Tonight an esteemed lineup of bluegrass veterans join forces to celebrate the memory of one of the west coast's greatest bluegrass legends, Vern Williams, who passed away this June. Former bandmates of Vern, as well as musicians who have been influenced by his music, take the stage in an exciting evening spotlighting his great repertoire and memorable style. On hand for the festivities are Herb Pedersen, Larry Park (the son of Vern's former duo partner, the late Ray Park), Butch Waller and High Country, the Kathy Kallick Band, the Pine Valley Boys, and True Blue with Del Williams (Vern's son), plus Mayne Smith, Eric Thompson, Scott Hambly, and who knows who else!

A great tenor singer and mandolinist, Vern Williams was one of the artists responsible for introducing bluegrass music to the west coast. After leaving his native Arkansas for California in the 1950s, Vern joined up with singer and fiddler, Ray Park, to form the Carroll County Country Boys, the forerunner of the famed bluegrass outfit known as Vern and Ray. For a decade and a half, their influential band won over a generation of Californians to bluegrass with their hard-driving, rawboned sound and high lonesome vocal harmonies, topped by Vern's piercing tenor. Jerry Garcia played banjo with Vern and Ray before he gained fame with the Grateful Dead. Other well-known alumni include Sandy Rothman, Herb Pedersen, Keith Little, Rick Shubb, Ed Neff, Steve Pottier, and Laurie Lewis. Last May, Arhoolie Records released a live recording of one of their exciting shows, Vern and Ray With Herb Pedersen: San Francisco 1968. After Vern and Ray parted company, Vern carried on the bluegrass torch with his son Delbert, in the Vern Williams Band.