JSU's Connection with Emmy Award Winning Civil War Period String Band Un-Reconstructed

The Last Ditch, a documentary detailing the Battle of Columbus—the final battle of the Civil War—scored two prestigious Emmy awards for Outstanding Achievement in Lighting and Musical Composition/Arrangement at the 2008 Southern Regional Emmy Awards ceremony held Saturday, June 21st. The documentary film first aired on the Georgia Public Broadcasting system and is scheduled to be broadcast several other times over the next three years. View information about the film at www.thelastditchfilm.com.

The music used in the documentary was selected from CDs previously released by Un-Reconstructed, a civil war period string band noted for its 19th century Celtic folk music. The entire musical group Un-Reconstructed was present to accept this prestigious Emmy, including two of its original members who have since left the group but did play an active role at the time the CDs were released from which the award winning musical score was composed.

Un-Reconstructed is quite popular across the southern and eastern United States playing Scottish and Irish music at Confederate re-enactments and hoedowns. The band attracts a wide audience drawing increasing numbers of young people and a growing fan-base overseas in Ireland, England, France, Belgium, Russia, St. Simpson Island, and South America. Members of the band keep in touch with fans on the Internet. Visit their Website at www.un-reconstructed.com.

According to Dave Edwards, the group's manager, an increasing number of young people turn out when the band performs at Civil War events held at sites such as Gettysburg, Charleston, Ft. Sumter, and Biloxi. Followers of the group are treated to more than just period music. There's dancing the Virginia and Charleston Reels, Patty Cake Polka and Carolina Promenade with band member Heather Dempsey calling out instructions. The band dresses in genuine period attire for the re-enactments and exhibitions. 

The band was named Southern Heritage Music Awards’ group of the year in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and has received honors for album of the year. The connection this award-winning band holds with JSU becomes apparent upon a closer look at its members. Present band members include Susie Stephenson of Southside, Dave Edwards of Gallant, Chris and Heather Dempsey of Jacksonville, and Doug Carson, the only outsider, being from Flintstone, Ga. Harry Nuttall of Jacksonville and Doug Jennings of Knighten's Crossroads were original members of the group whose work is reflected on the band's CDs released prior to their departure from the group.

Harry Nuttall, an original member of Un-Reconstructed, was the group's bass guitar player.  Although Nuttall did leave the group because of time constraints in relation to his job, he was active when the band's CDs used in the documentary were made.  Nuttall has been employed at Jacksonville State as a Librarian since 1985 and currently serves as the University's Reference Librarian. 

 

Doug Jennings, another original member of the band, played the banjo.  When Jennings was an active member of the group, he attended Jacksonville State University.  Jennings, like Nuttall, eventually left the group but he, too, participated at the time the CDs were made.

Chris Dempsey

Present-day husband and wife team Chris and Heather Dempsey are active members of the band. Chris has played the fiddle for 20 years and his fiddle playin' makes people want to dance. Heather has been traveling with the band since 2001 (upon her engagement to Chris, the fiddler). She plays second tamborine, sings harmonies and some leads, handles all retail sales, is head money counter, serves as Dance Mistress. She has taught many how to do the Patty-Cake Polka, Carolina Promenade, and the Virginia Reel.

Heather Dempsey

Both Chris and Heather Dempsey hold the Bachelor of Science degrees in education from JSU and teach English at Pleasant Valley High School.  While attending JSU both were members of the Baptist Campus Ministries group. Chris also served as Peer Counselor and as the SGA President for two terms. Chris' father Gary Dempsey served as JSU's Director of Personnel Services for years prior to his retirement.

Summing up the whole experience of what it meant to win this prestigious award . . . in Chris's own words:

The feeling of being a part of the Emmy's is just undescribeable. When the presenting couple said those famous words "...and the Emmy goes to..." we all held our breath and couldn't bear to look. From the moment they called out The Last Ditch, the next ten minutes seemed like only a few seconds and two hours, all at the same time. Now it is a blur...then it was a blur.

As we made our way through the crowd to the stage, we heard our music as a clip of the movie was played on the big screen for all to see.

Harry, the bass player put it like this..."At first it was complete elation, now the feeling has settled into satisfaction."

I think what makes it so special is the unique bond that our band members have with each other. We are each other's family, and to win this with the people I won it with is what makes it so special. To see each one of them as happy as I was, was "elation" enough for me.............Chris

For information about the band, go to www.un-reconstructed.com or www.myspace.com.

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