Foundation for Bluegrass Music Grant Announcement‏

FOUNDATION PLANS GRANTS IN MEMORY OF HAZEL DICKENS AND CARLTON HANEY Applications Being Accepted Through August 15, 2011 The bluegrass music world lost two important icons in 2011 in the persons of Hazel Dickens and Carlton Haney. In their memory, the Foundation for Bluegrass Music will be funding grants and/or scholarships this year and has set August 15, 2011 as the deadline to apply for these resources. Hazel Dickens was a gifted singer and songwriter who paved the way for other women in bluegrass music as well as serving as a mentor to aspiring musicians and writers. Carlton Haney was the visionary businessman who produced the historic first weekend-long bluegrass music festival in 1965 that initiated the festival movement in bluegrass music. Both placed a high importance on nurturing young talents and supporting programs that enhanced the skills of the next generation. Both passed away this year, Dickens on April 22 and Haney on March 16.

"In the spirit of these two giants in American music, we will be dedicating funds to foster bluegrass artistic and business development efforts involving young people,” said Foundation president Greg Cahill. “We’re delighted to be in a position to memorialize Ms. Dickens and Mr. Haney in this way and we welcome donors who may want to help honor them in this fashion.” A one-time fund of $10,000 has been earmarked with the following guidelines for applicants: Up to $5,000 (example – 2 grants at $2,500) in memory of Hazel Dickens to fund public projects and/or education scholarships that foster bluegrass “artistic” development involving deserving young people. Up to $5,000 (example – 2 grants at $2,500) in memory of Carlton Haney to fund public projects and/or education scholarships that foster bluegrass music “business” development involving deserving young people. Applicants should clearly indicate whether their program is focused on “artistic” or “business” interests. If the applicant is a student applying for funds, they must demonstrate acceptance to and enrollment in an accredited program of study that fits the criteria and grants awarded will be made payable to their educational institution. This is a competitive application process and candidates must meet the Foundation’s Grant Application Guidelines as well as the special provisions outlined above. Grants awarded will be announced no later than October 31, 2011 with funds available after January 1, 2012. Donations to the Foundation for these and related efforts are welcomed in any denomination and these grants will be funded regardless of donations received. The Foundation for Bluegrass Music is a non-profit (501c3) organization created to serve as an “umbrella” under which funds may be placed and disbursed to support educational, literary and artistic activities related to bluegrass music, of public benefit. Examples of programs that can grow under this umbrella include Bluegrass in the Schools (grants, teacher workshops, educational DVD, lesson plan competition, etc.); academic conferences; literary work and related efforts; public artistic presentation of an educational nature; historic preservation; and other works of a charitable nature. For more info, please go to http://bluegrassfoundation.org/Grants. For more information contact: Foundation or Bluegrass Music 2 Music Circle South – Suite 100 Nashville, TN 37203 615-256-3222 danh@ibma.org

Hazel Dickens, Obit and Arrangements

Hazel J. Dickens

By TOM BONE Bluefield Daily Telegraph


WASHINGTON, D.C. — Hazel J. Dickens, 75, of Washington, DC, died Friday, April 22, 2011 at the Washington Home Community Hospice in Washington, D.C. Born in Montcalm, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Hillary N. and Sarah J. Simpkins Dickens. Hazel was an award winning song writer and recording artist in Bluegrass and Folk Music. She was an activist for coal miner's rights writing and recording many coal mining songs. She also appeared in several films including It's Hard To Tell The Singer From The Song, Matewan and Songcatcher. She also contributed to the sound track of Harlan County, Coal Mining Women, Matewan and Black Lung. Hazel has received numerous awards through the years. She was the first woman to receive the International Bluegrass Music Association Award, honored by the Smithsonian Institution, received the 2001 National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment of The Arts and was inducted into the West Virginia Hall of Fame in 2007. She just received the second Washington Monument Award ever given at the 2011 D.C. Bluegrass Festival. Her songs, honors and awards would be hard to list here as would be the list of people whose lives she touched with her talent and her character.

In addition to her parents, five brothers, John Dickens, Guy Dickens, Dan Dickens, Arnold Dickens and Thurman Dickens; along with four sisters, Velvie Woolwine, Beulah Cardwell Roberts, Dovie A. Bailey and Sally Dickens preceded her in death.

Survivors include one brother, Robert Dickens of Baltimore, Md.; several special nieces and nephews; and special friends, Ken Irwin of Rounder Records and Nancy Rowland of Washington, DC.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 26, 2011, at the George W. Seaver Chapel of Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton with family and friends sharing memories. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton. Friends may call at Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton from 1:00 p.m. to the service hour on Tuesday. Online condolences may be made at www.seaverfuneralservice.com

Hazel Dickens Passes

Bluegrass pioneer singer and songwriter, Hazel Dickens, passed away Thursday April 21. In the words of Bluegrass historian and performer Bob Artis, "Sad news; there was never a more passionate
singer nor better songwriter in all of traditional music".

Amen!

The You Tube videos below, provide a brief bio of this elegant lady.
Some of my favorite memories are of her appearances at the Elizabeth Moose Lodge.

Hazel Dickens Concert On Line

There is a very recent Hazel Dickens concert available on line. Backing her is pretty much the same group that she used to bring to the Elizabeth Moose, years ago, Dudley, Richard, Ronnie and a fiddle player I didn't recognize and I missed the introduction.

http://kennedy-center.org/ -under Performances select Millennium Stage, then search Hazel Dickens.