The Tradition

Musician, Bandleader, Legend An uncountable number of bluegrass fans regarded J.D. Crowe as a preeminent banjo player. His impeccable instrumental work on the banjo has been frequently and alliteratively characterized in superlative terms, emphasizing his drive and his masterful combination of taste, touch, tone, and timing. Many former bandmates and personal friends also knew Crowe…

A Sixty-Four Year Friendship Tight three-part vocal harmonies are a trademark of bluegrass music.  One of the most famous vocal trios to ever step on a bluegrass stage was formed in November of 1957 when Paul Williams joined J.D. Crowe and Jimmy Martin as a member of Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys.  …

By Some of the Best Musicians in Bluegrass My first opportunity to see J.D. Crowe perform was at the Stone Valley Bluegrass Festival, a short-lived event that took place in the late 1970s alongside the beautiful Whitewater River near West Harrison, Indiana. I did not get to meet Crowe, however, until almost 20 years later. …

A Short— But Brilliant— Bluegrass Career Don Bryant’s experience playing bluegrass in the mid-1950s would be the envy of any professional bluegrass musician.  In the span of just a few short years, Don performed with Benny and Vallie Cain, Bill Harrell, Mac Wiseman, and then for nearly three months he subbed for Earl Scruggs with…

Queries: Q – “Who is Carl E. Hoffman, who wrote ‘Ice Covered Birches,’ recorded by Cliff Waldron and the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys?  It’s a great song, IMO, and rather unusual. It is more complex than most traditional bluegrass songs. The 3/4 time, the powerfully descriptive imagery, the unusual subject matter (there aren’t many Alaskan bluegrass…

Queries Q: I heard a song “Hills of Jackson County” on the radio recently. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch name of the group. Can you help? DC, via email A: The name of the group is The Bluegrass Thoroughbreds. The song you heard was the title track from their debut album which came out in 1978….