The Tradition

Bluegrass Original Photos from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine archives Some bluegrass enthusiasts like to argue about how and when bluegrass music, as we know it today, was founded and by whom. Some will say that it was founded and developed by Bill Monroe.  There is certainly a good solid argument for that point of view.  Regardless…

Q – Did the Stanley Brothers, or Ralph Stanley for that matter, ever record with a Dobro? I’ve got just about everything the Stanley Brothers recorded, including the Rich-R-Tone stuff, the Columbia, Mercury, and King recordings. I don’t remember them recording with a Dobro. Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs pre-mid ‘50s, and Reno…

Robert Caldwell “Bobby” Hicks (July 21, 1933 – August 16, 2024) was at the forefront of bluegrass fiddling for nearly 70 years. He logged time with many of the top names in bluegrass and country music including Jim Eanes, Bill Monroe, Porter Wagoner, Las Vegas entertainer Judy Lynn, and Ricky Skaggs. While many admired him…

Alan Munde, Katy Daley and Jerry Douglas Talk About Receiving the Good News Music awards are a good way to capture a moment in time in an industry. While always subjective, with the nominations and results debatable, the positive side of awards and award nominations is that it gives music lovers a chance to hear the…

Q – Have you ever heard of “Red White & the Dixie Bluegrass Band”? Do you know anything about them or when they were active? They came up on Facebook through a mixed artists compilation album and sounded really good! – Wayne Hoffman A – Red White and the Dixie Bluegrass Band was a group…

Q: I have been a subscriber to Bluegrass Unlimited for around 45 years or more; this is the first time I have been in touch. I have a question. The Columbia recording by Flatt & Scruggs “Don’t Get Above Your Raisin’” has Chubby Wise listed as the fiddle player. It sounds more like Benny Martin…