30th Year Photos/#62

Paul Van Arsdale at Evart, MI.

This summer (2008) Merla and I made our way back to Evart to experience the largest dulcimer festival in the world again.  After many hours stuck in the booth, I snuck out with an instrument and made my way over to the jamming area and found this 92 (I think) year old dulcimer icon playing away.  We visited and he asked me to join in and I did so for an hour and a half.  It was so fun.  It was quite impressive to watch all the traditional music aficionados doing their best to trip him up with songs no one else knew.  He would have them play a line or two but usually within seconds he was smack in the middle of the tune and performing it as if it was his favorite tune.  He is the grand son of Jesse R. Martin the official dulcimer player for Henry Fords dance bands back at the turn of the century.  Lots of music and history wrapped up in those fingers.