Articles

Photos by Rocky Northern Rocky Northern, originally from Renfro Valley and now living in Hartford, Kentucky, is gaining recognition as a luthier of fine guitars. Several professional musicians now play his boxes. Becoming an instrument builder has been almost two decades in the making. “I built my first guitar 19 years ago. It was just…

Keep On Keepin’ On is the best album you will listen to in 2025, which came extremely close to never seeing the light of day.  C.J. Lewandowski and bluegrass legend Bobby Osborne had started an album just months before Osborne’s passing. The mandolin player from the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys was so distraught at losing his…

Since forming in 2015, West Virginia’s Crandall Creek has become one of bluegrass music’s well-known and popular groups, having been nominated for and winning a number of awards, and having their songs placed high on the music charts.  Founded by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Andrews, he is joined on this new release by original members…

Ohio musician Joe Mullins is one of bluegrass music’s stalwarts. He is an excellent banjo player whose career also included being a member of such bands as The Traditional Grass and Longview. He is also the owner of a radio station and is a broadcaster.   Since forming The Radio Ramblers in 2006, Mullins and…

Fiddle player Glen Harrell founded Volume Five in 2008 after hearing other musicians in some local jams. Based in Mississippi, Harrell asked local players Jason Burleson (guitar, vocals) and Chris Wade (banjo) to join the group, and back then, he also brought in Nick Keen (mandolin) and Wyatt Harman (bass). There have been the usual…

The “Pickin’ On” series on CMH Records may have started as a whim or a novelty, but after three decades and dozens of releases, it’s become a cottage industry.  By now, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and The Eagles have all been “picked on,” along with seemingly less likely candidates like The Doors, Green Day, The…