The year was 1975. 

The United Nations declared it “International Women’s Year.” 

A gallon of gas was $0.44. 

On Jan. 6, “Wheel of Fortune” aired its first episode on NBC. NBC aired the first episode of another hit show on Oct. 11 – “Saturday Night Live.”

The Vietnam War ended on April 30. 

The blockbuster “Jaws” was released in June; the cult classic “Rocky Horror Picture Show” in September. 

“The Wiz” and “Chicago” both opened on Broadway. 

Dolly Parton was named the Country Music Awards Female Vocalist of the Year. 

And in the midst of all these momentous events, a man named Phillip Mason started publishing the Dulcimer Players News. 

Vol. 1 No. 1

The very first issue began, 

The “Dulcimer Players News” has been established as a monthly newsletter for the purpose of providing a flow of information on all phases of the plucked dulcimer, both traditional and contemporary. We accept no paid advertising. Any reader who feels they have something to say or pass on to others about the dulcimer is welcome to do so through this newsletter, which will reach many hundreds of dulcimer oriented people throughout the country. In short, it’s your magazine!

Dear Friend:

This newsletter is the first of a monthly basis trial period, which we will try out for a year to see if there will be enough interest to continue. Our intention is to print and pass on the kind of information you would like to have about our common interest in a love for the dulcimer. … For your subscription and support we will be able to pass on to you over 130 pages of important information pertinent to the dulcimer. This small fund of knowledge will accumulate each month into an annual collection containing vastly much more information about the dulcimer than has ever before been published in a single year. At the “News” we are just thrilled to be able to have the opportunity to pass on this sort of information to you the reader. 

— Editor

Vol. 1 No. 3

Mason reported in this issue that circulation was up to 250, but announced a big change. Costs could not support monthly publication, so they switched to a bimonthly schedule – 

Two issues combined will, of course, be twice as large as our previous single issues. We’re not cutting, just combining.

Vol. 1 No. 4

This issue marked more changes for the magazine. They moved from a full-page newsletter format to a 5.5″ x 8.5″ booklet, added a (short lived) page dedicated to the fretless banjo, and started running advertisements. Phil wrote,

Beginning with this issue the D.P.N. will accept advertising in order to help with the expense of upgrading the printing quality, and also to meet the many requests we have received from both the readers who want to know what’s available and small business folks who need to get their message to those readers.

Vol. 1 No. 5

Here is another milestone – bringing the hammered dulcimer into the DPN fold:

Let’s Hear from Hammered Dulcimer Folks!!

The hammered dulcimer (not a direct relative of the plucked dulcimer exactly) is a part of the musical tradition in the area in which the D.P.N. is published (Maine) so we would really like to have any possible information that anyone would like to send in on these instruments and their history and playing styles from other areas. The D.P.N. plans to publish a small “Hammered Dulcimer Catalog” in which we plan to list any source of hammered dulcimers and accessories like books and records on the subject. 

Vol. 1 No. 7

In the last issue of the year, Mason highlighted the upcoming one year anniversary, writing,

Our next issue will be a big one to mark our 1st Anniversary. Just to help elucidate how much we’ve grown, consider that our first issue (mimeographed sheet) cost $25 to print and mail (150 copies); while the next issue will cost in the neighborhood of $600.00 and have a circulation of 2,000 copies (photo offset printed) – unbelievable HUH!!

(For anyone curious, the cost of production is at least 10 times higher these days, though for a bigger magazine.) 

Vol. 2 No. 2

I am including a couple passages from the editor’s letter in this issue because it announced another big change, and because it shows that even though 50 years may pass, the struggles remain the same: 

As of this issue the D.P.N. will be publishing on a quarterly basis. Several things have prompted this move to the publishing of a larger quarterly issue (four times a year) instead of bi-monthly issues (six times a year). First postage rates have recently jumped up 30% – so we can save some of that big chunk of $$ with this move. Secondly, the Editor of the D.P.N. still continues to carry on the D.P.N. single handedly, from the conception of each issue to the final stamp licking, addressing, collating and trucking to the Post Office. … Not to mention the MOUNTAIN of correspondence that comes into the D.P.N. office each day. …

Postage rates are going up again, there is always a (digital) mountain of correspondence, and the DPN editor continues to carry on single-handedly, for the most part. I do outsource some tech support and graphic design, and I let the printer deal with most of the mailing. And of course I cannot discount the strong supporting cast I have both at home and in the form of contributors.

Vol. 2 No. 3

This issue introduced another big change for the magazine and a name many readers may be surprised to have not seen already:

This issue’s cover photo introduces the Dulcimer Players News Editor and Assistant Editor, Phil Mason and Maddie Mason-MacNeil, who were married on June 26th, 1976 and who will now be jointly carrying on the D.P.N. duties from their new home at Happy Creek Farm in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain and Shenandoah Valley area of Northwestern Virginia. The photo was taken by Don DePoy, President of Skyline Record Co., and our thanks are warmly extended to him for providing it for us. Madeline Mason-MacNeil is now undertaking the tasks of Assistant Editor of the D.P.N.

Vol. 3 No. 4

Things seem to have been going smoothly as the next handful of issues did not have any major announcements or feature any big changes. The 3rd volume rounds out the year with the following note, another that I echo completely:

Well, here we are finishing up the third full year of bringing you the Dulcimer Players News. The full credit for this amazing longevity and solidarity (for a folk publication) should be given to each and every reader who has freely shared their knowledge of dulcimania with us, thus enriching us all. Also, to those readers and many fine friends everywhere who have supported this sharing effort through their direct help, subscriptions, and encouraging letters and comments, THANKS! For the editors, this endeavor has been, and continues to be, a heart warming experience. We’re looking forward to another exciting year!! So, keep rollin’ in your articles, stories, letters, photos, comments, suggestions, songs, tunes, reviews, etc., we’ll use them all, eventually. … 

Incidentally, those of you who keep asking are advised that the editorial policy of the Dulcimer Players News remains as no policy at all – we find this the most rewarding point of view. The D.P.N. remains open to any voice or point of view … after all, it’s your magazine!!!

Vol. 4 No. 4

Here ends the focus of this commemorative issue, concluding four years with Phil Mason at the editorial helm. After a few hints of an impending move to Florida, Maddie and Phil co-signed an editor’s letter than began,

Happy Autumn! I’m typing this on a fairly typical Virginia late August day… hot and humid. School began today in Warren County and the streets are strangely quiet. Changes everywhere. Changes are reflected in the Fall, 1978 DPN. …

In a quiet farewell, Maddie signed the editor’s letter solely in the next issue, writing,

Phil Mason, by the way, has been devoting his time and energies to other projects recently. The DPN editorship effective with the Autumn 1978 issue, will now be mine. It’s a lot of hard work, but enjoyable and rewarding. 

Vol. 50 No. 1

This issue is the start of the 50th volume of DPN. To commemorate this milestone, I will be taking you on a journey, and I invite you to rummage through the archives and peer into the past with me. We will look back and recognize the people and events which shaped the dulcimer community into what it is today. 

There is a lot to cover – in the past five decades an incredible number of talented people have graced the pages of DPN. Flipping through this issue, you may think that some important figures have been left out, and you’d be right! 

But don’t worry. We have three more issues to go this year. Odds are, whoever you are thinking of will show up. (Want something included? Tell me! After all, this is still your magazine.)

For now, I focused on just the early years of DPN, featuring some “founding figures” (like Jean Ritchie and Howie Mitchell) as well as some “forgotten figures” (like Dorothy Carter and Roger Nicholson). Tying archival material into current events when possible, I hope I have created a balanced (and delightful) medley of old and new. 

Without further ado, I’ll kick this issue off with an archival article by Phil Mason, from Vol. 3 No. 2.

Dulcimerrily,

Fiona