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JSMHM Presents a Matinee – “A Musical Potpourri: Dulcimers, Ukuleles and Vocals” – September 25

Lois Hornbostel and Ehukai Teves. Photo by Lonnie Webster.

Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music is pleased to offer a Tuesday, September 25th Matinee, “Dulcimers, Ukuleles and Song”. This concert features Lois Hornbostel and Ehukai Teves and will be presented at the Harvest House in Boone at 2 p.m. This is the fourth of JSMHM’s 25th Anniversary Matinee Series “pay as you exit” shows. No tickets required, if you enjoy the concert, JSMHM hopes that you will make a donation ($10 suggested) on your way out the door!

Rodney Sutton, director of JSMH stated, “Our Matinee concerts have been successful beyond our expectations. These afternoon shows have allowed JSMHM to reach bus tour groups from off the mountain in addition to being able to accommodate local groups from retirement villages and assisted living centers. And even more importantly, the matinees have provided an opportunity for long-time friends of Joe Shannon and members of Mountain Home Music who do not get out at night so much anymore to remain a part of our JSMHM family!”

Mountain dulcimers have been a Watauga County tradition since the 1800’s and Hornbostel has done her part in keeping this Appalachian instrument in the forefront of her mountain heritage. Enthusiastic audiences have described Hornbostel and and Teves’ performances saying, “I’ve just been to a musical party!” Their award-winning mountain dulcimer playing is combined with ukulele and other stringed instruments and vocals. Their repertoire includes Appalachian music, Celtic, Cajun, Hawaiian and World music presented with authenticity and fun. Both are champion dulcimer players, having won many 1st place awards for mountain dulcimer playing at Southern Appalachian fiddle conventions.

For over 30 years Hornbostel has been a student and innovator of mountain dulcimer playing technique and repertoire. She learned to play traditional dulcimer music from the pioneer mountain families of Watauga County, including Frank Proffitt, Jr. and Stanley Hicks. Early in her career she received a “Kentucky Colonel” Award for her work with the mountain dulcimer. Her knowledge of traditional music is represented in 6 her books internationally published by Mel Bay.

Teves was born in Hawaii. His father was an Army medic and his mother an Army nurse. His family traveled the world, living in Hawaii, North Carolina, Okinawa, and the Canal Zone. The family’s roots run deep in Hawaiian culture and music. Both of his parents earned “Living Legend” awards – his father for restoring the historic Kahikolu Church on the Big Island, and his mother for her work in preserving the Hawaiian native language. They also performed throughout the islands, singing and playing the “old-style” Hawaiian music with Teves playing bass. He holds a B.A. degree in Music Theory and Vocal Performance from the University of Hawaii. From his teens he established and led working bands in Panama and Hawaii, and he has performed with Hawaiian music icons Keola Beamer and Moses Kahumoku. If Teves looks a little familiar, you might have seen him as an actor, extra and surfing stuntman on the original “Hawaii Five-0” TV series. He has composed over 300 songs, among them a Hawaiian Grammy winner. Besides mountain dulcimer, Teves plays the Chapman Stick, Hawaiian-style ukulele, bass, and guitar.

Here on the mainland, Teves met Jean Ritchie, who became a good friend and admired his music. Her influence graced his understanding of Appalachian music and the mountain dulcimer, and Teves has used all his band experience to the instrument’s benefit. He developed the “Home-Middle-Outside” system of playing mountain dulcimer in 8 different keys using DAD tuning. He and Hornbostel have combined their substantial talents and experience, playing concerts and teaching mountain dulcimer and ukulele throughout the year across the US. They are soon to release their newest CD – “The Ghost Peppers”. For more info, please visit their website at www.dulcimermusic.net

Sutton added, “JSMHM is very excited to welcome back Lois and Ehukai for a command performance as a part of our matinee series. They were a tremendous success back in 2016 and received our matinee’s first standing ovation! Their dulcimer playing duets are outstanding, but witnessing the music that Ehukai plays on the Chapman Stick will leave a lasting impression on everyone in attendance!”

This is the next to last JSMHM matinee concert of the season. We hope you will join us for this great “free” entertainment and please bring a friend!
Please note – the JSMHM matinees run straight through for an hour and 15 minutes without an intermission. They begin at 2:00pm and the doors open at 1:15pm.
The Harvest House is located at 247 Boone Heights Dr. Boone, NC
Directions and more info can be found at the JSMHM website – mountainhomemusic.org