February 2010

Hello from Meigs County Ohio. We hope your New Year started off right and that this year will be filled with many blessings. We have so many blessings to give thanks for here at the Ranch and on top of the list are the friends we have made through the Fur Peace Ranch!

In and effort to stay in touch with our friends and family better, the Fur Peace Ranch staff has developed a monthly email newsletter. We are calling it FPR News.

Jorma traveled to the 2010 NAMM Show in Anaheim CA to to preview and demo his Martin M-30 Jorma Kaukonen Custom Artist Edition

From the Martin Press Release:

Friends let friends play their Martin guitars. Credit David Bromberg for bringing fellow guitar wizard Jorma Kaukonen back into the C. F. Martin fold and inspiring the impressive new Martin M-30 Jorma Kaukonen Custom Artist Edition.

"I played a gig with David Bromberg somewhere in New Jersey and he brought along the prototype of his Martin M-42 Signature Edition. I played that guitar and immediately fell in love with it. 'When this guitar goes into production, I've got to have one,' I told him. 'Done,' he said.

"A bit later, I was going to play my annual Thanksgiving show near Philadelphia when David called and said, 'I've got your M-42 and I am bringing it to your Philly gig!' I got it, I loved it and I still do." So much so, in fact, he now plays Martin acoustic guitars exclusively. Read More »

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We’re heading to the Miracle Springs Resort in Desert Hot Springs, CA for our annual winter workshop. Rest your soul, enjoy the warmth of the California desert, soak in the hot springs and take part in an exceptional guitar workshop experience from two masters: G.E. Smith and Jorma! We still have a few openings remaining . . . join us poolside in the California desert February 15-19, 2010. Sign up now!

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RORY BLOCK . . .

Heralded as "a living landmark" (Berkeley Express), "a national treasure" (Guitar Extra), and "one of the greatest living acoustic blues artists" (Blues Revue), Rory Block has committed her life and her career to preserving the Delta blues tradition and bringing it to life for 21st century audiences around the world. A traditionalist and an innovator at the same time, she wields a fiery and haunting guitar and vocal style that redefines the boundaries of acoustic blues and folk. The New York Times declared: "Her playing is perfect, her singing otherworldly as she wrestles with ghosts, shadows and legends."

Rory will be teaching at the Ranch on May 14 - 17. There is still room in her class.

Rory is a wonderful teacher who can hand you the knowledge of the old Blue's masters that she learned from first-hand, along with her experience from over 40 years in the Blue's world.......don't miss this opportunity for an intimate workshop with a living master! Sign up now!

STEVE KAUFMAN . . .

Steve won the National Flatpicking Championship in Winfield, Kansas in 1978. He went on to be the only three time winner of the National Flatpicking Championship.

Steve has been producing guitar instructional books and videos since 1989. He loves to teach and his 40+ years as a teacher are evident in his knowledge and approach to teaching. Steve has conducted his workshops and clinics all over the world and has been operating the “Steve Kaufman Flatpicking Camp” in Tennessee since 1990. Steve has developed the reputation of being the “World’s Guitar Instructor.”

If flatpicking is what you’re looking to learn, Steve is the master instructor you are looking for. Steve brings his flatpicking instruction to the Ranch April 23 – 27. Sign up now!

Jorma’s album River of Time, won many awards throughout the folk community including two “Song of the Year” awards, and “Best Album of the Year” in 2009.

River of Time was the FolkWax Top Ten Best Album of 2009.

The songs “There’s A Bright Side Somewhere” and “River of Time” were both awarded Song of the Year. “There’s A Bright Side Somewhere” received the song of the year award from the Folk Alliance as it was the most played song on the Folk-DJ Charts.

The track “River of Time” was awarded “Best Folk Song of 2009” from the editors at FolkAlley.com - a listener supported 24-hour, online music service featuring folk, traditional, Americana, Celtic, singer/songwriter, world, and acoustic music.

The Folk Alley playlist is created by senior host, Jim Blum, and Folk Alley Music Director Linda Fahey. The stream is hosted and produced by NPR station WKSU-FM (89.7) in Kent, OH. Read More

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Hey Gang,

If you haven't already seen the FPR Youtube Channel, be sure to stop by and rate our videos, or become a subscriber.

We are trying to build an audience for all the video material we are developing. We would appreciate your support and opinion. Look for new programming in 2010!

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