Mel Bay Publications will exhibit at the following conventions:

Wallnut Valley Festival	Winfield, Kansas	09/12 - 09/18
IBMA	Nasvhille, TN	09/24 - 09/29
GFA	Montreal, Canada	10/09 - 10/16
Great American Guitar Show	Pittsburgh, PA	TBD

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Richard Gilewitz Tour Schedule Changes

Those of you checking the latest tour calendar for Richard Gilewitz may be wondering what happened to some of the tours and GillaCamps scheduled for late summer and early fall. It was to be a busy time for Richard and the promotion of his newest release, Live at 2nd Street Theater, with tours slated for Ireland, Washington, and Wyoming.

Due to complications resulting from an automobile accident late last year, Richard underwent surgery August 23. Noted surgeon, Dr. James Joseph Ronzo, performed spinal fusion of several neck vertebrae to release the compression on Richard’s spinal cord. At this time it is believed that the surgery was successful and the recovery time will require a minimum of eight weeks in an Aspen neck brace with lifting restrictions extending longer. Richard will then move into an intermediate brace, to be followed by a soft collar for support.

Richard has expressed his regrets to all who had planned to attend the concerts, festivals, workshops, and seminars that required cancellation as this development took on a grave priority. He sends his thanks for the continued support of his family, friends, fans, and sponsors and plans to hit the road, with limited appearances in the middle of October, followed by a full schedule in November and on into 2007. The updated schedule is available on his website.

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Primal Twang- The Legacy of the Guitar

A documentary film called Primal Twang- The Legacy of the Guitar is scheduled to be shot September 7-10, 2006 at:

The Birch North Park Theater
2891 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92104
Box Office: (619) 231-5714
http://www.primaltwang.com/

Scripted by flatpicking author and teacher Dan Crary, the movie will feature perhaps a dozen leading players in all styles including: Dan Crary, Doyle Dykes, Beppe Gambetta, Andrew York, John Doan, Raul Reynoso, Mason Williams, Eric Johnson, Peter Sprague, Albert Lee, Doc Watson and Richard Watson.

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Long Beach (NY) Jazz Festival

September 7-10 welcomes back the much anticipated Long Beach (NY) Jazz Festival. Seventy world-class innovative musicians will play 24 sets of music, all free to the public.

For complete details see:
www.longbeachjazzfest.com

Come on down and be entertained!

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The First Fall Festival of Guitar at Five Towns College October 26 - 29, 2006

Featuring: Carlos Barbosa-Lima

Five Towns College in Dix Hills, NY will host its first guitar festival. This four-day event will be a "Tribute to the Americas" focusing on the hybrid styles of music between North and South America. At the heart of this festival is the Saturday evening event featuring legendary master guitarist Carlos Barbosa-Lima from Brazil. In addition, this festival will include a Friday-night event with Tony Romano & Gerry Saulter, highlighting the music of Brazil & Argentina. In addition to these two concerts, there will be seven free events! Please see the schedule below for details. Five Towns College is located at: 305 N. Service Rd. Dix Hills, NY 11746

Events will take place throughout our campus.

A Tribute to the Americas

In Concert:

~Carlos Barbosa-Lima~

Guest Artists: Gerry Saulter, Larry Del Casale, & Michelle LaPorte
Saturday, 10/28, 7:30pm Main Stage
The Legendary Master Guitarist from Brazil
Tickets: $20

~Gerry Saulter & Tony Romano~

Guest Artists: Michelle LaPorte & Michel Gentile
Friday, 10/27, 8pm Downbeat Cafe
A concert exploring the music of Argentina & Brazil
Tickets: $5

Seven Free Events & Workshops through the weekend featuring:

~Peter Rogine – "Jazz Chord/Melody", 10/26, 4pm - Downbeat Cafe~
~Steven Gleason – "Commercial Style", 10/26, 5pm - Downbeat Cafe~
~ FTC Alumni Concert - 10/26, 8pm - Downbeat Café ~
~Tony Romano – "The Brazilian Influence on Jazz Guitar", 10/27, 3pm - Rm.601~
~Larry Del Casale – "Careers in Guitar" seminar, 10/28, 1pm - Rm.601~
~The Long Island Classical Guitar Society - Concert & Social, 10/28, 3pm - Downbeat Cafe~
~Carlos Barbosa-Lima – Masterclass, 10/29, 2pm - Rm. 601~

For tickets and additional information, please contact the box office at: 631-656-2148.
www.dixhillsperformingarts.org

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Mel Bay author Pat Kirtley was inducted into the Thumbpicking Hall of Fame during the recent Home of the Legends weekend in Muhlenberg County Kentucky. Chet Atkins Appreciation Society president Dr. Mark Pritcher presented the award and Atkins' friend and early transcriber John Knowles was also present at the ceremony to honor Pat.

The elated Pat Kirtley said, "Now my photo will be up on the wall with Chet, Merle, Jerry, Mose, and the other previous inductees...What a thrill!"

Pat Kirtley addressing the crowd after being inducted into the National Thumbing Hall of Fame.

The National Thumbpicking Hall of Fame was created in 1997 to honor the unique style of guitar playing which evolved in western Kentucky in the region around Muhlenberg County. Each year, guitarists and others who have been involved in supporting this musical style are honored by being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The two major categories are Living Thumbpicker and Deceased Thumbpicker, representing those who go back to the very roots of the guitar style over 75 years ago. This year, past national thumbpicking and fingerpicking champion Pat Kirtley was inducted in the "Living" category, with the award presented by Dr. Mark Pritcher of Knoxville Tennessee, president of the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society. Previous inductees include: Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, Jerry Reed, Mose Rager, Eddie Pennington, and Australia's Tommy Emmanuel.

The award ceremony, with an attendance of over 400 people, was held Friday, August 25th at Paradise Park, near Central City in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. The award ceremony has been incorporated as part of the annual Home of the Legends Guitar Weekend, now in its 17th season.

The main focus of the event is the International Thumbpicking Championship, which now has contests in three distinct categories -- traditional thumbpicking, in the distinct style of Merle Travis and early Chet Atkins, contemporary thumbpicking, which allows a broader range of tunes including contestants' original compositions, and the open class competition, in which contestants may perform in any style except thumbpicking. There is also a grand play-off between the traditional and contemporary winner to determine the year's overall winner.

This year, all the prizes were won by two contestants. Overall winner Dave Duncan of Columbus, Ohio, got two guitars by coming in first in the traditional category, and then winning the play-off with the classic Chet Atkins tune "Oh by Jingo". Nineteen-year-old Matt Thomas of Virginia Beach wowed the audience with his exemplary technique and also claimed two guitars, winning both the contemporary and open class contests. Dave Duncan got first choice of the guitars and selected a handmade Ace guitar and a Taylor 310. Matt Thomas received a handmade guitar by Mel McCullough and a Taylor 310.

The Hall of Fame has accumulated a significant collection of photos and museum items which will soon be moved to a permanent home in the new million-dollar Merle Travis Performing Arts Center now under construction near Central City. This building will provide a well equipped 350- seat performance venue, as well as museum space for the Hall of Fame.