Festival in the Pines founder Sterling Belcher dies at age 71
The event had drawn such bluegrass stars as Alison Krauss, Ralph Stanley and Jimmy Martin.
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Sterling Belcher was recognized in 2005 by the Virginia Folk Music Association "for 25 years of dedication to promote and preserve Virginia's Heritage Music Bluegrass, Country and Gospel." Picture courtesy of Dreama Stephenson |
Sterling Belcher ran a bluegrass festival for 30 years before he got up the nerve to sing on the stage.
As cancer whittled away his body, Belcher sang "The Little Log Cabin in the Lane" last May during Festival in the Pines, the three-day bluegrass event Belcher founded and operated at his tree-rimmed campground in Rocky Mount. After he finished the song, he told the crowd he hoped to see them next year, but that he didn't know what plans the Lord had for him.
"You ain't going nowhere, Sterling!" some in the crowd hollered at him. "You're too ornery!"
His health only worsened, however, and Belcher died Saturday at age 71 after battling prostate cancer and strokes for much of the past four years. The family had already decided to cancel this year's festival because of Belcher's declining health.
Festival in the Pines was famous for its low-key, down-home vibe. Located at Belcher's Tripple Creek Music Campground, the first festival was a homecoming for local bluegrass band the Lost and Found in 1981. Over the years, bluegrass luminaries such as Alison Krauss, Ralph Stanley, Jimmy Martin, Rhonda Vincent, the Bluegrass Cardinals and the Lewis Family played the festival. Many regional favorites such as James King, Junior Sisk and Belcher's son-in-law, Larry Stephenson, also performed.
According to his daughter, Dreama Stephenson, who helped him plan and promote some of the later events, the festivals were rarely profitable, but were rich in music and memories.
"It didn't matter how much money he lost," Stephenson said, "it was a dream of his to do it. He'd sacrifice year after year. It about drove my mother crazy."
Belcher worked for DuPont in Martinsville for 31 years, a job that allowed him to finance his festivals. He also farmed and raised beef cattle.
The events were mostly family friendly affairs, although Stephenson recalled one show when an inebriated fan caused a commotion near the stage while his unbuttoned shirt nearly fell off his torso in front of the crowd. Stephenson said she still can see her father talking quietly to the man, all while buttoning his shirt for him. The drunk left without causing a further stir.
In addition to his daughter, survivors include his wife, Pat Dillon Belcher, and his son, Stacy Belcher.
Belcher won several awards for his contributions to bluegrass, which included recognitions from the Virginia Folk Music Association and East Coast Bluegrass Association. He was even presented a key to the town of Rocky Mount in 2005 in recognition of his festival's 25th anniversary.
The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America nominated him as promoter of the year three times, including this year, but he never won. This year's winners will be announced this weekend in Nashville, Tenn.
"I had hoped to pick him up and take him down there," Stephenson said. "He really wanted to win it. That'll probably be the case, now that he's gone."
