100th Commemoration of Armistice and Veterans Day Show plus fundraiser music on Blues Moon Radio

11/11/18 - Armistice Day in WWI - American Doughboys

Blues Moon Radio pays tribute to Veterans on the auspicious occasion of the 100th commemoration of Armistice Day. Special tribute to my grandfather, who was the recipient of one of only 50 Distinguished Service Medals awarded to members of the Tank Corps in its 100+ year history - he served heroically under Lt. Col. George S. Patton, who was a recipient of the DSC as well.

 

 

Of course, we pay tribute on Veterans Day to all who ever served in the US Military, and our allies.

Later we'll take care of some station business and do fundraising, while I lull you into opening your hearts and pocketbooks by playing songs with a money theme.

One of our greatest DJs, and foremost fundraiser - Uncle Gram - passed away this summer so I would like anyone donating on behalf of my show to donate in memory of Uncle Gram. Thank you... our secure donation page is wusc.sc.edu, then click donate. Scurry to the donor wall and enter the dedication, and your name (so we can thank you) before you go. Thank you in advance for any fiscal support!

Our playlist will include:

Enjoy the show... we will NEVER FORGET... salute!


Wishing you peace, health, happiness and always HOPE,
Clair DeLune and Sonny Boy Red Jackson

Tune in each TuesdayBluesday from 6-8 p.m. ET/USA (-5 GMT)... www.wusc.sc.edu, then click listen. Sonny Boy Jackson and I will spin you something special~!
Clair DeLune

Meet your Hosts:

Clair DeLune (at right): author of South Carolina Blues, longtime professor of Roots and Blues Music History and your host since 1990 of Blues Moon Radio; along with her valiant co-host since 2017, Sonny Boy Red Jackson (at left, doing his best RCA Dog impression).



In the meantime, if you feel as if you need some great Blues music... don't forget our underwriters:

Our supporters:

As always we thank our long-time underwriters, who help bring great music to the Midlands all year around, because we could not imagine our show without their input and support:  Papa Jazz Record Shoppe, Word of Mouth Productions AND South Carolina Blues. You can link to these orgs by clicking on the visuals...

    

 

 

 This blog is brought to you  in part by:
South Carolina Blues
500 years of roots and blues music history in S.C.
by Clair DeLune
on Arcadia Publishing 

Final tribute (RIP) to Uncle Gram 11/10/18



Uncle Gram of WUSC's Red Bank Bar and Grill

It was bittersweet to bid adieu to Uncle Gram during his former radio slot this past weekend.

Losing a friend who has been such a musical institution was hard, but the fact that we had so many DJs, friends and family in the studio to celebrate his life and his love and dedication to music made it sweet.

Thank you to all who participated and contributed... and to the listeners and musicians who were a part of his long and storied career.

If the musicians made up the fabric of The Red Bank Bar and Grill show, it was Uncle Gram who sewed their work thematically into a beautiful quilt each weekend and embellished it with his beautiful voice and intelligent invocations.

We were fortunate to have such a warm, wonderful creation to wrap around us each Saturday - and I for one am forever thankful.

He is gone but will never be forgotten.

The show was done live, for the most part, so we don't have a list of everything various djs played, but here is a list of the tributes we played.

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