The Archives
Jim Eanes
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine May 1987, Volume 21, Number 11 Among the musicians who pioneered in the development of bluegrass music, one of the most gifted and enduring was “Smilin’ ” Jim Eanes from Martinsville, Virginia. His contributions to the music are many, both in terms of fronting a very popular and successful band…
Master of the Dobro—LeRoy Mack
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine January 1991, Volume 25, Number 7 The great Dobroist LeRoy (Mack) McNees, best known as a member of the Kentucky Colonels from the late ’50s to the early ’60s, is alive and well in Sun Valley, California, in the L.A. area. He’s a prosperous businessman, owner-manager of Rusmar High Lift…
Tut Taylor—Bluegrass Enigma
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine September 1977, Volume 12, Number 3 Entrepreneur, musician, festival lover and hater, sign painter, instrument builder, collector, author of pointed letters and want ads to BU, Tut Taylor’s wildly varied career is one of bluegrass music’s most fascinating enigmas. His interests and activities are so scattered [and yet usually simultaneous]…
The Dobro Guitar And Bluegrass
By Russ Hooper and Randy Slacum Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine May 1967, Volume 1, Number 11 The typical bluegrass band consists of a bass, banjo, fiddle, (or mandolin) and guitar. Not typical, but included in some bands is the autoharp, harmonica, or the dobro guitar. The dobro was first made in San Francisco during…
Jerry Douglas—They Call Him Flux
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine November 1981, Volume 16, Number 5 According to Webster’s: FLUX —to become fluid; a substance used to promote fusion. Put Jerry Douglas and his Dobro into a band—and you know how he got his nickname. Constantly complementing vocals and other soloists, or ripping off one of the dazzling breaks he…
The Louvin Brothers
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine August 1972—Volume 7, Number 2 I. Why The Louvin Brothers? Not only because they played with a full bluegrass band for a year, and not only because of their deep roots in old-time duet singing, but because of the firm impression their songs and style have had on bluegrass music….