Joe Val Heritage Award
Click here to go to the BBU site |
Sam will be honored with the Boston Bluegrass Union’s Heritage Award. From the BBU’s
website: “Heritage awards are presented each year by the BBU to honor those who
have made substantial contributions to furthering bluegrass in New England. The
awards will be presented during the 26th annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, Presidents
Day Weekend, February 18-20, 2011, at the Sheraton Framingham, Framingham, MA”
Sam and his sons Billy and Dave will be performing on Saturday from 11:30-12:00. |
Sam Tidwell Tribute Day 2009 |
BGCcafe Blogspot: Tribute |
New Item: Town of Dexter, Maine 2005 |
Tender Blades of Bluegrass |
Article by Rich Guilbault [Gilbo] formerly of RI Bluegrass Music Association. |
All must be viewed using Acrobat Reader
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3 |
More pictures |
Click
here
to see many more pictures of Sam at various gigs |
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The Singing River Ramblers
1955
Sam (Pascoag, RI), Dick Krupicka (St. Cloud, MN), Jerry Holmes, Sequin, TX
(caller), Wayne Bradfield (Tulsa, OK), Dean Witt (Odessa, WA)
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Uncle Jim Reilly and the Westones
1957 WNRI
Standing: Sam, Jim, Hank Lockwood, Patsy Reilly
Seated: Cousin Darlene and Jimmy Bulris
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Dick Williams, Grem Ferris & The Country Wranglers
Front: Frankie Hobson, Vinnie Doyle, George Paine, Sam. Back: Grem and
Dick 1959
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Dick Williams and the Country Wranglers
Left: No, this isn't Sam when he was young - it's Dick Williams.

Sam, George Paine, Billy Simpson, Dick 1958

Front: George Paine, Joey Haywood, Sam, Frankie Hobson. Standing: Dick and Grem
1960
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????? Country |
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Lone Star Ranch at Reed's Ferry, NH |
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Fred Pike
and his brother Earl. The young lady was Earlene Pike.
Another picture contributed by Dave
Thibodeau
"Role reversal : The only known pic
of Dad with an electric bass in hand, mid 60's. Dad, Earl Pike, Earl's kids Gordon
and Earline, Fred " and Dave Papuga.
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Watching Daddy Change Strings
Linda and Marc watch Sam change his strings. Marc was so impressed he became a
musician himself.
Better check with Sam, maybe he's restoring or building an instrument.
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The Country Cut-Ups
Back: Jimmy Moore, Carl Rebello, Bobby
Front: Sam, Roger Williams
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Martin Mull???? Yes!
You've heard the story...here he is. It's true, Martin Mull really was into
Bluegrass AND he picked with Sam.
Sam's son Dave contributed this photo.
Dave notes: "
Dad with Les Daniels on banjo and an as yet unknown Martin Mull"
Club
47 1964
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The Cedar Mtn Boys
The original Cedar Mtn Boys
Back: Bobby Thibodeau and Tom Riley (aka Floyd Bradley)
Front: Ollie ("String Bean") Stedman and Sam
c. 1962
(Bobby was in the class of 1965 - this kid wasn't even out of high school and he
was playing professionally!)
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The Cedar Mtn Boys
Charlie Smith, Bob Smith, Sam
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The Cedar Mtn Boys
This photo is of the second Cedar Mtn Boys
Left to right:
Charlie Smith, Sam, Bob Smith (not related to Charlie), and Bob Peelstrom
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Fred Pike-Sam Tidwell and the Kennebec Valley Boys
Dave Staber, Sam, Fred Pike, Bob Denoncourt, Nelson Whipple taken at the radio
station
From a flyer:
Fred Pike - Sam Tidwell and the Kennebec Valley Boys
WEMT-TV - WGHM-Radio
Available for bookings throughout the year - Shows, Campgrounds, Fairs, Clubs
and other events THIS BLUEGRASS BAND HAS APPEARED FROM CANADA TO TEXAS
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Tidwell Bros & Cedar Mtn Boys
Sam (Thibodeau) Tidwell, Hardy Brendle, Bobby (Thibodeau) Tidwell, Bob
Denoncourt
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Don Stover & The White Oak Mountain Boys
Sam played guitar when he was a member of the White Oak Mountain Boys during the
time Don played at the Stickey Wicket Pub in Hopkinton, MA and on a Canadian
tour

These photos were all taken at the Flamingo Hotel in Ontario, Canada
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Wade Hill and his Bluegrass Professionals
Sam on mandolin and Wade on banjo
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Remember "A Daisy A Day"?
Sam and Fred Pike on tour with Jud Strunk.
This was taken at VMI (Virginia Military Institute) 1975
Jud is 2nd from the left in the back
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Kennebec Valley Boys - Sam, Jim Rassmussen, Bill Kimball, Bobby
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Award winning KVB 1975 Best Bluegrass in Maine
Sam, Bill Kimball, Bob Denoncourt, Fred Pike, and MC Bill Clement
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Sam Tidwell and the Kennebec Valley Folks (Liz and Stan Keach) 1979
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Kennebec Valley Boys
Fred Pike, Bill Kimball, Dave and Sam Thibodeau
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KVB 1976 Sam, Bob Denoncourt, Bill Kimball, Fred Pike
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Somewhere in Skowhegan, Maine about 1975
Left: Bobby Thibodeau, Dick Thornley, Sam Thibodeau, Bob Denoncourt
Top: Dick, Sam, Bob, Bobby
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The Prospectors at Carl Allen's Cafe in Auburndale, FL
Bob Denoncourt might have joined them for a song here.
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Billy Thibodeau (Sam's son) and Bob Denoncourt at Cochran (Georgia) Bluegrass
festival 2000. Billy is a member of Union River Band - popular Bluegrass band
"Down East"
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Dave Thibodeau: "The
last time we all got together was at Fred's last fest, 1995."
Dave on guitar, Billy on manodlin, Sam on banjo, and Marc on bass.
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Same day.
Dave, Marc, Billy, Edie, Sam, Kathy, Lyn
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The brat pack: Dave, Kathy, Billy, Lyn, and Marc
Billy's festival September 2005
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Dave's daughter Shelby taking pointers from her granddad, father, and uncle
Sam, Shelby, Dave, Marc
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Billy's daughter Cassidy with from left to right: her dad Billy, her granddad
Sam, her uncles Dave and Marc
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Billy, (Dave on bass), Sam, and Marc
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Click
here
to see many more pictures of Sam at various gigs |