The Villages - June 2017 - 27

The impromptu sessions are unrehearsed. There are no
amplifiers, and best of all, no inhibitions. In fact, some of
the musicians have started to play music because of the
club, Alhona said. Perhaps they came and were inspired,
curious about what they might do with an instrument in
their hands.
"We gave them a chance to sit in the back and play,
just explore in a casual environment," he said. "We call
it country music on steroids. It's happy music, part Celtic
and Appalachian. It comes from a time when the only
entertainment people had was to listen and play on front
porches. It's fun because we can get together, a bunch of
strangers, and simply just play together."
Without formal training, Alhona is an astute guitarist.
"I've played everything - country, folk, rock 'n' roll,"
he said. "But I never read a sheet of music. I play by ear,
and if you handed me a sheet of music it would be like
asking me to read Chinese. I can't read music."
Alhona has played guitar for many years, although he
only started playing on a regular basis when he moved to
The Villages. He said fellow musicians hail from all over
the country and bring individual talents and experiences
to the stage.
"Larry Hubbard played with Stringbean, Grandpa
Jones and at the Grand Ole Opry," Alhona said. "Our
fiddler player, Gary Patten, has a ton of experience and
our banjo player, Bill Canna, has been playing for about
30 years."
Among them is the newly minted bass player who
quickly learned and developed her talents, becoming an
integral part of the rhythmic sound. Glynda Jones has
been with the club for around seven years, she said.

"I got involved when my husband was playing with
the band and the singer decided she couldn't sing and
play bass at the same time," Jones said. "I was always
around, so they sort of just pointed to me and said, 'play.'
I borrowed the singer's bass, listened closely and learned.
I loved it."
A Tennessee native, Jones said she grew up with the
music, and her father and grandmother played guitar.
"For me, it is a hometown sound," she said. "My father
wouldn't miss a bluegrass anything. I always took him to
the concerts. He begged me to play."
And while her father never got to hear her play, Jones
said she thinks of him every time she plays.
"I think, 'Oh, Daddy would like this song,'" she said.

The Bluegrass Performance Group welcomes Villagers and their guests to sing along or play
from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays at SeaBreeze Recreation Center. For information,
call Kenny Alhona at 352-406-4731 or Don Doggett at 352-750-1808.
MAGAZINE

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - June 2017

Contents
The Villages - June 2017 - Cover1
The Villages - June 2017 - Contents
The Villages - June 2017 - 1
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