Polk County
Living
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 3, 2017 7A
A
GATHERING
OF
FRIENDS
Guthrie Park weekly
music jams bring
toe-tapping good times
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — You can hear
guitars, mandolins, fiddles,
a c c o rd i o n s a n d vo i c e s
singing before you open the
door at Guthrie Park Com-
munity Center.
The sun is setting on a
rare nice spring day, and the
sound of the old-timey
music is as soothing as the
warmth in the air.
“This is the only place I
think I’ve been that we hear
this music,” said Corine
Fraser, who spends each Fri-
day night at the Guthrie Park
acoustic jams.
Sh e c o m e s w i t h h e r
daughter, Joan Coleman,
who plays the accordion.
“I just love the music.
Everybody is so nice and
friendly,” Fraser said. “Joan
has played ever since she
was in the third grade. When
we went camping, we would
always take the accordion
with us, and we always had a
group around us.”
That tradition continues
each Friday night at
Guthrie. Coleman is part of
more than a dozen musi-
cians that dropped in the
circle to play.
“Jam” is the correct de-
scription for the gatherings.
There are no set lists or spe-
cific acts taking the stage.
It’s just people sharing a
love of playing and listening
to music.
Starting in the center and
moving clockwise, each mu-
sician selects a song and be-
gins playing — and some-
times —singing it.
Those who know the tune
join in right away. Those
who don’t pick it up soon
enough.
In the audience, toe tap-
ping is contagious, and
some sing or hum along
with the tune.
The closeness of the play-
ers to the audience — most
musicians sit in chairs in
front of the stage, not on
it — makes the gathering
seem less like a concert and
more like a group of friends
having fun.
“We came out six years
ago and have been here
every Friday night since,”
said Lyle John as he worked
in the kitchen Friday.
He said it isn’t just the
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
Each player at Guthrie Park’s Friday night jams selects a song for the group to join with their instruments or voices.
music that brings him and
his wife back each week.
“It’s the whole package,”
he said.
Anyone is welcome to join
the sessions — just bring
your instrument and your
voice.
For the audience, the jam
sessions are free to attend,
though the center does take
donations.
Singing, dancing and all-
around enjoyment of the
old-fashioned music is
strongly encouraged.
The jams began decades
ago, part of Guthrie owner
Sally Clark’s vision to make
the former schoolhouse a
place where people could
celebrate old-time folk,
swing, and country music.
It’s working.
“It’s just enjoyable to
come in and listen to them.
They have such a variety,”
Fraser said. “You find your-
self singing with all the
songs.”
Sharing music
What: Guthrie Park Friday night jams
When: Fridays at 6:30 p.m.
Where: 4320 Kings Valley Highway, about three miles south of Dallas.
Admission: Free, but donations are accepted.
Of note: Guthrie Park hosts gospel music jams the third Saturday of the month at 7
p.m. Admission also is free.
The last country folk dance, they will be discontinued after this season, is May 13. Ad-
mission is $5 for those 13 and older and $15 for families of four or more. Children
younger than 12 are free.
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
A long-standing Friday night tradition at Guthrie Park Community Center, the Friday night jams attract an audience
young and old to listen to the old-time folk, swing and county music. Not a formal concert, the events feel more like
a collection of friends who love to play music, sing and dance.
Truman Price, right, sways to the music as he plays along
with the group on Friday night. The weekly events are
free, and audience participation is encouraged.
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