Bluegrass in his Blood

Pat O’Ferral has worked the American bluegrass scene for 35 years, traveling as many as 1,000 miles a gig—and he does it all for free. By trade, a large-machine mechanic, he’s a bluegrass lover by heart—and it’s the heart part that has him volunteering to do everything in the world of bluegrass music, from setting up sound to serving as master of ceremony.

“I love it. It’s in my blood.” says O’Ferral of Marydel, Md., home to 147 residents. “I can’t imagine my life without it. As far as the music industry goes, I think bluegrass is one of the few family-type entertainments around,” he says. “It’s all good clean fun.”

O’Ferral, 63, grew up on Maryland’s Eastern Shore listening to such bluegrass greats as the Stanley Brothers and Bill Monroe. But it wasn’t until he was in the Navy that he considered getting personally involved with the music.

“In 1957, Bill Leak, a Navy man out of New Jersey, played country music and taught me how to play guitar while we were on the ship,’’ O’Ferral recalls. “There was a lot of time we didn’t have anything else to do.”

When O’Ferral and Leak left the Navy in 1960, the pair continued playing at local events, but after a year or so O’Ferral formed his own bluegrass band, Country Grass. On and off over the years, he has played with Rural Delivery, Country Ramblers and, most recently, Hit N’ Miss based out of Elkton, Md.

“He is very passionate and committed to the music,” says Tom Valiquette of Bear, Del., a member of Hit N’ Miss. “You can’t know Pat and not know that. It’s impossible.”

All the time he was playing, O’Ferral was getting involved with the other end of the music business—which meant working for and helping other musicians and musical groups.

“I went to my first bluegrass festival in Virginia in 1966, and a year later I started working them,” O’Ferral says. “I’ve spent 13 years volunteering for the Eastern Shore Bluegrass Association Festival and 10 years with the Kingsdale Festival. I’ve worked with Lil Margaret’s in Leonardtown, Md., for six years, three years at American Corner, three years at Christmas in the Smokies, and six years with Dean Sapp’s Bluegrass Night, and I’m still working all of those.”

O’Ferral claims that no one particular duty is his favorite but admits that while he enjoys setting up equipment and taking tickets, he really gets pumped up when he hits the stage as master of ceremonies.

“Being on the stage is great,” he says. “It’s the best, but I’ll do whatever they need me to. When they call, they know I’ll be there.”

No matter where he travels in the bluegrass world, O’Ferral is recognized by his trademark—a felt derby dotted with pins of banjos and guitars. The edges are a little soft, but he’s worn it since the beginning and doesn’t mind telling folks, “It ain’t had a bath in 30 years!”

Dean Sapp can attest to that. Sapp, lead member of Harford Express, has known O’Ferral for as many years. “He’s a character,” Sapp laughs. “I truly believe that bluegrass is 95 percent of who he is.”

For the last 17 years, O’Ferral hasn’t been to a bluegrass event without his wife, Beverly, by his side.

“I didn’t really know much about bluegrass music until I met Pat,” Beverly says. “Now, I’m hooked. And I love helping at the shows. I sell food, T-shirts, or sit by the door and take tickets. It’s like helping your own family, because once you’ve met the bluegrass people, they treat you like family.”

It’s not uncommon for the couple to be gone days at a time to help with a show. “We’re gone eight, sometimes 10 days,” O’Ferral says. “We’ll get there a week before the show to help set up and get food prepared.

“I’ll tell you that travel isn’t cheap, but it’s worth it when you’re doing something you love,” he says. “And I absolutely love this. If I drop dead up there on the stage, life doesn’t owe me a thing. I have had a ball!”

Tracy Leinberger-Leonardi is a frequent contributor to American Profile.

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