News:
The latest for the former farm boy
Film nabs second Alabama arts grant
Alabama State Council on the Arts granted an additional $2,500 to filmmaker Jeri Vaughn to help fund completion of “Winging My Way Back Home: The Stripling Fiddle Legacy” for 2010. Filming for the documentary began in 2006. A preview version was shown at Fiddle Tunes in 2008, with Lee happily attending all performances. Vaughn hopes to work with film editor Eric Frith of Byrd Productions this summer to finish the final version. Many thanks to Joyce Cauthen and the Alabama Folkife Association for their continued support.
The film will debut Nov. 13, 2010 in Belk, Alabama, population 214. Belk is in Fayette County, just east of Lamar County, where the Stripling home place remains just outside of their hometown of Kennedy. More details of this event and other showings will be added soon.
DecoGals support scholarship with Lee art
The DecoGals, all long-time fans and supporters, kept Lee's image alive by putting up posters of their wonderful original portrait all over at the 2010 Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend. The art sold at auction to Lisa Boveng with the purchase price matched by Ed Littlefield, Jr. Our thanks to all involved!
Lee honored at seven memorials/tributes
A series of tributes and memorials were held all over the country following Lee's death on April 20, 2009. Each was something Lee would have to loved to attend.
An estimated 250 people attended Lee's memorial celebration in Seattle in May, largely organized by his cherished old-time music and contra dance community, masters at putting on a good party. A second event was held for his Alabama family June 20 in Kennedy, Alabama, where sweet tea flowed amidst fried chicken, corn and squash caseroles and other dishes expertly prepared by his sisters and other relatives. His third and final memorial was held in late July in Montana, where Lee's ashes were buried next to those of his wife, Lucille, overlooking beautiful Flathead Lake above Lucille's family home.
Musical tributes were performed three times Seattle, including twice at Northwest Folklife. Lee was also lovingly acknowledged at the Santa Fe Old Time Music Festival in August, where W.B. (Bruce) Reid and Bonnie Zahnow played beautifully at what was the last scheduled gig for the Lee Stripling Trio.
Older news
Third CD begins production
Lee sat down (but never still) for a long weekend of recording sessions in August 2008 with Paul Anastasio, Rich Levine and Matt Sircely for a new CD of twin fiddles, guitar and mandolin. The album, which is predominately Stripling Brothers tunes, is being produced by Rus Davis. Watch “My Isle of Golden Dreams” for a sample.
Fiddle Tunes 2008 a rousing success
In the famous words of Lee Edwin Stripling, the participation of Lee, W.B. Reid, and Bonnie Zahnow drew "more accolades than ever before" at the 2008 Festival of American Fiddle Tunes at Fort Worden held in July near Port Townsend, Wash. Lee was previously a faculty member with his brother Robert in 2000. In addition to workshops, concerts and a preview of the upcoming documentary, there was a Fourth of July highlight when the Alabama contingent pitted inspirational Dixie tunes against darned Yankee fiddle numbers on the front porch of a century-old officer's home. Fireworks erupting in the bay paled compared to those on the porch.
Waves of affection in Portland
The Lee Stripling Band, which added bass player Tony Mates to the Trio, was nearly washed away by affection at the 2008 Portland Old-Time Music Festival in January, as Lee reports it. Audience response for the Main Stage performance was the best reception yet (see below). Tony also plays with Lee's Six Footed Boys. He toured with the Lee Stripling Trio in Alabama in 2007.
Standing ovation in Berkeley
A knowledgeable, sold-out crowd poured appreciation toward Lee and the The Lee Stripling Trio after a featured performance in mid September at the Freight House in Berkeley, Calif., for the Old Time Music Convention. Some -- well, one of his daughters -- felt his fiddling was so inspired he must be channeling Charlie. The original Stripling Brothers music was mentioned and played throughout the weekend. More details here.