Donna Ulisse
Singer, Songwriter, Bluegrass Poet
Donna and band back in WSM studios
She was joined by Rick Stanley, Greg Davis, Tony King, and Jon Martin of the Poor Mountain Boys to do a few songs off the new CD and help tell stories about the trip. The funniest story that had not shown up in any of the travelogues Donna posted from Russia was when they were on the overnight train in sleeper compartments. Apparently Donna's husband Rick got up to use the restroom in the middle of the night. He came back to their train compartment and said Donna's nickname that he and his daughters and grandchildren have for Donna which is "Da". In Russian this means "yes". He heard a reply that was "nyet" which in Russian means "no". Donna had been practicing some Russian words so he thought that she was messing with his mind. So he said "Da" again and once again but more firmly he heard "nyet". After three times, he realized he was in the wrong compartment with a Russian woman. It was completely dark and he had bolted the door locked behind him. By then, he was so shook up, he couldn't get the door unlocked to get out....the woman had to get up and let him out! Donna said that the next morning, he peeked out their door as they were preparing to exit the train and saw the woman coming out of that compartment and ducked back in theirs and waited till she exited the train. According to Donna, she laughed so hard and loud going down the track when he told her the story that she thought they would throw her off the train.
Thanks again to Bill and Charlie for having Donna and The Poor Mountain Boys back in the WSM studios!
