Articles
IssueM Articles
Brother Oswald: That Good Old Mountain Music
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine April 1975, Volume 9, Number 10 Introduction: B.R. “Pete” Kirby, better known by millions as Bashful Brother Oswald of Roy Acuffs Smoky Mountain Boys, is truly a remarkable performer. Oswald was one of the first to develop the Dobro sound, and during the thirty-eight years he has been with Roy…
Charlie Monroe
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine October 1975, Volume 10, Number 4 For the last four decades the name of Charles Pendleton Monroe has ranked high on the list of those who have made important contributions to old-time, traditional, country music. First, as a member of the famous Monroe Brothers duet; and second, as a vocalist…
Benny and Vallie Cain
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine May 1972, Volume 6, Number 11 Husband and wife singing teams, while not uncommon in Country-Western music, are very unusual in bluegrass. Probably one of the best known such team are Benny and Vallie Cain, who have, for more than twenty years, performed their own distinctive brand of music; a…
Paige Clik ETI Guitar Capo
In 1988, a tool and dye maker named Bryan Paige couldn’t find a capo that kept his guitar in tune. So he used his machining skills to design and make his own. Paige’s affordable, practical design caught on, and soon, his Michigan-based company found international success with its understated but innovative design. Today, you can…
Stories and Memories
From time to time a reviewer runs across an album that is a good listen, but in the big tent that is today’s bluegrass world, is hard to identify for the listener. Fortunately, Mohavisoul offered extensive notes for their latest album, Stories and Memories. They refer to their sound as “California Bluegrass.” Cool. Wait,…
Up the Hill and Through the Fog
It’s no surprise that this youthful, effervescent Toronto-based trio (joined on this outing by bass player and vocalist Charles James) won IBMA’s 2020 “Momentum Band of the Year” trophy. These twelve original songs bristle with intelligence, immediacy and innovation in the form of captivating lyrics, compelling melodies and nonpareil vocal and instrumental arrangements that feature…