bub sullivan from srs newsletter september, 1987 · blues my naughty sweetie gives to me casey...

www.SacramentoRagtime.com [email protected]

530-758-6697

NEXT MEETING

The January SRS meeting will be held the last Sunday of

January on January 29, 2012

in J.B.’s Lounge at the Red Lion Sacramento Inn

1401 Arden Way, Sacramento from 1:00 to 4:00 pm

See Newletter in color: www.sacramentoragtime.com Bub Sullivan 1987 ....…………..… 1 December 18

th SRS Session .…. 2

Robert E Sullivan 2012 ………….. 3 Treemonisha ……......…...……….. 6

Bub Sullivan and his wife Petra have been participating in the Sacramento Ragtime Society since the third meeting back in

1982. At first, Bub played the mandolin accompaniment to Petra on the piano. Then, with some prompting by Petra, Bub began to sing Ragtime songs such as “Hello My Baby”, “In Ragtime Land,” “I’ll See You in C-U-B-A,” “In Sweet Onion Time,” and “Sacramento.” Since many Ragtime tunes were also published as songs, Bub adds another dimension to our Ragtime meetings which usually stress instrumental Ragtime.

Several times during our talk Bub said that when Petra plays the piano it is easier for him to accompany her on the mandolin than it is to sing (Playing by ear with improvisation seems easier to him than singing.). So how did Bub develop his talents and self-assurance to bring vocal Ragtime to the SRS? Probably his greatest asset was Petra, who encouraged, pushed a bit, and realized that we all enjoy Bub’s songs. But talent such as Bub possesses takes time to develop and Bub has, more or less, continuously been playing some musical instrument from an early age.

Bub Sullivan – Age 14

His mother played the piano at home and started the three Sullivan boys on music lessons. Bub began classical piano lessons when he was six years old and continued lessons for five years. During this time he was also very interested in sports, which started with Little League and graduated to

football and basketball in his junior high school years.

Petra & Bub circa 1977

Bub’s family moved from Chicago to Miami when he was thirteen and he lived in Florida for two years. It was during this short period of time that he did not have access to any musical instrument and spent his time playing football, basketball, baseball, and riding a small motorcycle (in Florida, one only needed to be fourteen in order to legally ride smaller motorized vehicles and Bub saved money from a paper route to buy his (small) motorcycle). Bub returned from Florida to La Grange in the Chicago area to enter high school. For his sixteenth birthday his older brother Roger gave him a $10 guitar. Those were the days of the Kingston Trio and folk music. There was plenty of musical encouragement for Bub since Roger played saxophone and clarinet in his high school jazz band and his younger brother Terry also played piano, banjo and guitar. Bub’s interest in sports in high school overwhelmed his interest in musical Bub SRS 1987 | Page 3

IN THIS ISSUE

Deborah Gale, Editor January 2012

Bub Sullivan

From SRS Newsletter – September, 1987

Jack Bradshaw Suwanee Echos Al Brown Jingle Bells Variations Jack Bradshaw Suger Willie with Tim Erickson and Bert Wilson How Could Red Riding Hood R.D. Wichard & A.P. Randolph Sugar Willie with Tim Erickson, Pearlie and Jerry Ford Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me Casey Morgan & Arthur Swanstrom 1919 Ragnolia Ragtette Keystone Rag Willie Anderson 1921 Blue Goose Chas. L. Johnson 1916 Cotton Field Capers Wm. C. O’Hare 1901 Stop It! Mel Kaufman 1920 Porcupine Ragtime Ensemble Elliott Adams, Robyn Drivon, Steve Drivon, Petra Sullivan, Bub Sullivan Happy Days In Georgia Chas. H. Kuebler 1899 Pudge Two Step Hazel Million 1905 Where The Sacramento Flows Buell & Kerry 1913

Virginia Tichenor Mississippi Rag Krell 1897 Riverside Blues Mashed Potatos C.L. Woolsey 1911 Cleve Baker Jack Frost Rag Artie Sheu 1904 At The Christmas Ball Fred Longshaw 1925 Santa Clause Blues Straight & Kahn 1924 Elliott Adams African Ripples Waller Carr’s Hop Joe Carr 1952 Minding The Baby Pauline Alpert 1938 Larisa Migachyov Chocolate Covered Calliflower Migachyov Suger Willie Sweet Substitute Morton Elliott Adams & Helen Burns (Vocal) I’ll Be Home For Christmas What Are You Doing New Years Eve? The Christmas Song (Chesnuts Roasting etc.)

Page 2 Sacramento ragtime society January 2012

December 18, 2011 SRS Session

By Bob Gonzales

Bub SRS 1987 - Continued

performance. He started college with an athletic scholarship, but quickly found no time for playing sports. It was at Yale where he first began to play and sing as an entertainer before an audience. At this time his interest was in Bluegrass and Jug Band spurred on by the music of Doc Watson, The Country Gentlemen, and Jim Kweskin, among others During his summer vacations Bub spent time in Alaska, San Francisco, Boston, the Appalachian Mountain area, Mexico, and Columbia. Bub discovered Ragtime when he heard the Joshua Rifkin recording of Joplin being played at a wedding in St. Louis. The music just stopped him in his tracks. He was in love. His brother Terry furthered his interest by giving Bub “The Collected Works of Scott Joplin” for his birthday. And after medical school, Bub joined Terry in a Rock and Roll band named “Cremona” in the Seattle area. During this time he built a 36 foot wooden boat with friends and played Ragtime piano at home.

Bub Sullivan 1979 on Vashon

Bub met Petra when he came to work in the Sacramento area. They initially returned annually (for eight years) to the Seattle area where they continue to have close friends.

♫ ♫ ♫

Robert E. Sullivan President WCRS

2009-Present Robert E. (Bub) Sullivan was born in August 1944 to Thomas Joseph Sullivan and Evelyn Corinne Strandell Sullivan in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Illinois in 1962. From 1962 to 1966 Bub attended Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut (initially entering on a football scholarship and playing on the Yale Freshman football team his freshman year) where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 1966. He continued his science education the next year at Loyola University in Chicago. In 1967 he began his medical studies at the Saint Louis School of Medicine, in St. Louis, Missouri and completed medical school in 1971. He did his internship in “Rotating Zero” general medicine (at the time he was interested in either Family Practice or Emergency Medicine) at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center (Los Angeles County General) and earned both a California medical license and a Washington medical license. From 1972 to 1974, Bub lived on Vashon Island (the largest island in Puget Sound), Washington with his brother, Terry. He practiced medicine at the Vashon Clinic working part-time (60%). Outside his medical practice he lived a hippie life style in a farmhouse built in 1914 doing gardening, playing music and working as a carpenter. He received an inheritance from his father and left his medical practice to work with a friend six days a week building a 36 foot

sailboat. After a year his friends sailed off on their own boat (as planned) and Bub continued to work on the boat for three more summers. Bub went to the Sacramento area for 6 months in 1975, where he met Petra (who was a friend of a friend and it was love at first sight). He was given the privileges on her piano during the day while she was working for the State (his hours were very irregular), and introduced her to Joplin. Bub stopped playing Ragtime piano after hearing Petra play Ragtime. He talked her into accompanying him to Vashon the next May. Bub and Petra were married July 22, 1977 in Dockton, Washington by a local good-guy judge in a field by the chicken coup at their old farmhouse – with a magnificent view of the water and distant Seattle. They were spending six months in Sacramento (with Bub working in the ER) and 6 months on Vashon (building the boat, music, sailing, and some clinic and ER medicine). The Vashon end got shorter, down to 3 months. He realized it would take about 10 years to finish the boat at that rate – and thought what would they do then – live on it in the river? So, Bub sold the sailboat as a completed hull and deck to some wonderful new friends who did a dandy job finishing it. The sailed across the Pacific twice, lived on it for three years in Japan, and gave Bub & Petra several sailing days on it in Puget Sound and the San Francisco Bay. The boat owners recently informed Bub that they sold the sailboat to some folks in New England where its designer, Pete Culler, lived. He is very happy about that, feeling like she’s finally gone home and will continue to be well treated there. After eight years of moving their home between Sacramento and Vashon, Bub and Petra decided to sell the Vashon farmhouse, stop moving all the stuff back and forth, and just visit Vashon folks every summer for 2-4 weeks.

January 2012 Sacramento ragtime society Page 3

Bub has practiced medicine in the Emergency Rooms at both Sutter Hospitals, both Mercy Hospitals, Methodist Hospital, Sutter Davis Hospital and Marshall Hospital in Placerville. He was part of a group that contracted with all these hospitals. For the last nine years he has been practicing Alternative Medicine, mostly counseling people on using cannabis as medicine. He has found this practice very satisfying and knows thousands of people who are better off because they use it for various medical conditions. He plans to continue his Alternative Medicine practice for a few more years.

Bub took piano lessons until age 10 but had never had lessons on guitar or mandolin until June 2011, when he went to “Menucha – a Retreat” in Corbett, Oregon (outside Portland) for three days of instruction and inspiration from Peter Ostroushko (of Prairie Home Companion) and three other dazzling instructors. Bub started performing with groups while in high school where he played Bluegrass guitar at some street fairs and similar performances. In college he played Bluegrass guitar at colleges in the area with the Elm City Gentlemen. On Vashon he played electric piano and rhythm guitar in the rock ‘n roll group Cremona with his brother and four others. He also was a vocalist with all of these groups. Bub has performed on the mandolin with Petra in China and Switzerland. He has performed on the mandolin and as vocalist with the Porcupine Ragtime Ensemble for many years. He now also performs with the group

named The Sullivans and Drivons.

. .


Bub’s Collection of Instruments

Instruments Listed

Left to Right 4-string Banjo A banjo is a four or five stringed instrument with a piece of plastic or animal skin stretched over a circular frame. Similar forms of the instrument were fashioned by Africans in Colonial America, adapted from several African instruments of similar design. Historically, the banjo occupied a central place in African American traditional music, before becoming popular in the minstrel shows of the 19

th century. (Wikipedia)

Weymann Mandolute (From 1920’s) The term mandolute was used as a brand name for an American mandolin made by the American company Weymann in the early 20

th century. These mandolutes have 8 strings and are tuned

exactly like a traditional American mandolin. (Wikipedia) Sovereign Mandolin Banjo (from 1920’s) Mandolin Nameless, standard flatback design, age unknown. Cünbus (Turkish) A metal mandolin banjo with resonator.

Photo Lewis Motisher

Sullivans and Drivons Robyn Drivon, Petra Sullivan, Steve Drivon

& Bub Sullivan


The Porcupine Ragtime Ensemble

Bub Sullivan, Robyn Drivon, Elliott Adams Susan Desper, Petra Sullivan &

Steve Drivon


Petra and Bub Sullivan

Bub the Songbird



Scott Joplin: TREEMONISHA

Just in time for this issue of the SRS Newsletter, Dave Bilgray sent an email to me stating “There's an interesting article about a new production of Treemonisha, in the Wall Street Journal, of all places. There's local interest, too. the first performance of this version was done in SF, in 2003, and several of us heard/saw it there." New World Records released Scott Joplin: Treemonisha, in December 2011 as Catalogue Number 80720 (2 CDs). Tracks on this album: Overature, The Bag of Luck, The Corn-Huskers, We’re Goin’ Around, The Wreath, The Sacred Tree, Surprised, Treemonisha’s Bringing Up, Good Advice, Confusion, Superstition, Treemonisha in Peril, Frolic of the Bears, The Wasp-Nest, The Rescue, We Will Rest Awhile, Going Home, Aunt Dinah Has Blowed de Horn, Prelude to Act 3, I Want to See My Child, Treemonisha’s Return, Wrong is Never Right, Abuse, When Villains Ramble Far and Near, Conjurers Forgiven, We Will Trust You as Our Leader, A Real Slow Drag, Bowing Music: Themes from the Opera in One-Step Tempo, and Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha Preface. The Description: Anita Johnson, AnnMarie Sandy, Edward Pleasant, Frank Ward, Jr., Chauncey Packer, Todd Payne, Robert Mack, Janinah Burnett, Darren Stokes, and The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and Singers- Rick Benjamin, conductor.

The article Dave referenced is from The Wall Street Journal | Opera, Tuesday, December 6, 2011. The title of the article is ‘Treemonisha’ as It Was Intended to Be by Barrymore Laurence Scherer. The long article can be found at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203833104577070683505219416.html?KEYWORDS=joplin Mr. Scherer, author of “A History of American Classical Music” (naxos / Sourcebooks) writes about music and the fine arts for the Journal. Mr. Scherer wrote in the Journal article: “On Dec. 6, to mark the centenary of the Joplin piano score's publication, New World Records is releasing an entirely new recording of "Treemonisha" that places it into a clearer ragtime perspective. The release, featuring Metropolitan Opera soprano Anita Johnson in the title role, includes a 118-page book and represents 18 years of research by its conductor, Rick Benjamin. Mr. Benjamin, the founder and director of the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, is an authority and leading interpreter of ragtime music. Having closely studied all available musical and historical sources related to the opera—including Joplin's own instrumentation jottings in his personal copy of the piano score—Mr. Benjamin aimed to create a new, historically correct performing edition of the opera that would reflect the original musical character intended by Joplin. In 2003 Mr. Benjamin and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and singers premiered this version semistaged in San Francisco, and gave subsequent performances in recent years at the historic Saenger Theater in Joplin's hometown of Texarkana, Texas, and at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (America's oldest black college) among other venues. Mr. Benjamin notes that he has also "allowed my edition to be produced by Opera Memphis and several other opera companies." “

♫ ♫ ♫

Straw Hat Pizza

Wednesdays 6:30 to 9:00 p.m 2929 Mather Field Road

Rancho Cordova

February 1 Dr. Bach & the Jazz

Practioners 8 The Norm Gary Trio 15 Pat Blucher & Friends 22 Frederick Hodges 29 Marty Eggers & Virginia

Teichnor

Pier 23 Tuesdays 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Embarcadero (at Filbert) San Francisco

January 31 Robert Young & Marty Eggers

February 7 Virginia Tichenor 14 Frederick Hodges 21 Marty Eggers 28 Crown Syncopators


26th

West Coast Ragtime Festival

November 16-18, 2012

Red Lion Sacramento Inn 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA

www.westcoastragtime.com

The Sacramento Ragtime Society www.SacramentoRagtime.com

If you would like to receive the monthly newsletter, the subscription rate is $16 per year. Payments should be made payable to Sacramento Ragtime Society. Contact: Merv Graham, PO Box 2286, Grass Valley CA 95945. Info: 530-273-0487 or mgraham&funkyfiddler.org

Sacramento Ragtime Society new member joining since

December 8, 2011

Martin Podhrazsky Monterey CA

https://ex.losrios.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=6b4fc78085f64d94b94615a6a7de7287&URL=http%3a%2f%2fonline.wsj.com%2farticle%2fSB10001424052970203833104577070683505219416.html%3fKEYWORDS%3djoplinhttps://ex.losrios.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=6b4fc78085f64d94b94615a6a7de7287&URL=http%3a%2f%2fonline.wsj.com%2farticle%2fSB10001424052970203833104577070683505219416.html%3fKEYWORDS%3djoplinhttps://ex.losrios.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=6b4fc78085f64d94b94615a6a7de7287&URL=http%3a%2f%2fonline.wsj.com%2farticle%2fSB10001424052970203833104577070683505219416.html%3fKEYWORDS%3djoplin


Ragtime Calendar

Sacramento Ragtime Society events are starred (*) and up to date information can always be obtained from the

society’s web site at www.SacramentoRagtime.com.

Please let us know as soon as possible about upcoming ragtime or ragtime related events so we can list them.

SPECIAL EVENTS

JANUARY 2012

29* Sacramento Ragtime Society Session, Red Lion Sacramento Inn, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento,

1:00-4:00 PM, Free, Info: 530-758-6697 or www.SacramentoRagtime.com

FEBRUARY 2012

10-12 Fresno Flats Ragtime & Vintage Music Festival, Old School House, Fresno Flats Historical Park,

49777 Road 427 (School Road), Oakhurst, CA. 12 Frederick Hodges In Concert, Pioneer Methodist Church, 1338 Lincoln Way, Auburn, 3:00pm,

$20 Donation suggested as a benefit for the church. 18 Ragnolia Ragtette (Bradshaws & Drivons), Foothill Presbyterian Church, 5301 McKee Road, San Jose, CA,

3:00pm, Admission Free ($10 suggested donation), Info: 408.258.8133 or 408.842.4990 26* Sacramento Ragtime Society Session, Red Lion Sacramento Inn, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento,


MARCH 2012

25* Sacramento Ragtime Society Session, Red Lion Sacramento Inn, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento,


REGULAR EVENTS

1

st & 3

rd Sunday Sacramento Banjo Band, Straw Hat Pizza, 2929 Mather Field Rd, Rancho Cordova, 2:00-4:00 pm.

1st Sunday Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra, Casa de Flores, 737 Walnut St., San Carlos, 4:00-6:00pm, $10 donation at

door, Info: 650-355-1731 or 650-593-2284, [Feb, Apr, Oct, Dec only]. Price includes light refreshments. 1

st Sunday Portland Ragtime Society, Elevated Coffee, 5261 Northeast M. L. King Blvd., Portland, OR, 3:00-6:00 pm.

1st Sunday Friends of Scott Joplin-Ragtime Rendezvous, The Pub Above at Dressel’s, 419 N Euclid St., St. Louis, MO,

5:30-8:30 pm. 1

st Sunday Classic Ratgime Society of Indiana, [Even-numbered months only] Info: Josi Beeler 317-359-6452,

[email protected] or Irene Weinberg 317-578-7883 or [email protected]. Last Sunday Rose Leaf Ragtime Club, Aztex Hotel’s Mayan Restaurant, 311 W. Foothill Blvd., Monrovia, 2:00-5:00 pm,

Donation, participating musicians free. Info: 626-358-3231 or 818-766-2384. Sunday Devine’s Jug Band, On the Corner Café, Divisadero & Oak, San Francisco, 2:00-4:00 pm. Tuesday Ragtime & Vintage Piano Music, Pier 23, San Francisco, 5:00-8:00 pm (See separate listing). Tuesday Victorian Dancers, Lake Merritt Dance Center Lounge-Oakland Veterans Bldg., 200 Grand Ave., Oakland, 7:00

pm. Beginning & Intermediate classes, $8. Info: 530-759-9278 or www.wintagewaltz.com. 2

nd Wednesday Marty Eggers & Virginia Tichenor-Hot Ragtime & Classic Jazz Piano, The Belrose Theater, 1415 5

th Ave.,

San Rafael, 5:30-8:00 pm, Info: 415-454-6422 or 510-655-6728, no cover charge. Wine bar, beer & light food. Wednesday Happy Time Banjos, Soprano’s Pizza, 373 Main St., Redwood City, 7:00 pm, Info: 408-253-3676. Wednesday Peninsula Banjo Band, Harry’s Hofbrau, 390 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, 7:00 pm, Info: 4008-993-2263. Wednesday Craig Ventresco & Meredith Axelrod, Café Devine, 1600 Stockton St. (across from Washington Square), San

Francisco, 7:30-9:30 pm, Info: 415-986-3414. Wednesday East Bay Banjo Band, Round Table Pizza, 1938 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill, 7:30-8:30 pm, Info 925-372-0553. Wednesday Ragtime & Vintage Music, Straw Hat Pizza, 2929 Mather Field Road, Rancho Cordova, 6:30-9:00 pm,

Info: 916-987-7434 or email [email protected].

c/o Deborah Gale 2028 East 8th St Davis, CA 95618

REGULAR EVENTS - Continued

Thursday Oakland Banjo Band, Porky’s Pizza Palace, 1221 Manor Blvd. (corner of Farnsworth) San Leandro, 7:30-9:30 pm

Info: 510-357-4323 2

nd Friday Chico’s Ragtime/Tin Pan Alley Sessions, The Terraces, 2750 Sierra Sunrise Terrace, Chico, 6:30-8:30 pm

Info: Bernie or Bob LoFaso 530-894-6854, [email protected] 4

th Friday Vintage Dance & Waltz Lessons, Finnish Hall, 1970 Chestnut, Berkeley, Lesson 8:00 p., Dance 9:00 pm to midnight,

$6 for dance; $8 for lesson, Info: 530-759-9278 or vintagewaltz.com Friday Friday Night Waltz, 1

st United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton St. (& Cowper), Palo Alto, Lessons: 7:00-9:00pm,

Dancing 9:00pm-12 am, Info: 650-326-6265, web site to confirm time and location: www.fridaynightwaltz.com Friday Keith Taylor, Mad Matilda’s, 1917 Main St., Baker City, OR, Info: 541-519-4072 1

st Saturday San Francisco Banjo Band, Malloy’s, 1655 Mission Road, Colma, 7:30 pm, Info: 650-692-7878

2nd

Saturday San Francisco Starlight Orchestra, Little Switzerland, 19080 Riverside Drive, Sonoma, 2:00-5:00 pm, Feb Thru Oct,

Info: www.sanfranciscostarlightorchestra.com 2

nd Saturday The Valley Ragtime Stomp, Henri’s Restaurant, 21601 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, 1:00-4:00 pm,

Info: 818-766-2384 or www.valleyragtimestomp.blogspot.com 2

nd Saturday East Bay Waltz, Veterans bldg., 200 Grand Ave (at Harrison), Oakland, 7:00 pm-Midnight, Info: eastbaywaltz.com

3rd

Saturday Cascade Ragtime Society-Ragtime Jam, Noah’s Ark, Winston, OR, Info: 541-784-1261 [Even numbered months only] 3

rd Saturday Mother Lode Ragtime Society, Sutter Creek Ice Cream Emporium, 51 Main St. (Hwy49), Sutter Creek, 7:30-9:30pm,

Info: 209-267-0543 or [email protected] [Odd numbered months only]

RADIO Sundays Syncopation Station, KDHX 88.1 FM, St. Louis, Missouri, 4:00-5:30pm Host: Vann Ford, www.kdlhx.org Thursdays Ragtime America, KGNU, 88.5 FM, Boulder, Colorado, 8:00-9:00 pm, Host: Jack Rummel, www.kgnu.org Continuous Elite Syncopations Radio, All Ragtime 24 hours a day, www.ragtimerradio.org Continuous Rocky Mountain Ragtime, Ragtime 24 hours a day, www.live365.com/stations/rmragtime

January 2012

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bub sullivan from srs newsletter september, 1987 · blues my naughty sweetie gives to me casey...

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