Alexander Rozum, Sr., R.I.P.

Reprinted from Laurie Lewis’ Newsletter by permission

“I am very sad to have to report the death of Tom's wonderful father, Al Rozum. He died on March 18 at the age of 86, after a long struggle with cancer. He was smart, funny, good-natured, helpful, handsome, generous, and loving-- a person who made a real and positive difference in the world.

Al was the seventh of eight kids born to Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants in rural Connecticut. As a teenager, he played fiddle at local barn dances. He dropped out of school after 10th grade to start working. When he married Tom's mom, Mary, he bought a house in the next town over, and with his father's help dismantled it, and rebuilt it on the family farm about 100 yards from the house where he was born. He and Mary raised four kids and lived there for 63 years. He fell in love with flying while in the Army Air Force during WWII, when he was a B-24 bomber crew chief. Luckily, the war ended before he saw action.

In the 1950's, he got a job as a maintenance man in a large manufacturing company, and retired almost 50 years later as a vice president. He loved all sorts of motorized transportation, and if you had visited his garage at any time you would likely have found it filled and surrounded by a couple of motorcycles, a dump truck, a backhoe or bulldozer, a snowmobile, a bevy of Mustangs, T-Birds, MGA's, and the occasional airplane in varying stages of restoration. He worked hard his whole life, but enjoyed the fruits of his labors (he played hard, too).

Al was always intensely interested in new technology. A few months ago, when we were visiting him in the hospital, he said, "Hey, Tom, I've been reading Consumer Reports. Should I buy the new iPad?" There are so many more stories I could tell. I feel so grateful to have had him in my life.

To read the rest of Laurie’s April 2012 Newsletter “Springtime In California” CLICK HERE

 

Photo 1: Al Rozum Sr. and Tom

Photo 2: The young "Russian Genius" at work

New River Trip With Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum!

Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum plan two river trips on very different rivers this summer:

June will find Laurie, Tom and friends – including you - on a new stretch of water for them: the legendary Yampa in Utah, in a joint trip with Echo and ARTA.  (Navajo Sandstone cliff on the Yampa pictured left)

This river has been on my list for a long time, ever since I looked down on it from Dinosaur National Park some 30 years ago. It's about time!

Agricultural Land Trust Uses Bluegrass in Holiday Video!

The Marin Agricultural Land Trust just sent out their annual holiday slide show. It's very beautiful to look at, with photo of the farms and farmers of Marin County, just over the bay from Berkeley. Laurie Lewis Fans may recognize the background music -  "Cold Frosty Morning" from Laurie and Tom's Winter's Grace Album.

MALT Holiday Slideshow 2011 from MALT on Vimeo.

Winter's Grace is available from

• Artist's Website 

• Amazon.com

• cdbaby

Marin Agricultural Land Trust is a private, member-supported non-profit organization created in 1980 by a coalition of ranchers and environmentalists to permanently preserve Marin County farmland for agricultural use. MALT eliminates the development potential on farmland through the acquisition of conservation easements in voluntary transactions with landowners. MALT also promotes public awareness and encourages policies which support and enhance agriculture.

Concert to Benefit Music In the Public Schools!

Benefit Concert: The Tuttles with AJ Lee, Laurie Lewis, and Snap Jackson

Editor's Note: When school budgets get stretched beyond belief and still more funding cuts are announced where will Music In The Schools be?  It's great to see bluegrass artists stepping up to make a difference.

This is going to be a great night of music! Benefit concert for music and arts in local public school.

Laurie Lewis Updates Fans on World-Wide Events, New Website and More!

Laurie Writes:

"This has been a whirlwind month so far. Events around the world are keeping me up nights and waking me up early. Our thoughts are with our friends in Japan, in the aftermath of the terrible earthquake and tsunami there, and with the peaceful demonstrators in the middle East and Wisconsin.

Laurie and Tom with the Foghorn Trio Photo by Mike Melnyk

Tom Rozum and I have just returned from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where we played a benefit concert for the Bibliteca Bilingual, along with Eric and Suzy Thompson, Marc Silber, and Maria Muldaur and her fine band. It was a very successful event under blue cloudless skies, and I have been told that we raised enough money to fund the library's education programs for a full year, with perhaps enough left over to put towards scolarship programs for higher education (which in this case often means high school). All in all, a most worthwhile trip!

Laurie, Peter Rowan and Santiago Jimenez,
 Arhoolie 50th Anniversary  Photo by Mike Melnyk  

At the beginning of February, we were asked to be part of Arhoolie Records'50th Anniversary Celebration, held over three days at the Freight and Salvage here in Berkeley. It was an amazing event! You can get a little bit of an idea of the magnitude by viewing Mike Melnyk's fine photos, here. I have been tapped to help mix the prospective 4-CD set that Arhoolie is working on.

The next week found Tom and me collaborating with Sammy Lind, Caleb Klauder and Nadine Landry of the Foghorn Trio (see photo above). What a treat that was! We're looking forward to reprising some of our hits at the Wild and Scenic Music Festival in Leavenworth, WA, in August.

I began March playing fiddle in a series of concerts with the great Roland White, out here in Northern California. Roland is a wealth of stories from his days with Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, and the Kentucky Colonels. It was a pleasure to be included in his fine band.

And then, of course, The Right Hands were on the bill for Wintergrass, in Bellevue, WA, in late February. What a great festival! One of the highlights fo rus was getting to play and sing a song with the Wintergrass Youth Orchestra. Our friend Renata Bratt arranged my song, "Visualize," for the group. So far, the only footage I have seen is from a shaky hand-held video. Still, it's fun to watch."

We have revamped the 

LaurieLewis.com 

website. Come visit us

 here

 to find out where we'll be later in the summer, and to order CD's, songbooks and t-shirts, and to check out the great new photos and layout. Thanks to Jill Cruey for her inspired work!

Editors' Comments: The photo at the top of this piece is from Laurie's New Website

Related Story

Laurie Lewis Plans New Rafting Trips with Fans

Every year, Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum take some time away from road trips to make at least one river trip.

Grammy-award winning Laurie Lewis and mandolinist extraordinaire Tom Rozum are self proclaimed “river rats” and their music fits perfectly with a river raft trip. "The acoustic sounds enhance the peaceful atmosphere of an evening along the river and the music itself seems invigorated by the natural outdoor setting."

In the past, we've traveled the Rio Grande through Big Bend and the Taos Box, wound down the Salt River in Arizona, the Chama in Northern New Mexico, Oregon's Rogue, the Middle Fork of the Salmon in Idaho, and Northern California's Tuolumne.

On all their river trips, Laurie and Tom play music around the camps in the evening, while the guides are making delicious dinners. They often play on late into the night, and sometimes are joined by other musicians (you, if you come).

Rio Chama River, New Mexico
May 24 - May 26, 2011(3 days/2 nights)

Bluegrass on the Rio Chama

Laurie and Tom are very pleased to announce that they've have added yet another river trip to this season's outings. This one is May 24-26, 2011, on the gorgeous Rio Chama in Northern New Mexico, under the guidance of Far Flung Adventures.

[The Rio Chama in Northern New Mexico is America's Newest Wild and Scenic River. A dam-controlled stream, impounded by El Vado Reservoir, the 10 mile Rio Chama trip begins near the tranquil setting of the Christ in the Desert Monastery and ends at the head of Abiquiu Reservoir on a silty desert river, rolling among the rainbow cliffs so typical of the Four Corners region. Located in one of the most beautiful parts of New Mexico, sandstone cliffs from the Triassic and Jurassic ages surround us on our 30-45 minute drive.]

Rogue River, Oregon
July 27 - July 30, 2011 (4 days/3 nights)

Bluegrass on the Rogue River 

The Rogue River inspires strong loyalty that has many guests returning year after year, making it a regular part of their vacation plans. After your first trip through this lush, green canyon loaded with wildlife and stunning scenery, you will understand why it probably won't be your last. 

[Designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1967, the Rogue still retains the same beauty and secluded character as it did more than thirty years ago. The narrow confines of the Rogue canyon create some of the best whitewater in the west.  Never fierce, this river is always fun!]

Laurie and Tom typically bring a guitar, mandolin, and a fiddle for their own use, and guests are encouraged to bring their own instruments to play along.

Here are some pictures of past trips

Bluegrass on the Tuolumne River with Echo River Trips

"There's something about sunlight on moving water that is irresistible to me, and when you add in the vibrant green trees, the deep blue sky, moonless nights full of stars, and all the critter sightings, this was all I could have wished for." - Laurie Lewis

HERE'S WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT!

"It is truly amazing to simultaneously enjoy the babble of the river, the twinkle of the stars, the whisper of the breeze and the music of these two fine performers. And if that's not enough, we' all joined together on the second night for a rollicking communal jam session/poetry recital and amateur talent show! "                       -"Wow! What a trip!"  -Bret Fitzpatrick

"The best river trip of my life was on the Middle Fork of the Salmon with Laurie and Tom."  - Zach Collier, ECHO Guide

Artist's Website

50 Years of Arhoolie Records!

Arhoolie Celebrates 50 years with:

Three Days of Concerts, Panels, and Films

February 4, 5, & 6, 2011

A benefit for the Arhoolie Foundation.

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Arhoolie Records throws the party of a lifetime, with panels (see link to Arhoolie's website for time & locations), discussions, fantastic regional foods, a "second line" parade Saturday 4 pm with the Tremé Brass Band, plus three amazing concerts with proceeds benefiting the Arhoolie Foundation.The  Lineup includes Laurie Lewis w/ Tom Rozum  & Co and guest Peter   Rowan  and according to Laurie's latest newsletter she'll be joining Suzy & Eric Thompson on Bass in another set.