Articles
IssueM Articles
Roland White
Roland White passed away on April 1, 2022, at age 83. All who knew him remember the standup guy he was—a warm, welcoming, humble, generous man of wide smile and sleeve-worn heart. And we all remember what an outstanding, innovative mandolinist he was. Having played for decades with many famous bands— with his brother, Clarence,…
FlamenGrass
“Flamen Grass” is a collaboration of four great Spanish musicians from the Barcelona area. Headed up by banjo player Lluis Gomez, he is accompanied by Javier Vaquero on guitar, Carol Duran on violin and vocals, and Maribel Rivero on double bass and vocals. Combining a mix of bluegrass and flamenco traditions, the group presents a…
Rual Yarbrough
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine October 1978, Volume 13, Number 4 In 1967, in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, a barbershop closed. Now, ordinarily, the demise of a barbershop in the Recording Capital of the World, or anywhere, wouldn’t create much stir. But the closing of this particular establishment caused a collective sigh of relief from bluegrass…
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…