Aussie Bluegrass Presenter Wins IBMA Grant, Seeks Financial Support for Trip to Nashville This Fall
By HNN Staff
A friendly Australian voice spreads out across the world every Wednesday and Friday morning as Geoff Morris broadcasts his Wall-to-Wall Bluegrass show over the WorldwideBluegrass.com Internet radio network.
Blind since birth, Geoff fell in love with bluegrass music back in the 1960's and it has been a big part of his life ever since. He has presented bluegrass programs on commercial and community radio for many years in his home town of Bendigo in south-eastern Australia. Geoff discovered Internet radio about a year ago and the WorldwideBluegrass.com network were quick to accept his offer to host a regular program.
"Internet radio is going to increase in importance in the future", said Geoff, adding: "It is the one medium that has truly international coverage and it also allows special-interest groups like bluegrass music fans to have their own dedicated station."
Geoff has regular listeners in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Japan, England, Germany, Scandinavia and other European countries.
Geoff was recently awarded a special development grant by the International Bluegrass Music Association to attend the IBMA Annual Convention being held in Nashville, TN in October. The grant covers Geoff's airfares from Australia to Nashville but he still needs some help in covering his convention registration fees and living expenses while in America.
"I wouldn't mind dumpster-diving for food and sleeping in the bus terminal", joked Geoff, "but my seeing-eye dog, Milo, gets very snaky if I don't provide him with regular tucker [food] and a warm, dry place to sleep so living rough is not really an option." Although he jokes about doing it the hard way, Geoff's love of bluegrass music and his commitment to it means that he is absolutely determined to be in Nashville in October.
Geoff is happy to write newspaper or magazine articles, do radio guest spots or speak to church or community groups in return for financial assistance or sponsorship. You can contact him by e-mail at geoff@worldwidebluegrass.com or call him in Bendigo on +613 5446 9716.
You can hear the Wall-to-Wall Bluegrass show on Wednesday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Eastern and on Friday mornings from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Eastern. Just go to www.worldwidebluegrass.com and follow the prompts to listen. Worldwide Bluegrass also has a monitored, family-friendly Chat Room for bluegrass fans.
The IBMA Convention is the biggest event in the bluegrass music world's year and Geoff believes that the information, contacts and skills that he will gain there will help him to spread the bluegrass message both in Australia and around the world.
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Editor's Note: This story came to us via Mike Rule, a friend of Geoff's in Australia. This is a heart-warming story, the kind we need more of. That's why we're including Geoff's email address and phone number. Any reader of this story who wants to help Geoff in his worthy quest should contact him directly. -- David M. Kinchen, a major league bluegrass fan, by the way!