Do you still remember…? Every Sunday evening the Walton family visited our living rooms and brought us both simple stories about typewriters and youthful runaways, as well as catastrophes such as the crash of the Hindenburg. All as seen through the eyes of the oddest son and author, John-Boy. Elisabeth, Jim-Bob, Erin, Ben , Mary-Ellen, Jason and, of course, John-Boy became our brothers and sisters. The easy-going narrations of the individual episodes made indelible impressions on the memories of a whole generation of TV kids!

It was as if predestined that this be worked into a Bluegrass song. And we, the German Bluegrass band "Covered Grass" did just that, working out TV family into a musical tribute: Goodnight John-Boy. So when we uploaded our song to YouTube just two weeks ago we never could have dreamed what then occurred!

Our video reached various Walton forums and fans and finally actually ended up being viewed and enthusiastically received by the original actors in the series! Soon after the actresses Mary McDonough (Erin Walton), Kami Cotler (Elizabeth Walton) and Judy Norton (Mary-Ellen Walton) saw the video and placed links onto their Homepages, the Covered Grass fan base began to grow.

And it gets even better! On September 29th, in the Wilshire Ebel Theater in Los Angeles, a giant reunion party celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Waltons will take place. And we have been invited to surprise the assembled actors of our beloved series with our song!

Such an opportunity as this is granted to one only once in a lifetime! And it can not just be a coincidence that precisely this September we will be performing in Nashville at the "World of Bluegrass Week" of the IBMA, International Bluegrass Music Association (Incidentally, this privilege is given to us as the first German bluegrass band for twelve years!), and so we will already be in America at that time! But we had therefore already committed all of our finances to this first time appearance in Nashville.

And so it is, worldwide Walton fans, that we turn to you to ask your help in raising the funds necessary to allow us to fly from Nashville to LA, to pay respect to the heroes of our childhood and to represent all of us!

To pay homage to all living members of this TV series. To show the fans that there were many, many people who shared these feelings as they sat before their TVs each Sunday. With our performance, we would like to thank the actors for a carefree time in our childhood; pay tribute to their work and show them how much they touched the lives of people all over the world. And of course, we too, are a target group, for how often in one's life is an artist presented with such an opportunity! And in the end everyone who watches the film we plan to make of this tour, will be able to participate in our dream. Be part of this dream and help us!

1. The reasonable variation:
Because it will help to generate a major forum for a truly underestimated musical form and help an aspiring band establish itself within the music scene.

2. The honest answer:
Because dreams can not merely be measured with money and must sometimes be fulfilled!

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore! Dream! Discover!
Mark Twain

Six airline tickets from Nashville to Los Angeles will be booked (at a cost of approximately $375 per person) as well as the cost of spending the night in a moderately priced hotel (3 double rooms).

- Why six tickets? Covered Grass consists of five performers?

We have our cameraman along for the whole tour, and he will be documenting everything. He, too, is a member of our band and will be filming the entire event.

Covered Grass has endeavored since 2006 to expand recognition of Bluegrass music in Germany. By way of modern musical phrasing and above all, personal compositions, the band has managed to spark enthusiasm for this wonderfully beautiful, acoustic music among an unfamiliar audience.

Success of our mission can be evidenced by our appearances throughout Germany, Europe and, now, the USA! In addition, Covered Grass appeared as a co-presenter of the International Berkenroth Bluegrass Night. Within only three years this festival has become a renowned Bluegrass event and boasts appearances by well-known US stars.

Our band, Covered Grass, consists of:

Corina Aurin - vocals • Ralph Bonfanti - guitar • Volker Fisher - banjo, vocals • Joon Laukamp - fiddle, mandolin, vocals • Carsten Manz - bass, vocals.