- This event has passed.
Bluegrass Jack
January 9, 2017 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
North Kohala Library will welcome the new year with a bluegrass concert by ”Bluegrass Jack”.
Band leader, vocalist and mandolinist, Jack Tottle’s early professional experience was highlighted by the international release of his album Raise a Ruckus in 1964. Through the years, Tottle has made recordings with bluegrass icons such as Béla Fleck. Jack also wrote the best-selling instruction book, Bluegrass Mandolin, which has remained in print for the past 40 years.
Songs composed by Jack Tottle have been performed by major artists including Blue Highway, Mountain Heart, Tim Stafford, the Bluegrass Cardinals, James King, and Alison Krauss and Union Station.
For twenty-five years Jack served as the director of East Tennessee State University’s Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Program.
Bluegrass Jack’s guitarist and singer, Anne Pontius, is a long time resident of Kohala, having raised and home-schooled four children here. Anne has played folk music for years, but over the past five years has become a solid and steady bluegrass guitarist, which, as Jack Tottle remarks is, “quite a bit harder than it looks.” Anne also plays mandolin duets with Jack.
Banjo player Steve Ryan’s career as a NOAA scientist has taken him as far afield as American Samoa, Alaska and Antartica, including the South Pole. He has played in the past with various musical groups on the Big Island, including Saddle Road, Big Island Bluegrass, and the cleverly-named HiloBillies.
Completing the band, another long-time Kohala resident, retired Oahu businessman Chris Wej, has introduced a new instrument into bluegrass music. Called the U-bass or ukulele bass, it’s the size of a baritone ukulele but has heavier strings, and fulfills the role of the standup bass remarkably well.
Program schedule is subject to change. Contact the library 15 days in advance if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is required.