In class today, John Lawless (co-founder of Bluegrass Today) talked a lot about a divide in bluegrass music. This divide typically looks like argument over what is and what is not true bluegrass. Is it a traditional style after the genre’s founding fathers? Or is it a progressive sound that continues to evolve? Lawless posed a … Continue reading Good Music
Month: February 2015
Seriously, What Is Bluegrass?
In relation to the visit our class had today from John Lawless, editor of bluegrasstoday.com, and an article by Chris Pandolfi of The Infamous Stringdusters, I’m going to (yet again) address the question of just what exactly bluegrass is, something I previously touched on in an earlier post. In class today, Mr. Lawless said that bluegrass can […]
Butch Robins
http://bluegrasstoday.com/butch-robins-video-star/ Above is a link which leads to the videos Bud Bennett (of Radford) has made of Butch Robins– these are the videos John Lawless mentioned in our class discussion today. enjoy!
Don Rigsby: 4th Generation
Don Rigsby is native to the remote, backwoods town of Isonville, Kentucky, an area rich with bluegrass tradition. He was raised in a family of talented Bluegrass and Old-Time musicians. It only made sense for him to pursue a career in the sounds and traditions he was brought up around. As many bluegrass musicians of … Continue reading Don Rigsby: 4th Generation
Origin of the Five String Banjo
The 5-string banjo is considered one of bluegrass’s most important and historical instruments, and is one of the most easily recognized instruments in the world. The banjo itself can be traced back to Africa, where they were made using animal skins and gourds as the base. A stick was used as the neck, with no … Continue reading Origin of the Five String Banjo
Bill Yates a true legend of Bluegrass
Bill Yates was born April 30, 1936 in Big Rock, VA. His family and him would sing songs while working around there farm, and would regularly gather around the radio to listen to the Grand Ole Opry . Bill learned to play by the bass by ear while listening to records. Bill from a young age … Continue reading Bill Yates a true legend of Bluegrass
On, Keith Whitley
Keith Whitley was a truly interesting gentleman. Born in Kentucky, he began his life in music at a very young age, winning contests by the age of five and getting on local radio stations at thirteen. While he was still in high school he started a bluegrass band with his friend Ricky Skaggs, they called Lonesome … Continue reading On, Keith Whitley
Charlie Waller and the Country Gentlemen
Charlie Waller was born in Jointerville, Texas in 1935 but spent his childhood in Louisiana. He started playing music at the age of 10. In the early part of his career, he appeared on television with George Jones, Jimmy Newman, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and others. Charlie Waller, along with mandolin player John Duffey, banjo … Continue reading Charlie Waller and the Country Gentlemen
The Osborne Brothers
Bobby and Sonny Osborne were born in Hyden, Kentucky and raised outside of Dayton, Ohio. Bobby learned he had a natural ability on the guitar when he started playing in bands as a teenager, and Sonny followed suit a few years later on the banjo. Starting in 1949, Bobby had a few stints with radio stations … Continue reading The Osborne Brothers
Frank Wakefield
Frank Wakefield is a mandolin player from Emory Gap, Tennessee who has played with many great musicians including Jimmy Martin, Red Allen, and Rick Skaggs. He has also influenced the sound of those such as David Grisman and Ronnie McCoury. Frank has, several times, played in Carnegie Hall and in 1999 was even nominated for … Continue reading Frank Wakefield