Articles

IssueM Articles

Marty Falle’s Blueprint for Bluegrass Success

When Marty Falle writes, he thinks in records, not singles. “That’s what I believe the original singer-songwriter artist is all about,” he says. His formula, which works for him, is “to write the record: write what’s in your heart, in your experience.” To judge by the radio play and the number of tracks charting off…

Read More »

Suzy Sings Siebel, Volume One

Based in California, Suzy Thompson has had a solid career as both a singer, guitarist, and fiddle player. She was influenced by blues singers and players such as Memphis Minnie and Bessie Smith, and got her fiddle chops from such Cajun players like Dewey Balfa, Dennis McGee, and Wade Fruge. She has played with artists…

Read More »

Thankful And Blessed

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…

Read More »

Jake Howard at the Blissfest Music Festival 2025! Photo by Victoria Reackhof

Jake Howard

Mandolin Ambassador While I was browsing YouTube a while back, I ran across a video titled “Mandolin (small…but MIGHTY).” At the opening of the video, Jake Howard of Henhouse Prowlers was blazing through a mandolin solo.  Rob Scallon, the video’s host and interviewer, was sitting next to Jake and playing the guitar.  Two members of…

Read More »

David Cox with Lee Allen and the Dew Mountain Boys. Standing, left to right: David Cox, Harold Staggs, Jack Lynch, Lloyd Hensley. Seated, Lee Allen.

Notes & Queries – September 2025

Q: I’ve been listening to recordings by Larry Sparks (Ramblin’ Guitar, Pine Tree 500) and Lee Allen (“Beer, Whiskey, and Women” and “The Old Home Place,” Jalyn 45-356), all of which feature the mandolin work of David Cox. Did he appear on any other recordings? What can you tell me about his life in music?…

Read More »

Keep On Keepin’ On

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…

Read More »