Letter to the editor - News Messenger - Sept. 5, 1998
The show will go on
The following article was supposed to be a "letter to the editor" in the Saltville Progress but was left out due to the fact that they had to cut that section out due to the paper being too long because of the Labor Day Celebration information. This was a real convenient way, once again, of ignoring the local talent and trying to dictate not only the music but the type of music as well.
Why don't "they" just have us all arrested and locked up? I can see the caption now, "All we wanted to do was play music for our families and friends in our own home town." The walls must come down! Saltville, it is time to stand up and take back your town!
If you want to support some of your local talent, come on down and enjoy the fun. I promise you that if you like good, clean music, you will have the time of your life Labor Day weekend at the Lions Club Carnival Grounds. After all, I don't know of one musician/singer scheduled to perform that doesn't give the fans credit for their abilities in one way or another. Our music can take you back to your childhood, back to the town the way it used to be, make you remember a loved one who has passed on, feel closer to our creator.
The show will go on!
Despite the controversy surrounding the Saltville Jam '98, the show will go on as planned. The Saltville Jam was originated last year on Labor Day weekend by the local group "Southern Flavor" and is a music show designed to allow local musicians and singers an opportunity to perform.
The '97 Jam which drew a large following, was staged on the Food Country, USA parking lot Three days of fun and music met with a positive . response and plans were made for this year's "Jam." Everything was going smoothly until Food Country, USA unexpectedly and for no apparent reason withdrew its offer to provide the site for this year's show. Not to be defeated, organizers scrambled at the last minute to find a new location. Fortunately for musicians and fans, the Lions Club graciously granted the use of their showground facility for the "Saltville Jam '98." Therefore, the show will go on!
There will be one empty chair at this year's "Jam." A seat that would have been occupied by one of the area musicians' most loyal fans - Ken Collins. Ken passed away early this year after a long battle with cancer. The " Saltville Jam '98" is dedicated to the memory of our dearly missed friend, Ken.
So if you enjoy Bluegrass, Country, Gospel, Western or "Modern" Bluegrass music, bring your lawn chair and a friend and come on down to the Lions Club Carnival Grounds for a weekend of pickin' and grinnin.' The show will start Saturday, Sept. 5, at 5 p.m.
Larry D. Hogston - Saltville