Bluegrass Music Preservation Society

• 3335 W. Walsh Place
• Denver CO 80219
• Contact Person: Mike Lombard
• Phone Number: 303-782-0207
• Fax: (303) 936-9622 (call first)
• Vice President: Mary Claycomb
• Treasurer: Marte Meyer
• Other Board Members: Mike Schmidt, John Toebbe, Larry Gilmore, and Mike Fraley
• Membership Dues: $15/year for individual or family
• Bluegrass Jams Sessions: 1st and 3rd Wednesday and Thursday of each month at White Fence Farm in the "Americana Barn" in Lakewood, CO on W. Jewell Ave. between Sheridan and Wadsworth Avenue from approximately 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The society was founded in May, 1975, by Ralph Haynie. The BMPS-sponsored jams are a continuation of the jams that used to be at Ralph's Top Shop.

The following article was first published in Pow'r Pickin', Dec. 2001.

A Man is Gone, A Legend Lives On

By Duke Brown

To speak of Ralph Eldon Haynie one must speak in fondness and in awe. For, to the tune of about 27 years ago, this man decided that he would bring forth a new organization and go it on his own in his shop by having jam sessions every 1st and 3rd Thursdays.

At first, he told me, many times he would sit there until 1:00 a.m. in the morning all by himself. Then gradually they started coming. Then the greatness began. Out of that beginning, in the years to come, came 638 jam sessions, Christmas parties, potluck dinners and family entertainment, and fun for all.

In the front part of the shop (Ralph's Top Shop) there would be all types of country music that you would ever want to hear and I've seen many times that the two large rooms were filled with both Bluegrass music and Country. Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, more music was going on.

And in the Summertime there would be groups outside one door and, at the other end, a group outside in that yard. The warm summer air would be filled with beautiful bluegrass music everywhere, which Ralph Eldon Haynie started by sitting all by himself, waiting for people to come.

I talked to many people since his passing and I have a few comments. An old friend, Don Flaskerud, said, "We've lost a big one," and "What he started will go on and on."

Larry Gilmore said - and incidentally Larry has been around since a lot of this started - he said, "Ralph was very sweet to every girlfriend I brought around there, especially the last one, which is now Mrs. Gilmore."

And in the words of Mike Schmidt long time flatpicker and singer, "Ralph was a lovable, cantankerous old hillbilly that really knew what he was doing when it came to jam sessions."

My wife said, "I never got too involved with the music until we started going to Ralph's Top Shop, and now I listen to bluegrass music in my office all day."

So now you may think that he is no longer with us, but as far as I'm concerned, every jam session that's held at the White Fence Farm, though he's not there, he will always be listening to every note played and to every song that is sung.

His shop closed down in April of 1998 and now all the jam sessions are being held at White Fence Farm, same days in the month, and no matter where we may be in the future. I personally will sing and play my heart out in the name of Ralph Eldon Haynie.

I miss him very much as I know you all do, but, like I said, a man is gone, a legend lives on. Point Period!

Thanks for listening to me babble.

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