Wellington Street Musicians picking and grinning for charity
Group meets during monthly art work.
by Amber Schmitz, Sumner Newscow — It started out as a couple of guys who loved playing music. Now, during the First Friday Art Walk every month, the Wellington Street Musicians Association plays outside downtown, or inside, during inclement weather.
“We open a guitar case, and any tips collected, we donate to someone who needs the money,” said Lanny Taylor, a member of the group.
About three years ago, Jim Bales, local musician and member of Kitty Hawk Krash, decided to start playing his guitar downtown during the monthly art walk.
“I thought it would be fun to play on the street corner,” Bales said. “Lonnie Cooper started coming too, and we put out a guitar case for tips, and would donate to anyone in need.”
One year, Bales said, they raised money for the Memorial Auditorium air conditioning project. The Chisholm Trail Museum and Day Funeral Home fund have also received donations from this group. Families in need and other charitable organizations have also benefited from the group’s generosity.
“We’re a loose organization of guys who like music and like to play music,” Bales said. “There are guys with musical talents that are buried, and this is a non-intimidating atmosphere. If we can help people, that’s great too.”
Taylor said that the group’s name, the Wellington Street Musicians Association, stuck when Bales made a comment about it a couple of weeks ago.
“I joined the group about eight months ago,” Taylor said. “There was a Guns and Guitars display at the museum, and I have both. I visited with Jim Bales and he and Lonnie Cooper were playing guitar, and I asked if I could join.”
Other guys who usually play with them include Mark Green, Kevin Dodds, George Black, Lonnie Cooper, James Freel and John Whitecrow.
“If you can play an instrument or sing, you’re welcome to join, the more the merrier,” Taylor said.
Taylor plays baritone ukele and acoustic guitar, Bales plays a 12 string acoustic guitar, Whitecrow plays the flute and acoustic guitar, Freel plays a mountain dulcimer, the other guys play acoustic guitar, and a couple of ladies sometimes come and sing.
“We all get together and play for a couple of hours, and anyone can come along and request a song,” Taylor said.
Currently, the group is looking for a fiddle player and banjo player, or anyone who wants to sing, just bring a chair, and your instrument or voice downtown the first Friday of each month from 5-7 p.m.
“We’re going to play regardless, if we can give donations to someone, we’d be more than happy to do that,” Taylor said. “It was set up to have fun, but if we can help someone, we’re more than happy to do that.”
