UnXpected
Poetman PMR 70088
Now thirteen, Phoebe White is a young lady from Appalachia who grew up influenced by the Western music performances of folks like Roy and Dale Rogers, Patsy Cline, Patsy Montana, and Jimmie Rogers. She has become a skilled singer and yodeler and plays guitar, mandolin, ukulele, piano and more. And, she has amassed an impressive portfolio of appearances in Nashville, Kentucky, and on national TV, all while sharing the stage with artists like Suzy Bogguss, Michael Johnathon, New Grass Revival, Doobie Brothers and more.
It was during her many appearances on Michael Johnathon’s “Woodsongs” that she performed with the Riders in the Sky band and the McLain Family Band. It was from these performances where producer Johnathon got the idea for this new release featuring White with those two groups. White sings all the lead vocals (and yodels) and plays guitar. Riders in the Sky features Too Slim (bass), Ranger Doug (guitar), Woody Paul (fiddle), and Joey “the Cowpolka King” (accordion), and the McLain Family includes Raymond McLain (guitar, fiddle), Ruth McLain (bass), Al White (mandolin, fiddle, banjo), and Alice White (vocals).
White and the Riders get together on “Phoebe, the Yodeling Cowgirl,” “Whatever Happened to the Yodeling Cowgirl,” and Patsy Montana’s “I Want To Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart.” Then White joins the McLain Band on “Yodeling Blues (Down In The Valley),” “Boo Hoo Blues,” “Prairie Woman,” “Cowboy Hat,” “Colorado Trail” and “Over the Mountain,” with Johnathon adding the long neck banjo. White solos on “If I Could Only Learn To Yodel.”
This a really nice project recorded when White was twelve and you can hear the youth in her singing, but, yes, she can yodel. Backing vocals from the McLain’s add to her songs, and you can’t miss the Western Swing as brought on by the Rider’s. While the project title says different, those who knew of White got exactly what was expected.
