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Fifty years ago bluegrass music was roughly 25 years old and hitting its full stride.  Multi-day bluegrass festivals were gaining in popularity around the country, the first-generation bands were still performing and in their prime, and the second-generation bands were developing strong reputations.  During 1971, Tony Rice joined J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson joined the Country…

Week 04  (7/08 – 7/14) During the fourth week of Bluegrass 45’s 1971 American tour, we find them going into the studio to work on their first album for Rebel Records.  Additionally, Josh and Akira traveled to Ohio to visit their sister, Heidi. The album titled Bluegrass 45(Rebel SLP-1502), included the following tracks:  Bridge Over…

Queries Q: “Is it possible to find an old bluegrass song that I heard the other night and didn’t get the title? It starts out with her (a dog) waiting at the gate for him (her master) and his truck . . . when he pulls in, she followed him . . . and some…

Old Bondy. Cowboy’s Dream. Three Thin Dimes. Two White Nickels. I was living in the tiny hamlet of Spring Valley, Ohio, in 1975, when I first heard the name, “Old Bondy,” and those three tunes. I was sharing a rundown house on Main Street with Rick Good and fiddler Greg Dearth. Rick played banjo and…

Rebel Records REB- 1975 Larry Sparks has never been shy about his belief of Jesus as his Lord and Savior. While there are many ways to approach such subject matter in the music world, Sparks keeps it simple, unapologetic and thankfully non-denominational.  Gospel music, however, can be as equally subjective as the 100-plus denominations found…