Bluegrass and the Baron

by Frank M. Roberts

July 2016

This column is about a pair of b's - baron and bluegrass. To begin, I would like to remember 'grass great' Ralph Stanley, who died recently. I met him once, a meeting I will always recall. He was entertaining on the Norfolk, VA. waterfront and, in mid-concert, the rains came, and it was a hard rain.

I was reviewing the show for my boss, The Norfolk Virginian-Pilot - struggling as both myself and my notebook were getting soaked. I was next to the bandstand, and he noticed me. He invited my wife, myself, and two friends, to come up, get dry, and write in comparative comfort. The act of kindness made me even more of a Ralph Stanley enthusiast.

From the world of coincidence I found out that an award-winning bluegrass singer, Donna Ulisse, married his cousin, Rick Stanley. I knew Donna from covering her many performances in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach area. She was an opening act for many visiting stars. She and her band alternated with Kathy Sacra and her band, and with Barbara Jean and the Band Of Gold.

In those days, all three ladies were straight-ahead country. Donna's bluegrass tie-in came later. As she put it, "I married into it."

Eventually, Donna and Kathy decided that a move to Nashville would be a good idea - and, it was. Donna met and wed Ralph's cousin, Rick, and good friend Kathy became head of the Hadley Music Group which handles Donna's work, plus the efforts of others. So, everyone is happy, and successful. Donna's new CD, "When I Look Back" features, among others, her husband, and the late Ralph S who sang at the Rick Stanley-Donna Ulisse wedding.

Barbara Jean, the third party in this triumvirate, stayed put in North Carolina (her friends were from Virginia, just across the border). She retired from showbiz but, her teen daughter is picking up the cudgels.

I should mention BJ's ex - 'Muskrat' Reames' who still performs in Northeastern North Carolina. He is an excellent 'steel guitarist'. Barbara Jean lives about seven miles from my humble abode in Hertford, N. C. The three ladies are double 'B's - beautiful 'n brainy.

* * * *

Background music for this part of the column is by Donna Ulisse. The 'columnal' subject is the colorful Red Baron, the World War 1 German flying ace who later became a Snoopy confidant. He was born Manfred Freiherr von Richtofen in Wroclaw which, ironically, is part of Poland. His background: Prussian. He started his military career as a cavalryman, then switched to the Signal Corps (my U.S. Army area).

In 1915 he transferred to the Imperial Air Service, eventually becoming famous for his 80 aerial combat kills. It ended in 1918. In '18 an 18-year-old sort-of directed his demise. A couple sources don't go along with this but, most reliably, the young man mostly responsible for the death of the Baron was Wilfred Reid 'Wop' May. When the two faced each other, it didn't look good for the young flyer. His guns jammed. He managed to elude the German ace who, of course, was anxious to get rid of the young upstart - so anxious that he broke his own pursuit rule by following May's plane across Allied lines, a practice that was a 'nein-nein'. One of May's fellow countrymen, Roy Brown, helped bring down the Baron who was buried with full military honors by his enemies - the English and the Australians.

A little more about May if I may: He was asked to deliver serum to a remote community battling a diphtheria outbreak. He flew for two straight days in the open cockpit of a biplane. The serum was wrapped in a blanket at his feet next to a charcoal heater. He arrived at his destination with his hands virtually frozen to the controls.

As for The Red Baron, he looked the part. He was ruggedly handsome. And, he was quite intelligent. He learned map reading, how to become skilled in dropping bombs, how to locate enemy troops and, as a sideline, he learned to draw pictures while he was in the air. Not long after joining the Imperial German Army Air Service - he was one of its first members - his military skill earned him, from both sides, this title: "The ace of aces of the war." Quickly, he became a distinguished fighter pilot and, later, joined some fellow fighters who were known as "The Flying Circus." He was a highly respected national hero in Germany and, respected by his enemies (us).

He died, but his reputation lives on - not so much in Germany - many people in that country now know little about him - but in the United States thanks mostly, due to, of all things - a Beagle - Snoopy, by name.

The Red Baron - so-called because he painted his plane a bright red - has been, and continues to be, a star of the 'Peanuts' comic strips. The pooch's home is a doghouse - not inside, but on top. Snoopy and the RB continue to be a commercial success. Red Baron uniforms are for sale yet, as are books, including comics, many of which are collector's items. Speakin' of comics - the first comic book, The Comick Magazine, was published in London waaay back in 1796.

A movie about the Baron was released in 2010. It failed at the box office (dare I say it 'bombed?) In Germany, it 'bombed' due to l. o. a. - lack of interest.

Movies in which he co-stars with the cute animal are "The Return Of the Red Baron" and "Snoopy For President" which, looking at today's candidates, seems like a good idea. Another flick was about "Snoopy's Christmas."

The famed beagle still gets around and, so does The Red Baron. In Denmark there is a kennel called, "Red Baron Beagles." There is a "Red Baron Foundation." Also in Europe are the Richtofen Museum, and a Hotel Red Baron. It all began with a few sketches by an artist named Charles Schulz whose doggie was famous for paw pointing while saying, "curse you, Red Baron."

Speaking of canines - FDR's pet Scottish Terrier, Fala, was an honorary private in the Army. His full name was Murray the Outlaw of Falahill. To give equal time to the feline world - Sylvester Pussycat's real name is Sylvester J. Pussycat. No, I have no idea what the 'J'stands for. It's something like Harry S Truman.

To stretch a point, there was also a Blue Barron. He was a not too succesful band leader in the '20s and '30s. "Darn That Dream," and "Cruising Down the River" were among his recordings. Whoops - I almost forgot. There is also the Red Baron Pizza.

Of course, there must be airplane jokes such as the one about a no-frills airline which rents you oxygen. Another no-frills airline does not show movies. It shows coming attractions of pictures to be shown on other airlines. And, there is the considerate airline that serves two meals - one on the plane, the other while you wait for your baggage, speaking of which - most airlines suggest you check in early. And, again, speaking of baggage - some airlines put mistletoe on the baggage carrier, so you can kiss your luggage goodbye.

Rounding all this up with a sick joke about the airliner that went down in the Pacific. The sharks ate the crew and passengers - but they wouldn't touch the roast beef.