Contact Sam:
| Dancing the Indiana Waltz |
 HIS NAME IS SAM STONE. No, not the fictitious character in the sad, hard-hitting, John Prine song. I'm speaking of the real Sam Stone. I've had the honor of knowing him for a few years now. We met officially in my songwriting workshop/class at Kentucky Music Week in Bardstown in 1994. Sam is a Henryville, Indiana resident who is a joy to talk to and listen to. He's a dulcimer man and a songwriter. He's not of my generation, which is one reason I always enjoy our conversations. The teacher can sometimes learn from the student, you know. Sam's original songs are plaintive and immediately keep the listener's attention. He sings of people and places that for the most part really exist or existed at one time. He's a musical storyteller. He is like a teacher of sorts, or maybe I should say a front porch philosopher. One of the songs on his first release speaks of the darkness and the good and the bad that the darkness hides or holds. Another, "Old Joe Keebler," is a delightful illustration of his storytelling grandfather, who was a fiddler. "Old Joe Keebler" obviously inspired the then young grandson, Sam, who helped on the farm in the summers. That was near Jeffersonville, Indiana where Sam was born and raised. Sam studied piano as a youngster, but didn't continue his studies after leaving college to join the U.S. Navy. He later returned to school and received his master's degree. It wasn't until 25 years and six children later that he resumed his musical interests, after discovering the lap dulcimer, a gift from his wife, Daisy. He is now a regular at many festivals around the country. Sam also hosts his own "invitation only" jam and picnic on "Sassafras Hill" in Henryville. . . . "In addition (to the recording) Sam has published a matching book, "Dancing the Indiana Waltz" which has the same title as his song, "Indiana Waltz." The song has received a lot of coverage in his home state as well as others. His song, "Wedding Day," has also enjoyed a lot of exposure at weddings and I highly recommend anyone looking for a song for their upcoming wedding to give this one a listen. The title song is beautiful and melancholy, as the singer longs for his past waltz partner. "So Many Good People," a song that first caught my attention, tells of folks on Saturday night and on Sunday morning, Monday morning and even at the voting polls. They all wish for the same thing, world peace, though in some cases they don't even speak to one another.
. . . . . "There's one thing to say for the darkness: |
| At the Fair | |
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I got my copy of Sam Stone's new CD "At the Fair" in the mail this week
and wanted to let everyone know how much I'm enjoying listening to it.
His first recording, "Indiana Waltz" was released more than 6 years ago,
and all of us who have been privileged to share some music with Sam at
dulcimer and folk festivals throughout the country, have anxiously been
waiting for this new one.
Once again,
this is a collection of Sam's original songs. He has been writing
his own songs since his high school days. Sam received his first dulcimer in 1982 and it seemed to be the key that unlocked the music of his soul, and gave him the means to express it and share it with the rest of the dulcimer and folk world. He has become one of the most prolific songwriters I know. I think one of the reasons it took so long to produce this new recording is because he couldn't stop writing new songs long enough to record the ones he'd already written. There are 20 cuts on this CD, and I'm sure Sam had a hard time deciding which ones to include and which ones to leave for the next project. One of the groups I play with here in central Indiana is the Family Reunion String Band, which has been sharing old-time music with the visitors at the Indiana State Fair for over 30 years. We have been privileged to have Sam join us during many of those sessions over many of those years. His title cut on this album was inspired during one of his many visits to the "Indiana Summer Classic." Nearly all
the cuts on this album feature Sam on lead vocals as well as mt.
dulcimer, but he has enlisted the aid of a few talented friends,
including the members of "Doofus," (Neal and Coleen Walters along with
John and Heidi Cerrigione,) Cathy Barton & Dave Para, Lorinda Jones, and
David & Maria Crecilius. . . . . . . Those of you into old-time river songs will especially enjoy that many of the cuts have to do with life on the river in days gone by. One of my favorites is "Ohio River Waltz" which I had previously heard done only instrumentally. On this album Coleen and Heidi team up to do the vocals, interweaving lush harmonies. And as anyone who knows Sam would expect, there are lots of sentimental love songs, . . . . . (including) a tongue-in-cheek, autobiographical song about his relationship with Daisy, his wife of 47 years, entitled "Yes Ma'am!" . . . . . If you are drawn to songs of the "heartstring tugging" variety, you will enjoy "The Greatest Gift" and "Who Stole the Magic." I also find myself hitting the repeat button on "Planxty Jean," an instrumental Sam wrote in honor of Jean Schilling of Cosby, TN, whom he credits with introducing him to the mountain dulcimer. It's rendered beautifully on this recording by Lorinda Jones on the harp. Thanks,
Sam. We'll see you at the fair! |
Gospel According to Samuel
| Excerpt
from - Quick Picks Dulcimer Player News May, 2007 Sam Stone, the bearded bard of Henryville, IN, is an inspiration to anyone who has heard him play and sing. At least one of his original songs is in the repertoire of most dulcimer performers, and he keeps coming up with more. His latest collection is a book of gospel songs that contains a number of Sam's originals, as well as some favorites from his childhood. The book contains piano notation, mountain dulcimer tablature and accompanying chords. The Gospel According to Samuel provides some interesting background on Sam's love of the music, along with some sage advice on using tablature. This is a must have for lovers of his music, or a great introduction to those of you not familiar with it. Neal Walters (Neal Walters is not only music reviewer for the DPN, but is an accomplished dulcimist, guitarist, autoharpist, banjo player, mandolin player, concertina player, musical arranger, laid back singer, and sound recording engineer with his own studio, Basement Music.) go to top Sam Stone, 808 Castetter Road, Henryville, IN 47126.
samhenry@thepoint.net |
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