DUBOIS – Area native Butch Ross, a nationally known performer on mountain dulcimer, will conduct workshops and perform in concert on Nov. 23, at the Christ Lutheran Church Multi-Purpose Room. The church is located at 875 Sunflower Dr., just off Maple Avenue in DuBois.
The two workshops, “Roots of Rock-n-Roll,” are scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., and then be followed by a concert at 7 p.m. Suggested donations are $20 per person for one workshop or concert; or $35 per person for both workshops. For additional information and to make reservations for the workshop, telephone 814-371-4627 between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily. The information is also posted on EverythingDulcimer.com.
The “Roots of Rock-n-Roll” workshops are a two-part series. “Roots of Rock-n-Roll: Chords” is for advanced beginning dulcimer players and up. It focuses on learning the chords and chord progressions of rock-n-roll tunes. “Roots of Rock-n-Roll: Rhythm” is also for advanced beginners and up and will focus on the basics of rhythm from the early days of rock-n-roll. The workshops would also be of interest to guitar players, drummers and other rock musicians, as Ross is an experienced guitar player as well.
Ross, born in Meadville and raised in Falls Creek, graduated from DuBois Area High School in 1986. A touring singer/songwriter he found his instrument when he was given a mountain dulcimer, a simple stringed folk instrument, as a birthday present.
A chance meeting with musician, producer and author Robert Force, led to Force signing Ross to the independent label Blaine Street Records and produced for free his first wholly dulcimer CD, “ The Moonshiner’s Atlas.”
The rest is all Ross. Reviewer Hayley Graham wrote, “Butch Ross is a rock star. He plays the mountain dulcimer and in case you’re thinking ‘Rock star? Mountain Dulcimer? Doesn’t compute,’ let me fill you in on a little something.
“Butch Ross does something that no one else can touch. What he does is amazing. His genius is in the fact that he found something unique to him and he just worked it to a point where no one can come close to matching it. He’s seriously brilliant.”
Another recent review noted: “When Butch Ross opened for Bill Staines last fall, he received a rare accolade: a standing ovation for an opening act. He transforms the lowly mountain dulcimer into a virtuoso’s instrument, drawing from it unexpected power and expressiveness.
“He mixes old country and Appalachian songs with his own wordy, literate, poetic ballads about people, places, and situations you might read about in a good book of short stories. He has a strong clear voice and a stage presence of boyish charm.”
Ross has a Master’s degree in folk studies from Western Kentucky University and is one of the most sought after instructors/performers at folk and dulcimer festivals throughout the United States and the British Isles. He constantly tours the eastern United States and Europe. His other CDs include: “A Long Way From Shady Grove,” “Selected Works of Friction,” “Here to Play” (with Christie Burns) and “The Dulcimer Christmas Card,” in addition to many instructional music books and DVDs.
