The Turnage Theater in Images: a Retrospect in Melody - Chapter I | Eastern North Carolina Now

Mike came to the Turnage Theater in June, 2009, and Mike told me that this is the first time he had toured in years. He also gave me an insight in the geographical nature of Bluegrass Music, which I recounted to Angela Oudean of Bearfoot, when they played the Turnage Theater. Mike sure does love his fiddles and the rich tone they bring: Above and below.    photos by Stan Deatherage
<img style="margin:8px" align="" src="https://www.beaufortcountynow.com/uploads/musicians_images/last_of_the_turnage/mike_cross_061809_17_reduced_630_pxlw.jpg"> Mike knows Bluegrass music, and he has well expressed it in his many albums of music - I bought many in vinyl: 1976 - Child Prodigy, 1977 - Born In The Country, 1979 - Bounty Hunter, 1980 - Rock 'n Rye, and 1989 - Prodigal Son on compact disc: Above and below.     photos by Stan Deatherage

   Back in the late 1970's, when Mike was playing the small stages at Cameron Village's The Pier, and Carrboro's Cat's Cradle, he packed them in to hear Mikes's combination of contemporary Country / Blue Grass / Celtic Folk, with a few Blues tunes thrown in for good measure. Mike almost always took to the stage by just himself with his cache of fiddles, 6-string and 12-string guitars, played all original tunes, excepting Mike's unique arrangements of a smattering of traditional Celtic Folk ditties, and kept his fans enthralled.
Mike Cross picks and sings his old standards before decent, but far from sold out crowd at the Turnage Theater: Above and below.     photos by Stan Deatherage

My wife and I were in attendance, and I do thank-you Mike, once again for time well spent listening to his exuberant melodies: Above. And his fanciful tales: Below.     photos by Stan Deatherage
And please, just keep playing that fiddle: Above.     photo by Stan Deatherage.
   Publisher's note: This series to be continued in The Turnage Theater in Images: a Retrospect in Melody - Chapter II.