Ivy Phillips is Third Time Grand Champion Fiddler at Jamboree (View Video Here)

July 7, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Ivy Phillips has claimed her third Grand Champion Fiddling Title at the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival.

(VIEW JAMBOREE PHOTO GALLERY ON THIS WEBSITE)

The Chapmansboro  resident, who also won the Junior Fiddling contest here Saturday night, beat out the Senior Fiddling Champion Thomas Chapman of Falkville, Alabama in the showdown for the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award. Phillips won back to back championships in 2016 and 2017.

It is the 9th year in a row that a Junior Fiddler has beaten the Senior Fiddler for the Grand Championship of the Festival.

Phillips was also a two time fiddling champion for beginners in 2012 and 2013

(Video below shows one of her three song performances in the fiddle-off Saturday night)

July 7, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

If you love gospel music by local talent you are in for a blessing.

Fiddle Dee Dee on Broad presents Fiddle Dee Dee on Broad Gospel Hour from 5-6 p.m. tonight (July 7).

The program airs once a month, on the first Sunday night of each month, from 5-6 p.m. featuring recorded local talent performing gospel music.

Tonight’s program will showcase the music of Dessa Ray and the Webb Sisters.

Tune in the first Sunday night of each month for the Fiddle Dee Dee on Broad Gospel Hour from 5-6 p.m. on WJLE.

WJLE is proud of our partner sponsors of religious programs each week and hopes you will tune in often and let them know you listen.

• Got A Minute?: 60 second message presented by the Smithville Church of Christ with Dan Gulley-Twice a day Monday-Friday each week (various times morning and around noon)
• Cross Connection sponsored by the Upper Helton Baptist Church featuring Jimmy Arms: Monday-Friday at 11:55 a.m. each week
• Morning Devotion: A 5 minute daily devotional by a different minister each week Monday-Saturday at 7:25 a.m.

The following are weekly sponsored Sunday programs:

• 7:00 a.m.: Speak Life with Richard Bane
• 7:30 a.m.: Royce Moore of the New West Point Freewill Baptist Church (The Way of Life Ministry)
• 8:00 a.m. Elders Joseph and Ricky Arnold for the New Bildad and Mount View Primitive Baptist Churches (The Firm Foundation)
• 8:30 a.m. Outreach Baptist Church with Nathan Thomason (The Outreach Pulpit)
• 9:00 a.m. The Keltonburg Missionary Baptist Church (Only Through the Blood)
• 9:30 a.m. LOCAL NEWS
• 9:35 a.m. Trent Colwell of the Smithville Church of the Nazarene (The Living Word)
• 10:00 a.m. Steve Warren of Faith Chapel Ministries (Faith for the Hour)
• 10:30 a.m. Bobby Thomason of the Covenant Baptist Church (Fountain of Faith Ministries)
• 11:00 a.m. Worship Services from either the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian (Isaac Gray) or Smithville First United Methodist Churches
• 12:00 NOON: LOCAL NEWS

1:00 p.m.: Truth that Transforms with Aaron Wright

• 1:30 p.m. The Preaching Ministry of Toy Lawson of the People’s Pentecostal Church
• 2:30 p.m. Billy Hale of the Christ Pentecostal Church of Brush Creek (The King is Coming)
• 3:00 p.m. Prophet James Ferrell of the Church of Jesus Christ (The Word of the Lord)
• 4:00 p.m. LOCAL NEWS
• 4:15 p.m. Royce Curtis of the People’s Missionary Baptist Church
• 5:00 p.m. Fiddle Dee Dee on Broad Gospel Hour (1st Sunday)
• 6:05 p.m. Gospel music sponsored by Cantrell’s Furniture and Appliances
• 9:05 p.m. LOCAL NEWS

Listen each week on WJLE AM 1480 and WJLE FM 101.7 and LIVE Streaming at www.wjle.com.

July 7, 2019
By: Bill Conger

Bluegrass icon Ronnie Reno stepped on the stage of the 48^th Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree with three months left to go before he retires from a more than 60-year career in bluegrass and country music. The legendary performer was here Saturday night to accept the Blue Blaze Award that is designed to honor a group or individual that ‘keeps the embers of bluegrass music glowing for future generations.’

“What a great honor!” Reno told the crowd after receiving the award. “Thanks to everybody for this; it means an awful lot. My whole thing in music is to try to leave this music for a younger generation. Boy, it looks like the Smithville Jamboree is doing that.”

Past recipients of the Blue Blaze awards are Darrin Vincent of Dailey & Vincent, Sierra Hull, Danny Roberts of the Grascals, Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, and Michael Cleveland.

Following the award presentation, Reno played a mini-concert with his band, Reno Tradition, and a special guest, his youngest son, Justin “Doc” Reno.

“This summer I’ve sort of brought him out and played,” Reno told WJLE in an interview inside the county courthouse prior to the show. “He’s a fine guitar player. It’s wonderful that he can come out and play with me. He’s a doctor, but he loves playing the music. He would have been a bluegrass musician, but his momma wouldn’t let him. So we sent him to school, and he loves helping people too. He’s a family doctor.”

Reno was born into bluegrass greatness. His father, Don Reno, was one half of the Hall of Fame duo Reno & Smiley. While still going to school, Ronnie became part of that act’s impressive recordings in the 50s and 60s. Over his stellar career Reno performed with Merle Haggard, appearing on classic hits like “If We Make It through December,” “If We’re Not Back in Love by Monday,” and “Ramblin’ Fever.” Reno also performed alongside The Osborne Brothers during some of their most commercially successful years. He hit the studio with legends like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Paycheck. As a songwriter, his song “Boogie Grass Band” became a smash hit for Conway Twitty. Then, in 1993, he ventured into television to produce the first and only national television show featuring bluegrass music, “Reno’s Old Time Music Festival.”

Despite all of his success, he says what means the most to him is spending time with the people who love his music.

“I take this after my father I guess,” Reno explained. “His greatest job was to be able to get close to the people that enjoyed hearing him play the banjo and hearing him sing. I got here earlier today, [and] I ‘ve near talked myself hoarse already because I’ve talked to so many people.”

“The town of Smithville is the only place I could do that to walk around,” Reno adds. “It’s not a festival per se because we’re the only band here. Everybody else is in a contest, or they’re doing different things.”

While Reno was meeting folks, one lady asked him if he would say hello to her mom, who is a huge fan.

“I swear you would have thought I was Elvis Presley to this woman,” Reno says. “She watches us on TV every Saturday night, and she said Ronnie this is the biggest thing that I’ve ever had happen in my life is to be able to meet you. If you think that don’t make your heart get big and explode with joy. It’s just overwhelming. She’s the sweetest thing. That was the best part of my day.”

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