The Archives
Snuffy Jenkins—A Legend in his Own Time
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine June 1987, Volume 21, Number 12 In the art of bluegrass and old-time country music, Snuffy Jenkins is most certainly a legend in his own time, and now at the age of seventy-eight continues to perform for audiences all over the United States. While preparing to write this article, the…
Good Ol’ Persons
Photos by Gene Tortora Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine October 1984, Volume 19, Number 4 I’m sorry, but when it comes to singing bluegrass, most women just can’t cut it.” “Women bluegrass musicians are such wimpy players.” “If God had intended women to play bluegrass, He would have created “Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass…
Bobby Atkins—A Rededication to Bluegrass
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine August 1985, Volume 20, Number 2 Photographs, albums, and posters crowd the walls of the hand-built frame structure that once housed Bobby Atkins’ Stokes Recording Studio in Summerfield, ten miles northwest of Greensboro, North Carolina. Atkins’ career has included three stints with Bill Monroe, ten albums of his own, radio,…
Charlie Nixon
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine December 1977, Volume 12, Number 6 The dream of many aspiring bluegrass Dobro pickers is to play for Lester Flatt and the Nashville Grass. Since 1972, this position has been capably filled by Charlie Nixon. Originally from Springfield, Tennessee, 25 miles north of Nashville, Charlie was fascinated by the sound…
Billy Baker—Fiddler for Sixty Years and Counting
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine April 2013, Volume 47, Number 10 Among the better-known but under rated bluegrass musicians who have more than paid their dues, the name Billy Baker must rank as one of the more significant. At one time or another, this Virginia native worked as a regular or fill-in with about every…
Marc Pruett Does It All
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine April 1985, Volume 19, Number 10 Marc Pruett’s office tells at least half the story. A ten by fifteen foot corner of his Pick ‘N’ Grin music store in Asheville, North Carolina, it exudes warmth and frenzied activity. Banjo parts lie scattered about wherever he could find space for a…