Reviews

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Hillbilly Maidens, Okies, and Cowgirls: Women’s Country Music, 1930-1960

By Stephanie Vander Wel University of Illinois Press The years 1930 to 1960 saw remarkable changes in country music from Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family, Chet Atkins and Patsy Cline appeared on the scene.  New musical styles—bluegrass, honky-tonk, Western swing—and new media such as radio, TV, and LPs emerged. Stephanie Vander Wel of the University…

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The Jamboree In Wheeling

By Ivan M. Tribe and Jacob Baptist Arcadia Publishing In 1924 the “National Barn Dance” began broadcasting at WLS in Chicago.  Soon after, “Barn Dance”, “Jamboree’, and “Hayride” radio programs began appearing in cities like Nashville, Dallas, Shreveport, Cincinnati, Knoxville, and Wheeling.  These programs served as a prominent source of live and radio entertainment for…

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Diamonds & Flowers

Oly Mountain Boys The Oly Mountain Boys make their home in the city of Olympia, Washington, from where they get their name. The band is Tye Menser (banjo, vocals). Phil Post (bass, resonator guitar, vocals), Josh Grice (fiddle, vocals), and Eric Schweizer (guitar, vocals), and they are joined by guests Derek McSwain (mandolin, vocals) and…

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Fine Time To Get The Blue

Terry Baucom’s Dukes of Drive Terry Baucom marks fifty years of playing bluegrass professionally with this release on his own label, Driving Duke Records in Elkin, NC.  This project also is his third as leader of the appropriately named Dukes of Drive, having two prior releases in this configuration on the John Boy & Billy…

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My Best Friend

Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition Patuxent Music Listening to Jay Armsworthy, a veteran of the southern Maryland bluegrass scene for almost 40 years, is like enjoying a satisfying, home-cooked meal. There’s no frozen TV dinner bluegrass on this new recording, which combines traditional bluegrass with original music and a handful of “country classics with a…

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Sun Drops On The Water-Reflections

The Sharp Flatpickers Mountain Fever MFR 201120 This impressive band, assembled by ace guitarist Lee Kotick, takes hot picking to a new level on its sophomore album. Quite a few of these 14 mostly instrumental tracks delve deeply into tradition with fiery instrumentals on public domain chestnuts such as “Fisher’s Hornpipe,” “Blackberry Blossom,” “Arkansas Traveler”…

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