Articles

Béla Fleck, Casey Driessen and Bryan Sutton Lead Their Own Music Camps in the Western North Carolina Mountains  The mountain town of Brevard, North Carolina, is located less than a half hour’s drive from Asheville, and while the latter city still provides the bigger music scene known worldwide, Brevard is rising as well. Some of…

This Young Lady is the Whole Package! If you have yet to hear music by bluegrass singer, songwriter and guitarist, Caroline Owens, you will soon…and be prepared to be impressed. Last year Caroline was signed to Billy Blue Records—first as a writer with Billy Blue Publishing and then as a recording artist. As this issue of Bluegrass…

If there was a bluegrass mandolin hall of fame, there is no doubt that John Reischman would have a plaque on the wall.  He is not only an extremely innovative player, but his clean notes, rich tone, fluidity and expert use of dynamics are what every serious mandolin player strives to achieve.  He has set…

Looking Forward Cindy Baucom is a true visionary in the bluegrass world. She is the host/producer of the weekly syndicated radio show, “Knee-Deep in Bluegrass,” as well as “Stained Glass Bluegrass” for BluegrassCountry Radio, which also airs in syndication weekly. The western North Carolina native is also an emcee, musician, singer, songwriter, bluegrass music historian,…

Finding Her Own Voice Photos by Laura E. Partain With her solid bass skills and impeccable vocals, two-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year Vickie Vaughn is an in-demand hired gun. Her job is to create the sound other performers want to capture on records or on stage. But when she went into the studio…

Barbara Martin Stephens met Jimmy Martin in 1953 when Martin was working with Bill Monroe.  She lived with Jimmy Martin from 1953 until 1966.   Her story of that relationship was told in a book that the University of Illinois Press put out in 2017, titled Don’t Give Your Heart to a Rambler: My Life…