Hey there. I just completed my presentation "African Retentions in Bluegrass
Music:� The Legacy of the Banjo and Ralph Stanley"� for my Arts in Context
class, "African American Women in Vocal Jazz."� I had enough guts to sing a
few samples of songs....I have never sang in front of such a large group. I
also showed my video from the Carter County Bluegrass Festival and just
talked about the history of the banjo, Ralph Stanley, and the song "Pretty
Polly" and how they relate to african culture. I ended up getting an A+ on my
presentation from both teacher and all the students that were there...which
was really beyond my expectations!!! Needless to say, a big weight is off my
shoulders and I can actually relax for the rest of the summer. My final draft
is due tommorrow and I'm completed with it. Hopefully you will be able to see
it in a future publication soon! Please pass this good news to Ralph. It
was very interesting learning about his vocal characteristics and his history
in bluegrass. I had a lot of fun giving the presentation.
Thanks,
Jessica Blankenship
Berea College
CPO BOX 108
Berea, KY 40404
(859) 985-4116
