The fifth annual National Shapenote Gathering was held at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas on July 11th and 12th, 2008. Singers in various Sacred Harp, Christian Harmony, Black Shapenote and other traditions came from North Carolina across the South to Texas and from cities all across the country, including Portland, Oregan. The 2009 Gathering will take place on July 9, 10, and 11, the weekend after the Fourth of July. Our teacher’s in-service workshop, held on the Thursday of each gathering will be expanded a bit, to include some oral history collection and some in-depth discussion about styles and uses of the the variations of shaped note singing.
During the 2008 season (April through October) at the Ozark Folk Center, Charley will count it a privilege tocontinue to appear with the traditional music group known as Chinkypin, with the Shapenote Singers, with a new group, Celtic Breeze, and as MC on occasion.
