LOVIN' BLUEGRASS con't from p. 32
want to miss anybody because you never know
what that video will mean to their family. Same
with Caldwell Houston—I saw him a few days
before he died at MerleFest.”
Such unforgettable life moments make
“Lovin’ Bluegrass” an unforgettable journey.
Carol lights up, “When I met eight-year-old
Presley Barker at the Ashe County Fiddler’s
Convention, I told him that he would be on the
Grand Ole Opry one day. Sure enough at ten
years old, Presley beat his teacher Steve Lewis,
a national banjo and guitar champion. And, last
February 2018, Ricky Skaggs invited him to play
at the Opry. Opening for some big names such
as Ricky Skaggs and others, Presley now has a
band called ShadowGrass and owns at least
two Wayne Henderson guitars, a legend in our
music. Helen White, Wayne’s girlfriend started
the JAM program. We’re all connected; we are all
family.”
“I look back on the people I know, and I
can’t believe it’s me,” says Carol. “I really can’t.
I go through my pictures, and I can’t believe I
know these kids. Their families attend every
event together; there is so much dedication.
Many will bring a friend along; we have one
kid who was living near poverty and through
the support of the JAM program now has a
full college scholarship. We help each other!
If somebody gets sick, then everyone pulls
resources together. When Alan Perdue from NC
needed a liver transplant, we gathered to raise
$32,000 in one Saturday; unfortunately, he died
a few weeks later at age 49. We’re always there for
each other.”
Wanting the music to live on, Carol’s video
work furthers the preservation of her beloved
bluegrass as they give exposure to the artists,
provide material for casting agents, and further
the personal enjoyment of listeners. Carol
exclaims, “Bluegrass artists are amazing at what
they do, and I want the world to know it. I want
to open people’s minds to some of the most
talented people in the industry.”
From her 3 mega-pixel handheld camera
beginnings to now incorporating a 4K setup,
Carol invested in a 70 inch 4K TV to watch her
videos and critique herself. “Bluegrass is real
music. You have to be good at what you do,
and it’s going to show if you’re not,” tells Carol.
With a former career in construction, sales, and
accounting, she is currently employed full time
at Sandhills Propane in Southern Pines.
In addition to her video work, Carol
maintains many Facebook pages and manages
several online social events. Whether helping
a customer in the shop, a client online, or a
musician on stage, Carol says, “I love making
dreams come true. You can listen to somebody,
hear what they’re saying and make it happen.”
As Carol records the memories of so many,
she remembers back to being a little girl who
wanted to either be a nurse or a hairdresser. She
laughs, “I wanted to make people look pretty
and feel good.” Pretty much, the desires of her
LOVIN' BLUEGRASS continued LOVIN' BLUEGRASS continued
heart have played out on a much grander stage
than ever imagined.
Mother Teresa once stated, “Let no one
ever come to you without leaving better and
happier.” And Carol feels music should be this
way. “A musician’s job is to leave you feeling
better than when you came. You want to sit
back, forget everything and enjoy the music.
Music should bring people together rather than
pull us apart. Music should be something you
enjoy—you just feel it!” Carol smiles, “Bluegrass
is your very heart and soul. It’s about putting it
all out there!”
From creating that first video for friends to
helping others get established on the national
stage, Carol’s childhood dream to make people
look pretty and feel good pretty much defines
her work with Lovin’ Bluegrass. For those
pursuing their dreams, Carol encourages, “You
can do it! You can make a difference. Don’t ever
give up! You have to do what you were meant to
do.” And when it happens—Feel it. Own it. Live
it. Love it. All in! Check out Carol’s work, and
you’ll be sure to be Lovin’ Bluegrass. ☐
Follow Carol McDuffie at the following:
Videos:
www.youtube.com/lovinbluegrass
Events:
www.facebook.com/lovinbluegrass
Photos:
www.facebook.com/lovinbluegrassphotos
Google+:
plus.google.com/+lovinbluegrass
Carol McDuffie with local bluegrass musician Cooper Marona.
LOVIN' BLUEGRASS con't. next column
LOVIN' BLUEGRASS con't. next column
Clay Russell
on banjo. Cooper Marona
& Aaron Ingram.
p.34 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 135
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