Once again, over 100 enthusiastic folks attended this year's GATHERING 2006. They represented most areas of the USA.  The jamming was great and the idea exchange continuous. It was a wonderful continuation of the GATHERING in the WOODS which John and Margaret  hosted on their woodland property in Pennsylvania, for the initial five years, and the great kickoff we had in Wilkesboro in 2005. Frank Maxfield and Pammy Davis again had the primary responsibility for making it happen...but it couldn't have been accomplished without the 'ground zero' assistance of Randy Getz, Tut Taylor, Sarah Harris, Margaret Dopyera, Uvonne McCarty, Sally McEvoy, Mike Palmer...and others.  This is a little like the Academy Awards, once you start naming specific contributors, there's always the fear that you've missed someone.  The bottom line is that without everyone jumping in when and where needed...it wouldn't have been successful.
 

This year there were a number of new sponsors joining us.  In addition to the continued support of the Wilkesboro Tourism Development Authority, our Gathering this year also received a grant from the Wilkesboro Acoustic / Folk Society.  Our sponsor luthier list included Beard Guitars, Richard DeNeve, Bobby Wolfe, Jim Adams, Emile Humbert, Crafters of Tennessee (Tut).   We thank these folks for their support...including the Holiday Inn Express staff and Minton Pawn /Music for hosting the radio performance and the community concert.  And our Special award...goes to Bobby Poff who invested over 100 hours designing and producing a custom resonator guitar strap...and donated it to raise funds through a raffle.

Most of the Gathering time is spent in totally unstructured "fun" however, once again, Tut Taylor sprung some special events on the group... a CD pre-distribution reception with RC Cola and Moon Pies and a special impromptu  concert by Tut and the Kruger Brothers.  For anyone who's been out of the country for the past several decades, Tut Taylor is the famed flat picking dobro player and luthier, who now lives in Wilkesboro. Players from our group had the repeat opportunity to perform on the "Hometown Opry", a radio show which ran from 7-9 a.m. on July 14.  As partial 'pay back' to the community, the Resonateurs presented a two hour free community concert from the hotel, with Mike Palmer coordinating the professional sound gear and the mixer specialist.

Plans have been finalized for the 8th annual Gathering of Resonateurs in Wilkesboro  in 2007. Click on the Gathering 2007 tab on the home page for full details.