January 2023 meeting

Rick just singing his lungs out.

Good turn out this month! Good to see some folks we haven’t had join us in awhile. This month was our last meeting with our good friend, luthier, and stalwart Rick Memmel, who will be moving back east later this month after nearly 50 years here in Cheyenne. As for moving that much stuff, all I can say is yikes!… It will be a few months before he’s all settled in, but when he is, we’ll have a link that you can still hit him up for musical goodies.

The String Doctor, Floyd Turner

We also received news that Floyd passed away, just before Christmas. Floyd was a master luthier; he knew more about Martin guitars than Martin did. When they talk about the changes in the internal bracing position, Floyd is the one who spotted that. He was quiet at the meetings, but if you got him on his home turf, watch out! There would be stories… We are truly diminished.

Maria is making sure Ken plays it correctly

As for the meeting, several of us worked up tunes to honor Rick. Lots of original tunes were played as well. Since Remy missed our December meeting, he caught us up with some holiday medleys. It was good to hear Nancy and her mandolin. Rick brought not one but TWO group songs. Late in the program, Mark Allen (aka Snapper) also dropped by, and hopes he can swing by soon with some tunes to share. We hope so too!

The Board for 2023

Rich Ryan, chief cook and bottle washer.

Steve Gilmore, treasurer.

Keith Blaney, secretary and newsletter

Russ Williams, special events

David Norby, Nancy McKenzie, board. ( they ‘ll be doing all the hard work now)

Foundation/Scholarship Fund

The CGS Foundation through LCCC is doing so well, we decided to offer a scholarship fund for music students. No sooner than we established the nest-egg for it, we had an opportunity for matching funds! So in just a couple weeks, it bumped up to $30,000. The scholarship will be based on the earnings of the previous year, so the first scholarship award will be this upcoming fall. Additional funds can be added/earmarked at any time, so if you are interested give us a ping.

Kathy and Rick from a previous Valentine’s soiree

Valentine’s Dinner & Concert

This year marks the 25th annual Valentine’s Dinner and Concert! It will be held Tuesday, Feb 14th, on the LCCC campus. At 6pm, we will gather in the Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium lobby for appetizers and wine. At 7pm, Bokyung Byun, winner of the Guitar Foundation of America’s annual contest, will perform in the auditorium. This will be followed by a plated dinner in the Clay Pathfinder building.

Dinner and concert this year will be $70 per person, $60 for members of CGS. This includes hors d’oeuvres, wine, beef or salmon (or vegan) dinner, and a rose for the ladies. Seating is limited, so get your reservations in to Russ Williams (630-4553) as soon as possible. Concert alone $30 or $25, depending on membership status. Plenty of seating for that, so pay ahead or at the door.

There will be a master class on the 15th, also on campus. It will either be in the Fine Arts building, Rm. 139, or in the auditorium. $10 to monitor, with 5 students up from Colorado in the hot seat. Whether you play classical guitar or not, these master classes are incredibly informative and entertaining.

PLAYLIST for January 2023

Breakfast at Tiffany’s was this song’s debut

Justin Johnson, ‘Moon River’, Henri Mancini/Johnny Mercer, as sung by Audrey Hepburn.

Mason McTell, ‘Junkie Queen’, original.

David & Linda Norby, ‘Old Friends/Bookends’, Simon & Garfunkel.

Ken Frederick, ‘New Year’s Day’, original.

Nancy McKenzie, ‘Red Haired Boy/Margaret’s Waltz’, traditional/Pat Shaw.

Oooo, shouldn’t a sucked that lemon

Keith Blaney, ‘A Little Help From My Friends’, Lennon/McCartney.

Roland Peterson, ‘Arkansas Traveler’, arranged by Scott Nygaard.

Steve Gilmore, ‘Banua’, Kingston Trio.

Remy Abeyta, ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’, Brenda Lee.

Remy, ‘Deck The Halls’, Thomas Oliphant.

Russ really knows how to read music. Unbelievable!

Russ Williams, ‘What’ll I Do?’, Irvin Berlin.

Rich Ryan, ‘What Child Is This?’, traditional.

group song, ‘Is Anybody Going To San Antone’, Doug Sahm.

Justin Johnson, ‘Golden Embers’, Mandolin Orange/Watch House.

Mason McTell, ‘Church Street Blues’, Norman Blake.

lovely harmonies of Linda and David. Just not in this pix…

David & Linda, ‘WITH a Little Help From My Friends’, the Beatles.

Ken Frederick, ‘At The End Of The Day’, original.

Nancy McKenzie, ‘Blue Birds are Singing For Me’, Lester Flatt.

Keith, ‘When I’m 64’, Paul McCartney.

Roland Peterson, ‘500 Miles’, Hedy West.

Our best picture of Steve’s floppy right hand.

Remy Abeyta, ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’, Hugh Martin/Ralph Blane.

Rich Ryan, ‘In My Life’, Beatles.

group, ‘Folsom Prison Blues’, Johnny Cash.

Mason McTell, ‘Mr. Mud & Mr. Gold’, Towns VanZandt.

Ken Frederick, ‘Holiday #22’, original.

Remy Abeyta, ‘Silent Night/We Wish You A Merry Christmas’, Franz Xaver Gruber, Arthur Warrell.

also joining us tonight; Rick Memmel, Maria Means, and Mark Allen.

‘The right tool for the job’ was Floyd’s motto.