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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Police Reports Schneider Art Museum installation re-imagines Rivera UPDATED: Two lanes open after I-5 truck crash near Siskiyou Summit 10 things to know for Friday Education New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Cars We Remember: The original Candymatic Ramchargers Politics and elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Ashland Rowing Club hires highly touted coach and national-award winning team director to lead expansion Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious Blazers fight back, edge Jazz Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory High school Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Southern Oregon University Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Voices Latest Stories Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Letters to the Editor, March 27 Editorial Our View: Build it; they will play Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Letters Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Jeffrey Gillespie: Pax Americana? At what price? Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Top 5 things to do this week Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Theater Ticket availability Ticket Availability Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Ticket Availability The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Music Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: In ‘Danny Collins,’ Pacino helps us imagine a Lennon story Noah Baumbach talks Ben Stiller, adult comedies and more In 'Timbuktu,' lust for power disturbs peace Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque App Finder: Best barbecue apps Health Watch: It’s OK to have a cheat day Inner Peace: The good, the bad and the spiritual Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashland Calendar: Saturday, March 28 ... Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent ... Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity ... Ashland Calendar: Saturday, March 28 ... Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent ... Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity ... LIVE MUSIC Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Comment By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune DailyTidings.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News One of the founding members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John McEuen's solo shows are steeped in the music, culture and stories of the '60s and '70s.  "I like to present the music and tell audiences about the history of it," McEuen says during a telephone interview. "Like how 'Bojangles' made it to the Top 10, stories about where the song came from, how it came about in the first place. It's a fun thing to do." Various formations of NGDB have existed since the band was founded in 1966 in Long Beach, Calif. Over the years, the lineup has changed, but the constant members include multi-instrumentalist McEuen, guitarist Jeff Hanna and drummer Jimmie Fadden. During a stretch from 1976 to 1981, the band performed and recorded as The Dirt Band.  NGDB is well-known for its cover of Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles," a song from the "Uncle Charlie and His Dog Teddy" album released in '68, along with the band's 1972 album "Will the Circle be Unbroken," featuring Maybelle Carter, Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Jimmy Martin and Vasser Clements. In, 1989, a follow-up to "Circle" was released based on the same concept of stellar musicians coming together to play country, rock and folk. Called "Volume Two," it won two Grammy Awards and was named Album of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards.  A third, "Volume III," followed in 2003 with more of the nature of the first "Circle" album, more of the ambiance and feel of the first one, McEuen says. It featured Johnny Cash, June Carter, Alison Krauss and others. All told, NGDB released dozens of full-length albums, singles, a live album and appeared on several compilation albums.  All of these distinctions aside, McEuen's own credits include six solo albums, production of recording projects with many other artists — including Steve Martin's Grammy-winning bluegrass album "Crow" — and scores for film projects. His radio show, "The Acoustic Traveller" on Sirius/AM, is now in its seventh year. He's also recognized as a pioneer of five-string banjo stylings. McEuen will perform solo at 8 p.m. Friday, March 13, at the Unitarian Fellowship, 87 Fourth St., Ashland. Tickets cost $25 in advance and can be purchased online at stclairevents.com, at Music Coop, 268 E. Main St., or by calling 541-535-3562. Tickets cost  $28 at the door, $10 for ages 12 through 17. Kids 11 and younger get in free. "Some of my show is Dirt Band music, and some of it is strange banjo or guitar music with unusual tunings," McEuen says. "I bring my guitar, fiddle, mandolin and banjo. I try to take audiences on the journey that I've been on. It's an interesting trip, and every night is different. I even have some archival film footage that's rarely been seen that I can screen at the show." Last year, McEuen performed 80 shows with NGDB and 45 solo shows. "Some of us have worked together for 49 years," he says. "In between I've gone out and worked on my own projects. Going out with the Dirt Band is great. I love playing the shows, but quite often it's the same 18 or 19 songs. It's fine because those songs are important to people." In 1977, NGDB became the first American band to tour the Soviet Union. The band played 28 sold-out shows in five cities. "There's a documentary coming out called 'Free to Rock,' about how rock 'n' roll brought down the Iron Curtain," McEuen says. "When we were growing up, older Americans would say that rock 'n' roll is a communist plot to overthrow America, while the Russians were saying American music is a capitalist plot to overthrow communism." By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune DailyTidings.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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