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Chris Davis and Kristin Scott Benson at the Grand Ole Opry. // Photo by LuAnn Smith

A Veteran Sideman Goes Out On His Own

Over the past twenty-five years, Chris Davis has performed with some of the top-name bands in bluegrass music, including The Grascals, Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers, Alecia Nugent, Junior Sisk, Larry Cordle, Larry Sparks, Wildfire, Melvin Goins, and Marty Raybon.  Additionally, he has performed with the country band Diamond Rio.  That is quite an…

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Jan Johansson with Bobby Hicks at Lorraine’s Coffee House in 2018. // Photo by Wilson Herlong

Jan Johansson

Follow Your Dreams Photos Courtesy of Jan Johansson Jan (pronounced “Yahn”) Johansson is a man who has defied all odds. A true connoisseur of bluegrass, he is a player, teacher, historian, collector, and much more. What makes him truly amazing is that he achieved all this by overcoming huge obstacles along the way: being born and…

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Life’s Parade

Rick Faris is a well-known, award-winning singer-songwriter. He spent 11 years as a member of Special Consensus, and his own Rick Faris Trio has traveled the US, Europe, the UK, and Canada. He recently opened his Faris Guitar Co. in Owensboro, Kentucky, where he focuses on his business and continues writing and recording.  This new…

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Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys, George D. Hay, and Uncle Dave Macon – 1944.

Notes & Queries – November 2025

Q: The very first time I ever saw Dr. Ralph Stanley, it was late ‘60s to early ‘70s at a German club in Dover, New Jersey: Germania Park. There is NO info on this in ANY history. I would like to know what the date was if anyone has it. I did talk to Ralph…

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Steve Martin and Alison Brown. // Photo by Madison thorn

From ‘Wild And Crazy Guy’ to ‘Safe, Sensible And Sane’

Steve Martin and Alison Brown Crown Their Banjo Partnership With A Charming Album Steve Martin’s career transcends category and defies explanation. Over 50 years, he has: shared an Emmy Award writing for the Smothers Brothers TV show; filled arenas doing wacky, non sequitur comedy; hosted Saturday Night Live 16 times; starred in and/or written dozens…

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Still Here

This is a new project from the father and son duo of Phil and Dan Rosenthal. Phil is best known as a songwriter and former member of the Seldom Scene and the Old Dog project. His son Dan grew up listening to his dad’s and others’ music but subsequently chose to take up trumpet and…

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