The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Music On The Ridge

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

July 8, 2009

A musical tradition of almost twenty years could be heard once again on the Ridge just outside of Lomax.

The live music of International talent Radoslav Lorkovic from Iowa City, Iowa mesmerized a gathering of friends and guests at the home and beautiful gardens of David and Scottie Pittman.

It was a picture perfect evening with wonderful weather, crystal-clear skies filled with diamond-bright stars, highlighted by a host of fireflies and numerous shooting stars.

What completed the evening was the presence of Radoslav, a world reknown Blues musician and singer who came by his talents through a unique legacy.

As he played his keyboard on the Pittmans' patio deck, his music penetrated throughout the lighted garden spots where guests scattered to listen to the soothing sounds of Radoslav's own unique version of the Blues.

What's surprising about this unique Blues musician is that his grandmother was a premiere diva in classical music for royalty in Czechoslovakia and throughout Europe.

His father is a neuro physicist and his mother holds a major position with the library at Yale University in New Haven, CT.

Radoslav's brother followed in the footsteps of his father as a physicist leaving Radoslav as the only one in the family with musical talent to carry on the family tradition.

So where did Radoslav's unique style of blues music come from?

When he was three, his family moved to the United States in Minnesota and at six moved to Iowa City.

As a teenager, Radoslav was married to his transistor radio. He couldn't shut it off or put it down, and he fell in love with the seductive sound of the Blues.

As a youngster, he continued classical lessons upon his mother's insistence, playing his first recital at age eleven. But, his continued love for the Blues during his teenage years pulled him away from the traditions of his grandmother, and desires of his mother, but the classical music definitely has inspired his style.

Today, Radoslav plays the Blues Internationally, and had accompanied the world reknown Blues vocalists, Odetta, until her recent death.

A week ago at "The Ridge," many Henderson County and Burlington, Iowa guests owed the unique experience of hearing famous Blues talent Radoslav to the founder of The Burlington Blues Society Mike Moyers.

It is Moyers' passion and knowledge of the Blues that brought him to sponsor The Ridge experience of Radoslav and to continue bringing him and other Blues artists to the area.

Along with his musical talent, Radoslav holds a degree in Journalism and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).