedule updated!! Click HERE to download Ethan Byxbe's tribute to Ed Dye. 5/14/09 Audio from Ed Dye Memorial SUCARNOCHEE REVUE show posted. See link bar to left! 5/11/09 Click on the tab "Ed Dye Memorial Page" to the left for photos and information concerning our friend Ed Dye's recently held Memorial Service. 3/19/09 I have gotten this website unscrambled. There may be links and music files that don't work, but I'll be repairing them as soon as I can. In the meantime, the performance dates page is unreliable. Please visit my MYSPACE page at http://www.myspace.com/mississippichrissharp for reliable information. 3/18/09 This world ceased its dominion over the wonderful, entertaining, and singularly remarkable Cousin Ed Dye at 1:30AM CDT, March 18, 2009, and he peacefully passed from magnificence to glory. His many, many friends and his family are all mourning this loss! If you have any stories, photos, music recordings, or videos of Ed that you would like to share to post here on this website, please contact me at missippichris@yahoo.com, or just send them on.
THANKS!!!!! To contact Chris, e-mail: missippichris@yahoo.com
Everything on this web site is ©2005-2012 John Christopher Sharp/All Rights Reserved PRIVACY NOTICE: This website and it's publisher does not collect any information on anyone for any purpose or at anytime. The only way we know who visitors to this website are is if they e-mail us and tell us so. Perhaps this is the only place in cyberspace that does NOT track your activities. I get more information thrown at me than I can use, anyhow. In other places, people are just so glad to get your e-mail address so they can PHISH information out of you so others can bombard you with penny stock offers, cheap pharmaceuticals, cheap software, and the promise of longer lasting erections without the embarrassment of purchasing pills at your local pharmacy (as if you would buy these things from these people!). I never knew that so many folks wanted to help me. How lucky I am to get those 100 junk e-mails per day. While I hope that you can be blessed with longer lasting erections, a penny stock that makes you a fortune, and cheap legal software, it is not my job to help you find them! I have absolutely no interest in forwarding your name to anyone for any reason. Welcome here, and stay a while. All I want is your eyes and your ears for a few minutes. Thanks for visiting. Come back when you can, and bring your friends. Someone told me that it was a law that this notice on how we use your personal information had to be posted on the site. That law is now complied with. CLL Blog Mississippi Chris Leukemia IgVH Unmutatued Zap-70 Positive CD-38 Positive Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
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nothing in the city that cannot be had out here in the country. 
