By Ann Matheny

For the Middlesboro News

 

The Magic City Ragtime and Jazz Festival Committee recently met to plan for the 2025 Festival which will be held June 20-22.  Tony Maxwell will again be the chairman for the event.

The Festival celebrates the important part our area played in the history of modern music.  When living in the boom town of Middlesborough in the late 1880s, Ben Harney developed ragtime music while playing on the piano in local saloons.  He always said he was inspired by the mountain fiddlers whom he heard at local gatherings.  His exciting new music swept the country and around the world.  Ragtime morphed into Jazz which became the foundation for our modern pop music.

Our first Festival, which was held last June on the hottest day of the year, was such a success it was decided to make it an annual affair.  A previous meeting of the 2025 Festival committee was given over to a discussion of what worked well and what needed to be changed or rethought.  For example, everyone enjoyed the reception and dinner on Friday night sponsored by Hearthside Bank, but felt it would be improved by having it a little later in the evening when it might be cooler and locating it in the garden of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church instead of on the street.   This year our venues will be closer together and we are hoping for more involvement from downtown merchants.  We are again having multiple ragtime and jazz musicians, period artisans, children’s activities, etc. and are planning to add some exciting new features.

Hearthside Bank has graciously offered again this year to host the dinner which will be planned by Melissa Turner and Kristin Byers.  John and Beth Parker have already contracted with our headline musicians and will be doing a press release in the near future.  Jane Cambron, who is in charge of children’s activities, will again have games and books from the 1890s and is considering adding storytellers and maybe a cakewalk competition for the youth.  Grace Mahieu has suggested celebrating Global Music Day, which is June 21, with a special event such as a short kazoo parade for kids and adults.  Artisans are the responsibility of Amy Simpson, Beth Parker, Buffy Dunnaville and Tony Maxwell.  Donna Smith announced the Garden Club will again have a Flower Show.  Larry Cadle and Buffy Dunnaville are working on the Sunday morning gospel sing-along, which was such a success last year.  Piddle Osborne and Robert Cox will be planning activities at the Bell County Museum.  Last year they turned the back room of the museum into an 1890s saloon with free sarsaparilla on offer.  Kirby Smith is investigating several new possibilities including having a hot air balloon.  Rian Johnson, Julia Griffth and Beth Parker are responsible for public relations/media and publicity.  Sarah Ausmus, Judy Grandy, Charla Costanzo, Tiffany Tong and Kirby Smith are working on sponsorships and fund raising.  Buffy Dunnaville and Julia Griffith volunteered to be in charge of volunteers.   All the committees expressed the hope that they can recruit others to join them.  To volunteer, contact Tony Maxwell  (anthonyfmaxwell@gmail.com) or any committee member.

Not only does the Magic City Ragtime and Jazz Festival celebrate Bell County’s place in the history of music, but it also helps support the Bell County Historical Society and its mission to preserve the history of our very special area.