KASU-FM 91.9 PAYS

TRIBUTE TO DONNY CATRON

 

FEBRUARY 28, 2016

 

Donny Catron performing with the
Tennessee Gentlemen at Turkey Track
Bluegrass Festival, Waldron, AR
circa 1981

 

     Marty Scarbrough, program director at KASU-FM 91.9 (www.kasu.org) on the campus of Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, honored the life and the memory of Donny Catron on the air on Sunday, February 28, 2016. Donny passed away at age 60 on February 21, 2016, at his residence in Mountain Home, AR. Marty's weekly program called Down Home Harmonies dedicated a total of about forty-five minutes to a program from 2009 at Bluegrass Monday (4th Monday each month) at the Collins Theatre in Paragould, AR, in which the Tennessee Gentlemen were the guest artists. Donny, his brother Doyle Catron, and the Coffey Brothers made up the band during that time.

 

     Marty Scarbrough gave a brief rundown of the influence that Donny and the Tennessee Gentlemen had on the Mid-South bluegrass music scene for more than 30 years. Marty mentioned the many festivals the band played, and awards the band won at awards shows by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA).

 

     Returning home from a weekend of parlor pickin' at Country Oaks Bed & Breakfast in Mountain View, AR, we listened to Down Home Harmonies and the portion dedicated to Donny Catron and his other beloved musical pals in the Tennessee Gentlemen. Here is the selection of songs, many of which became known as "Donny's songs": Beulah Land; I Just Want to Thank You, Lord; Satan's Jeweled Crown; Were You There When They Crucified My Lord; The Lighthouse; Go Rest High on That Mountain; Tall Dark Stranger; Cajun Baby; Corinna, Corinna; Snowbird; and Bluegrass Melodies.

 

Donny will be missed by his family, friends, and the many fans who loved him. He was a dandy!

 

Thanks to KASU-FM 91.9 and Marty Scarbrough for the special programming in memory of Donny.

Link to webcast of the funeral service:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpAzWjZKJsc

 

Pick away!

 



 

PARLOR PICKIN'

ARKANSAS STYLE

 

February 28, 2016

 

     Many of you know what Arkansas pickin' is like, especially around Mountain View and Stone County. Arkansas bluegrass pickin' is down-to-earth, all-acoustic, and all the time! There is somebody pickin' just about anytime at Scott and Shay Pool's music store on the Square. When the weather has lost its winter chill, there will be pickers in gazebos, on porches, and in front yards all around town.

 

     Several cuts above just reg'lar ol' bluegrass pickin', there is pickin' with a touch of elegance. Country Oaks Bed & Breakfast is one such place where the pickin' is first class. Built and managed by innkeepers Jerry and Carole Weber, the beautiful property offers designer-class rooms in two mansion-like buildings, clean and comfortable beds, plenty of acreage to roam about, tasty breakfast meals to start a guest's day off right, and parlor pickin' on occasion. Their four-legged assistants are Dusty, Tinker, Roscoe the rescued dogs, and of course, Pearl, the serene and gorgeous cat! It's a fine mix of people and pets and we love it!

 

     We went over to a recent parlor pickin' where four musicians whose names you already know provided beautiful instrumental and vocal music for the twenty guests in attendance for the weekend. The musicians were Gary Rounds (guitar and vocals), Pam Setser (dulcimer, spoons, and vocals), Tim Crouch (fiddle and mandolin), and Irl Hees (upright bass and vocals).The artists played two great sets with a break for coffee and cake in the middle of the activities. It was lovely.

 

     This particular group played with enthusiasm tinged with sadness at the recent death of their friend and fellow musician, Donny Catron. We must tell you that over the last year or so, these great musician friends of Donny's rallied around him with jammin' sessions, performance gigs to play, albums to cut with him, calls, texts, and anything else you could imagine to stay close to their friend who was so very ill but continued to play and sing. It was a beautiful thing! Former Tennessee Gentlemen, Richard Bailey and Ron Owen had also kept in recent contact with Donny, along with Ken Irwin of Rounder Records. However, as one of Donny's familiar songs says, "the show must go on," and so it did and so it will.

 

     Here is their wonderful selection of tunes for that special night in the parlor at Country Oaks, with many of the songs serving as reminders of their friend Donny Catron: Set 1: Steel Rails, Arkansas Traveler, Arkansas, Walkin' in Jerusalem, Scotland the Brave, Unknown Legend, Maiden's Prayer, The Field Behind the Plow, The Water Is Wide, Sin City, Dragging the Bow, Songbird, Two More Bottles of Wine, and Closing Nashville Down

Set 2: Orange Blossom Special, Walkin' After Midnight, Tennessee Blues, Amazing Grace, Crying My Heart Out Over You (guest Tacie Johnson), Pass Me Not (Tacie Johnson), Help Me Make It Through the Night, Crooked Ridge, Desperado, Milk Cow Blues, What a Friend, 8 More Miles to Louisville, Watermelon, Back Up and Push, Green Light on the Southern, Georgia, Farmer's Daughter, The Lighthouse, Way Downtown, How's the World Treating You, Red-Haired Boy, Darcy Farrow, and I Don't Love Nobody.

 

 

Bluegrass in the Parlor at Country Oaks
Mountain View, AR
Irl Hees (bass), Tim Crouch (fiddle), Pam Setser (dulcimer),
Gary Rounds (guitar)

  

Irl Hees , Tim Crouch, Pam Setser

 

Gary Rounds (guitar)

 

Irl Hees and Tim Crouch



Tim Crouch and Pam Setser



Pam Setser and Gary Rounds

 

Irl Hees and Tim Crouch

 

Gary Rounds and Tacie Johnson

 

Tim Crouch and Pam Setser (dulcimer)

 

Tim Crouch (mandolin), Pam Setser (spoons),

Gary Rounds (guitar)

 



    

 



 

 

IN MEMORIAM: DONNY CATRON

 

OF THE TENNESSEE GENTLEMEN

 

NEW PHOTOS ADDED 2/24/16

 

January 16, 1956 - February 22, 2016

 

L to R: Richard Bailey, Steve Gregory,

Troy Castleberry, Donny Catron

The Tennessee Gentlemen

Cover Story Bluegrass Unlimited, October 1981

by Betty Westmoreland

 

     The Tennessee Gentlemen, Memphis, TN, have lost another member of their bluegrass family. Word has come that Donny Catron passed away in Arkansas at the age of 60. Catron had been in ill health for several years, but his smile never waned and he was always ready to sing. The multi-SPBGMA award-winner and lead singer for the Gents for some 30+ years was known far and wide as the highest high lead in the business...and one of the best entertainers to hit the bluegrass festival circuit. While his voice may be stilled here on Earth, no doubt he is singing in that Angel Band with his pal and band leader Troy Castleberry and others who've already gone on to glory. The band closed many a show at their Tennessee Gentlemen Bluegrass Shack with  Donny leading the familiar song, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" Those who are familiar with the band and the Shack can hear him singing that song right now. When it came to lead and tenor singing, no doubt that Donny Catron was "da man!" We shall miss you, Donny!

 

 *SPECIAL NOTE:  KASU 91.9 FM or http://www.kasu.org featured Donny and the Tennessee Gentlemen on Down Home Harmonies in a memorial tribute from a show in 2009. We hope you caught this special programming on radio or on the Web on Sunday (2/28/16) from Noon to 12:35 PM CST. Then again, at 2:45 PM CST, KASU Program Director Marty Scarbrough closed out Down Home Harmonies with the Tennessee Gentlemen. Following the earlier portion at 12:35, Donna Ulisse and The Poor Mountain Boys' show from Monday, February 22, 2016, was broadcast. If you missed their 'live show or just wanted to hear it again, that was your chance!

 

      We will take you down "The River of Memories" quickly here. Enjoy the trip!

 

 

L to R: Richard Bailey, Troy Castleberry, Donny Catron, Steve Gregory

at the Bluegrass Shack

 

Cake for Celebration of Second Anniversary

of the Tennessee Gentlemen Bluegrass Shack,

Lucy, TN

 



At the Shack: Troy Castleberry, Richard Bailey, Donny Catron

Donny Catron 'played' the gold toilet plunger (at rear) as he

imitated Louis Armstrong's trumpet in "Won't You

Come Home, Bill Bailey?"

 

The Tennessee Gentlemen Bluegrass Shack

Pleasant Ridge Road, Lucy, TN

 

Is that Dolly or Donny singing Dolly's

classic "Coat of Many Colors"?

 

Troy Castleberry and Donny Catron share the stage

with their friend Gary Johnson, who knew every

bluegrass song that ever was

 

SPBGMA Award Winners at The Lodge of the Four Seasons

Lake Ozark, MO

Richard Bailey, Ronnie Owen, Donny Catron, Troy Castleberry

 

Troy Castleberry, Donny Catron, and Steve Gregory

at a bluegrass festival

 

Troy Castleberry, Donny Catron, and Steve Gregory

at SPBGMA Awards, Lodge of the Four Seasons

Lake Ozark, MO

 

 

L to R: Richard Bailey, Troy Castleberry, Donny Catron, Steve Gregory

at benefit fundraiser for WKNO in Memphis, TN

 

Tennessee Gentlemen at Barton Coliseum

Little Rock, AR

L to R: Richard Bailey, Troy Castleberry,

Donny Catron, Ron Owen

 

Richard Bailey at a Festival

 

Carolyn Castleberry at Popcorn Machine

Tennessee Gentlemen

Bluegrass Shack, Lucy, TN

 

Donny Catron at Turkey Track Festival

Waldron, AR

 

Back side of the Tennessee Gentlemen

Bluegrass Shack, Lucy, TN

 

Richard Bailey at Turkey Track

Waldron, AR

 

Troy Castleberry, Charlie Derrington,

Donny Catron, Ron Owen at the Bluegrass Shack

 

Donny Catron at SPBGMA Awards

Lodge of the Four Seasons

Lake Ozark, MO

 

Troy Castleberry at SPBGMA Awards

Lodge of the Four Seasons

Lake Ozark, MO

 

Ron Owen at SPBGMA Awards

Lodge of the Four Seasons

Lake Ozark, MO

 

Front L to R: Ron Owen, Richard Bailey,

Troy Castleberry

At Rear in Center, Donny Catron

SPBGMA Awards, Lake Ozark, MO

 

Richard Bailey at Tennessee Gentlemen

Gig in Downtown Memphis, TN

 

Marquee for KIX 106 Show at the New Daisy Theater

featuring the Tennessee Gentlemen

and the River Bluff Clan

 

SPBGMA Awards Show

L to R: Richard Bailey, Troy Castleberry,

Wayne Southards, Stuart Brownlee

 

Troy Castleberry at Southaven, MS,

Bluegrass Festival

 

Mike Swanner at Southaven, MS,

Bluegrass Festival

 

L to R: Mike Swanner, Troy Castleberry,

Wayne Southards, Stuart Brownlee at

the Tennessee Gentlemen Bluegrass Shack

 

Troy Castleberry at the Bluegrass Shack

 

L to R: Richard Bailey, Troy Castleberry, Carolyn Castleberry,

Wayne Southards, Janet Southards (behind Wayne) Jan Brownlee,

Stuart Brownlee at the Bluegrass Shack

 

Troy Castleberry at the Bluegrass Shack

A favorite hat and a cigarette

 

Carolyn Castleberry in the kitchen at the

Tennessee Gentlemen Bluegrass Shack

 

Album "Just Us"

L to R: Donny Catron, Richard Bailey, Steve Gregory,

Troy Castleberry

 

Album "Sunday Morning"

Gospel Bluegrass by the

Tennessee Gentlemen

 

 

Album "Here We Go Again"

L to R: Stuart Brownlee, Donny Catron, Troy Castleberry,

Richard Bailey

 

Album "Heading West"

Front: Troy Castleberry

Standing: Wayne Southards, Richard Bailey

Stuart Brownlee