Here in Florida, Mr. Will Mclean and his folk songs are well known. He was born,of course, in Florida in the Chipley area in the year of 1919. From a young age he lovedandpracticed music because of his grandfather who gave him his first instrument. It was a gourdand cornstalk fiddle with a horse hair bow. Kind of odd you may say, however at the age of sixhe wrote his first song, AwayO'ee, on that fiddle. Mr. Mclean was well known as a very sweet man and was never one to accept a celebrity reputation. He kept to himself and kept himself private. Why was Mr. Mclean so important you ask? Well he was well known as the "FatherofFlorida Folk" and "The Black Hat Troubadour". On Ap1il 17, 1996 he was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. In his lifetime he wrote over 3,700 songs and stories. Hisclassicportrayals of Florida's people and landscapes through songs such as "Hold Back the Waters,""Osceola's Last Words," and "Florida Sand" are still sung today. "Osceola's Last Words"was , writtenand performed as a tributeto the Seminole Indianchief by Will. Mr. Mclean spenta lot ofhis time traveling Florida.He traveled fromthe Panhandle tothe Evergladesand throughhis travelshe developed a love for the stateof Floridaand absorbed Florida 'srich history.In betweenall this traveling he took time out forconcerts and festivals to share hisstoriesand music 'With fellow Floridian folk lovers. The year of 1990cancer claimedthe legendslife and much was done to honor him. His cultural contributions never went unnoticed. In the fall of1989Mr. Mclean received the Florida Heritage Award for his outstanding cultural contributions. In honorof his efforts theannualfolkfestivalatWhiteSprings, Floridawasdedicated to him, as well as the Will Mclean Foundation. Through these foundations and festivals his legacy will remainalive. Today, Will Mclean is honored and remembered through festivals and his songs are still sung tothis day.InBrooksville FL, theannual Will Mclean festival isheldeveryMarchto honor him. The "Father of Florida Folk" will always be honored and remembered. His contributions helped to shape the way folk music is portrayed here in Florida and his accomplishments really prove that. From a young he was inspired by music and now he is the one inspiring peopleto love his and others folk music and stories.
3rd Place "The Life of Gamble Rogers" By: Almarie Brown
James Gamble Rogers IV was born on January 31, 1937 in Winter Park, Florida and was a folkmusician and storyteller in recurring theme in his songs and stories about characters and placesin a fictional Florida county. His famous music and storytelling was all across the Floridastate. Hebegan performing around Florida in 1960s. He wasperforming withwell known Florida singer-songwriters such as Paul Champion and Will McLean. In the 1970s,he was performing in FloridaFolk Festivaland mostlybeing the headliner. Rogerswas one of the most famousFloridaFolk Musicians in Florida. By the 1980s, he appeared on public television and radio. Rogers describe himselfas a "moderntroubadour" and other FloridaFolk musicians such asJimmy Buffett and David Bromberg say Rogers influenced to their folk music work. Rogershad inspiringmost known folk musicians and to the Floridacultureand statewithhis musicand storytelling aboutfictional charactersin Florida. SteveGilletteand bis wife CindyMangsen quotedthat Rogersis "the gift of innocence,and a fondness for the key of 'E '." Arecurring theme in Rogers' songsand storiesare the characters and placesin the fictional Oklawaha. Florida. His earlier worksreferenced characters of the samenamesresiding in a non-fictional Winter Park,Florida and Habersham County, Georgia.After years ofon-stageapprenticeship. Rogers refinedand editedhis one-manshow into a singlestoryline·whicha continuumhe tilted OklawahaCountyLaissez-Faire.WhileRogers wascamping inFlagler Beach, a little girlran to Rogers begginghim tohelp her father in rough surf. Besidethe spinalarthritis whichhad worsening sincechildhood, he grabs an air mattressand headed intothe ocean into rescue attempt.Sadly, bothRogers and the fatherof the little girl died on the surf on October 10, i991 in aheroic deathat theage of 54. In honor of his heroism , the FloridaLegislature renamedthe state park Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Areaat FlaglerBeach. Florida. InSt.Augustine, Florida, there is a middle school named Gamble Rogers Middle School afterhim..Rogers was awarded the Kiwanis Award for bravery, the Carnegie Award for heroism. induction intotheFloridaArtistsHallofFamein1998,andtheNSALifetimeAchievementAwardin2001. Years after Rogers' death, his agent and business manager Charles Steadham had remasteredand re-released most of Rogers'songsandstories making available through the website of the non-profit Gamble Rogers Memorial Foundation . His bravery and heroismwasvery important in Florida culture because not only he influences other FloridaFolk Musicians,but his inspiration was a big factor in the Florida with his musicandstoriesabout the history and,county of Florida.Rogers' music was powerful to other folk musicianstodayandstillinflucncedto folk musicians around the world. He didn't just die as a hero; he died as an inspiration Florida Folk Musician.