The Archives

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine May 2008, Volume 42, Number 11 Bill Emerson is back. To the delight of his many fans and peers, he has recently returned to the bluegrass music scene and, this time around, playing in his own band—Bill Emerson & the Sweet Dixie Band. Debuting at the 2007 World Of Bluegrass…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine March 1992  Volume 26, Number 9 William Hundley Emerson, Jr.’s name has become synonomous with unparalleled achievement and professionalism within the world of bluegrass music. A banjo virtuoso, Bill Emerson’s artistry, ability and creativity have earned him respect from both the critics and public alike. Among his achievements, Emerson founded…

By Gary A. Henderson and Richard K. Spottswood Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine April 1968, Volume 2, Number 10 That Bill Emerson is currently just about the most skilled and respected banjo picker in the country will be disputed by few. Yet it will come as a surprise to many that his origins and background…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine July 1974, Volume 9, Number 1 One of the reasons that old-time and bluegrass music attracted a wide audience among urban college youth of the east was the long presence of the Lilly Brothers and Don Stover in the Boston area. Through their nightly appearances at Hillbilly Ranch and their…

The “Notes & Queries” column in Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine is one of the subscriber favorites.  This column started in the October 1967 issue.  For the first several years, it did not run in every issue.  Readers would write in with questions, answers, or “notes” and they would appear occasionally. When a Question came in and…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine June 1991, Volume 25, Number 12      “If only all those country (or pop or rock) fans who say they don’t like bluegrass would just give it a listen, they’d love it.”       “If only the mass media would give bluegrass some positive exposure…” Those of us who care about bluegrass are…