John Hartford Banjo & Merry Christmas from Mary Z. & Bob Cox

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Charleston, SC/Banjo and dulcimer!

Hello,
Bob and I will be visiting Charleston on Saturday, December 8 and will
give a small concert Saturday evening at the Hungry Monk music store.

I'll also be giving clawhammer banjo and mountain dulcimer workshops
during the day on Saturday. :)

If you live anywhere near Charleston, please consider joining us for the
day--it will be lots of fun and a chance to learn a few new tunes and
technique on banjo and dulcimer.
Here are the workshop descriptions:

Old Time Banjo Workshop - 9 to 11am - $40
Creeping up the Banjo Neck (Intermediate)
Begin to play tunes up the neck in Double C or Double D tuning. Get your
fingers used to creeping past the 5th fret without music theory or stress!
We’ll use this technique to learn Sally Ann, John Stinson’s #2 and
Angeline. Come tuned in gCGCD. Add sparkle to your playing while having
lots of fun.

Mountain Dulcimer Workshop - 1 to 3pm - $40
Mountain Dulcimer Favorites/String Band Style (Intermediate)
Learn North Alabama fiddle tune, ‘Step Around Johnny" in an easy string
band style with fun variations. Mary Z. won first place in two
competitions in 2006 and one in 2007 playing this tune –and you can learn
to play it too! We’ll also experiment with "Julie Ann Johnson" and
"Angeline". Please come tuned in DAD.

The concert is at 8PM and tickets are $15 advance or at the door.
To pre register and find out more:
http://www.hungrymonkmusic.com
843-571-3857 John Holenko
Bob and I will be staying with Glenn Fleming and his lovely wife--so if
you are a friend of Glenn, you may contact him for tickets too.

This is the first time we have visited Charleston near Christmas and we
bet it will be just beautiful this time of year. Even if you live out of
town-this would be a nice weekend to come and stay at a bed and breakfast
or camp and see the sights in historic Charleston. There are excellent
restuarants and shopping to keep any spouse happy while you are in class.
[:D]
www.maryzcox.com
webpage
www.secretbanjo.blogspot.com
a secret life of banjo blog :)

Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee Nights with Fall Quilt Show

Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee Nights with Fall Quilt Show
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center
P.O. Drawer G
White Springs, FL 32906
386-397-1920

http://www.floridastateparks.org/stephenfoster/default.cfm
Come join the fun! View the quilts and hear the clawhammer banjo, guitar and mountain dulcimer music of Mary Z. & Bob Cox at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center on the historic Suwannee River, October 20th along with the
RIVER QUILT SHOW AND SALE
Date: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, October 19 and 20. 9 a.m to 4 p.m. Sunday, October 21.
Description:
SUWANNEE RIVER QUILT SHOW AND SALE
"Quilting on the Suwannee-Past, Present and Future"

SS Stewart Banjo

An American Princess is coming!
Bernunzios is selling the SS Stewart Tsumura collection. I was not in the market for a new banjo, but could not resist ordering at least one small banjo from this collection of vintage banjos that has been so long in a Japanese vault. :)

Give me a 10 for Best Summer Slideshow

Give me a 10 for Best Summer Slideshow

Check out my Slide Show!

Clawhammer Banjo Youtube video

Live on the Suwannee! Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee Nights with Fall Quilt Show

Saturday, October 20th, 2007 9:00 AM EST

Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee Nights with Fall Quilt Show
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center
P.O. Drawer G
White Springs, FL 32906
386-397-1920
http://www.floridastateparks.org/stephenfoster/default.cfm
Come join the fun! View the quilts and hear the clawhammer banjo, guitar and mountain dulcimer music of Mary Z. & Bob Cox at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center on the historic Suwannee River, October 20th along with the
RIVER QUILT SHOW AND SALE
Date: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, October 19 and 20. 9 a.m to 4 p.m. Sunday, October 21.
Description:
SUWANNEE RIVER QUILT SHOW AND SALE
"Quilting on the Suwannee-Past, Present and Future"


The 19th Annual Suwannee River Quilt Show and Sale will be held on October 19, 20 & 21 at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center in White Springs. More than 200 quilts will be shown, during the three-day show.

The theme for this year´s show will be Quilting on the Suwannee-Past, Present and Future and Ed West, author of "Father´s Quilts" will be the guest speaker as part of this annual event.

Workshops, demonstrations, lectures, antique quilts and door prizes will also be featured.

To obtain more information on the Quilt Show or how to enter a quilt in the Suwannee River Quilt Show, call (386) 397-7005.

new Deering John Hartford banjo arrives!

It arrived at dinner time last evening! Knew it would be pretty--but we were unprepared for its sound. Awesome! Bob and I have heard this model before--and Bob couldn't understand why I bought this one. (I sold my Ramsey Woody to pay for it). He is in shock. This banjo sounds wonderful and better than any John Hartford banjo we have ever heard before! Thank you Deering banjos! Our digital camera is broken--so these pix were taken on a cell phone and a little blurry. :(

Firetruck banjo

Banjo apprentice/ Tim Gardner

Here is a photo of Tim Gardner (Mary & Lo Gordon's son) building a Cedar Mountain Banjo in Lo's shop. Besides building banjos, he is a top notch fiddler to boot!

BanjoTalk podcast

(Charlie Cox & Mary Z. Cox--banjo teacher and student reunite 30 years later)
Hello,
If you missed the Sunday night show, you can still listen to the whole thing via podcast on:
www.banjotalk.com
Go to the "Archives" and it is show #13
There were some really great call in guests.
Tunes played were:
Ponce de Leon (new)
Andrew Jackson, Go Back Home (A Secret Life Of Banjo)
Rockin' In a Weary Land (Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee Nights)
The next show is on July 9 with guest Tony Trishka.
David will be giving away more cyrogenic strings from the American Made Banjo Company. :)
Best wishes,
Mary Z. Cox

BanjoTalk radio show this Sunday

Hello,
Hope you are having a wonderful summer. Here's a quick update on what is
going on at the Cox house these days. :)

Please join us this Sunday June 24th, 2007 8:00 PM EST for the BanjoTalk
radio talk show. Mary will be the guest this Sunday.

http://www.banjotalk.com

Please tune in Sunday night on your computer. This is a fun show and you
can even call in and talk.
Why?
Because I'd really enjoy hearing from you--this is my first time on live
radio on BanjoTalk. :) Because if you do, you're in a drawing to win
Perfect Touch Banjo Picks and a Recording King banjo!

8-9 PM Eastern Standard Time
7-8 PM Central Standard Time
David tapes these shows and puts them on podcast--if you call in and ask a
question or just say "hello"--you can download the free podcast later and
see what you sound like on the air. :)

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Florida Folk Festival has been rescheduled to November 9 – 11, Veterans
Day weekend and Bob and I will be there. The weather should be great by
then! Here's the link and phone # to check as more info becomes
available.

55th Annual Florida Folk Festival
White Springs, FLORIDA
1-877-635-3655
http://www.floridastateparks.org

Since the spring festival was cancelled due to fire--I have some new Banjo
T-shirts available online while they last. Take a look at the design on my
homepage. :) Here is what is still available: In moss green/ M, L, XL and
one XXL. In golden tan/M, XL only--sold out of L and XXL in this color.
I also have a few Dulcimers Allowed T's in the popular chocolate color in
M and L only. Contact me by email for details and ordering if you'd like
to get one. :)
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Thanks to everyone who came to our Jacksonville concert in May. It was
great fun and we enjoyed meeting everyone. And thanks to Bruce Ford and
his wonderful family for hosting us and the River City dulcimer group for
playing warm up. The whole evening was very special and we hope to return
next year.
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Thanks to everyone who attended my banjo class in February at the Campbell
School. Boy were you ever a group of musical geniuses and it was great fun
too. :) Bob is already preparing his fresh roasted and ground coffee for
the next class in July 2008. He has been experimenting with some Brazilian
that is awesome. :)

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Thanks to everyone who came to my classes at the Suwannee Banjo Camp in
March. I enjoyed being with many old and new friends and it sure was fun.
Lots of musical geniuses there too!
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Coming!
We are still recording our new CD and hope to have it ready in the fall or
at least before the end of the year!

As of today, we have five CDs in print and available: Vintage Banjo,
Walkin' That Banjo Home, A Secret Life Of Banjo, Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee
Nights, and Dulcimer Fandango.

Mary has caught up some with the banjo tab books for the banjo CDs and
these four are now in print and available:
Vintage Banjo, Walkin' That Banjo Home, A Secret Life of Banjo, Banjo
Dreamin' Suwannee Nights, and Dulcimer Fandango.
http://www.maryzcox.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is where we will be this summer:
July 13-14--Uncle Dave Macon Days
July 15-21--Cashiers, NC and hopefully the Tuesday Jam at Mary and Lo
Gordon's music store on that Tuesday night. :)
July 22-28--John C. Campbell Folk School.
July 29-August 4--Suwannonoah Gathering Guitar Week.
If you see us at any of these events, be sure and come and say hello. :)
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www.maryzcox.com
webpage
www.myspace.com/maryzcox

Florida Folk Festival/ Rescheduled

Hello,
The Florida Folk Festival has been rescheduled for Veteran's Day weekend in November. That should be much nicer weather. :) The Stephen Foster Park has reopened and they will be hosting the Cracker Coffeehouse the first Saturday of June.
Larry Hoover will be the host.

Florida Folk Festival/ May 25-27, 2007

The schedules just came out yesterday--they are massive--so just take a look here to see who will be there.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/folkfest/Highlights.cfm



Here is where we will be!

Friday May 25 Mary Z. and Bob Cox/ Old Marble Stage--2:30 PM
Saturday May 26, Mary Z. and Bob Cox /Amphitheater (mainstage) 7:00 PM
Sunday May 27, Mary Z. and Bob Cox/Under the Oaks, 12:30 PM

Also, I will be teaching a mountain dulcimer workshop on Friday, and will be at the Banjo Contest on Sunday. :)

Hope to see you there!

Check out my Slide Show!

New banjo photos coming soon

MP3s from all banjo cds now available!

And there are short previews of every tune--right here!

If you are interested in placing one of these mini stores on your blog or webpage, let me know and I'll send you the code. :)
Thanks,
Mary Z. Cox

April Mel Bay Banjo Sessions Article

http://www.banjosessions.com/apr07/Berg.html

Twain Berg wrote this article and we think he did a really fine job. He has included banjo tab and Mp3s and photos for a true multimedia article. Also, within the interview, he mentions many other old time banjoists, fiddlers, and guitarists as well as some of my favorite banjo builders. Take a look, your name may even be in this article. :)

Cedar Key weekend slideshow

Cedar Key, Florida weekend

Resting on the porch at the Island Hotel.
We are going to rent some bait and paddle frozen kayaks next time we visit.

We saw Tom and the Flying Turtles at the Raw Bar on the canal.

Don't download this song video is for banjos too.:)

Weird Al video about musical pirating.
Don't Download This Song



Add to My Profile | More Videos

Ponce de Leon on Deering audio sample page!

(Gordon, Arcy, & Natalie Cox/December 2006)
An MP3 of "Ponce de Leon" is now up on the audio sample page on the Deering banjo page. It is recorded on the Gabriella. :)
http://www.deeringbanjos.com/samples.htm

Twenty best selling banjo tunes by Mary Z. Cox

Dear MARY,

Congratulations, your iMix "Twenty best selling banjo tunes" has been published in the iTunes Music store at:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=218158388


Twenty best selling banjo tunes

Playlist Notes: Here are Mary Z. Cox's twenty best selling banjo tunes on itunes all in one place. A very nice sampler of tunes from all of Mary's banjo CDs.




Song Name Artist

Dixie Mary Z. Cox

Soldiers Joy Mary Z. Cox

Angeline Mary Z. Cox

Wayfaring Stranger Mary Z. Cox

Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss Mary Z. Cox

Cindy Mary Z. Cox

Blackberry Blossom MARY Z. COX

Song Of The Chanter Mary Z. Cox

Rockin' In A Weary Land Mary Z. Cox

Winder Slide Mary Z. Cox

Sweet Sunny South Mary Z. Cox

Dunsmore Lasses Mary Z. Cox

Shepherd's Wife Waltz Mary Z. Cox

Snowdrop MARY Z. COX

Sally Ann Mary Z. Cox

Old Yeller Dog MARY Z. COX

Sheebeg Agus Sheemore Mary Z. Cox

Andrew Jackson, Go Back Home Mary Z. Cox

Julie Ann Johnson MARY Z. COX

Bonaparte's Retreat Mary Z. Cox




Your iMix will be available in the iTunes Store for 1 year.

Ground Hog Sherman Challenges Phil

------- For Immediate Release -----


In a rare and dramatic disagreement with Punxsutawney Phil, Susquehanna Sherman, Groundhog, saw his shadow this morning and predicted 6 more weeks of winter.

Joining Sherman on the recycling bin this year is Apprentice Prognosticator, Little Buzzy. Buzzy will be given a formal name when the apprenticeship period is complete.


The Susquehanna Sherman Ground Hog Club is headquartered in a mobile home park in Starview, PA, a hamlet near Mount Wolf. The Club has thrived since 2002 and has grown to two members, both Co-Presidents and Co-Founders. Additional Membership is not anticipated at this time.

Respectfully submitted,

Tim Smith, Recording Secretary & Co-President
724 Lake Drive
Mount Wolf, PA
(717) 266-6300

Happy Ground Hog Day

The young ground hog in the slide show is Buzzy that belongs to Tim Smith. The other live ground hog is Phil.
Happy hog day to all.
Best wishes,
Mary Z. Cox
ps. Note that Buzzy is perched on a banjo head.

Check out my Slide Show!

Check out my Slide Show!

First banjo of the year for me!

Here it is almost the end of January 2007,and of course, I am on intense banjo restriction from last year, but Tim Smith rescued a Saga Banjo kit and sent it along to my doorstep--so a quite nice clawhammer banjo waltzed through the door to brighten January in Tallahassee. In fact, I've been playing it all evening and having a really fun time. One of my neighbors even stopped buy and played it awhile
too.
If you'd like the story on its construction, visit Tim's Save the Banjo Page.
http://savethebanjos.com

imix of banjo, ukes, vocals/very sweet. :)

Tubby banjo

Here is a new imix for those of you who love your ipods and MP3 players. It is all low tuned gut banjo. Take a listen, it is great fun. :)

For itunes and banjo waltz lovers

For itunes and ipod lovers.
Here's an imix of waltzes--two of them are on my banjo, but there are some other pretty ones here by other artists as well. :)

Robert Sidney Cox III 2007

A new pix of our eldest son, Arcy. He just bought a digital camera and will be taking a photography class.