Owsley Stanley Foundation

Linn County, May 12, 1968, Carousel Ballroom: The credit for the preservation of this rare performance goes to Kevin Bader and Michael O'Brien as a tribute and honor to Fred Walk, the Linn County guitar player, who passed away on August 27, 2021. We are extremely grateful for the thoughtful and kind contribution to preserve this reel in Fred’s honor. The band hailed from the eponymous county in Iowa and lasted for about 3 years in San Francisco until the drummer (Clark Pierso...n) joined Janis Joplin’s band and the lead vocalist and organ player (Stephen Miller) teamed up with Elvin Bishop. The reel includes the end of an unidentified song and more than 15 minutes of the great blues song "Goin' Down Slow" to close the set. The emcee then comes on and describes the band as "really groovy," notes that this is Linn County's first time in San Francisco, and that Steve Miller is up next

Ricky Skaggs, bluegrass titan, was kind enough to talk to us about one of the artists Bear recorded for our liner notes to an upcoming release. During our conversation with Ricky, he shared a touching memory of another archive artist, Doc Watson. When we mentioned that Doc was OSF’s first release, Ricky told us the story of a photograph taken many years ago that he just received from a friend from Doc’s hometown, Deep Gap, North Carolina. As Ricky explained, It was Doc's la...st show here at the Ryman in Nashville. I wanted to go back and see Doc before the show. And so I went back to see him. And he was really frail, and having a hard time, but Doc asked me if I would pray for him. And I took his hand and I got down on my knees and Doc was sitting in a chair and it was just such a beautiful moment. We always do at least one Doc Watson song in our set, and it's just a beautiful thing to remember Doc. I think from now on when I say the words ‘Doc Watson,’ I'm going to see that picture in my mind. I almost forgot it till I saw the picture again, then I went, ‘oh my God, that's a moment in time, frozen like a leaf in the tundra.’ We can't wait to share more of our conversation with Ricky later this year!

Linn County, May 12, 1968, Carousel Ballroom: The credit for the preservation of this rare performance goes to Kevin Bader and Michael O'Brien as a tribute and honor to Fred Walk, the Linn County guitar player, who passed away on August 27, 2021. We are extremely grateful for the thoughtful and kind contribution to preserve this reel in Fred’s honor. The band hailed from the eponymous county in Iowa and lasted for about 3 years in San Francisco until the drummer (Clark Pierso...n) joined Janis Joplin’s band and the lead vocalist and organ player (Stephen Miller) teamed up with Elvin Bishop. The reel includes the end of an unidentified song and more than 15 minutes of the great blues song "Goin' Down Slow" to close the set. The emcee then comes on and describes the band as "really groovy," notes that this is Linn County's first time in San Francisco, and that Steve Miller is up next

Ricky Skaggs, bluegrass titan, was kind enough to talk to us about one of the artists Bear recorded for our liner notes to an upcoming release. During our conversation with Ricky, he shared a touching memory of another archive artist, Doc Watson. When we mentioned that Doc was OSF’s first release, Ricky told us the story of a photograph taken many years ago that he just received from a friend from Doc’s hometown, Deep Gap, North Carolina. As Ricky explained, It was Doc's la...st show here at the Ryman in Nashville. I wanted to go back and see Doc before the show. And so I went back to see him. And he was really frail, and having a hard time, but Doc asked me if I would pray for him. And I took his hand and I got down on my knees and Doc was sitting in a chair and it was just such a beautiful moment. We always do at least one Doc Watson song in our set, and it's just a beautiful thing to remember Doc. I think from now on when I say the words ‘Doc Watson,’ I'm going to see that picture in my mind. I almost forgot it till I saw the picture again, then I went, ‘oh my God, that's a moment in time, frozen like a leaf in the tundra.’ We can't wait to share more of our conversation with Ricky later this year!

So sweet of John Carter Cash to do this unboxing video of the Johnny Cash chapter of Bear's Sonic Journals! It reminds us of our wonderful trips to the Cash Cabin Studio to listen to Bear's tapes and plan this release with him! After hearing about OSF's mission for the first time and how we try to approach these projects, JCC said, "So when are you moving to Nashville -- you're one of the good guys!" We'll never forget that -- it sure made us feel special. We only had one release at that time, and it meant the world to know he believed in us. Thank you, John, for all of your support over the years. We couldn't be more thrilled to see it all come together. We know Bear would be so pleased with this, and you've been kind to let us know that you think Johnny would too.

We like to call today 'Bear's Day'. Today is his birthday. Or as he loved to call birthdays, his "Birthing Day". I miss his laugh, hearing his voice, and those amazing squeeze-the-life-right-out-of-you hugs that made you feel completely loved. So, here's to Bear and his driving intellect, his insatiable curiosity, his absolute dedication to perfection, and his generous and overwhelmingly passionate heart. He lived large, loved intensely, and was genuinely the most dedicated and loyal friend for life. This is one of my favorite photos of Bear and I together. Taken on his birthday by Sheilah Stanley, this photo always brings a smile to my face. - Redbird Ferguson

Well this is fun: during a wonderful interview with Jerry Garcia, an unannounced visitor drops in to share some insight. After a few moments, an amused Jerry asks, Do you guys know each other? The interviewer, Howard Rheingold, recently sent us a copy of of the recording with his kind regards. We are grateful. Photos by Robbi Cohn (taken of Jerry on June 24, 1990 in Eugene, OR 3 days before the interview); Ed Perlstein (Bear)

We like to call today 'Bear's Day'. Today is his birthday. Or as he loved to call birthdays, his "Birthing Day". I miss his laugh, hearing his voice, and those amazing squeeze-the-life-right-out-of-you hugs that made you feel completely loved. So, here's to Bear and his driving intellect, his insatiable curiosity, his absolute dedication to perfection, and his generous and overwhelmingly passionate heart. He lived large, loved intensely, and was genuinely the most dedicated and loyal friend for life. This is one of my favorite photos of Bear and I together. Taken on his birthday by Sheilah Stanley, this photo always brings a smile to my face. - Redbird Ferguson

The Special Vinyl Edition of Johnny Cash At the Carousel Ballroom is now officially available! This Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set features psychedelic electric blue and yellow vinyl, retro re-print Johnny Cash Comic Book, original concert poster by Steve Catron, gatefold poster by Susan Archie, a 12-page booklet with essays by Bob Weir, John Carter Cash, and Dave Schools, and more. It is truly a thing of beauty! This all-analog production was painstakingly mastered by Bear...’s collaborator Paul Stubblebine directly from the original source tape! Check it out while supplies last. We didn't make that many of them so when they're gone, they're gone!