Gallery

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Butterfly Gap -- Lee Cagle & Mary Baddour

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"Dulcimer Reverie" by Annabelle Meacham

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The No Guts No Glory Band, Cullowhee NC

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From photo shoot from the album The Water is Wide Lee Cagle, Steve Newman, Betty Dawson

First Summer Youth Camp Class for mountain dulcimers 2005

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Lee Cagle and Mary Baddour, Butterfly Gap, at Ag Day, Germantown Farm Park 2018

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Water is Wide CD liner

Clyde Davenport and Lee Cagle, BUW 2009

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Concert, Chattanooga Dulcimer Festival 2008; Jess Eisley, guitar; Jeff Hames, MD

Jam at the riverfront, Chattanooga Dulcimer Festival, 2008

Calvary Choir Camp 2006

Maag Mitton and Lee Cagle, Cullowhee, NC 2006

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On the Ocoee after the Chattanooga Festival, 2008

Dulcimer Youth Camp, Harding Academy

Youth Camp 2007

Nat J. 2007 Youth Camp

Youth Camp 2009

Below is a video of my version of O Leaozhino (Little Lion), a Brazilian folk tune, played

at Unicoi State Park in Georgia at the NGFDA Fall Fest 2009.

Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival 2014, Second Baptist Church

2014 Instructors: Thomasina Levy, Lee Cagle, Rick Thum, Mike Anderson, Jess Dickinson, Doug Felt, Agene Parsons, Kevan Barley, Special Guest Larkin Bryant

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Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival 2013, Second Baptist Church

2013 Instructors: Joe Collins, Lee Cagle, Rick Thum, Jess Dickinson, Ilace Mears, Guy & Sharrie George, Don Pedi, Doug Felt, Special Guest Larkin Bryant

Mid-day artists: Doug Felt; Harry Johnson and family, bones/bodhran; Side Street Steppers; Jess Dickinson; Hilary Rose and Daniel Fleck, mandolin & old time; Mulberry Jam; Randall McKinnon;

Kevan Barley, guitar, banjo, autoharp

Mixed bag workshops: Kevan Barley, guitar; Guy George, steel drum; Sharrie George, ukelele; Harry & Doug, bones & bodhran

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Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival 2012, Second Baptist Church

2012 Instructors: Guy and Sharrie George, Lee Cagle, Rick Thum, Ilace Mears, Agene Parsons, Bing Futch, Anne Lough, Ken Kolodner, Special Guest Larkin Bryant

Mid-day Artists: Bing Futch, Native American Flute; Doug Felt; Harry Johnson and family, bones/bodhran; David Gish, guitar; Jess Dickinson; Hilary Rose and Daniel Fleck, mandolin & old time; Mulberry Jam; Sidestreet Steppers

Vendors: Dulcimer House (Dennis Moran); kasu designs (jewelry by Kathy Hellweg); Bob Magowan, Dulcimer Doctor; Doug & Lee Felt (Thistledew Acres); Papaw's Dulcimers (Bill Rich);

Jess Dickinson Dulcimers

Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival 2011, Second Baptist Church

2011 Instructors: Molly McCormack, Lee Cagle, Lorinda Jones, Ilace Mears, Agene Parsons, Rick Thum, Russell Cook, Betty Dawson, Special Guest Larkin Bryant

Mid-day artists: Side Street Steppers; Chris Roof (djembe); Linda Arthur (Native American Flute); Harry & Russell Johnson; Dan Reese (bowed dulcimer); Mulberry Jam String Band; Kevan Barley; Johnathan Haynie (Chilean Folk/ classical guitar)

Mixed Bag workshops: Kevan Barley (clawhammer banjo, shape note singing); Agene Parsons (autoharp); Tom Garret (mandolin); Dan Reese (bowed dulcimer)

Vendors: Dulcimer House (Dennis Moran); kasu designs (Kathy Hellweg jewelry); Gary & Toni Sager; Bob Magowan, dulcimer doctor

Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival 2010, Second Baptist Church

2010 Instructors: Janita Baker, Lee Cagle, Joe Collins, Rick Thum, Larry Conger, Betty Dawson, Dan Landrum, Don Pedi, Special Guest Larkin Bryant

Bob Hastings was one of the strongest supporters of the festival. He attended the 2009 Gathering with his wife Judy and his daughter Laney and died four days later of heart failure. He is sorely missed in the music community. The 2010 Gathering was dedicated to Bob's memory and we celebrated his life with a silent candle-light opening of the concert.

Dan Landrum class 2010

Hilary Scheel 2010

Jam 2010

Lewis Senior Center Band 2010

Class 2010

Mid-day activities 2010

Class 2010

Ilace Mears 2010

Joe Collins 2010

Rick Thum 2010

Melvin Montgomery 2010

Randall McKinnon 2010

Dan Landrum 2010

Wayne Randolph 2010

Larry Conger 2010

Bob Magowan 2010

Russ Galli, Old World Stained Glass 2010

Class 2010

Dale Segars, Wanda Day, Ron Day 2010

Jennifer Musgrave 2010

Jam 2010

Janita Baker 2010

Don Pedi, Dan Landrum and Rick Thum's foot 2010

Marie Kirby, Joe Collins 2010

Ilace Mears 2010

Cement Pond Sacred Harp Singers 2010

Harry Johnson and Doug Felt 2010

Harry Johnson 2010

Doug Felt 2010

Donna Gray 2010

Kevan Barley 2010

? , Donna Gray, Karl Gray 2010

MDG&FF Finale Concert 2010

Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival 2009, Second Baptist Church

Quiet Blessing at the opening of the Saturday night concert, 9/26/09

I am the deep pools in the moonlight;
Golden sunbeams by day;
I am shelter from the storm;
I am stars and planets cousing through endless skies;
I am the colors of the rainbow;
I am soulmate, love, parent, child,
The wind that blows,
Green hills and trees,
Golden sand and desert.

Hear me in the song of the bird,
In the whisper footfall of the hare.
I am every heartbeat,
The cry of the babe,
And the sigh of the old womans as she
bids a final goodnight.

Angels embrace me.
Without me the world is silent and cold;
The wolf in the night and the owl
on the wing call for me;
The ringing bell and the organ pipe,
Strings, keys, reeds horns;
Pipe and drum;
Thunder and rain;
Summer breeze;
Raging storm.

As winter snow melts into spring blossom;
As pastel flowers turn to summer warmth;
As balmy days drift to crisp golden orange red autumn;
I am on the dark road to the horizon
Of the going out to journey;
In flowing waters from mouth to sea;
In returning to the welcome warmth of home's hearth.

I swell in ancient days before the knowing of man,
Before time began,
After time ceases to be;
The beat of the drum,
The beat of your heart.

I am in the deepest joy,
And I hold you in sorrow;
From secret place to mountain top,
May you find me when you seek me,
May you feel me with you even when
you do not look for me.

I am the voice within your heart.
I am singer.
I am song.
I am music.
-- copyright 2009 Lee Cagle

2009 Instructors: Bob Bence, Lee Cagle, Betty Dawson, Jeff Hames, Steve Seifert, Rick Thum, Kendra Ward, Special Guest Larkin Bryant

2009 Sponsors: Wayne Randolph and Second Baptist Church, Tom Wilson and The Art Center, Betty Dawson

Volunteer Artists: Hilary Scheel and Daniel Fleck; Donna Gray and Lea VanMerkestyn; Cement Pond Sacred Harp singers; Kevan Barley; Harry Johnson; Doug Felt

Bob and Mike 2009

Donna Gray and Lea VanMerkestyn (The Barnstormers) 2009

Doug Felt, Danny Autry, Markie Kirby 2009

Danny Autry, HD winner 2009

Hilary Scheel and Daniel Fleck 2009

Ilace Mears and Dleicia Huitt 2009

Jeff Hames and Lee Cagle 2009

Kevan Barley 2009

Bill Erskine 2009

Jam 2009

Lisa Reinhardt and Rick Thum 2009

Russ Galli, Old World Stained Glass 2009

Videos 2009: Cement Pond Sacred Harp Singers, Harry Johnson and Steve Seifert, Harry Johnson and Doug Felt

Concert opening act by Adam, Danny Autry and Betty Dawson tripping the light.

Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival 2008, Lindenwood Christian Church

September 26 & 27, 2008 was the FOURTH year for the Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival! The weekend included two days of workshops, jam session, demonstrations, vendors and a concert.

Featured artists were Aubrey Atwater (various), Lee Cagle (mountain dulcimer), Betty Dawson (hammered dulcimer), Steve Eulberg (mountain and hammered dulcimer, guitar), Jim Miller (mandolin, banjo, guitar, mountain and hammered dulcimer), Agene Parsons (autoharp), Rick Thum (hammered dulcimer), and Special Guest: Larkin Kelley Bryant.
We had a great venue at Lindenwood Christian Church, 2400 Union Avenue. Free demonstrations were held during the day by: Amy Vails, harpist; Harry Johnson, bones and bohdran; Doug Felt, penny whistle/pizza box bohdran; Nancy Chase, bagpipes; Aubrey Atwater, clogging; Jim Miller, bowed dulcimer; old time music from Hilary Scheel and Daniel Fleck; djembe by Gary Gaia from Memphis Drum Shop.

Agene Parsons 2008

Amy Vails 2008

Jam session 2008

Aubrey Atwater class 2008

Harry Johnson playing bones 2008

Ilace Mears' first festival! And Carolyn Mason. Two stars!

Jim Miller and Agene Parsons 2008

Bob Magowan, our Dulcimer Doctor, 2008

Finale Concert 2008

Hammered Dulcimer 2008

Jim Miller, dust buster bagpipes, 2008

Melvin and Glenda Montgomery 2008

January Dulcimer Gathering 2008, Lindenwood Christian Church

The seventh annual January Dulcimer Gathering was held January 18 & 19, 2008, at Lindenwood Christian Church, 2400 Union Avenue. The workshops began on Friday afternoon and included a jam session. Workshops continued all day on Saturday and concluded with a concert in the Lindenwood Library featuring instructors Larry Conger, Betty Dawson, and Lee Cagle.

Larry Conger presented intermediate to advanced workshops on mountain dulcimer, and Lee Cagle led beginner and novice workshops on mountain dulcimer workshops. Betty Dawson led hammered dulcimer workshops. The event was well attended by many long-time friends, as well as some newcomers to the dulcimer community. Twenty-eight people participted in workshops, jam, and/or concert. We had a great time!

Larry Conger January 2008

January Gathering 2008

Lee Cagle with new players class January 2008

Betty Dawson with class, January 2008

Betty Dawson in concert, January 2008

Betty and Lee in concert, January 2008

Concert, January 2008

The Ukes of Hazard playing Groundhog, January 2008

Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival 2007, Lindenwood Christian Church

The Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival 2007 was held on September 28 & 29, 2007 at Lindenwood Christian Church. Instructors were Lee Cagle, Thomasina Levy, Terry & Pam Lewis, Jim Miller, Larkin Bryant and Rick Thum. We had 51 "full event" registrants, a large group of general public attendees during the mid-day demonstrations, and over 100 at the finale concert on Saturday night.

Winners of the door prizes were:

Sherril Blair -- Rick Thum Traveler model hammered dulcimer

Marie Kirby -- Thistledew Acres tote bag & Annabelle Meacham print

Gilfa Merrill -- one year subscription to Dulcimer Players News

Barbara Reinhardt -- Terry Lewis turned pen

Jae Graves -- Concert CD package (9 CDs donated by 2007 artists)

The finale concert on Saturday opened with a Celtic blessing, followed by an Irish dance demonstration presented by students from Mary Sweeney's Inis Acla School of Irish Dance.

Celtic Blessing

May the blessing of light be on you. Light without and light within. May the blessed sunlight shine on you like a great peat fire, So that stranger and friend may come and warm himself at it. And may light shine out of the two eyes of you, Like a candle set in the window of a house, Bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm. May the blessing of the rain be on you, May it beat upon your Spirit And wash it fair and clean, And leave there a shining pool where the blue of Heaven shines, And sometimes a star. May the blessing of the earth be on you, Soft under your feet as you pass along the roads, Soft under you as you lie out on it, tired at the end of day; And may it rest easy over you when, at last, you lie out under it. May it rest so lightly over you That your soul may be out from under it quickly; Up and off and on its way to God.

Class 2007

Bob Magowan 2007

Cherie & Jim Miller 2007

Concert 2007

Scottish Dance school 2007

2007

Drum Class 2007

Doug Felt & Jim Miller 2007

Doug Felt teaching pizza box bohdran 2007

Elizabeth DiPietri 2007

Concert 2007

Nat J. and Jim Miller 2007

Jam Session 2007

Larkin Bryant 2007

Lee Cagle & Betty Dawson 2007

Rick Thum & Thomasina Levy 2007

Roy Brewer 2007

Steel Drum Class 2007

Terry & Pam Lewis 2007

Tom Wilson 2007

Doug Moran 2007

Harry Johnson 2007

Sherril Blair winning hammered dulcimer 2007. Rick Thum presenting.

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Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival 2006, Calvary Episcopal Church

2006 Instructors: Jim Miller, Don Pedi, Bill Taylor, Karen Mueller, Janita Baker, Lee Cagle, Larkin Bryant, Rick Thum, Larry Conger

Finale Concert 2006

Finale Concert, Calvary Church 2006

Don Pedi 2006

Karen Mueller 2006

Frank & Mary Nell Thompson, Jae Graves 2006

Lee Cagle & Carla Maxwell 2006

The Wisconsin Gals 2006

Our beloved Bob Hastings being presented a hammered dulcimer by Rick Thum

Jim Miller, Bill Taylor, Rick Thum, Karen Mueller 2006

Larry Conger 2006

Finale Concert 2006

Jim Miller & Bill Taylor 2006

Janita Baker 2006

Andy Cohen & Larkin Bryant 2006

Larkin Bryant 2006

Don Pedi 2006

Lee Cagle, Betty Dawson & Steve Newman 2006

Lee Cagle 2006

Karen Mueller

Carla, Deb, Lee and Nick 2006

Deb, Jim, Larkin, Nick 2006

Deb & Nick - The Wisconsin Gals 2006

Nick, Janita, Deb 2006

Deb, Bill, Nick 2006

Nick on Main Street trolley 2006

Deb on Main Street trolley 2006

Rick Thum & Bob Hastings 2006. Still missed and loved

Rick Thum 2006

Jim Miller 2006

Lee Cagle & Patrick Foster 2006

Too much festival! 2006

Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival 2005, Calvary Episcopal Church

The first Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival was held Sept. 30 & Oct. 1, 2005, at Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis, TN. We had a blast!

We had two days filled with workshops, concerts and jam sessions for mountain and hammered dulcimer. We also had instruction for mandolin, banjo, guitar, autoharp and Celtic harp. Instructors and performers included Janita Baker, Larkin Kelley Bryant, Larry Conger, Jim Miller, Don Pedi and Rick Thum. Participants came from as far away as New York, Minnesota, Florida, Missouri and California.

It was a truly magical weekend!