Clayton - Person Sheet
Clayton - Person Sheet
NamePENDER, Nicholas Anderson Jr. 
Birth Date25 Sep 1941
Birth PlaceDothan, Houston County, Alabama
OccupationCPA And Musician
Death Date8 Aug 2004 Age: 62
Death PlaceDahlonega, Lumpkin County, Georgia
Misc. Notes
Nick Pender: Appalachia in his heart
Posted on November 16, 2011
By Glenda Neel Pender
My late husband, Nick Pender, actually became physically rooted in Appalachia when we moved to Dahlonega in 1983. But I know he was always grounded here in his soul. He grew up in the deep south in a small town in the Florida panhandle, where the cultural ethos is Appalachian-like in so many ways. There, in the 1940s and 50s, he was steeped in the music of the south via radio and live performance — gospel quartets, blues, bluegrass, soul, and rock and roll (and his mother played piano and organ in the local church). He was introduced to The Stanley Brothers and Bill Monroe. He was hooked for life and his love for this music led him directly to the Appalachian region of North Georgia.
So – once he got here, he plunged right in, jamming and performing with a vengeance. He played bass and had a voice with a mountain ache in it. He was often compared to Ralph Stanley. He was a founding member in 1984 of The Shoal Creek Band (and later of the Gold Rush Band). Not only did he want to perform, it was a mission of his to pass the music on to others, particularly the next generation. He organized jamming on the public square, and he and I started a music program in the local schools and later, along with others, taught at Woody Gap School in Suches. He was a founder of the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival and helped shape its commitment to the authentic music of the Southern Appalachians. He and I designed the festival’s music program, which I continue to chair. Nick was also a member of the original cast of the Mountain Music and Medicine Show, developing the character of Mr. Nix, local merchant and keeper of folk traditions.
Nick Pender achieved another long-held dream — to record a CD in Nashville. He and I did that in 2002-2003, holding our CD Release Concert in March of 2003 at The Folkways Center of the Georgia Mountains to a standing-room-only crowd. He was so pleased — both with the accomplishment of a dream and with the loving support of friends and family.
Nick died in 2004, leaving us with many gentle reminders about following our dreams and listening to that calling in our hearts. He was called to Appalachia in his heart, not just as a place but as a symbol of so much that mattered to him. He heeded that call. He was loved by many and continues to inspire us.
Author’s bio: Glenda Pender is on the board of directors of the Georgia Pick and Bow Traditional Music School and the president and music chair of the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival in Dahlonega.
Posted on November 16, 2011
By Glenda Neel Pender
My late husband, Nick Pender, actually became physically rooted in Appalachia when we moved to Dahlonega in 1983. But I know he was always grounded here in his soul. He grew up in the deep south in a small town in the Florida panhandle, where the cultural ethos is Appalachian-like in so many ways. There, in the 1940s and 50s, he was steeped in the music of the south via radio and live performance — gospel quartets, blues, bluegrass, soul, and rock and roll (and his mother played piano and organ in the local church). He was introduced to The Stanley Brothers and Bill Monroe. He was hooked for life and his love for this music led him directly to the Appalachian region of North Georgia.
So – once he got here, he plunged right in, jamming and performing with a vengeance. He played bass and had a voice with a mountain ache in it. He was often compared to Ralph Stanley. He was a founding member in 1984 of The Shoal Creek Band (and later of the Gold Rush Band). Not only did he want to perform, it was a mission of his to pass the music on to others, particularly the next generation. He organized jamming on the public square, and he and I started a music program in the local schools and later, along with others, taught at Woody Gap School in Suches. He was a founder of the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival and helped shape its commitment to the authentic music of the Southern Appalachians. He and I designed the festival’s music program, which I continue to chair. Nick was also a member of the original cast of the Mountain Music and Medicine Show, developing the character of Mr. Nix, local merchant and keeper of folk traditions.
Nick Pender achieved another long-held dream — to record a CD in Nashville. He and I did that in 2002-2003, holding our CD Release Concert in March of 2003 at The Folkways Center of the Georgia Mountains to a standing-room-only crowd. He was so pleased — both with the accomplishment of a dream and with the loving support of friends and family.
Nick died in 2004, leaving us with many gentle reminders about following our dreams and listening to that calling in our hearts. He was called to Appalachia in his heart, not just as a place but as a symbol of so much that mattered to him. He heeded that call. He was loved by many and continues to inspire us.
Author’s bio: Glenda Pender is on the board of directors of the Georgia Pick and Bow Traditional Music School and the president and music chair of the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival in Dahlonega.
Spouses
1NEEL, Glenda Inez , Aunt
, AuntOccupationPsychotherapist
FatherNEEL, Henry Clay Sr. (1921-1996)
MotherMESSER, Flora Elmetta (1920-2002)
Misc. Notes
Nick and Glenda Pender have been living and loving bluegrass music for nearly thirty years and are pleased to finally announce their aptly named first recording project "Long Time Coming"! Recorded over the winter of 2002 and released to a standing-room-only crowd in March 2003, the CD was produced by Jim Hurst at Rich Adler’s Sound Wave Studio in Nashville. It has been praised for its “honest and intense” approach, evoking the true roots of bluegrass music in its emotion-filled singing and featuring stellar instrumentation by some of the best known players on the bluegrass scene today.
Album Cover
After years of raising a family and working (Nick is a CPA and Glenda is a psychotherapist) as well as devoting much of their time to community activism and volunteer work, including promoting non-profit bluegrass and old-time festivals, most notably the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival in their home town of Dahlonega, Georgia, the Penders have made time for a dream come true. Their passion and commitment to each other and to the music they make together are evident on their new CD.
Nick and Glenda’s lives and music are also informed and enriched by their connections with family and friends. Two of their sons, Scott and Neel, are musicians and wrote an instrumental for Long Time Coming and Neel sings on the album as well. Daughter Marla provided the title for the instrumental, which is based on a family story. Grandchildren Nick, Annie, Cory, and Will provide tons of love and unbelievable injections of energy and enthusiasm! A big extended family and lots of community friends in Dahlonega, with its bustling music scene, add fuel to the fire!
Nick and Glenda credit today’s popular “music camps” with much of their musical development, having spent time through the years at Augusta Heritage Center, NashCamp, and the Swannanoa Gathering. They also credit their band, Gold Rush, whose hot licks and lonesome singing have inspired them to new heights.
Album Cover
After years of raising a family and working (Nick is a CPA and Glenda is a psychotherapist) as well as devoting much of their time to community activism and volunteer work, including promoting non-profit bluegrass and old-time festivals, most notably the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival in their home town of Dahlonega, Georgia, the Penders have made time for a dream come true. Their passion and commitment to each other and to the music they make together are evident on their new CD.
Nick and Glenda’s lives and music are also informed and enriched by their connections with family and friends. Two of their sons, Scott and Neel, are musicians and wrote an instrumental for Long Time Coming and Neel sings on the album as well. Daughter Marla provided the title for the instrumental, which is based on a family story. Grandchildren Nick, Annie, Cory, and Will provide tons of love and unbelievable injections of energy and enthusiasm! A big extended family and lots of community friends in Dahlonega, with its bustling music scene, add fuel to the fire!
Nick and Glenda credit today’s popular “music camps” with much of their musical development, having spent time through the years at Augusta Heritage Center, NashCamp, and the Swannanoa Gathering. They also credit their band, Gold Rush, whose hot licks and lonesome singing have inspired them to new heights.
Marr Date23 May 1958
Marr PlaceMarianna, Jackson County, Florida