Articles

Many bluegrass fans trace their introduction to the music to films such as O Brother! Where Art Thou? and Cold Mountain, or to Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Will the Circle Be Unbroken? recording project. For Norwegian band Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra, their first taste of bluegrass came just as they had formed a band. Ten years…

Master of the 5-String Banjo Photo by Caty Smith Balsam Range banjo powerhouse Marc Pruett has spent 59 years gracing stages, playing bluegrass music. He has recorded and/or appeared in concert with Balsam Range, Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, James Monroe, Lester Flatt, Jerry Douglas, Peter Rowan, Tony Rice, Emmylou Harris, Mac Wiseman,…

April 5, 1959 It was on this date that the duo of Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs recorded one of the most iconic songs of their careers, “The Cabin on the Hill.” The 45-rpm single release has the distinction of being their longest-running chart success, remaining on Billboard magazine’s “Hot C & W Sides” for…

Photo by Jessica Lance Nick Chandler & Delivered is a hard-driving traditional bluegrass band from western North Carolina that is recognized for tight harmonies and impressive musicianship. The band’s leader and mandolinist has taken the high road and tried to make the best of a bad situation. He is telling his story to possibly help…

Celebrates 60 Years  As the majority of bluegrass fans know, bluegrass music—as we know it today—was born the first time that Bill Monroe walked out on the Grand Ole Opry stage with Earl Scruggs as a member of his band in December of 1945.  Early in 1946, the “classic” bluegrass band—consisting of Bill Monroe, Chubby…

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s 1972 Will The Circle Be Unbroken Album In 1972, when I was a brand new teenager, my younger brother and I would do the goofy thing of getting my Mom vinyl music albums for Christmas that we really wanted ourselves. Why in the world would our Mom want an Eric Clapton…