Polly Stewart Oral History Project: Interview with Bruce Cummings

Recording of an interview by Polly Stewart with Bruce Cummings, a participant in the Utah folk music scene of the 1960s. Jennifer Bott [now Bateman] served as sound engineer. Transcript by Laura R. Marcus [now Green]. One of the interview recordings that Polly Stewart and Jennifer Bott conducted for the Utah Folk Music Revival Oral History Project, 2004-20111. Family and musical background; 2. Talking about early song repertoire and guitar technique/involvement with the Intermountain Folk Music Council; 3. Talking about developing high tenor soloist voice and three-finger strum/background in East High A Capella and barbershop; 4. Talking about musical family background/beginnings of the Utah Valley Boys/getting started on mandolin and fiddle; 5. Story of the Utah Valley Boys' original business card; 6. Developing the Utah Valley Boys repertoire; 7. Learning mandolin and fiddle technique and teaching others/learning together; 8. Utah Valley Boys practicing at Cummings Menswear; 9. Talking about Tut Taylor, his influence on the Utah folk music scene; 10. Going to the source-hearing and learning from the real thing in bluegrass music; 11. The Utah Urban Pioneers as pioneers and as inclusive circle; 12. The move to the Salt City Bluegrass Boys; 13. Transferring lessons in group dynamics in music to work in the business community; 14. Moving to New York and into the jewelry business at Tiffany; 15. Talking about the Salt City Bluegrass Boys/breadth of repertoire; 16. Talking about the move to New York/discovering the folk music scene there; 17. Tut Taylor and his role in the Utah Urban Pioneers movement; 18. Utah Urban Pioneers-reflecting in hindsight on the spirit and impact of the movement; 19. Solo folk music as first love; 20. The decision to move to New York/establishing Angela Cummings Design; 21. Talking about oldest daughter, her health and current whereabouts; 22. Talking about the return to music/beauty and value of the Utah Urban Pioneers movement in retrospect/Utah Urban Pioneers concer