Fossil Ridge Public Library will host a lively musical journey through the golden era of country and western swing this May! Experience the fast swing fiddling and entertaining stories of Wade Ray, a child prodigy turned national radio star, as musician and historian Dennis Stroughmatt brings his mentor's legacy to life.
"Our library has been fortunate to host various musical programs over the years, each offering our patrons a chance to experience new and unique music they may not have heard before," says Katelynn Clark, the Head of Adult/Teen Services at Fossil Ridge. "Every performance has broadened our community's musical horizons from contemporary music by Chris Vallillo about the rural American Midwest to folk music about Illinois by Bucky Halker. We're thrilled to continue this tradition with 'Play That Hot Fiddle,' bringing the artistry of fiddle music to our audience."
The "Play That Hot Fiddle" presentation will be held on Wednesday, May 14th, at the Fossil Ridge Public Library in Braidwood, Illinois, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Born 1916 in southern Indiana to a family from southeastern Illinois, the child prodigy fiddler and singer Wade Ray developed into one of the most endearing entertainers in country and western swing music. Through the medium of radio, on shows such as "The Pappy Cheshire Show" on KMOX in St. Louis and the "National Barn Dance" on WLS in Chicago, Wade Ray gained national prestige alongside performers like Patsy Montana and Rex Allen.
Presenting the fast swing fiddling and humorous stories of his mentor, Wade Ray, Dennis Stroughmatt will lead audiences through the early years of Old-Time Radio and share how music brought America through the Great Depression, World War II, and beyond. This presentation will accompany a rare video of Wade Ray and personal memorabilia from the Wade Ray collection.
This event is co-presented by the Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Speakers Bureau. Road Scholar speakers travel throughout Illinois, sharing free, dynamic presentations about literature, philosophy, theater, local history, film, music, politics, and more at no cost to host organizations. The program enables local nonprofit organizations to present free-admission cultural programs to their communities.
Dennis Stroughmatt is a cultural preservationist, educator, speaker, folk musician, and longtime Road Scholar. He has entertained, educated, and captivated countless diverse audiences throughout Illinois with his live-music presentations on subjects ranging from Illinois French Creole music and culture to Old-Time Western Swing.
"Play That Hot Fiddle" will be held on Wednesday, May 14th, at the Fossil Ridge Public Library in Braidwood, Illinois, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to all audiences. To register to attend this event, please visit the Play That Hot Fiddle event page on our website at fossilridge.org or contact our Head of Adult/Teen Services, Katelynn Clark, at kclark@fossilridge.org or 815-458-2187 ext: 112