Photo: Forest Dingman | Mad Dog Friedman writes a tribute to Phil Wiggins (May 8, 1954 – May 7, 2024) who was recorded on the historic “Blues Harp Blues by Three” in 1982 live at the American Folk and Blues Festival with Carey Bell and Billy Branch. This is a video from the last studio session at Dog House Music Studios for Mad Dog Blues’ new All The Way CD (releases Aug. 16, 2024). In this video, the Colorado harmonica mainstay Mad Dog Friedman is on the left, the International Blues Challenge 2024 Solo/Duo winner, “Roadside” Joe Waters, is in the middle and the up and coming harp master, Josh Elioseff, is playing on the right.
I am so grateful for Joe looping back by Dog House Music Studios after his car blew up in Kansas on his way here from Dayon, Ohio. Even though the three of us have never played together, we all were raised by the same mother, the blues, and our love of the rhythmic wailing of the country blues harp is something we all share. It is with great honor and humility we offer this tribute to Phil Wiggins, who was perhaps the greatest country blues harp players of our time. Rest in peace, Phil, and may your harmonica stylings live on in those who so enjoyed your music.
https://www.facebook.com/coloradocountryblues/videos/1023431459146221/
https://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/phil-wiggins-1954-2024-iconic-blues-harmonica-master/
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Cephas & Wiggins was an American acoustic blues duo, composed of the guitarist John Cephas (September 4, 1930 – March 4, 2009) and the harmonica player Phil Wiggins (May 8, 1954 – May 7, 2024) They were known for playing Piedmont blues.
History
Both musicians were born in Washington D.C. Cephas, who was 24 years older than Wiggins, grew up in Bowling Green, Virginia. They first met at a jam session at the Smithsonian’s Festival of American Folklife in 1976 and played together in Wilbert “Big Chief” Ellis’s band. When Ellis died, they decided to continue as a duo.
In 1980, Cephas & Wiggins were recorded by the German archivists Siegfried Christmann and Axel Küstner. These recordings, their first as a duo, were released the following year as a part of the Living Country Blues USA series on the German label L+R. They also appeared around Washington, D.C., with the Travelling Blues Workshop, which included John Jackson, Archie Edwards, Flora Molton, and Mother Scott.
Their first U.S. release, the album Dog Days of August, was issued by Flying Fish Records in 1986. Two more albums followed from Flying Fish. After they left the label, they released one album for the New York–based Chesky Records and four albums for Alligator Records. They released the album Richmond Blues on Folkways Records in 2008.
Until the late 1980s, Cephas made his primary living as a carpenter at the D.C. National Armory, playing music on the side. In the 1990s, he became a professional musician, sometimes earning money by teaching classes and workshops.
As a duo, they toured extensively, primarily courtesy of the sponsorship of the United States Department of State. They performed together across the USA, as well as in Africa, Asia, South and Central America, and the Soviet Union.
Cephas was a recipient of a 1989 National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the United States government’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. In 2017, Wiggins received a National Heritage Fellowship as well.[13] Wiggins received the State of Maryland Heritage Award in 2021.
Cephas died of pulmonary fibrosis on March 4, 2009, at age 78. He is buried at Quantico National Cemetery in Virginia. Wiggins died of multiple organ cancers at his home in Takoma Park, Maryland, on May 7, 2024, at the age of 69.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Wiggins
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Greetings All:
I received sad news from Jerry Butenhoff this past week. Our friend, gifted songwriter and musician, Forest Dingman, passed away last week.
Forest was one of the original members of the workshop in the early nineties. He was an active member of the group until he moved to the Kansas City area in the early 2000’s. Several of us have been part of the group that long and have fond memories of Forest. He actually showed up unannounced for a workshop two years ago, and it’s great to have that recent memory of being with him.
Our deepest sympathies go out to his family on their loss.
– John Nelson
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It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Forest Wade Dingman, Jr., who left us on June 16, 2024. Forest will be remembered as a charismatic person, a cherished friend, a beloved father, and a respected member of his community. He will be dearly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.
Born on August 6th 1955 in Salida, Colorado, Forest Dingman Jr. was the eldest child of Forest and Irene Dingman. Across his life, Forest’s greatest joys were his family and his music. From his first breaths to the cresting of adulthood, the Rocky Mountains were a backdrop that inspired his passion for music and songwriting in Central Colorado. As Forest grew in age, he became a wonderful source of support to his family, his lifelong friendships, and the animals he loved so well (in particular, his dogs and rabbits). Forest was best known for his sense of humor and wit: he always had an off-color joke at the ready from years on the car lot that was sure to crack a smile. Forest had many interests and hobbies that he was always eager to share with those he loved. Some of these included worldwide travel, attending musical concerts, fishing with his sons, and collecting classic automobiles.
Professionally, Forest was a natural salesman, and he excelled in this field across a variety of settings. From retail to the auto industry, his capacity to connect with others quickly coupled with a genuine heart to help them produced not only success in these endeavors, but also a collection of friendships along the way. Forest had a magnetic personality and touched the lives of everyone who knew him.
A true Renaissance Man, he also opened his own hair salon in Canyon City, Colorado, where he worked as a hairdresser on the floor. In addition to these ventures, he pursued a lifelong vocation to write and play music which culminated in the production of his own album, Angoline, released in 1996.
Forest is survived by his three children, Taylor Dingman, Zachary Gray, and Melissa DeHerrera. He is also mourned by a host of relatives, friends, and the community at large. The family will be holding a celebration of life at a date in the future to be determined.
Forest Wade Dingman Jr. will forever be in our hearts, and his legacy will live on through his family, friends and the countless lives he touched.
Cremation Society of Kansas & Missouri
https://lstribune.net/index.php/2024/06/24/forest-wade-dingman-jr/
Photo: Forest Wade Dingman
Mad Dog Friedman Sends Tribute to Phil Wiggins who Passed May 7th | John Nelson Says Forest Dingman Passed
