InTouch with Southern Kentucky June 2020 | Page 33

SUBMITTED PHOTO After joining forces, LaMay and Reese has played all kinds of venues, from house concerts, to festivals, radio shows, TV shows, and schools, and “love them all.” she could about it. “My dad laid the groundwork with the Carter Family, Doc Watson, and Flatt & Scruggs,” said Reese of her love of music, “but I really liked the brother duets like Jim & Jesse and the Louvin Brothers. Their harmonies fascinated me.” As for LaMay, he said that, ironically, it wasn’t the commercial folk-revival music of the ‘60s, such as Peter, Paul and Mary, that sparked his interest in folk and traditional folk music. “It was my interest in Bob Dylan that opened the door,” said LaMay. “I began researching his influences and was introduced to the music of Woody Guthrie, the Carter Family, bluegrass, and Appalachian roots music.” LaMay called Dylan “the icing on the cake” to his early interest in rock-and-roll, which led him to buy a guitar in 1966 while in the Air Force and learn how to play. “I’ve always loved music,” he said. “As a young boy I would camp out in front of my parents radio and record player and listen to songs everyday. I would say it was the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, and then the Beatles and the Rolling Stones that grabbed me, and then there was Bob Dylan.” After joining forces, LaMay and Reese -- which is the name of their act -- has played all kinds of venues, from house concerts, to festivals, radio shows, TV shows, and schools, and “love them all.” They’ve been featured monthly contributors since 2004 to Bill Knowlton’s “Bluegrass Ramble” radio show on NPR, now in its 48th year out of Syracuse, NY, but available worldwide over the internet. And every August, the pairs travels back up to New York to take part in Knowlton’s festival, the Bluegrass Ramble Picnic. “It’s one of the bigger festivals and we love performing there,” said LaMay. “I would say that no matter where we perform it’s always a treat to meet the folks who come out to listen and to meet other musicians who share the same music and lifestyle.” The two have helped provide a venue for music of different kinds to be heard here in Somerset, with 3rd Friday Folk at the Carnegie. The monthly event is modeled after the traditional coffeehouses that provide a performance venue in an intimate setting where people come to enjoy the music and spend en evening with friends. “We grew up performing in these types of venues,” said Reese. “When we moved to Somerset, we were hoping there would be a place like that here, but there was none. We had been involved with music at the Carnegie Community Arts Center in various capacities, and when they fixed up the basement as a bistro, we thought this would be a great coffeehouse setting.” Added LaMay, “Back in 2015, The McNeil Music Center was located in the Carnegie, and we got together with Bill McNeil and John McQueary to talk about starting a coffeehouse. It was suggested that Sherri and I be the hosts. McNeil Music Center helps as a sponsor, and Kasandra McNeil provides the baked goodies.” June 2020 In Touch with Southern Kentucky • 33