The Archives

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine November 1988, Volume 23, Number 5 This article was obtained in a rather unusual setting. Wilma Lee Cooper was playing a festival with Bill Monroe which was held at a county fairground. As this lovely and talented lady came off stage she came to me and said, “Just as soon…

By Ivan M. Tribe and John W. Morris Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine January 1980, Volume 14, Number 7 Between 1958 and 1968, Bill Napier established himself as one of the top musicians in bluegrass. Beginning as a sideman with the Stanley Brothers and then as half of the Moore and Napier team, Bill displayed…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine August 1983, Volume 18, Number 2 In the short history of bluegrass music many individuals have passed through the few major bands. During the late ’40s and early’50s, bands sporting a contract with a major recording company or privileged with major radio and later TV exposure could be counted on…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine March 1972, Volume 6, Number 9 In the early years of bluegrass the mandolin was frequently overshadowed by both fiddle and banjo. Bill Monroe is by no means the only one who took up the mandolin because it was the only instrument not already spoken for by his musician friends….

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine July 2010, Volume 45, Number 1 Bluegrass Hall of Famer, National Heritage Award recipient and Grand Ole Opry star Jesse McReynolds celebrated 62 years in the music business and eighty years of life on July 9, 2009. Hundreds of friends, fans, and several former members of his Virginia Boys band…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine June 2004, Volume 38, Number 12 When the career of the legendary bluegrass brother duo, Jim & Jesse, came to a halt after 55 amazing years with the death of Jim McReynolds on January 31, 2002, the bluegrass music community and Grand Ole Opry fans worldwide grieved over the death…