The Stuart Mossman Stage
We are proud that Kendra Mossman and her daughters have given Marquee, Inc., permission to name the stage at the Marquee Performing Arts Center in Winfield “The Stuart Mossman Stage.” Because Marquee, Inc., appreciates this opportunity, we want the stage to be of a quality that will be a tribute to the man who made and marketed hand-built guitars of a consistently high quality, helped to create a musical culture around them, and helped to put Winfield, Kansas, on the music-lovers’ map. Those who already know Stuart Mossman and his guitars understand why he should be honored, but some of you might like to know more about Winfield’s connection to Stuart Mossman along with the reasons that the Marquee Performing Arts Center considers it a privilege to be allowed to name the stage “The Stuart Mossman Stage.”
Mossman Guitars
Known for his solid wood, hand-built acoustic guitars, Stuart began producing his prototype guitars in 1965 from his home garage at 318 E. 7th Street in Winfield. Feeling that “somebody had to revive the personal pride and devotion that a true craftsman feels when he knows he has done his best,” he attracted craftsmen from all over the United States to help build the guitars because they shared his opinion that in the U.S. “quality has been sacrificed for quantity.” To emphasize their feeling of pride, each craftsman who helped build the guitar signed his initials on the label. As series production of Mossman guitars began in 1970, Stuart limited production to only eight guitars a day, knowing that it would be difficult for him to personally inspect more than that. He stated that “there’s no way a small industry such as ours could succeed by making anything other than top-quality instruments.” Due to his having breathed sawdust and lacquer fumes for too many years, Stuart reluctantly sold his company to a former employee, Scott Baxendale, in 1986. But before handing over the business, he made 25 guitars from some of his finest woods; these guitars have been described as being the source of popular folklore. The Mossman tradition was passed to John Kinsey and Bob Casey in 1989; in 1991, Mossman Guitars was moved to Sulphur Springs, TX.
Musical Culture
Stuart Mossman has been credited by Dr. Mark Foley, music professor at Wichita State University, as being a “big reason why Kansas has such a strong musical heritage.” He stated: “Not only did he create beautiful musical instruments, but he helped to create a culture around them.” Among the professionals and celebrities who bought and played Mossman guitars were the Carradine brothers — David, Keith, and Robert — with whom he developed a friendship; they even found him bit parts in the movies The Long Riders, Cloud Dancer, and Murder Ordained. Eric Clapton, Dan Crary, John Denver, Albert Lee, Hank Snow, Cat Stevens, Merle Travis, and Doc Watson also praised the quality of the Mossman guitars. Foley observed that Stuart’s business seemed to be “an extension of his desire to create a musical community around his guitars.” Regardless of what he was doing musically, Stuart “was making sure South-Central Kansas would long benefit from the joy of putting a pick to a steel string.” After selling S.L. Mossman Guitars, he developed his one-man show, portraying Mark Twain and conducting an entertainment series for schoolchildren that centered on the guitar and on Kansas history.
Music-Lovers’ Map
One of the organizers of the small folk festival that was created by Stuart Mossman and Sam Ontjes, Brent Pierce credited Mossman with being not only the promoter but also the “group enthusiast that held the passion and drive for success” for the 1967 event that was held on the campus of Southwestern College and that brought “some of America’s greatest professional and amateur talent to the Walnut Valley.” In 1968, after the second festival was held at Southwestern College, Stuart Mossman, Bob Redford and Joe Muret formed the Walnut Valley Association. Because of Bob Redford and the Walnut Valley Association, Winfield has continued to be on the map, welcoming thousands of people to come home to Winfield during the third weekend in September. Awarded the International Bluegrass Music Association’s first ever “IBMA Bluegrass Event of the Year,” the Walnut Valley Festival hosts the Flat-Pick Guitar, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, Bluegrass Banjo, and Mandolin National Championships every year along with the Finger-Style Guitar and Autoharp International Championships and the Old Time Fiddle Walnut Valley Championship.
Stuart Mossman’s Connection to Winfield
While the Mossman family already had a long history with the city of Winfield, Stuart Mossman made a conscious choice to make Winfield his home. His grandfather, the Rev. Frank Mossman, was the president of Southwestern College in Winfield from 1905 to 1918 and again from 1931 to 1942; his parents went to high school and college together in Winfield. With all of the places that he could have chosen as “home,” he decided on Winfield: He was born in Hinsdale, IL; attended school in Dallas, TX; and graduated from high school in Great Neck, NY, where he was president of his senior class. After having spent his summers in Winfield, he realized that his heart was in Winfield. After his guitar shop at Strother Field was destroyed by fire in 1975, Stuart had several offers from other communities to relocate, but he chose to stay in Winfield.
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DVDs of Barry Brown’s Stuart Mossman: A Modern Stradivari will be available here soon.