The Archives

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine May 1976, Volume 10, Number 11 As I sat in my car across the street from the Fifth String on North High Street in Columbus, Ohio, it occurred to me that bluegrass had come a long way there in the years since I’d left town. In the early sixties you…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine August 2000, Volume 35, Number 2 On a record that became a turning point for bluegrass, a particular Bryan Sutton solo likewise became a turning point for the brilliant young guitarist. The disc was Ricky Skaggs’ “Bluegrass Rules,” the CD that showed the world at large the immense vitality and…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine September 1985, Volume 20, Number 3 Some great names in bluegrass picked under an old oak tree in Harris, North Carolina many years ago. Oren Jenkins, who still lives in this rural community, remembers summer nights when he, his brother Hoke and his uncle Dewitt “Snuffy” Jenkins were joined there…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine January 1988, Volume 22, Number 7 You walk up to Kenny Baker at a bluegrass festival and introduce yourself and explain that you’d like to interview him for a possible feature in a music magazine. He listens quietly, but courteously, and replies, “Maybe later, I’m kind of busy now.” You…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine June 1991, Volume 25, Number 12 Why would any fiddle player turn down offers from Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Grandpa Jones and Mac Wiseman? “I’m pretty much of an individualist,” says Arvil Freeman. “I’ve never been a person that’s wanted a lot of attention.” In fact, anyone wanting to hear…

Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine February 1996, Volume 30, Number 8 There are an extraordinary number of bluegrass and country music performers who achieved stardom by simply emulating Carter Stanley’s hauntingly emotional vocal style or by recording one of his many remarkable hit songs. The songs he wrote have been recorded and/or performed by nearly…