Bill Knowlton (315-457-6100)

. . . Mr. Bill Knowlton celebrated his 40th year hosting the Bluegrass Ramble Picnic Sunday. Mr. Knowlton has been a tireless promoter of Bluegrass music ever since his days at Fordham University where he hosted the first all-bluegrass radio show in New York City at WFUV-FM. He began his career at WCNY radio in 1973. His Bluegrass Ramble radio show airs Sundays from 9 p.m. till midnight on WCNY-FM, Syracuse, Utica and Watertown, NY. On Sept. 29, 2011 he was honored by The International Bluegrass Music Association at their annual awards ceremony, in Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium, where he received the Distinguished Achievement Award. Since 1986, the IBMA has presented this award to people who are pioneers in their field and have spent their careers promoting Bluegrass music. He was IBMA broadcaster of the year in 1997, and was inducted into the Syracuse Area Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2006. He has hosted hundreds of Bluegrass festivals throughout the Northeast. In the 1980s Mr. Knowlton produced and hosted 52 "Bluegrass Ramble" television shows for the Eastern Educational Television Network. The 30 minute shows were broadcast nationwide. Co-founder of the Central New York Bluegrass Association Mr. Knowlton is a multi-award winning dee-jay, emcee, writer, historian and educator of all things Bluegrass. He is a Central New York treasure.

IBMA Hall of Famer and WCNY's Bluegrass Ramble DJ Bill Knowlton will be emceeing on Friday night. Southern Comfort dinner by Simply Red Bistro ($10) will be served at the opening reception, beginning at 5pm. Let the jamming begin!

Bill Knowlton, 30 year host of WCNY-FM Bluegrass Ramble has been asked to participate in several events of the IBMA's "World of Bluegrass" Trade Show at the Gait House, Louisville, KY. He will participate in a panel "It Works for Me" (strategies for creative radio programming) and as an advisor for "Emceeing a Bluegrass Festival". He will also be responsible for lining up emcees for the "Roots & Branches" stage. Congratulations, Bill.

Many thanks to the 80 musicians who donated their great songs, to Bill Knowlton for the wonderful liner notes, to Al Worthen at Mt. Music (Old Forge) for providing expert engineering support, and to Joe LaMay for fantastic graphic layout. Congratulations to two recipients of the Irene Thurston Award, made possible by Frank "Bill" Szabo: Helen Weldon and William Knowlton. Congratulations to Bill Knowlton who also received one. As you know, for several years I've chaired the awards committee, and worked with Bill and Lois in choosing the recipients, and folks I know now I should have never stepped down after last year's festival! The following is a copy of an email received from Bill Knowlton: "To the Officers, Board Members, Club members and Festival Volunteers of CNYBA: I was very honored to be one of the recipients of the 2002 Irene Thurston Award at your Apple Valley Bluegrass Festival this year. BILL KNOWLTON." Bill is our new secretary and will assume his duties in September. You and yours are in our thoughts and prayers Bill, and hope knowing we care will help ease the loss for you.