The Archives

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine September 1981, Volume 16, Number 3  Of the many mandolin-guitar groups of the thirties, none was of greater importance, in terms of tradition, than Bill and Earl Bolick, popularly known as ‘The Blue Sky Boys.’” So writes Bill C. Malone in his book, “Country Music U.S.A., A Fifty Year History.”…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine November 1983, Volume 18, Number 5  I got off the escalator at the third floor of the downtown Philadelphia department store, Strawbridge and Clothier, and turned the corner. As promised in the store’s ads, Bob Paisley was there along with most of the Southern Grass. The band was picking and…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine September 1984, Volume 19, Number 3 You’re as important in country music today as Roy Acuff was ten years ago.” Hank Williams was summing up his appreciation for Rose Maddox after a two hour conversation with her in a deserted Los Angeles night club. A few weeks later they were…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine June 2012, Volume 46, Number 12 We knew Earl Scruggs couldn’t live forever, even though we hoped he would. When the end inevitably came, we all felt a shift in our center of gravity, a hole in our hearts where Earl and his music have always dwelled. We remember where…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine February 1971, Volume 5, Number 8 This week we provide two perspectives on the documentary film about Earl Scruggs, with his family and friends, that aired on PBS in 1971.  One review was printed in our February 1971 issue and the other (as a response to the first) was printed…

Three Articles by Jim Mills that appeared in Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine in March 2002, August 2003, and November 2004 Article #1—Something Special Written by Jim Mills Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine March 2002, Volume 36, Number 9  The history on this banjo is pretty well recorded. As far back as I can trace, Mr. Mack…