Martin Guitar Custom Shop Experts have extensive knowledge and years of experience producing some of the finest guitars ever built. . And we managed to. | AdminFuneral Home Website by Batesville | Funeral Planning and Grief Resources. In fact, there is not such a strong distinction between the rhythm and lead playing. Blake used his own personal copy of his signature 000-28B extensively while promoting his 2015 album, Wood, Wire and Words. Norman Blake was one of the first pickers to recognize the tonal potential of vintage guitars. The literal message is unambiguous and a pretty clear statement of Blakes own beliefs, but the delivery and context exhibit a depth, subtlety and sense of history that may bypass the casual listener. Norman Blake (born March 10, 1938) is a traditional American stringed instrument artist and songwriter. The O Brother, Where Art Thou? But if youve got your action down low and you want a big note with a low action, seems like the GHS works for me. I guess Im never sure of my role in any of it. . Do you feel like your crusading kind of won in the long run? It was in the bands. You can refine a nice performance into something thats really stale when youve done it that many times., Back Home in Sulphur Springs includes a relatively rare example of Nancy Blake playing lead mandolin. The residency of Norman is at 11179 Estancia Wy, Carmel, IN 46032-8259. Well, the McGee brothers. Shacktown Road lists no less than 17 instruments used on the recording, ranging from Nancy Blakes 1832 cello by Charles Jacquot to a 2002 guitar made by Robert Altman of Colbert, Georgia. Norman Ray Blake, 86, of Alliance, died on Tuesday, July 14, 2009, at 1:10 a.m. at Roselawn Terrace. Norman Funeral services will be held at Weerts Funeral Home on Tuesday November 22, 2022 at 5pm. Text size. To achieve that level of simplicity, of course, requires a lot of work and effort. Well, Ive always said I learned from anybody I ever liked. Left to mourn Brazilian sounds sweeter, remarked Blake about the prized species of wood for which Golden Era Martins were heralded. And to rethink it just a little. She had orchestra training when she was young so shes used to finding a part, and thats where she excels. The earlier version is jangly and energetic; its rhythmic feel is pretty much the boom chuck youve heard on countless acoustic-guitar records. [3] For ten years, he toured and recorded with country singer Johnny Cash[4] and continued to play with Cash intermittently over the next thirty. 1954-present. I dont like the hunt, but I like finding that sound, said Blake over the phone from his house in the Georgian hinterlands where he has lived almost his entire life. I may never perform in public again. I think that worried them a little bit. A radio to listen at is all we had, and a handful of records on a wind-up Victrola or something. The search continues. There are good new instruments, but they are from another period. I dont know what the outcome is going to be. where Obituary For Norman Milbrandt Anderson Tebeest Hanson Dahl Funeral is at the heart of everything we do.Our goal is to provide an in-depth and comprehensive exploration of this fascinating subject, to delve into the details that make it so captivating, and to bring together a community of individuals who share a passion . Visitation will be from 4 to 5pm. Blake recorded with folk singer Joan Baez and appeared on her hit song "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". I dont think they have a responsibility to, no. Whether you can stand up and really honk it, or whether you have to just sit down and approach it a little more intimately. Norman is eighty years old. If Im using plastic picks, I use Jim Dunlop. Do you think younger folk musicians have a responsibility to tell it like it is, like you do, to talk about the modern world or politics in their songs? Dont Be Afraid of the Neo-Cons, from Back Home in Sulphur Springs, is a classic example. I remember your song from the early 2000s during the Bush administration, Dont be Afraid of the Neo-Cons. I guess the natural follow-up would be, do you think we should be afraid of Trump? I just wonder, how long do you inflict yourself on the public as you grow old? Zander Mueller, Grace Naumann, Drew Nodland, Evan Norman, Ashlyn Nosbusch . He was playing solo-type guitar, playing with his brother Kirk. Well, a lot of folks have compared the current political turmoil to what happened in the late 60s. Might even say youve influenced people even more than the folks in strictly five-string banjo world. Do you think that access to everything, that lack of common influences, is changing the way people make music? You are tone questing! calls out Nancy in the distance. I think that part of a musicians job is to soften up the hearts of people so they can receive a better message., Lately, Norman and Nancy Blake have been devoting their time to performing duets. Or what seems to satisfy your own soul., Nancy Blake is not quite as much of an instrument accumulator as Norman is, but she knows what she likes. 2021 Catalog Number. He lived the life, and in some ways, he still lives that life. Did you study his style, learn to play like him? The GHS string reminds me of the old days. We were fish in a tree. Yeah, I dont know. Online condolences may be left at www.weertsfh.com. This is the full obituary story where you can express condolences and share memories. Sign up for service and obituary updates. After serving in the Vietnam War, Norman returned to Maine, marrying his wife of 52 years, Dianne (Aldus) Blake, deceased. Show more information. I know which guitar in this house is mine. Join or Renew your membership today! Services by Shaffer Funeral Home. Im into instruments, too, but were into them in different ways, she explains. Somebody is liable to shoot you up there on a big stage in front of a big crowd at a festival. Blake continues to explore tonal soundscapes in his new recording Day by Day, his 37th album to date, which was released on October 22nd, 2021 on Smithsonian Folkways. But they encouraged me, musically, very much in what I did they were surprised by some of it, you know, that Id had as much success as Id had. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. I guess any way you can learn it is what you do. Contact Us. [Laughs] So we made a record about every year, in some ways, you might say, to pay the income taxes. But they just dont come from the same world that we did. Theyre some of my friends, and I respect what they do. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. I was always pretty well supported by my parents in what I did musically. We just didnt have time to want to be that creative. The family, which included Kyle's twin sister Lisa and older sister Cindy, moved often and growing up Kyle attended 9 different schools . Sure. . We dont fix things, Norman says. Blanchard Cemetery. Covid Restrictions apply please wear a mask. When it started becoming a prominent lead instrument, it created a whole new thing. [11], Learn how and when to remove this template message, Norman Blake/Tut Taylor/Sam Bush/Butch Robins/Vassar Clements/David Holland/Jethro Burns, Original Underground Music from the Mysterious South, "Norman & Nancy Blake - The old-fashioned way", "Norman Blake | Biography & History | AllMusic", Live version of "Fifty Miles of Elbow Room", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Norman_Blake_(American_musician)&oldid=1135946672, Guitar, mandolin, six-string banjo, fiddle, dobro, banjo, viola, This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 21:09. Just a minute , [Nancys voice in the background: Democracy doesnt come with a guarantee!]. [1][3] Kris Kristofferson, one of the guests, hired Blake to tour with him. He was born on March 24, 1931 in Mount Vernon, OH to the late Helen (Sites) Blake and Carl Henry Blake. When Blake recorded his first LP in 1971, these guitars had only recently made the transition from used to vintage a transition helped along by a lot of Blakes associates, including Tut Taylor and Randy Wood. I dont think there is any other string for what I do. Publisher: Central Sun Video Co., Reston, VA, 1987. Jaclyn, Joseph, Eva, Jack, Jesse and Jake. I dont know why. And I use more .012s and .016s on the first and second strings. In public, I wouldnt want to play this latest record. This may be one reason why she is the perfect accompanist. With nine GRAMMY nominations and several dozen albums under his own name and with his wife Nancy Blake, his long and storied career includes stints with Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, features on Bob Dylans Nashville Skyline, and performances on the seminal O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack. Norman Blake is on a tone quest. She was the widow of Norman B. Blake, founder and publisher of the West Virginia DAILY News where she was the Associate . He listened to old-time and country music on the radio by the Carter Family, the Skillet Lickers, Roy Acuff, and the Monroe Brothers (Charlie and Bill Monroe). Norman J Blake Birth 14 May 1929 Death 3 Apr 2015 (aged 85) Burial. soundtrack, in 2000, won a truckload of Grammys, sold eight million copies, and made enough money for Blake along with his wife and frequent collaborator, Nancy to start his retirement from the road. Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Well, maybe Ill go back in time a little bit here. Sam played a lot with Uncle Dave, made records with him, and then he and his brother Kirk also made records. We are sad to announce that on March 1, 2023 we had to say goodbye to Norman Tudor (Cedartown, Georgia), born in Summerville, Georgia. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Also well known is his devotion to 12-fret guitars, including Martin 00s, 000s, D18s, D28s, and Gibsons, like his 1929 12-fret Nick Lucas special. But I never thought about who I influenced or didnt. Virginia Lee Butler Blake (Gin) December 15, 1921 November 2, 2021. Not everything big has to be oppressive and heavy. He was born April 14, 1963 in Nashua, NH the son of Francis and Ruth (Clark) Blake. A Martin dreadnought from that same year is just about the most desirable vintage guitar you can own. Just like that. The track is deservedly a classic. The lightest I would use is 1.14 [mm]. [2] He met Nancy Short, a cellist with a classical music background who was playing in a folk group. Blake understands the old-time country music as well as anyone. I play every day. Hes also been a translator of traditional ballads, an influential folk songwriter, and an A-list sideman for the likes of Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Kris Kristofferson. And I will say this, not to belabor the point, but we speaking of Nancy and me, both feel very much that with the climate of the country right now, the political climate and the attitude in the country in general, I dont feel like I want to entertain some people. Mostly I use light gauge, with maybe a little different bass string or top string or something like that. In fact, some of the songs on there are inspired by her. There are a lot of guitars you could sit down and take that quieter approach with and really do some good work, but there are some when you really need to just stand up and perform then thats a little different ball game. Dora Blake passed away 2013-08-06 in This is the full obituary story where you can express condolences and share memories. Nowadays, rural life is a lot less involved with it. Nicola Rees-Lamb (Norman). You could throw them in the back of the wagon, and they took up less space than a bass.. Below is Norma Blake's obituary: Norma Jean Jernigan Blake, age 80, passed away at the Willis- Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport, surrounded by her family on Saturday, April 21, 2018 after being stricken with a massive stroke. Thats interesting. We basically wanted to record the core sound of what we were doing on the stage. Please help us find libraries near you by allowing location . I havent really heard anyone sing about social media or the Internet in a folk song before, and it was sort of well, refreshing, I guess. I feel like they really got snookered. Its interesting to think I mean, a lot of folks listened to the Skillet Lickers back in the 20s and mustve known Riley Pucketts style, and then also were familiar with Maybelle Carters melodic guitar playing, but then you said people thought more modern pickers like Doc Watson sounded like a novelty. Everybody had an old windup Victrola and a stack of records, he says. Power Versus Majesty: For virtuoso picker Norman Blake, elegance and subtlety always win the day. Get four issues of the keepsake Fretboard Journal for just $60. Early Life. I was never sure about that. He was a 19th century-type guy, and the old songs were so much in that style that I just became washed over by all that.. I never tried to play their stuff that early on. Also, in the back of my mind, it kept hammering in on me that there was some man who needed to hear that with a womans voice. It was cool to be able to go up into the different ranges and go back down into the bass ranges, too. The family moved to St. Petersburg when Norm was 3, and he was a member of the Northeast High School class of 1962. But even after he gets it back from his luthier from a fresh set up, Blake is sure to keep looking. Norman Blake was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1938, shortly before his family relocated to Sulphur Springs, Georgia. GHS is my endorsement, and theyve been my favorite string for years. Phone. Yeah, she has some good ideas. Not to run it over people when theyve paid me to entertain them, but to put it on record if I felt the need to editorialize. In the last few decades, he has been making records with his wife, Nancy, who plays cello, guitar and mandolin, and together they have scored four Grammy nominations. Obituaries; Search for a story, obituary or memorial; Advanced Search. To put vintage in perspective, consider that Blake was born in 1938. A Martin dreadnought from that same year is just about the most desirable vintage guitar you can own. Im not one of these people that believes in fixing it in the mix. Norman Blake . She was a very gifted and loving mother who provided love and care to all of them. Sam was a finger-style guitar player, played guitar-banjo and played guitar, kind of a ragtime style. I just dont weather up that good. In conversation and in nature, she listens through the words and surface sounds to hear their inner meaning. It strikes me as funny that most young folk musicians seem committed to using their parents and grandparents vocabulary and, as far as using modern words, youve beaten us to it. For those available, we've recently added the link to the obituary, Find A Grave Memorial or newspaper clipping. I never knew who I really influenced in the long run. If you just listen to the albums perfectly played, down-home picking, honed by five decades of life on the frets, youll realize that Norman Blake has never really left Sulphur Springs at all. Pope, Gladys Edythe Gladys Edythe Pope (Bukowski) was born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 30, 1934 to William and Clara Bukowski. I do relate a lot to Gillian and David. I like a neck with a little bit of width and sometimes a little bit of heft to it. But then listen to the 2004 version: its in a different league altogether. They have to. She loved to dance to big band music and Frank Sinatra songs. 2019 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Ave., Belfast, Me. He married Michelle Goodchild. I use various picks depending on the instrument and the string setup. 9 . When Blake was 16, he dropped out of school to play mandolin in the Dixie Drifters and later joined up with banjo picker Bob Johnson to form the Lonesome Travelers. You lived through that, and you were a musician then. So you have to let every one be what it is and let it find its own way. Norman was a dairy farmer retiring due to ill health, he enjoyed demo derbies , N.A.S.C.A.R. GLADYS POPE OBITUARY. But he and Nancy do make the occasional festival appearance and concert gig, always to high acclaim. But it was also artistic at the same time. IN THE CARE OF. He was asked by Bob Dylan to play on the country-folk album Nashville Skyline, then became a member of the house band on Johnny Cash's TV show. Graves (Oshkosh, Wisconsin), born in Chicago, Illinois, who passed away on October 28, 2022, at the age of 62, leaving to mourn family and friends. Very much so. In a style reminiscent of those good old Southern Democrat songs of the FDR era, by way of Woody Guthrie, Neo-Cons speaks both directly and subtly. Did Doc ever teach you or give you any advice? "I don't like the hunt, but I like finding that sound," said Blake over the phone from his house in the Georgian hinterlands where he has lived . Find tour dates and live music events for all your favorite bands and artists in your city. Just got to where we couldnt stomach that part of it anymore. They were very good performers. Other instruments he plays include the mandolin, 6-string banjo, fiddle, dobro, banjo and viola. He replied, Well, Jerry, I believe it belongs on that list. You can enhance Norman R. Blake's memory by upgrading Norman's public record with words and pictures, signing Norman's memory book , recording an audio memory or lighting a candle . John Hartford's death prompted . OK. Parthemore Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. 1303 Bridge Street . Would you have traveled less, written more? The range of his writings extended from Old Norse to modern drama and poetry and included more than 30 books and . I recently got a 15-year-old Martin Ditson 111. If I was really trying to entertain people like years ago, out where people would expect me to play the guitar, I didnt feel like going out and getting too political just like a lot of performers get too religious on stage. Thats what Im thinking. If youve got a guitar that is seeming a little stiff, a DAddario can benefit you there. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Theres so much going on. Year Released. My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains View Cart. I use 1.5 a lot. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Online condolences at www.sandersonfuneralservice.com. God bless Norman Blake. She retired in 1990 after 29 years of service with the company. They brought me some records, loaned me some of his records to hear. One day, Tut let me sit in and play with them and Charlie Collins. I feel like there are enough people obviously, as we saw this past weekend there are enough people speaking out. On "Here" (Merge), the band's first album in six years and 10th overall, the front line of Norman Blake, Gerard Love and Raymond McGinley once again trades songs (four each) and lead vocals, over . Rounder, Flying Fish, Takoma, Shanachie, Red House, Plectrafone/Western Jubilee. Who else was an early influence on your guitar playing? Thats the instrument that I consider if Im just going to play country music.. All Rights Reserved. At age 33, she began a career while living in Cedar Rapids as a sales clerk at SS Kresge in 1961. I think they always considered it as something you couldnt make a living out of. So Im pushing 80 years old. Riposta Funeral Home We did a little more embellishment and a little more production than we did on the Morning Glory record., One of the highlights of Morning Glory Ramblers is Nancy Blakes Men with Broken Hearts, a spoken-word song originally done by Hank Williams under his alter ego, Luke the Drifter. Its a lot of work to make a record, and I just dont have the inclination. Our specialty is building the guitars you've designed in your head. Her use of cello was unusual when she first started playing it in a folk and old-time context, but she quickly proved it had a place at the table. Thirty years and dozens of albums later, Gillian Welch recommended Blake to producer T Bone Burnett as just the guy to help introduce classic American old-time and folk to another, slightly shorter-haired generation. Blake played guitar on Bob Dylans Nashville Skyline in 1968, one of the founding albums of country-rock; on John Hartfords Aereo-Plain in 1971, which marked the beginning of Newgrass; and on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Bands Will the Circle Be Unbroken in 1972, which sold approximately as many copies as there were college students in America and introduced old-time country and bluegrass to a longer-haired generation. Back Home in Sulphur Springswas done a little differently. But Sam McGee was playing guitar. Each week, through the month of April, eight skilled guitar shredders will go head-to-head to test the limits of our SC-10E. This unique guitar combined a 14-fret 000 body with a short 24.9 scale length and a 12-fret neck. They were extremely good, some of my favorite people. With a crackle in the line and a slight pause, Blake agrees with a murmur. Theres one surefire way to give your guitar the tone it deserves. The reverse curve in the tracks about three miles from the Battelle yard was a real place. Let others know about your loved one's death. For services to the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls (Bristol, Bristol) Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Bookending the album is a symphony of Americana as he joins guests The Rising Fawn String Ensemble (wife Nancy Blake, vocal, cello; James Bryan, fiddle; Joel McCormick, vocal, guitar; David Hammonds, vocal) on My Homes Across the Blue Ridge Mountains. As the liner notes state, In true folk fashion, Blake tinkered with the melody and lyrics, noting that he doesnt think its wrong to take the liberty to change things around a bit.. Funeral homes; Help and advice. Im wondering about your early guitar education. Morning Glory Ramblers was the first record that Nancy and I had made in several years, Blake says, and we thought, just like we go out and play shows and sing the old songs and play our guitars, well just go stand up and do these songs the old-time way, with not much frills as far as adding anything. We also wanted to document ourselves because thats just what we sounded like at that point. Nowadays, people do everything in a different way. Norm was an avid Indians fan and enjoyed playing bingo. Blake has also written and published songs of a political nature, such as Dont Be Afraid of the Neo-Cons.[6], Blake is known for his tastefully simple-sounding style, saying, Im more interested in the music and the tone than I am the licks.[6]. Yeah, money was a factor in why we did it. His songs tell stories that reflect his experience, classics such as Ginseng Sullivan, Church Street Blues, Billy Gray, Green Light on the Southern and Last Train from Poor Valley. Ginseng Sullivan was a real person. Obituary. It just fits the time. [Laughs]. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Hes a con man. Of course, we did everything on the ground, driving. Martin & Co. Inc. All Rights Reserved. We always referred to a pick like that as a straight pick.. At the end of this record, particularly with Nameless Photograph and Stay Down on the Farm, I couldnt help but think it sounded like a goodbye. So now that you dont perform live, you feel free from those considerations? Even as he approaches the 50th anniversary of his 1972 solo debut album, Home in Sulphur Springs, and with a new album on the horizon, he is still searching. Playing acoustic music has always been a hard way to make a living. She enjoyed her night out on the town with her husband. This was one of those times.. In joining a 12 fret neck to a 14-fret 000 body style but with a short 24.9 scale, Blake found a unique combination. Theyd make trips to see their children in Texas and North Carolina, also made two trips to Europe in the 1990s. No, no, it was not a thing you heard featured very much. After growing up listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio in the 40s, what did it feel like to get up on the Opry stage in your early 20s? This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The information in this obituary is based on data from the US Government's Social Security Death Index. Dr. Norman J. Blake, 74, of Dade City, passed away on December 26th. In fact, when I was real young, we couldnt think past the Opry, hardly. The passing of both Johnny and June Cash reminded many that Norman had been a mainstay in the band on Johnny's landmark '60s television show. Blake had first made his reputation backing up other musicians, and when he set out on his solo career, he knew he needed an exemplary backup player of his own. Blakes urge to follow his inner voice has always remained central, regardless of what commercial success it might deliver. They sound like a later time. Just making a lick is not my goal.. Norma was united in marriage to Jack R. Blake, the love of her life, in Russell, Iowa on April 4, 1947 after he returned from Europe after serving in the Army during WWII. He is survived by his wife Michelle Hughes Blake , of Bristol, by his daughters, Kelly Call (Timothy) of Brattleboro, Jennifer Armstrong (Mo) of Salisbury, Carrie Wright (Adam) of Berne, NY, Christine Stolz (Sean) of Bristol, by his step-children, Thomas Hughes, of Bristol, Andrew Hughes, of Spofford, NH and Jennifer Hughes, of Bristol, by his siblings, Brian Blake, Darlene Field, Kathy Griffin, Bonnie Litchfield, Charlene Blake and Sherry Bell. So are you optimistic at all about the country now? I dont want to go out and put my music before some of them. Like power versus majesty: There is a big difference.. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Norman Gerheim of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, who passed away on November 10, 2022, at the age of 84, leaving to mourn family and friends. I tend to set my guitars up fairly low and I dont use real heavy strings, he explains. Some of them are quite good and, in some ways, can be superior to some of the old ones, like the intonation, fingerboards, the neck angles and things like that. I thought I was being real original, playing the lines behind the fiddle tunes. Thats back when it was down at the Ryman. Playing music is the only job he has ever had, and hes been a secret weapon for legends like Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, John Hartford and Kris Kristofferson. Legendary guitarist Norman Blake flatpicks "Randall Collins" and "Done Gone" in a 1980 performance with the Rising Fawn String Ensemble. Email. It depends on the instrument, but Ill go as high as a .060 on some guitars. Its become more of a fad, in a lot of ways. After retirement Norm and Jack traveled often in their motor home. David Matheke. I also use a 1.5 DAndrea some. Yeah, I suppose so. So we maybe just as well stay home. But the bullet point version of his career misses what makes him fascinating: a stubborn integrity in his approach to making music commercial pressures be damned and a bizarre serendipity thats led him right into the center of some of folk musics most important moments of the past half-century. I never get up to medium in the middle. The Norman Transcript - a place for remembering loved ones; a space for sharing memories, life stories, milestones, to express condolences, and celebrate life of your loved ones . Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Top photo of Blake with his Gibson Century of Progress: Christi Carroll, 2221 NW 56th St. #101, Seattle, WA 98107 | (877) 373-8273, 2016-23 Fretboard Journal. Well known for his love of dreadnoughts, over time, Blake also found solace in smaller bodied instruments like his beatific 1928 00-45. I like to go straight through with a take, all the way through, and usually keep the first or second one the first one I can live with. Blake also records new songs by songwriters like Pattie Bryan (Empress of Ireland, On the Banks of Lake Pontchartrain) and Jerry Faires (Precious Memories Was a Song I Used to Hear, D-18 Song). I realized there was a whole word of this going on, so I got right in the middle of it quick as I could. I used to hear them on the Opry when I was a kid. [3][4], Blake also played dobro on the 1972 album, Will the Circle Be Unbroken by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Hopefully the first one, because I feel that the further you go, you may slick it up, but I think for what you gain, you lose as you go along and you get tired. Skip to content . Thats all we had to draw on. Id put in a bass line, and theyd point out and say thats a good idea. He dropped out of school at 16 to play in bluegrass bands, made it to the Grand Ole Opry in his early 20s, then was drafted into the Army where he played mandolin in a bluegrass group voted best band in the Caribbean Command. Fresh out of the service, he ran into Johnny Cash at a recording session in Chattanooga. I hope I didnt hurt it none.'. Clifford Hall is a journalist, regularly contributing to magazines like Martin Guitar Journal of Acoustic Guitars, Guitar World, and the Fretboard Journal. Well [Laughs] Ive heard of a good number of guitar players from back then, I think, but I dont know of him. If youre gonna play music from that Depression era, there is something about those old instruments, he says. Blake has collaborated with Tony Rice on the albums, "Blake and Rice," and "Blake and Rice 2," which include many tunes, including some of Blake's originals. They do some great things, and I admire their grit to do it. Norman Blake was one of the most versatile and accomplished scholars of his time. Mother Maybelle [Carter] was a big influence. I had the artistic inclination to want to do it, but the money certainly making a living we had a family and everything and had to do something.