Grassroots effort to promote bluegrass

It's Sunday evening in Dennis Scivally Park in Cape Girardeau. Birds are chirping and a cool breeze is rustling the leaves of the tall trees that line the park. But in the midst of it all there is a different sound than most nights -- bluegrass music.

Just In Tyme can be found playing acoustic and early American bluegrass in the park at 7 p.m. every Sunday during the summer, and anyone with a bluegrass instrument is invited to join the band.

The bluegrass trio is made of Tony Smee, his wife, Tamara, and longtime friend Rhett Hendrickson. They shared a love for bluegrass music and formed the group in December 2007.

Smee said that when he started talking to local people about bluegrass, he found many that enjoy and even play it, but there was no organized effort to get them together and promote the music. So Smee took matters into his own hands and organized the jam sessions at Scivally Park, a small park on Cape Rock Drive.

"Our intention is to provide interaction for folks who enjoy playing and listening to bluegrass and old time music," Smee said.

He encourages any bluegrassers to join, regardless of their musical ability.

"We want beginners as well as practicing musicians in order to encourage people to play and learn," he said.

Meeting new people who share his passion is one thing Smee looks forward to most.

"People who enjoy and perform this music come from all walks of life," he said. "So you get to meet people from different backgrounds, but you have a common bond in the music."

With bluegrass being one of the few American music styles, many of the songs have been passed down through generations. This makes social interaction among the genre more important, as it gives people the opportunity to share their story and their music.

"It's tied to our American heritage," he said, "and it really speaks to you because it is history being handed down that you can still participate in today."

Along with organizing the jam sessions, Smee is also promoting a series of bluegrass performances that are coming to the River Campus beginning in August.

To learn more about the series or the Sunday jam sessions, contact Tony Smee at smeeandco@charter.net.