The Tradition

Fiddler’s contest from the stage of Buck Lake Ranch in Angola, Indiana, on September 11, 1949. From left to right, park owner Harry Smythe, guitarist Connie Smith, and fiddler Francis Geels. Photo courtesy of John Schwab.

Notes & Queries – May 2022

Queries Q: Can you tell me who wrote and recorded “You Live in a World All Your Own”? I know that Bill Monroe recorded it but I assume it was a country song first. Thanks. Jerry Steinberg, Salem, Virginia. A: Bill Monroe recorded the song on November 30, 1960, and released it on the 1961…

Read More »

Joe Isaacs, Stacy Isaacs, and Frank Wakefield. Photo by Michael Morbeck

Joe and  Stacy Isaacs

That Traditional Bluegrass Sound In the February, 1967 edition of Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine, Pete Kuykendall wrote an editorial regarding the state of bluegrass music at that time.  He proposed that the bluegrass music that was recorded pre-1955 was “a preference across the country of almost ten to one.”  After making that statement, Kuykendall proceeded to…

Read More »

Notes & Queries – April 2022

Queries: Q: One of my favorite albums by Don Reno and Red Smiley is one on King Records called Good Old Country Ballads. The back of the album jacket has a photo credit to someone named Fernandez. No first name. That has always struck me as odd. Do you know who he is or anything…

Read More »

Kennebec Valley Boys, 1978—(left to right) Sam Tidwell, Fred Pike, Bob Denoncourt, Bill Kimball

Remembering Sam Tidwell

The music of the Country Gentlemen, J.D. Crowe and the New South, and the Tony Rice Unit will be familiar to even the most casual bluegrass music fan.  Many would claim one or more of these bands as their all-time favorites.  More hard-core bluegrass enthusiasts will also fondly remember shorter-lived, but equally as innovative, bands…

Read More »

Authentic Unlimited performing at Bluegrass First Class—(left to right) John Meador, Jesse Brock (in background), Jerry Cole, Eli Johnston. // Photo by Gary Hatley

Authentic Unlimited

Sets Sail Upon Doyle Lawson’s retirement, three members of his band, Quicksilver—Eli Johnston-banjo, Stephen Burwell-fiddle, and Jerry Cole-bass—decided to launch into the already familiar waters of musical entertainment with a new band.  Cole explained, “When Doyle announced he was going to retire, Stephen, Eli, and I decided to stay together.”  Burwell added, “We didn’t even…

Read More »

Margie Sullivan photo by Priscilla Warnock

Notes & Queries – March 2022

Queries Q: Does anyone know how Margie Sullivan of the Sullivan Family is doing. I know Enoch passed away, but haven’t heard anything on Margie? Still think she is one of the best female bluegrass gospel singers ever. Thanks. – John Bond, via email. A: We were able to contact a family member who reported…

Read More »