Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1233243
Muriel Anderson is another notable performer who considers Cullison a friend and has played multiple Macon shows. Anderson's background includes studying with classical master Christopher Parkening, being a student and friend of Chet Atkins and having Les Paul say, "what I like is the touch that Muriel has on the guitar, the way she plays it like we all wish to play." Anderson is well known as a harp guitarist as well as six-string player. She was the first woman to win the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship and founded the Music for Life charity to provide funds for school music programs. To help support it, she calls on friends to perform at her Muriel Anderson's All Star Guitar Nights, which regularly coincide with annual National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) trade shows in Nashville and Los Angeles. Many have responded, like Peter Frampton, Les Paul, Duane Eddy, Tommy Emmanuel, Bela Fleck and Vince Gill. e event is often used by Guitar Player Magazine to present its prestigious Legends Award. "At Joe's house concerts, it's almost like the concert is secondary to the idea Joe and I are friends with all our friends coming over to enjoy music," Anderson said. "e format is charming for the player and audience and must be similar to what people experienced in the heyday of chamber music. You can stretch out and try new things you'd never dare in a concert in a big hall. People come like they're seeing a friend and know they're going to hear good music and have a good time." Cullison's annual flagship show is the Celtic Christmas Concert featuring fingerstyle players Bullock and Baughman and occasionally others. In reviews, Bullock has been called a "Celtic guitar god," and he and Baughman are sought after performers and teachers. Baughman also promotes an old-time clawhammer style of playing both banjo and guitar. Cullison met the two at Swannanoa. "Joe brought us to Macon for concerts and we realized the blend of Steve's and my instruments were perfectly suited for Christmas music," Bullock said. "Joe has brought us back for 16 years and taken the concert from being just a Macon thing to a tour in as many as five states." rough the years, Cullison's concerts took the name Acoustic Productions with a website at acousticproductions.com. "I'm just honored to make even a small contribution to the music available in Macon," he said. "I could never have pulled off the 150 or so shows of one type or another at places like the Douglass, the Grand Opera House, Howard Community Center, Juliet Opry and Wesleyan's Pierce Chapel without the love and help I've gotten from audiences, musicians and sponsors. "Personally, I think we're starting to see one of the biggest explosions of talented young people ever playing this music and I'm just thankful to be a part and glad there are others who like hearing it live as much as I do." "AT JOE'S HOUSE CONCERTS, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE CONCERT IS SECONDARY TO THE IDEA JOE AND I ARE FRIENDS WITH ALL OUR FRIENDS COMING OVER TO ENJOY MUSIC." -MURIEL ANDERSON F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 2 0 | M ACO N M AG A Z I N E.CO M 7 7