Bill Martin, a.k.a. King Bubba, was the key instigator in revitalizing the West Coast old time music and square dance scene. He was a teacher, mouthpiece, welcome wagon, and ambassador. Even in his last days, he was plotting new ways to energize the old time music community – to keep the waves of the Old Time Revolution rolling on down the West Coast. He kept his loyal minions on their toes with his ideas and aspirations. He just didn’t have the time left to do it all himself, so at his request, we have promised to make his dreams live on.

The Bubba Fund was set up to honor Bill Martin by providing much-needed dollars for projects that bring new energy to the old time music community.  Projects that make new strings quiver and new feet stomp!

In December 2012, the Raymond Family Foundation generously provided a $10,000 matching grant to support the establishment of the Bubba Fund.   The fund was enriched by an endowment from Bill’s estate.  YOU can help us continue to support traditional music in the Portland area and throughout Oregon by making a donation today!

Donors who contribute to Oregon cultural nonprofits, including Bubbaville, are eligible to make a matching donation to the Oregon Cultural Trust and receive a 100% tax credit for their Trust donation (up to $500 for an individual, $1,000 for a couple filing jointly and $2,500 for a Class-C Corporation). Learn more.

Projects Currently Funded by the Bubba Fund

The Bubba Fund has provided support for the following projects in our community:

• Quarantine Happy Hour
• Portland Klezmer Fest
• Zigzag Old Time Campout
• The Portland Squares Monthly Square Dance
• Mud City’s Willamette Valley Old Time Social
• Caleb Klauder’s Great Big Fais Do Do
• Scholarships to Dare to Be Square West
• JT’s Fiddle Off
• The Annual Gospel Event for Sinners and Saints
• Dare to Be Square – West!
• Portland Kid’s Jam
• Paul Silvera’s Intro to Square Dance CD & Booklet
•  Visiting Artists & Artist Residencies: Anna and Elizabeth, Dom Flemons, Bruce Molsky & His Mountain Drifters, Dan Levenson, Rhonda and Sparky Rucker, Travis Stewart, Kentucky Showcase: (Carla Gover, Brett Ratliff & Yani Vozos), Nokosee Fields, Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons
• Gathered: Portland Old Time Music Gathering CD Compilation Project
• The Bubba Award

Our Vision

• Workshops and Educational Programs – Our goal is to work with our community to establish quality learning, jamming and dancing opportunities year-round.
• Visiting Masters — Portland residencies for out-of-state artists to do performances or dances, workshops, and maybe school programs.
• Local Masters residencies – Same thing but with artists who already live here.
• Scholarship Fund — Three or four small scholarships per year for Northwest-based musicians, callers or dancers to travel to study with a master or attend a workshop.
• The annual Bubba Award – A little cash and a nice trophy or plaque to a person who makes an incredible contribution to our old-time music community.

More info…

The Bubba Fund is managed by Bubbaville, Inc., the non-profit that presents the Portland Old Time Music Gathering. Bill was the leader of this ragged-but-right, all-volunteer non-profit, and with the Bubba Fund, Bubbaville will carry on Bill’s dreams by funding workshops, dances, and events that Bill Martin told us he wanted to see happen for years to come. Bubbaville, Inc. is a 501(c)3, and all donations to the Bubba Fund are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.

Got a project you want us to fund?

You can request funding from the Bubba Fund. Learn how.