UPDATED 05/01/07

July 2002 thru December 2002 Who Am I? A total of 8 clues were given as follows:

Contest Solution 1 Who Am I? Answer: Vassar Clements Following are the original clues for this contest: Clue #1: My fiddling within a bluegrass context has been considered very different. Vassar has his very own style of fiddling which falls on a lot of blue notes with long successions of slur notes. Clue #2: I was born in 1928 in Florida where I eventually paid tribute with the "Kissimmee Kid" Kissimmee, Florida is considered Vassar's homeplace..."Kissimmee Kid" was a tune Vassar recorded with "Old and in the Way". Clue #3: My fiddle has its very own face. Vassar's fiddle has an old man's head carved in the peghead. Clue #4: Bill Monroe was like a father to me. Vassar played extensively with Mr. Monroe. Clue #5: "Old and in the Way" befit my style well in 1973. Vassar was an integral member of "Old and in the Way". Clue #6: In 1973, after following the Revue, I formed an electrified band under my name. Vassar toured with and fronted his very own band...with some well-executed recordings to prove it. Clue #7: I don't read music...I allow what I feel and hear to dominate my music. Vassar is not a classically trained violinist. His approach and style is very distinctive and proves that reading music is not essential to writing and performing phenomenal violin. Clue #8: I get the blues when I play the lonesome fiddle. Vassar wrote "Lonesome Fiddle Blues" a classic tune which he also recorded on the famous "Will the Circle be Unbroken" sessions. As of 1990, Vassar Clements had played on more than 4,000 recordings--from the Blue Grass Boys to the Boston Pops to the Grateful Dead. On the topic of how music has changed, Vassar commented, "I think society has changed more than music. Music doesn't change that much. The only thing that music does is: the electronics get better, your records sound better, you add different instruments to your band--and maybe that makes it sound different. But in your heart, you haven't changed, I don't think. You're still the same person you were...I'm still the same person I was in 1949 when I first went to the Grand Ole Opry with Bill Monroe..." Clements spoke about bluegrass music, "You know bluegrass goes a long way into anything. Depending on what rhythm you get into and what changes you're playing, you're going to touch on a lot of styles through playing bluegrass: jazz, country, blues and even rock. Somehow, in bluegrass, you really seem to cover all the bases. I think that's where all the stuff is rooted..." Excerpt from America's Music Bluegrass by Barry R. Willis "A history of bluegrass music in the words of its pioneers...631 pages! Mickey's Notes: Vassar is a true enigma. He was ubiquitous in his playing endeavors. I do not believe I've heard, in my entire playing career, a fiddler that could effectively cover so many genres (other than Robert (Bob) Napier who now plays at the Carolina Opry). I have a couple of transcriptions of Vassar's playing, such as "Lonesome Fiddle Blues", and the notes are just all over the place. He will play a slur phrase that encompassed a dozen notes which seems to paint a melodic landscape rarely ever traveled by any other instrumentalist. I had the privilege of seeing Vassar perform at the Ryman Auditorium in 2001 with Peter Rowan and Tony Rice. I was mesmerized. Thank you Vassar for your relentless contribution to the growth and progressive evolution of acoustic music. Go to Top of Page

July 2002 thru December 2002 Name This Tune #1:

Contest #2 Solution Name This Tune #1: Played on a Gibson F-5G F-Style Mandolin This tune is a classic. It will truly take you "Bach"...Leo Kottke played a beautiful rendition of this tune on 12-String Guitar. Answer: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring For further info on the Gibson F-5G, Go directly to The F-5G Information Page To view this video click here...Good Practice for Future "Name This Tune" Contests: Gibson F-5G Video Sampler #4 Go to Top of Page

July 2002 thru December 2002 Name This Tune #2:

Contest #3 Solution Name This Tune #2: Played on a Morgan Monroe MMS-3 F-Style Mandolin... This tune is an old Fiddle classic...hint: An old Fiddle Standard "Did William really cheat thum?"... Answer: Bill Cheatham For further info on the Morgan Monroe MMS-3: Go directly to Morgan Monroe MMS-3 F-Style Mandolin Info Page To view this video click here...Good Practice for Future "Name This Tune" Contests: Morgan Monroe MMS-3 Video Sampler #2 Go to Top of Page

July 2002 thru December 2002 Find the Hidden Player:

Contest #4 Solution Location: Hidden 6-String Banjo Player: Hidden on the following pages: Page 1016, 1028, 1046, 1055, 1071, 1130, 1164, 1189, 1222, 1301, 1362, 1400. 1450, 1447, 1476 Entry Page 416 Since the FOTW site is over 3000 pages in content, this is extremely difficult to accomplish. For our July/December Hidden Player contest: "Mickey on his Deering Deluxe 6-String Banjo" Photo. This is a picture of Mickey harmonizing with nature; this Deering 6-String rings true through the hills. Watch for the newly released video for 6 & 12-String Banjo...find the image, and there will be a link to enter our "Find the Hidden Image" contest. Win A 50.00 Folk of the Wood Gift Certificate if your name is drawn. Go to Top of Page

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Welcome to the FOTW Contests. We appreciate your participation...To participate in one of our contests you must be 18 years of age or older, or under adult supervision, and in conformance with all law, rules and regulations that may pertain to your state (be informed of all your state laws). ELIGIBILITY AND OFFER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONTEST IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Our contests are subject to the official rules set forth on this website by which all entrants are bound. We reserve the right to close the contests early or late without warning. We are not always available to update our website in a timely manner; therefore, the contests will be closed at the time the website monthly update is uploaded. This can vary from month to month and cause the contests to be closed upwards of 2 weeks into the following month. Folk of the Wood reserves the right to extend a contest beyond the 2-month standard duration at its own discretion. Upon winning a contest, please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery of prizes. Please note that by completing and submitting your name as an entrant to any of our contests you will be agreeing to abide by the official rules and regulations of our contests. You further agree that all information can and will be published on the close of the contests including the name you provided. Addresses, phone numbers, and emails will not be published without the further consent of the contestant. PLEASE DO NOT ENTER A CONTEST MORE THAN ONCE UNDER ONE NAME. PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER OR ENTER OUR CONTESTS IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO OR ABIDE BY any of our above stipulations.



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