Missing Uncle Gram - Rest in Peace

Here is the obituary that was just sent to the newspaper (will be in The State and the Twin Cities - Batesburg-Leesville - Times tomorrow) for our dear friend and radio colleague, Mark "Uncle Gram" Lyvers.

Mark Anthony Lyvers, age 71, died August 26, 2018.

Mark, who gained fame as longtime WUSC radio host “Uncle Gram,” was born in 1947 to the late John Samuel Lyvers and Betty Mae Hallock Lyvers of Annapolis, Maryland.  

He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Matthew Wayne Lyvers.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 37 years, Henrietta Gill Lyvers; two daughters, Natalie Lyvers Derrick (Matt), Timmie Lyvers Hayes (Mike); son, Alexander Gill Lyvers (Andrianna); sisters, Nona McNatt, Denise Messineo (Tony), Pam Stern (Jeff), brother, Lane Lyvers (Dannye), sister-in-law Anna Soper Lyvers; 11 grandchildren, one great-grandson and many nieces and nephews.

Mark was graduated from Annapolis High School, then joined the Air Force where he served overseas as a Morse Code operator from 1966-72, then was honorably discharged. He returned to Columbia where he worked for Eastern Airlines followed by Pioneer Machinery.

As “Uncle Gram,” Mark was internationally renowned as the host of WUSC’s “Red Bank Bar and Grill” radio show every Saturday for two decades. His knowledge and warmth was integral in growing the Americana genre. He interviewed national and local singer-songwriters and was regularly chosen as Free-Times “Editors’ Pick” for Best DJ.

Mark enjoyed sports and coached his children's sports teams. He was a member of Wittenberg Lutheran Church, was beloved by family and friends far and wide, loved life and lived his to the fullest.

Memorials may be made to the Wittenberg Food Pantry, or to WUSC-FM, or a charity of your choice.

A service celebrating Mark’s life will be held Thursday, August 30 at 6 p.m. at Wittenberg Lutheran Church, 233 North Lee Street, Leesville, SC 29070.

 

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RIP Uncle Gram of WUSC's Red Bank Bar and Grill

Our joy at the thought of returning to the airwaves tomorrow evening was dashed when I got the call last evening that our dear friend, colleague, fellow-dj, and all around wonderful person, Mark Lyvers (aka Uncle Gram) had passed away. Our hearts are simply breaking.



Our friend and fellow DJ Mark Lyvers
aka WUSC's "Uncle Gram"

I'd been on the phone with his wife a half hour before and all was normal and I'd seen him recently on my weekly visit to the farm where I ride with his wife... and where my two former co-hosts "Claudette, the Blues Doggess" (aka Lawdy Miss Clawdy) and dear RockyDawg Blues Defender are buried so they can still do what they loved - run alongside Kee Kee the Wonderhorse (aka Stinkerbell) as he gallops up pastoral hillsides with me or Mark's wife Henri aboard. On that visit, Mark was alert and interested in tuning in to hear the launch of Blues Moon Radio's 29th year!

So. A shocking and sad surprise to so suddenly lose Mark. Of course, he had been suffering a long, progressive illness with no cure, but the fact is we thought he would be with us a whole lot longer.

His calm warmth, his intelligent and gentle communication, and his deep love for music which he took the time to know so much about were hallmarks of his radio show. He put every ounce of spare energy and time into giving his listeners the fullest experience they could have by listening. He meant so much to performers whom he lifted up and pushed out into the public's eyes and ears. He gave countless hours of spare time to help make the world a better place - and thanks in large part to his efforts, our world here in the Midlands (and rippling out across the globe) it worked! He was many times named best DJ in Free Times Best Of, editor's picks.

We lift him up to his eternal rest in the arms of his God - and know he is flipping those platters non-stop up in heaven. I suspect Gram Parsons is showing him around in thanks for all that fandom.

His name was taken from Uncle Tupelo and Gram Parsons - icydnk.

Our show tomorrow - one he often enjoyed subbing for under the pseudonym Muddy Rivers - will be in his honor. I'll try to do the best I can. I doubt I will measure up.

We already miss you so much, Mark. Rest well... you did good AND you did well.

Love,
Clair DeLune

Clair DeLune to Guest Host Red Bank Bar and Grill Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013

Playlist: Red Bank Bar and Grill

The Rhythm Wreckers - Blue Yodel #2 (My Lovin’ Gal Lucille)

Art Tatum and Big Joe Turner - Lucille

The BoDeans - Lucille

W. Lee O’Daniel and His Light Crust Doughboys - Ida (Sweet as Apple Cider)

Eldon Baker and His Brown County Revelers - One Eyed Sam

Alley Boys of Abbeville - Pourquoi Tu M’Aime Pas

Fiddlin’ John Carson - I’m Going to Take the Train to Charlotte

Charlie Poole with the NC Ramblers - If the River Was Whiskey

Charlie Poole with the NC Ramblers - Ramblin’ Blues

Blue Ridge Ramblers - Jug Rag

Mr. and Mrs. Bouchillon - Adam and Eve Pt. 2

The Restoration - August 1895

The Greencards - Time

Great Big Gone - Grey Dresses

The Blasters - It’s All Your Fault

Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys - If I Knew Now (What I Knew Then)

Ronnie Allen - Juvenile Delinquent

Bill Justis - Raunchy

Hasil Adkins - Ugly Woman

Ray Bonneville - I am the Big Easy

Blue Rags - Be My Salty Dog

Betty Dylan - Banned at the Bluebird

Webb Wilder - Sudden Stop

Live show featuring Laurence "Luckyman" Beall at Utopia Weds

Blues Moon Radio "Blues Chick's pick of the week":

Laurence "Luckyman" Beall
Appearing LIVE
Weds., Aug. 3, 2011 at Utopia Grill
3830 Rosewood Drive
Columbia SC

No cover; no minimum
Great food!

The Carolinas ‘Get Lucky’

(COLUMBIA, S.C.)  One of the Carolinas’ newest residents, musician Laurence “Luckyman” Beall,  is touring the region and spreading good luck to all who are fortunate enough to see and hear his music.

The Carolinas “got Lucky” when Beall relocated to the Midlands area of South Carolina recently after a short  stop in Huntsville, Alabama, where he recorded his well-received CD, “Laurence ‘Luckyman’ Beall: The Huntsville Sessions.” Although he collaborated on the production of that CD, his recent tour showcases him solo – which allows Beall to interact with his audiences to their amusement and delight. So, now we are the lucky ones.

Sporting the Western-style dress and duck-tail hairstyle that emerged when Rock’n’Roll was young, Beall (pronounced ‘Bell’) is as serious about the audience enjoying themselves as he is about his music – a mix of Blues, Rockabilly and Americana that would get any mule kicking in its stall.

At the 11th annual Greenwood Blues Cruise last weekend, attendees cruised from one venue to another sampling the Blues acts and stopping to be rocked to their socks by the Luckyman, who incites the crowd with banter and stories between rip-roaring numbers.

“The Deacon: Laurence ‘Luckyman’ Beall, is alive and well here at the "Tabernacle Of The Good Luck Gospel,” Bell shouted out, as if a barker for a potion for what ails you – that is, if what ails you is a need for some good luck and that good luck is shepherded to one through exposure to his high-energy music.

“You can learn about right and wrong and good and evil at church. You can learn about the three ‘Rs’ of readin’, ’ritin’ and ’rithmetic in school,” Beall shouts out between songs. “But the only place you can learn about increasing your good luck exponentially is at the ‘Tabernacle of the Good Luck Gospel!’”

Those who see Beall perform are impressed and charmed by his vibrant personality as well as his intense musicianship, comprised of powerful lyrics and melody, and a unique approach to electric chicken-pickin’ guitar work. Clair DeLune, host of Blues Moon Radio, has become an enthusiastic convert to “the Luckified.”

“After I learned about Lucky being in the area, I booked him on The Blues Moon Radio Show as soon as possible,” DeLune said. “His performance was so popular that listeners called in with compliments and requests for weeks.”

Beall emancipated himself at the “ripe old age of 15” and has been touring as a self-supporting musician ever since. His travels have included pickup jobs off stage as well as on. Some jobs had the unanticipated “benefit” of becoming source material for songs. Beall writes most of his material from experiences – either personal or because he is a keen observer of life.

“You have to jump on those life moments that come your way,” Beall said. “I’ve learned to keep a pencil and paper handy so I don’t lose a great song idea. ‘She Make a Bulldog Break His Chain’ was something a co-worker uttered about a particularly attractive sunbather who was viewable from our job site, so I had to run to my truck to write the song down just the way he said it before that inspiration was lost.”

Upcoming appearances in the Midlands include an early show the new Utopia on Wednesday, Aug. 3 (no cover); and the Carolina Downhome Blues Festival this fall, and across the Carolinas and Georgia in-between. Information about his music, reviews and calendar are available at www.laurencebeall.com