We got a note last week from our friend Big Mike Ramsey about an event that many of our readers will want to support. It’s a benefit show scheduled for this weekend (5/9) for John Shuffler, one of the unsung heroes from the early days of bluegrass music.

His brother George may be better known to bluegrass fans for his crosspicking guitar playing with the Stanleys, with whom John also spent time on bass. John suffered a stroke in February, and was hospitalized for almost 2 months. The show this weekend is to help with the unreimbursed medical expenses.

The show will be held at The Old Rock Schcool in Valdese, NC from 7:00-10:00 p.m. Scheduled to perform in a round robin concert are The John Shuffler Band, Strictly Clean and Decent, The Laurel Creek Band, Eric Ellis, David Johnson, Les Deaton, Alan Johnson, Rick Norris, Herb Lambert, David Wiseman and David Carswell. Russ Jordan will serve as M.C.

Ramsey, who played bass with Linville Ridge – and sired Mountain Heart’s scary good mandolinist, Aaron – shared a few thoughts about John…

“In Louisville, KY, during the IBMA, about 1999 or maybe 2000, Sonny Osborne came up with the idea of recognizing the notable ’sidemen’ in bluegrass music’s relatively short history. This was done during the awards show.

As they were fading out at the end of each presentation/performance segment, to the gaps for radio advertising, they were scrolling names of these musicians being recognized. I squalled great big when I saw the name John Shuffler scroll by. I think Aaron & Perry Woodie about jumped out of the boxed seat section where we were seated.

I was glad they recognized John for his time spent with Ralph & Carter.

According to Ron Shuffler, this will be a donation only event, with rotating musicians in many and varied combinations with ALL the funds collected going to John Shuffler. If you come, you’ll probably get to see big old me playing bass for a bit and then if you watch closely, you’ll see big old me contribute to John’s funds as well.

The Rock School seats 473. We can get 500 people in there if they pull out chairs. Now, if the place was full, and everyone gave a $20 bill, that would generate $10,000 towards helping John with his medical bills.”

Anyone who is unable to attend, but who would like to make a contribution towards John’s medical expenses,you can send them to the following address:

Jamming in the lobby is both encouraged and expected.

The Bluegrass Blog would like to wish a very happy 83rd birthday to George Shuffler. George was born April 11, 1925.

Shuffler is viewed by many as a pivotal figure in the development of bluegrass guitar styles. He spent 18 years with The Stanley Brothers, where he developed his trademark guitar style known today as crosspicking.

At 83 years young, George is still active in and around the music, influencing many young pickers still today with his impeccable timing and tasteful playing.

Happy birthday George!

We posted last month about pioneering bluegrass guitarist George Shuffler being recognized by the North Carolina Arts Council for his lifetime of contributing to the world of traditional and bluegrass music. George worked with The Stanley Brothers for many years, and his crosspicking style is imitated to this day by successive generations of bluegrass guitar pickers.

The News & Observer in Raleigh, NC has published a lengthy profile on Shuffler by staff writer David Menconi, which includes a memorable interview about how George got started on guitar.

It’s not too hard to persuade Shuffler to pull out his guitar and show off a little. Does he play much anymore?

“Oh, no more than I have to,” he deadpans, a twinkle in his eye.

But he still plays more than passably, in a homegrown rhythmic style somewhere between country blues and sea chanteys.

“When I was 12,” Shuffler says, pausing to expel some tobacco juice into a cup, “the old fellow across the creek, Jack Smith, showed me how to do three chords — G, C and D, that might have been all he knew. I took it from there.”

“I was barefoot, walking home with my dad afterward and playing my old guitar,” he continues. “I’d stop and play those three chords, G, C and D, because I was afraid I’d forget them. I’d do that, then run to catch up with my dad, stop and play some more. That evening, Mama was humming ‘Birmingham Jail’ and I seconded on guitar. She got so hoarse she couldn’t talk.”

Simply precious… Read the full article on the News & Observer web site.

George Shuffler, pioneering cross picking guitarist and one of the memorable personalities in bluegrass music, will be acknowledged by the North Carolina Arts Council with its annual Folk Heritage Award on October 25 in Raleigh, NC.

Shuffler will lunch with NC Governor Mike Easly on the 24th, and receive his award the following day.

Shuffler spent 18 years as a member of The Stanley Brothers in the 1950s and 1960s where his cross picking lead guitar technique was a distinctive aspect of the band’s sound. The technique involves using a flatpick jumping across three or more strings to mimic the rolling sound of the 5 string banjo. This cross picking style mixes a basic melody with “fill notes” for an eighth note flurry that has been replicated and honed to this day.

Here is a YouTube clip taken from his instructional DVD with James Allen Shelton, Clinch Mountain Guitar.