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 explain why, in his opinion, the groups during the pre-1955 era had such a great sound.  A few of the points that he made included: “They were much more aware of a total band togetherness.”  “Their singing was more closely felt and there was less emphasis on individual musical prowess.” “Their musical attitude was ‘say something musical, and if it sells all the better’.”  And, “…it has been my observation that harmony singers do not spend enough time learning the right part.  Possibilities in harmony should be explored until exactly the right combination of parts is achieved.” In 1955, Jo