Bill Jorgenson, the Father of Wisconsin Bluegrass
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By:
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bluegrassrobby
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content
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Date:
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06/26/2007 17:10:44
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Music:
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Bluegrass
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June 9, 2007 the sun came up over Lake Michigan and the waters shown with special brilliance. The sky was blue and the temperature was perfect. The great folks at Heritage Farm in Kewaunee had planted colorful flowers, painted and decorated the exhibition hall and the grounds were immaculate. By noon both stages were filled with the strains of great Bluegrass as Buddie & Tina Wright, a West Texas String Band, thrilled the crowd with their singing and musical talent. Jefferson County, a traditional bluegrass band from Wisconsin entertained the crowd with great blends and harmony. By noon the parking lot was filled and the overflow packed down the fields of a near by farmer. By 3pm there was not a chair left in the exhibition hall, by 4pm standing room was in short supply. On the stage Mike from heritage farm had displayed Bill’s stool with his fest and hat and his guitar and banjo spot lighted in the background. All weekend long they remained undisturbed as band after band performed in Bill’s honor. So many bands wanted to play we opened a second stage on Saturday.
Why all the fuss? As proclaimed by the governor of the State of Wisconsin and the Legislature of Wisconsin today, June 9, 2009 was Bill Jorgenson, the Father of Wisconsin Bluegrass Day. Bill passed away at 76 on February 5th 2007. The entire funeral home as packed with lines stretching out into the parking lot, all this in 5 degree Wisconsin weather. So many fans were upset that they missed the funeral that we added a special memorial for Bill on his day.
At precisely 4pm Gabrielle Grey the executive director of the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro Kentucky lifted her bow and began a beautiful fiddle song in Bill’s honor. Gabrielle traveled to the festival to visit Bill’s log home in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin and to film Bill’s daughter Jenni and his sisters and other family members plus many of the local and festival bluegrass personalities to discover what this man Bill Jorgenson was all about. Once she was familiar with Bill and his wonderful life she was compelled to honor him during the ceremony at Heritage Farm.
Bill always loved the song Deeper than Snow and had rewritten the verses; the first stanza for his mother and the second for his daughter Jenni. Shortly before he died Bill told me there should be a third verse and that I should add it someday. I was nervous as I sang Bill’s song because no one had the talent of voice for that song like Bill. I think I sang it as good as I ever could, I think I had a little help from above. A poem about Bill’s life followed as there were a few scattered individuals that had never met him.
The excitement grew as Bob Everhart, the President of America’s Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame took the stage. Bill was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998 and just last September had made the journey to Missouri Valley Iowa to sing and perform on several of Bob Everhart’s 10 stages. Bob was there to award Bill (accepting was his daughter Jenni) The FIRST ANNUAL BLUEGRASS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. Bob explained that this award was presented once a year to the Bluegrass Performer who had done the most for Bluegrass over his lifetime. Not only did the award recognize the talent of the performer but also what he or she gave to Bluegrass and the community at large. “Bill Jorgenson sets the standard that all other performers and recipients of this award have to live up to,” Bob said. Bill was a great performer but also a great humanitarian who remained a humble person all his life. He encourage other performers, lent them instruments and money, shared stage time and continued to teach and help all his life. In addition he was always there for his family, his friends, fans, and community at large. When you needed a helping hand in Door County Wisconsin Bill was always there.
On his 70th birthday he was asked what he wanted and he said, “I’d like to get into the schools and show the children this wonderful music called bluegrass” he was quoted as saying. And sing and play and show them he did. The next six years saw 92 schools and over 20,600 school children participating in his free Bluegrass in the Schools Program. On a personal note Bob and his wife described Bill as their friend and one of the finest people they ever had a chance to interact with. He presented the award to Bill’s daughter and his grandchildren Amber, Ashley and Tegan. Jenni quietly thanked everyone as she held back the tears that formed. Her children quickly had their arms around her in support and she finished her thank you’s.
Next the stage was filled with children. They represented the over 20,000 children that Bill had seen and talk the Long Journey Home Song to. The harmonica introduction was played by Joel Kroenke a Wisconsin musician and good friend. Soon the crowd joined the children and the strains of $2 Bill filled the air. Very quietly a wonderful Wisconsin Bluegrass Group called Big Cedar came up behind on the stage and took up their instruments. A wonderful surge of power swelled through the exhibition barn as the entire audience and stage sang this tribute to Bill. Next the children quietly filed off the stage and Big Cedar began to play some of Bill’s favorite songs. Tears filled the eyes of the audience as Shackles and Chains, Little White Washed Chimney and I Wonder How The Old Folks Are Back Home filled the air one more time.
I hope that every bluegrass musician will strive to make his or her life so that they are eligible for this award. There is no higher honor in the bluegrass community in my mind than to win the Life Time Bluegrass Achievement Award. Bill set the standard high, just where it should be.
As the final verse of the song says:
&nb sp; We are all so very very sorry
&nb sp; That Billy he just had to go.
&nb sp; Said goodbye to his grandchildren and Jenni
&nb sp; And to all of his friends here below.
&nb sp; But up there in Heaven he’s singing.
&nb sp; Now they can hear his banjo ring,
&nb sp; And the Angels are clapping and dancing
&nb sp; Because Billy Jorgenson, he’s doing his
&nb sp; thing. &nb sp; &nb sp; &nb sp;
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