by Mary Danzig

I’m famous. This may be as shocking for you to learn as it was for me.  But recently I was assured that this is indeed the case.  I was talking to one of my music students when she informed me that she is famous.  “Wow! Cool!” I said, “How did you get famous?” “Well,” she replied; “You are famous and I am your student so that makes me famous.”  “Awesome!”  I thought.  “I have enough fame to bring others along to the amazing world of stardom.”  “So, how do you know I am famous?” I asked.  “You have a CD.” was her simple and certain answer.  I thought of all those CD’s sitting in my garage and then the CD’s who had found homes with family and friends and then onto those most magical of CD’s, the ones that had found homes with people who had no clear reason to buy our CD other than that they want to hear our music again.  Could this be?  Could I truly be famous?  Hey! It’s all about the hype really.   You get one person to believe it and maybe someone else will too and before you know it you are being played on public radio stations across the nation.   So, I thought I might as well roll with it.  If someone thinks it, it just might be true. 

OK, that’s some scary reasoning.    Last December I was at the Intermountain Acoustic Music Association’s First Annual Award Evening.  I sat relaxed as the MC read the list of nominations for “Favorite Dulcimer Player”.  I anticipated who might be nominated, including my husband, Peter.  No surprises until suddenly the MC reads, “Mary Danzig”.  Suddenly my heart is racing.  Who knew? My bowed drone on a single set of notes must have really grabbed someone. How embarrassing.  Someone thinks I can play.  No such luck.  My skill set on the dulcimer is limited to a drone.  Oh, and I can tune it.  This is not good.  I feel panic overtake me.  What if I accidently win? “That’s impossible” I tell myself.  “There are actually people who play really well on this list.  Yeah, but what if there was a freak computer malfunction and the tally came up with me and I have to go up in front of these people knowing I am a fraud? What if they need to kill time and they ask the ‘favorite dulcimer’ player to play something and all I can do is play a very long drawn out note? ” It feels like one of my crazy bad dreams where I suddenly remember I am performing with a symphony and I totally forgot to practice.  The only advantage is that my clothes are staying on.  It is amazing how many thoughts can race through my mind in about 10 seconds when I am horrified.  The MC finally announces the winner “Sharon Mitchell.”  “Thank goodness, Sharon deserves it. Maybe I better learn to play the dulcimer just in case that happens again.”

We are playing at the Celtic Festival in Evanston, WY in March.  We are working on some new Celtic songs for the occasion.  A couple weeks ago Peter thought of a great arrangement for mandolin and dulcimer so he asked me which instrument I want to learn.  Recalling my recent nomination, I think “There is something special about that drone I play.  It must really get to people.  Maybe I should learn the dulcimer.  I’ll probably be a prodigy.”  Then again I did spend a little time playing the mandolin before my first daughter was born (she’s 12) and the tuning is the same as the fiddle.  So maybe I better think of the poor audience who will listen in a couple months and go with what I know a little.  As I work on the tune my oldest daughter, Eliza, wanders into the room, looks at me in surprise and says; “Mom, I didn’t know you play the mandolin!”  I thought; “I don’t think this is exactly called playing at this point.”  But, being happy to have impressed her, (which is not always the case these days) I roll with it. “Yeah, well I learned a little mandolin before you were born.  I thought I would practice up.”  “Cool.” she says with a look of respect in her eyes.

The next week I am at her school introducing myself to the choir class I am going to be teaching this trimester.  I am telling them a little about my musical background when Eliza chimes in; “She plays the mandolin too.”  Well, I do have one song that is recognizable now.  This isn’t quite as bad as the dulcimer nomination.

So, back to being famous, I think I’ll accept my student’s assessment of my stature.  Sure, there may be those who doubt, but hey, I do have a CD (lots and lots of them in fact).  At least I have actually met the qualification set by my student for being famous.  Now as I go through my day, volunteering at the school, washing dishes, folding laundry, there is a new spring in my step. I am famous. I am getting a look at famous person’s life up close.  Sweet!    Yesterday I went to the post office to mail off a bunch of our CD’s to Folk DJ’s.  (Realizing I am famous did get me thinking that I should use the source of my fame to get some airplay.)  The postal worker asked me; “Whatcha selling?”  “Nothing,” I replied.  “My husband and I are musicians. I’m sending our CD to radio stations.”  “What’s the name of your group?” he asks.  “Otter Creek” I say.  “Never heard of ya.”  Well, at least one person knows I’m famous.

2012 is off to a strong start with a new song written and two tracks recorded yesterday for our second CD (slated for completion and release this summer if all goes well). We could never have imagined three short years ago when we formed Otter Creek that we would be able to accomplish so much in so little time. With 2012 off to a good start we thought we’d have a look back at 2011. Here’s a list of some of the highlights.

Utah State Instrument Championships: We had the honor of placing first in the fiddle (Mary) and the Mandolin (Peter). In addition, one of Mary’s students took 2nd on the fiddle playing Peter’s arrangement of Old Joe Clark. Thanks to all the incredible volunteers who make this event happen every year.

Walnut Valley Festival, Winfield, Kansas: With tickets and entry fees to the festival paid for by our victory in in the Utah State Instrument Championships we headed out to the national competitions in Winfield.  In addition our song Tethered Wings was selected as an alternate in the NewSongs Showcase held at the festival. Mary played extremely well in the fiddle competition, and Peter won 2nd place in the National Mandolin Competition. We also had the privilege of accompanying two of our friends during their winning performances in the NewSongs Showcase.  Jen Hajj’s song Raptor Bird won in the Children’s Songs category, and Utah Slim’s song Sister San Rafael won in the better world category. That same category has included a Utah winner three years in a row. Our song Down to the River won in 2010 and Kristin Erickson won that category in 2009. In addition to Peter’s win in the nationals, two other Utahans placed.  Keith Taylor took 3rd place in the International Fingerstyle Guitar Competition, and Jake Workman took 2nd place in the National Banjo Competition.  Winfield is wild and wonderful and in some ways utterly indescribable. Special thanks to our friend Jim Witherspoon for showing us the ropes. Also a big thanks to Bruce and Mary Weber for donating the incredible “Black Ice” Mandolin Peter received as his prize. We have put it to good use!

Mountain Music Festival, Snowbird:  After co-writing her first song, Take the Climb Mary decided to take the plunge into the world of songwriting and attended the Snowbird Song School with Peter. Also at the festival, Peter took 1st place in the Suzanne Millsaps Performing Songwriter Showcase, which was an incredible honor given the caliber of the other contestants!

FAR-West Region Folk Alliance: We were thrilled to be chosen out of hundreds of applicants as an official showcase for the conference. We had an incredible time connecting with friends old and new and getting to know the folk community of the northwest region. Perhaps the biggest highlight was getting to play a piece on Tom May’s Nationally Syndicated River City Folk radio program. Peter has been a big fan for years. In addition we had a chance to spend time with our friend David Jorgensen and get to know Kate MacLeod on the way up. We’ve admired her for years after running across a couple of her CD’s in the library back when we were starving students.

Tucson Folk Festival: We were thrilled to perform at this festival, held in downtown Tucson. Peter was also a finalist in the Songwriting Competition held at the festival along with two close friends of ours, Jen Hajj, and Dana Hubbard. Our kids loved the Cacti and the desert and we had a great time even without air conditioning in our van. We’re hoping to make this festival an annual tradition! (We’re also hoping to fix our air conditioning.)

Moab Folk Festival: We’ve been meaning to make it down to this festival for quite some time and this year had the perfect catalyst. Our friend Alicia McGovern asked us to back her up for her performance down at the festival. Peter also sat in on a few songs with Kate MacLeod during her performance. This is an incredible festival with a real bent toward the best in singer songwriters. We finally got to see Cheryl Wheeler in concert as well and she even sang our children’s favorite song of hers, Potato.

Brewin’ Bistro: SLCC produces this great TV show juxtaposing student artists with local and traveling musicians as well as highlighting events in the local acoustic music scene. Thanks to Scott Iverson and the team at SLCC for producing a great show with us and making us look so good! We look forward to hearing more of Allegra Cramer who was on the show with us!

Jen Hajj Band: We were excited to be asked to join the Jen Hajj band for several performances this year, chief among them Jen’s fantastic set at the Gallivan Folk Festival and her incredible show at her CD release later in 2011 for her second CD Ornithologie.

IAMA’s First Annual Member’s Choice Awards: We were deeply moved and honored to receive two awards. Otter Creek won for Favorite Folk Band and Peter tied with Ken Sager for Favorite Mandolin Player. We were also very pleased to be asked to perform a set at the ceremony. As Peter said there, our only regret was that there was no “select all” option on the ballot so we could vote for everyone to win. IAMA is incredibly important to us as our home community and it is a big part of who we are and what we have become. (News Coverage)

Looking over this list we realize we’ve left plenty out, such as our daughter’s debut as The Three Muses, Utah Pride, concerts in Southern Utah and Colorado, booking conferences, collaborations and recordings with friends, CD releases (Utah Slim, Chris Orrock, and Jen Hajj), house concerts, song circles, open mikes, and all the rest. 2011 has been an incredible journey and we’re thankful to all our fellow travelers! Hope to see all of you in 2012 and add another big batch of adventures to our already very full pot! Most of all we’re thankful to our Three Muses who not only inspire us, but put up with us when we are tired and cranky and allow us to do what we love. Thanks Eliza, Kjersten, and Lucy! You are the best!