The Tradition

NOTES “In the December 2020 issue, you answered a query about the song ‘Mountain Laurel.’  One recent version is by Open Road on their Rounder album …In the Life.  They credit the Bailey Brothers as the source for their version.”  Stewart Evans, Santa Cruz, CA “Dick Spottswood is right, the song (‘The Martins and Coys’)…

A brilliant guitarist, vocalist, and creator of life songs who inspired a generation In the summer of 2003, at the second Floydfest, the most anticipated headlining act on the bill was a special reunion of the David Grisman Quintet. Featuring Grisman, Darol Anger, Mike Marshall, Jim Kerwin and Tony Rice, it was the one show…

September 14th, 1985 Editor’s Note:  This article is a transcription of a conversation between Pete Wernick and Tony Rice recorded in 1985—a transitional period in Tony Rice’s career. We thank Pete Wernick for providing us with the transcript and this unique glimpse into Tony Rice’s life at that point in time. PW:  …on the road…

NOTES In reference to a query in the November 2020 column concerning the song “When the Work’s All Done This Fall,” GC from Alexandria, Alabama, writes that “I had the song in my CD player as I read the question in ‘Notes and Queries.’ The song was also recorded by Norman Blake in 1991 on…

John Hartford Photo By Barrett S. Bacau It is a Monday afternoon in December of 2020 and the DJ on the excellent WNCW-FM radio station is in the middle of diverse set of music. One of the best listener-supported radio stations in the U.S., WNCW can be heard beaming from radio towers located throughout the…

Editor’s Note:  Our long-time Notes & Queries writer Walt Saunders, who is now 86 years old and has been involved with this magazine since 1967, was under the weather this month.  We have asked noted bluegrass musician, scholar, entertainer, and historian Gary Reid to step in this month to write the Notes & Queries column. …