Monthly Archives: January 2023

Donna Ulisse at Farmers Branch Historical Park – photo by Nate Dalzell

Billy Blue Records has a new single for Donna Ulisse this week, a feel-good song about falling in love called I’m Fallin’. It’s a sentiment most of us are fortunate enough to remember, if we aren’t going through it right now, and Ulisse expresses it with all the wonder and amazement the feeling brings with it.

Donna tells us that this one has been in her back pocket for some time.

“I wrote I’m Fallin’ at least 22 years ago, and have always wanted the opportunity to record it. Having Jerry Salley at the controls, producing and singing on it with a tandem vision was perfect harmony. We were both excited with the result!

I remember the day we gathered at our Nashville Publishing office on Music Row to collaborate on this idea. ‘I’m over the moon, under your spell, blue oceans deep, walkin’ on air, high as a kite, floating above the clouds, I’m fallin”… It is pure and simply the story of me and my darling, Rick. Those are the sentiments I felt when I met him and still feel to this day. I’m fallin’ for this guy all time and I’m not ashamed to sing about it.”

Salley, who also handles A&R for Billy Blue, says he was an instant believer on this song.

“The first time Donna played me I’m Fallin’, I was sold! I thought it sounded just like a ‘classic Donna song,’ very radio friendly, and a must for this new record.

Donna and I have become very good friends over the years; writing together, singing together, teaching together. We are practically family, so the opportunity to produce this track on her upcoming Billy Blue Records project seems like an extension of all the creativity we have shared.

Once you hear her beautiful voice on this song, I bet you’ll be ‘Fallin” too!!”

Support on the track comes from Greg Davis on banjo, Jake Stargel on guitar, Jason Barie on fiddle, Nate Burie on mandolin, Jeff Partin on reso-guitar, and Evan Winsor on bass.

It really is a catchy song. Have a listen…

I’m Fallin’ from Donna Ulisse will be available tomorrow, January 27, from popular download and streaming services online. Ditto for radio programmers at AirPlay Direct.

Banjo player Philip Henning and guitarist Anton Andersson have been making music together for more than a decade, but their musical journey has taken some unusual turns along the way. The two musicians now play together in a Swedish bluegrass band called Kings Cross Stringband, but they actually began their partnership playing metal heavy and making hardcore music before transitioning to Americana, and subsequently to bluegrass.

“Eventually Anton’s girlfriend Emelia Eklund joined us on bass,” Henning says. “After playing gigs for awhile, we also got a hold of ‘Mr. Bluegrass lover,’ Johannes Broborn on mandolin.”

These days, their music maintains their affinity for bluegrass, but it also allows room for other influences as well. “Our sound is leaning mostly towards traditional bluegrass, with a happy, punk attitude,” Henning explains. “But we also love Irish music, so that can also come into play. We sometimes steal a few songs from some of the Irish bands, which we deem to be quite similar to bluegrass in many ways. We play folkish music that’s a fit for both pubs and larger stages, so I believe that the awareness of the bluegrass we perform will continue to grow.”

Henning also says that while they play predominantly covers — a mix of older traditional songs, classic bluegrass — they also venture well beyond. “We perform songs that fall not far from bluegrass, but there are also some that are quite far from that genre as well, like Swedish or Irish folk songs and others of that nature. We also write some of our own songs, and we aim to do more of that in the future.”

In addition, Henning said their influences could be considered both classic and contemporary. He cites the Carter Family, Ricky Skaggs, Tim O’Brien, and Billy Strings as chief among them, but also notes, “We do love old time folk songs, but we also like music that’s new and experimental.”

The band’s debut album, Jack Of Diamonds, can be heard in most streaming platforms. A second album is being prepared for release in 2023.

At this point, Kings Cross Stringband continue to gain new followers and create a fanbase, but Henning hopes they’ll find new opportunities to build even greater awareness in the near future. “We haven’t been on any tours or playing any major festivals yet, but it seems our reputation is growing fast,” he muses. “Plus, we’ve been invited to play at Sweden’s biggest bluegrass festival in Grenna. Just this past weekend we played a smaller folk music festival in our hometown of Örebro, and we’re always surprised at the amazing response we get.”

On the other hand, Henning says he’s not all that surprised that audiences react the way they do. “I think that people are starting to realize that bluegrass can be so much more than just ‘fun gimmick music,’” he says. “The fun and gimmicky thing about it seems to have made people a bit ashamed for it, but hopefully that was a phase that has now passed.”

That said, he has definite thoughts about what brings bluegrass such popular appeal. “It’s about the fun and experimentation,” he said. “The live and jammy world of bluegrass invites everyone to play along, whether you know only three chords, or you can do the amazing solos that inspired us originally. Those will continue to be the things that bring people to bluegrass.”

WPAQ radio in Mt Airy, NC is celebrating 75 years on the air, broadcasting old time, roots, gospel, and bluegrass music in north central North Carolina, with a free concert on February 4 at the Earle Theatre in downtown Mount Airy.

The station first went on the air in February of 1948, after founder Ralph Epperson realized his long held desire to bring the traditional mountain music of the Blue Ridge to a wider audience. As a boy, Ralph ordered a banjo from a mail order catalog to get involved in the music first hand, but ended up returning it for a radio kit. Dreams of the radio business filled the young man’s mind, which after overcoming some initial resistance from his parents, was funded by a mortgage on the family farm.

Ralph’s dream has a resulted in a powerful 10,000 watt AM station that is still held in the family. His son Kelly manages the station to this day.

Now broadcasting as well at 106.7 FM and online at wpaq740.com, WPAQ offers a 24 hour signal with old time string band, bluegrass, and gospel music, as well as local, regional, plus national news and community events programming.

And they hold to the commitment the founder made in 1948 that the programming on the station would always be suitable for the entire family.

The 75th Anniversary Celebration on February 4 will begin at 4:00 p.m. with a screening of Broadcast: A Man and His Dream, a documentary about Epperson and WPAQ produced by Jordan Nance, starting at 4:30. Music begins at 5:45 with performances from Travis Frye & Blue Mountain, The Country Boys, The Slate Mountain Ramblers, The Nunn Brothers, and Harrison Ridge. 

The Earl Theatre is also the site of the station’s Merry Go Round, the second longest running live weekly musical radio program in the US.

All are invited to attend the show on the 4th, and there is no admission fee.

The IBMA Foundation has asked us to remind everyone that the deadline for applying for the 2023 Arnold Shultz Fund grants is January 31. These grants are designed to support activities that increase participation in bluegrass music by people of color.

People of color are defined by the Foundation as those with a racial/ethnic background that is underrepresented in bluegrass, i.e.:

Black, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Indigenous First People, Indigenous Pacific Islander, etc. Applicants may be individuals, schools, groups, organizations, or government entities. Priority will be given to programs, activities, or individuals that demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and serving diverse, underrepresented populations in bluegrass music.

Shultz is an important person in bluegrass lore. A blues musician who lived in western Kentucky, he taught Bill Monroe about the blues when the future Father of Bluegrass was still a young man. In fact, he gave Monroe his first paying gig while he was still a teen.

Nancy Cardwell, Executive Director of the IBMA Foundation, which serves as the non-profit philanthropic and education arm of the organization, tells us that while many awards from the Arnold Shultz Fund are to organizations, they are also available to individual students, artists, or teachers.

“Applications can be made to help an individual person of color, for a bluegrass-related program or event that benefits people of color, or for a college scholarship (for a person of color studying a bluegrass-related topic).”

The Foundation put together this video to explain a bit more about the importance of this effort to encourage people from outside the typical bluegrass demographic to get involved.

More information on the Arnold Shultz Fund grants can be found online, as well as an application form.

While back home in Australia to be inducted into the Hands of Fame in Tamworth, NSW, Aussie songbird Kristy Cox also took home a Golden Guitar trophy at the Country Music Association of Australia awards.

This was her sixth Golden Guitar, awarded for Bluegrass Recording of the Year, for the song Good Morning Moon, written by Jerry Salley and Laura Leigh Jones. It had appeared on her Shades of Blue album in 2022.

After the awards show on Saturday, Kristy was overjoyed with the win, as she had just performed the song live on stage.

“Today has been one to remember. Getting inducted into the Hands of Fame in the morning was a dream come true. To follow it up that night with a CMAA award for Bluegrass Recording of the Year is the icing on the cake. I can’t thank everyone enough for all of their support.”

Jerry Salley, who not only co-wrote Good Morning Moon, he also produced for Billy Blue Records, for whom he serves as A&R Director, offered his congratulations from Nashville.

“Kristy is SOOOOOOO talented and the hardest working girl in show business. We are so proud of her and her well-deserved accomplishments!”

Let us add our congratulations. Well done, Kristy!

Rebel Records has released another single from their upcoming album with Starlett & Big John, their first with the label. It’s the title track from the project, Living in the South, set for release February 24.

An easygoing ballad, Living in the South paints a picture of the simple life many people still lead in rural areas and small towns. Big John Talley shared that the inspiration for the song was a discussion between he and Starlett as they were writing material for this next recording.

“We were at my studio in Southhampton, Virginia, and I told Starlett about my love for my hometown and wanting to write a song that showed the beauty of how I was raised. Summers spent swimming in the Nottoway River with my friends, growing up on a cotton farm, and the historic figures from the area as well my parents were all big influences on the song and my history.”

Starlett Boswell said that they included reflections from her raising as well.

“The last verse is heartfelt for us and I’m sure a lot of folks who listen to the song can relate. Things on Sunday come to a stand still and it’s time for the Lord and Family. As far back as I can remember, we always went to my daddy’s parents on Sunday and gathered under the pecan tree. As time has moved on, now we go back to my parents’ home and the tradition continues.”

The stark arrangement perfectly supports the earnest lyrics, with guitar and mandolin rhythm on the verses, and full band on the choruses. Big John is on guitar, and Jonathan Dillon on mandolin, with fiddle and reso-guitar from producer Ron Stewart.

Have a listen…

The single for Living in the South is available now from popular download and streaming services online, and pre-orders/pre-saves for the full album are enabled now as well.

“I like the rules. I think you know how I feel about that.” – Fake Santa in Santa Clause 2

In the 1970s, once bluegrass music had evolved into its own genre, with its own festival circuit, its own record labels, and its own publications, a set of rules became established to help us differentiate bluegrass music from other genres, especially other forms of country music. These rules mainly involved what kind of instruments the music could and couldn’t have, because those were rules easiest to articulate and understand (and if necessary, enforce). Rules about how those instruments could be played, or what singing style was or wasn’t appropriate to the music were a little more of a murky area. To this day we love to argue about these things (and when I say “we,” I really mean “people with too much time on their hands”).

Take the argument about drums in bluegrass, for example; the view that many hold today is that drums don’t belong in bluegrass music under any circumstances: “There are no drums in bluegrass.” It’s an easy enough rule to draw up, since Bill Monroe didn’t use them in 1946-47 with Lester and Earl, etc. Neither did the first generation of bands that followed, at least not for a while. What prompts debate about this is the fact that almost every first generation bluegrass act did use drums just a few years later, some, like Jimmy Martin, throughout most of their careers. Apparently no one briefed them on this rule, probably because there weren’t rules like this in 1958. To complicate matters, Bill Monroe himself used drums on a lot of his recordings throughout the 1950s, but this is disputed, too, by those who say that it doesn’t count because the drum was played by the bass player, Ernie Newton, who had it mounted on his bass. To me—not to take sides here or anything—that’s a little like saying Doc Watson wasn’t playing harmonica on his recordings because he was also playing the guitar and the harmonica was hanging on his neck.

These are the kinds of arguments these bluegrass rules generate, and we spend valuable time debating them, time that could be better spent solving the problem of global terrorism, helping to feed hungry children, or doing our own truss rod adjustments. 

I would prefer not to open or reopen any of these discussions (ever), but for those who love rules, I present a partial list of some new bluegrass music rules that I hope are much more cut and dried. It’s my hope that these aren’t the kinds of rules that lead to more debates like whether the dobro is really a bluegrass instrument, or whether or not Bill Monroe could have started bluegrass music without the banjo. 

Bluegrass Rules:

• Every slow song performed by a bluegrass band must be preceded by the statement, “we’re going to slow things down just a little.”
• Unless you’re Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, no matter how simple your band name is, a festival MC will always be capable of messing it up in your introduction.
• Related rule: No matter what your band name is, it will always be abbreviated to the first name of the band leader plus “and them,” e.g. “Doyle and them,” “Russell and them,” “Rhonda and them,” etc.
• Every bluegrass musician and fan of bluegrass believes that he or she can imitate Bill Monroe talking.
• In modern bluegrass songwriting, “Grandpa” is the new “Mother.”
• There are fewer than five appropriate bluegrass songs for a wedding, and most bands hired to play weddings do 12 to 25 songs.
• The first question at any songwriting workshop will always be “which do you write first, the music or the lyrics.” The question is never really answered.
• If you still have cell service, you haven’t yet arrived at the festival.
• Will the Circle Be Unbroken must finish every finale/encore/jam session on stage. Only the first two verses may be sung. Repeat if necessary (and it will be necessary). Exception to rule: if Sam Bush is present, the finale must be a song by The Band.
• Every traditional bluegrass festival must feature at least one band wearing dark suits in 98 degree weather.
• Every progressive, mixed-genre festival must feature at least one band performing barefoot.
• Bluegrass music will always be the last genre of music to completely accept a new music format, like the CD, or the digital download. As evidence, the phrase “long play album” was still being used in stage patter as recently as 2015.
• No matter how famous a bluegrass artist you may be, when you meet a stranger who finds out that you’re a professional musician, and they ask, “would I have heard of you?” the correct answer is always “no.”
• The larger the jam session, the louder everyone plays.
• There’s nothing quite as beautiful as a small 5:00 am jam session under a tree at a bluegrass festival (unless you’re the one in the tent nearby trying to sleep).

It is my hope that these are all identifying principles of our music today we can all agree on, but if not, feel free to debate them in comments below. I won’t participate.

The Kody Norris Show is starting off 2023 with a new single, I Call Her Sunshine, and an accompanying music video, from Rebel Records.

If you recognize a different sound on this track, it’s because banjo man Josiah Tyree is out front singing lead on the one. Kody’s still right there on guitar, with his wife, Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris, on fiddle, and Charlie Lowman on bass, but this is Josiah’s time to shine.

Tyree says that he’s psyched that this is their latest single.

“Kody and I had tossed around the idea of me singing on a song or two for the new album. I was grateful, nervous, and excited when Kody approached me about taking the lead on I Call Her Sunshine. With Mary Rachel singing tenor and Kody singing baritone, it created a fresh blend and some new chemistry. I never dreamed it would become one of the singles selected from our new album.”

Also heard on the single are producer Darin Aldridge on mandolin, and Tony Creasman on percussion.

Norris shared a bit about how they found this charming old song…

“When looking for new material to record, you never know where you might find it. A good friend of mine, the late John Buckwheat Greene, brought I Call Her Sunshine to my attention as he thought it would suit the sound of my band. He was on the original recording of this with the Laurel Mountain Boys back in the ’70s.

Seconds into the kickoff I was hooked, and knew right away that Josiah’s powerful high lead would certainly suit this number, so we reassembled our trio putting Mary Rachel on tenor and yours truly on baritone. We had a blast recording this one and sure hope it’ll be enjoyed by all who hear it.”

Have a look see and listen…

I Call Her Sunshine is available now from popular download and streaming services online.

Kody and the Show will be at SPBGMA this Friday in Nashville. Check his web site for more 2023 tour dates.

The Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation, a charitable organization managed by bluegrass touring group, Crandall Creek, is now accepting applications for their Steve Gulley Memorial Scholarship.

Named in honor of the late singer, songwriter, and bandleader, Steve Gulley, who died from cancer in 2020, the $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to a college student who best represents the future of bluegrass music.

Applications will be accepted through May 15, with an announcement of the recipient on August 8 when Crandall Creek performs at Nashville’s Station Inn. Tim Stafford, a long time friend and musical collaborator with Gulley, will be on hand to make the announcement.

Stafford tells us that this award is a fine tribute to Steve, who made his mark in bluegrass with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and Mountain Heart after launching a music career at Renfro Valley in Kentucky.

“Steve Gulley was one of the best men I ever knew, and it was a true privilege to be able to write and record with him. I’m proud of what we wrote and produced, and I know Steve was too.

He left us was too soon, but this scholarship is the best way he could possibly be honored.”

The Steve Gulley Memorial Scholarship was founded by Crandall Creek, who fund the Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation by setting aside a portion of all their performance fees and album sales for charitable purposes.

Applications can be downloaded online, or one can be requested by email. In addition to basic biographical and contact information, it asks for at two least video links of the applicant playing and/or singing, either solo, with an accompanist, or in a band setting.

Completed applications can then be submitted by email.

Even now, two and a half years later, Gulley’s loss is still deeply felt in the bluegrass community. He died at only 57 years of age from an extremely aggressive cancer that took him swiftly. He had been involved with playing and singing bluegrass and traditional country music all his life, inspired by his own father who had been a part of The Pinnacle Mountain Boys. In his dad’s honor, Steve named his own touring group New Pinnacle.

In addition to acts mentioned above, he was also a member of Grasstowne for several years, along with his dear friend Phil Leadbetter, who died about a year later at 59, and Alan Bibey.

Hats off to Crandall Creek for keeping Steve’s memory alive in this way.

Nickel Creek, the powerhouse trio that brought bluegrass-infused acoustic pop music to the forefront of the culture – and made Chris Thile a household name – has come together again for a new album and a worldwide tour.

The album, Celebrants, is slated for release on March 24. It features the original primary members, Thile on mandolin, Sean Watkins on guitar, and Sara Watkins on fiddle, supported by Mike Elizondo on bass.

A debut single, Strangers, is available, and a live performance video of the song is released today.

Nickel Creek is currently touring in the UK, and will launch a US tour in April with three nights at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, all of which are already sold old.

Pre-orders are available now for Celebrants, which boasts 18 new tracks from the groundbreaking group. They will even have a limited number of LPs in iridescent yellow vinyl, sold as a double album set.

Find more details, along with info on the US tour in 2023, at the Nickel Creek web site.

Mountain Fever Records has release a debut single today from their upcoming project with banjoist Cory Walker. The album is entitled School Project, which those who known Cory from his active social media presence will recognize as a common theme, especially on Facebook.

A Florida native who been playing since his pre-teen years, Cory lives in Nashville these days, where he plays with East Nash Grass, and with David Grier. He is also an active studio musician, appearing on recordings by a number of bluegrass artists.

Cory grew up around bluegrass with a father who played actively. Both he and his brother became quite skilled as teens, with both now pursuing the music professionally. This first single is one that his brother co-wrote, who plays mandolin with Billy Strings.

Walker explains…

“My brother, Jarrod, and mutual good friend, Christian Ward, are truly some of the greatest writers today. When I first heard a demo recording of Far Away Again, I knew I wanted to ask Tim O’Brien to sing it on my record. Tim said he dug it. Soon afterward, we recorded it at Stargel Studios. Musicians on the track include Tim O’Brien on vocals and guitar, Dennis Crouch on bass, Harry Clark on mandolin, Billy Contreras on fiddle, Gaven Largent on resonator guitar, and myself on banjo.”

Jarrod and Christian were the writers of the 2022 IBMA Song of the Year, Red Daisy, recorded by Billy Strings.

Have a listen to Far Away Again…

Far Away Again from Cory Walker is available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

Expect more information on School Project in the coming months.

The popular Bluegrass Camp Germany, held annually in the lovely Alpine region of Bavaria, has been canceled for 2023, owing to their long time facility reinstating COVID restrictions for this spring.

Hosted and organized by Rudiger Helbig and Michael Pugh, the event draws pickers from all over Europe each May for a chance to study with top instructors on the various bluegrass instruments, plus singing, songwriting, and stage presence.

Michael tells us that a change of management at their host facility is at the root of this year’s cancellation.

Achatswies, our beautiful location, is/was a Bavarian State run facility, and as such, subject to their policies and conditions with regard to social distancing, and a limited number of attendees. The previous caretakers of the facility were a lovely husband/wife team that were from the local village of Fischbacha. They, and their entire staff, loved our camp since they normally host only Bavarian teaching groups and sport clubs.

Well, they went into retirement in 2020, and coincidentally, the pandemic hit at the same time. A new administrator was brought in and apparently the majority of the staff, many of whom were also locals, were not overly pleased with the heavy handed style of management, thus many never returned after the restrictions were lifted. So staffing was issue one.

Secondly, she also restricted our number of attendees to less than 50, roughly half of our normal size of 100+. Then, as a final nail in the coffin, she simply was unwilling to work with us on any of the conditions/restrictions. It became clear to us that the negotiations were going nowhere fast.

Now, we must search for a new location for the 2024 camp. To say we are disappointed is an understatement. But hey, we will come back stronger in the future.”

Dates and location for the 2024 Bluegrass Camp Germany will be announced in the coming months.

Gary Oelze, founder and operator of The Birchmere in northern Virginia, has died at 80 years of age.

Initially a restaurant in the Shirlington neighborhood of Arlington, Gary added music in the evenings when he became the manager in 1966, fresh out of the military. Bluegrass was quite popular in the DC area at that time, and the club made much of his early reputation with bluegrass.

Oelze was a musician as well, and played guitar in the first band that ever performed at The Birchmere.

The club moved twice over its tenure, from Shirlington to a spot on Mt. Vernon Avenue when the original location was set to be torn down, and then to another a couple of blocks away on Mt Vernon in 1997, where it is now situated, to allow for more attendees at shows.

While The Birchmere was never an exclusively bluegrass venue, it was always a major part of their offerings, and became a regular home to The Seldom Scene, from their early days on to the present. Their regular Thursday night shows ran for 20 years, bringing in a mix of locals and tourists week after week.

From the start, Gary insisted that the performers be treated with dignity and respect, and both he and the staff would respectfully ask patrons to please keep conversation to a minimum while artists were on stage. It became an extremely popular listening room for discriminating music lovers in the capitol region, as he insisted that whoever was booked at the club was of the highest caliber.

In the earliest days, Gary did it all: ran the sound, announced the acts, booked the bands, and held court behind the bar.

He wrote a book in 2021 with Stephen Moore, All Roads Lead To The Birchmere – America’s Legendary Music Hall, that tells the full story of the evolution of this institution. Gary was also interviewed last year for the Bluegrass Stories podcast, which can be heard online.

Gary always gave a lot of the credit for the wide variety of entertainment to Michael Jaworek, who helped with booking.

In the intervening 56 years, most every bluegrass, folk, acoustic, or alt-folk artist of note has played The Birchmere. In more recent years, nearly every type of music has been heard there, including country, rock, and jazz. Everyone who ever played there recognized Gary Oelze as an advocate for the musicians.

No information has been released about his cause of death, nor about funeral arrangements.

R.I.P., Gary Oelze.

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder at the 2023 Yeehaw Music Fest – photo © Bill Warren

The Okeechobee County Agri-Civic Center is a really good venue for a bluegrass festival. The music and fans proved it Friday and Saturday at the 2023 Yeehaw Music Fest. Ernie and Debi Evans of Evans Media Source have to be pleased.

Justin Mason and Blue Night played early sets both days. They are a hard-driving, traditional bluegrass band. Justin is active all over the state of Florida as a top flight bluegrass ambassador. He makes it his business to find out the who, what, when, and where and passes it on.

Penny Creek is based in Melbourne, Florida. They are one of the area’s top bands and play regular gigs in their region. Look them up.

The Malpass Brothers continue to be at the top of their game. They provided an added twist Friday when Taylor introduced his pet dinosaur! The audience loved it.

Deeper Shade of Blue played the first of their three sets in the afternoon. They also hosted the midnight jamboree with the help of EMS Artist Relations Manager, Clarence Canada.

Rhonda Vincent and the Rage closed out the day as only she can. Jamie Harper was the special guest fiddler with the Rage. Rhonda told that Jamie would make his Opry debut with her on Saturday night. She also mentioned what good root beer floats Don and Stacie Stratton make and had one to sip on during her closing set.

Saturday saw Sherry Boyd’s capable hand  running the show. 

Ernie brought two young country singers from the Jacksonville area to showcase. Payten Tison and Lee Ann Purvis sang both classic and contemporary songs. They were accompanied by their vocal coach, Miss Marie. Remember these names. You will hear more from them in the future.

Blue Night played their second set of the weekend. Justin featured the Canada brothers on a couple tunes. Clarence and Lester toured as the Canada Brothers in years past. Lester plays fiddle in the band. He asked 16 year old Ian Lane to join him for a twin fiddle number. Ian has been playing for two years and is one of those amazing youngsters. He is the regular fiddler for Keith Bass. Keith described him as soaking up the music like a sponge.

Keith Bass and the Florida Bluegrass Express was up next. This is one of Florida most traditional bluegrass bands. Band leader/banjo player, Keith Bass is a cattle rancher in Okeechobee. His ranch is 7,000 acres and by his description has 2,000 “mama cows.” Calving time must be absolutely crazy!

Deeper Shade of Blue finished our the weekend with two lively sets of music.

The Lonesome River Band is celebrating over 40 years of playing as a band. Sammy Shelor joined in 1990 and became the band leader in 2000. They are at the very top of their game with the current lineup.

Ron Cornett brought his radio show to the Fest. A lot of us thought he was a brave soul to interview all of the Deeper Shade of Blue guys at the same time!

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder closed out the weekend. What a legend! This show was special. He and the band performed for over 90 minutes. Ricky is still recovering from a torn rotator cuff, but that did not slow him down. Singer and guitar player, Dennis Parker gave a stirring testimony telling of his seventh year of sobriety this month. Everyone that knows Dennis is very proud of him. Ricky plays his “Mad Mon” mandolin that David Harvey created for him two or three years ago. It was the first of these reproduction models. David has created several others. Lorraine Jordan has one as well.

The next show for Evans Media Source is the Spring Palatka Festival at the Rodeheaver Boy’s Ranch in Palatka Florida. It is February 16-18.

Support your local music venues.

With seven albums to his credit, both on his own and with others, Frank Solivan and his band Dirty Kitchen — Solivan (vocals, mandolin, guitar, violin), Mike Munford (banjo), Chris Luquette (guitar), and Jeremy Middleton (bass) — have ascended to the highest tiers of the bluegrass world. That’s an easy assessment  to make given the array of accolades and honors they’ve accumulated thus far — among them, Grammy wins and nominations, two IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year tallies, and the individual awards the musicians have received from the IBMA as well.

Nevertheless, the group may have outdone themselves with their latest Compass Records entry, the aptly-titled Hold On. The performances are, as always, exceptional, but what really stands out is the positivity and purpose that comes through in each and every song. The two opening offerings set the tone for the upbeat attitude that permeates the album as a whole. I’m Already Gone finds Solivan singing, “I’m ready to go/I gotta move on,” while making it clear that he’s ready to put the despair and division of the past several years behind him and move forward courtesy of an uplifted attitude. Likewise, Hold On encourages his listeners to find strength in one another, and to cling fast to friends and family.

The songs that follow take a similar stance. Find My Way shares that determined desire to opt in for optimism whenever possible. Solivan even takes that positive perspective further, musing about a fantasy that finds him moving to the South Seas via the fanciful Sail to Australia, a place where he could live his life in carefree serenity.

For those unable to undertake such an escape, Solivan and company offer other alternatives. The winsome Virginia Is For Lovers share joys that lie closer to home, while the banjo-driven revelry of Lost, the emotion-infused Queen of the Mountain, and the quiet and calm of Modesto, find further reason to rejoice and reflect. 

That’s cause enough to hold on for dear life…or, more accurately, for a life well lived.

Former Steeldrivers vocalist, Gary Nichols, has announced his return to bluegrass music, with a new single for his new label, RBR Entertainment.

Gary spent seven years with the Steeldrivers, stepping in for founding member Chris Stapleton when he made his exit in 2009 to pursue a career in country music. Nichols seemed an ideal stand in, with his soulful, bluesy voice, and he recorded a pair of successful projects with the band, taking home a Grammy in the process.

When the Alabama native dropped out of the band, and seemingly off the planet, in 2017, Steeldrivers fans were flummoxed and confused. But Gary had decided that it was finally time to deal with his addiction issues, and didn’t make much noise about it at the time.

Fully recovered, and with a newfound passion for music, he has signed with Nashville’s RBR Entertainment, and begun recording again with Billy Droze producing. A debut single, written by Droze, Eddie Wilson, and Chris Myers, is set for release next month.

For Gary, this one has parallels to his own addiction and recovery.

“Man, I’m so excited to be making music again. I haven’t recorded an album since the Muscle Shoals Recordings with The SteelDrivers back in 2014. So much has happened since then and I can’t wait to tell you about it!

Billy played Fire In The Dark for me and I immediately felt a connection to the song. The song talks about the hold the singer’s lover has on his heart and, to me, it mirrors my struggle with substance abuse.”

With Nichols on guitar and lead vocal, support comes from Seth Taylor on guitar, Josh Swift on reso-guitar, Ron Stewart on banjo, and Tim Crouch on bass, mandolin, and fiddle. John Meador adds harmony vocals.

It’s a nasty groove. Check it out.

Chris Meyers of RBR says that his whole team is excited about working with Gary.

“The first time I heard Gary, I was a fan. His vocals are velvet smooth yet, hard as steel. Whether he is singing a tender ballad or an ‘in your face’ barn burner, his vocals are spot on.

I think Gary’s return will fill a void that’s been missing in bluegrass music for years. The entire team (comprised of RBR Entertainment, Amy Scruggs Media, AirPlay Direct, and 629 Music Group) are completely focused on filling that void.”

Fire In The Dark will be available from popular download and streaming services on February 17. Radio programmers can get the track now at AirPlay Direct.

The Years of Farming Bluegrass shows in Flemingsburg, KY, hosted and managed by Paul Hinton, are in their 12th season of live bluegrass concerts.

Held at the Double S Entertainment Bowling Center & JB’s Grill, Paula schedules performances October through May, typically on Sunday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. This allows her to catch top touring artists heading home from other shows, and provide entertainment for bluegrass lovers without interrupting anyone’s church attendance.

Next month, on February 12, Hinton will hold the 100th show through Years of Farming when The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys visit Flemingsburg. That is quite an achievement and a fine milestone for the series.

She tells us that she got into doing this in the most bluegrass way possible.

“Well James King asked me from a stage venue when I was going to fix him another meatloaf. I responded ‘When are you coming to Flemingsburg?,’ and he replied, ‘Let’s do a show!’ So we did!

We are proud to say we had James King four different times at Years of Farming. We have had Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out and Ralph Stanley II & the Clinch Mountain Boys seven times each, The Grascals and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys six times each, The Spinney Brothers five times, and Marty Raybon & Full Circle three times.

Some of our crowd favorites are no longer together, such as Flatt Lonesome, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Carolina Blue, The Boxcars, Feller & Hill, Flashback, and Merle Monroe, so we are thankful we got to have them at our venue at least once, and some several times!

We are always excited about our lineup and this year’s lineup is another awesome one.”

Set to appear this year are:

• February 12 – The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
• February 26 – Dale Ann Bradley
• March 19 – Sideline (their final Kentucky show)
• April 16 – Tennessee Bluegrass Band
• May 7 – Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road

Pauls is quite proud of all the top shelf bluegrass entertainment she has brought to town.

“We were thrilled that we got to have Paul Williams & Victory Trio, Jesse McReynolds & the Virginia Boys, and Lost and Found while they were still traveling! We also have had some awesome opening bands including the late Ernie Thacker & Route 23, and the late Dale Pyatt. We have had opening bands that have really made their mark in bluegrass such as the The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Dave Adkins, The Price Sisters, Turning Ground, Kentucky Just Us, Williamson Branch, Jaelee Roberts, Nightflyer, Lincoln Mash, Kyle Ramey, among others.

We are also thankful that Larry Stephenson, Junior Sisk, Larry Sparks, Joe Mullins, Bobby Osborne, Don Rigsby, Michael Cleveland, The Gibson Brothers, The Malpass Brothers, Little Roy & Lizzy, Alecia Nugent, Sister Sadie, Blue Highway, Larry Cordle, David Parmley, Lonesome River Band, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Tony Holt, Wildfire, Jeff Parker, The McLain Family Band, Big Country Bluegrass, Fenced In, Danny Paisley, and countless opening bands have helped us bring great bluegrass music to our area.”

She is quite thankful for the people that helped out when they were just getting started.

“A local band, Velvet Blue, played such a big part in helping us in the beginning, opening for numerous bands. I have been blessed with wonderful volunteers and many local sponsors.

Years of Farming’s goal is not only to provide bluegrass music in our area, but also to promote our local businesses. These businesses employ a lot of people in our community! Most of our sponsors have sponsored all the shows we have scheduled since 2011. We appreciate our sponsors and thank them for helping us bring lots of great bluegrass bands to Flemingsburg.

Many of our attendees come early so they can enjoy a wonderful Sunday buffet that is available at the restaurant housed at the same venue. Some attendees and band members have also taken advantage of the fact a bowling alley is under the same roof.”

Further details and advance ticket purchase can be found online.

Congratulations to Paula Hinton and Years of Farming!

Here’s a true life story that will warm the heart of anyone who owns a treasured musical instrument, and likely everyone who is involved in the bluegrass community as well.

Jaime Carter is a bluegrass bass player from South Carolina, currently with Sweet Potato Pie, and a graduate of the Bluegrass, Old Time & Roots Music program at ETSU, who performs regularly in the southeastern US. Both she and her brother, Zachary Carter, banjo player with Backline, grew up in the music, and have been playing since they were kids.

On Sunday, January 15, her prized 1951 Kay bass was stolen after a gig, every musician’s nightmare. Not only was she without her main axe, Jaime had a deep attachment to this instrument, as she discusses below.

Let’s let her tell the remarkable story of how the old Kay disappeared, and found its way back home in only four days.

“It’s been a wild ride since Sunday evening. I’m so over the moon that it ended up the way it was supposed to.

Zach had asked me to go to Charlotte to play at a funeral for his wife’s grandmother. I don’t take payment for funerals, just not something I do. So we went together, and the bass was in the bed of his truck, with a lock bar over the top of it.  On the way back home, Zach took us all to eat as a thank you.”

When they got back to the truck, the bass was gone.

“On Monday, my brother, myself, and a friend were in Gastonia all day getting security footage, hitting pawn shops, putting up flyers. Then I went back up on Tuesday to talk to someone else about security footage. Then the Charlotte news contacted me, ran a story, and four hours later I get a call.

I was changing the locks on my house and a lady called me, from an unknown number, saying that she was afraid that she had ended up with my bass, and just wanted her money back that she had paid for it.

With it being on the news in Charlotte yesterday, I figured someone was scamming me, seeing how attached I was to this instrument.

She told me to come to a certain address in Charlotte, pull behind this building, and the bass will be a few feet into the woods. I told this to the police, and I don’t think they believed me, but I assured them that it was true. So they went out there and called me back saying, ‘it’s here.’”

Likely preying on the thief’s mind were the security photos that Carter obtained from local businesses showing the actual theft, the man who took it, and the car he drove away in. Plus the information she had posted indicated that she wouldn’t press charges if she got the bass back.

People all over social media rallied instantly to help her recover the bass. It was shared everywhere you might imagine, and she had already visited area pawn shops. The culprit may have seen this as his only hope.

Jaime and Zach were around bluegrass all their lives, as their father, RC Carter, had a band when they were children, RC & The Carolina Moon Pies. He taught both of them when they started playing, and was responsible for her eventually picking up the bass.

“I learned to play on this bass. I had been playing mandolin, and I was terrible at it. We went to the Myrtle Beach festival when I was 14, and I saw this bass for sale. I begged my dad to get it for me, promising him that I would learn how to play it. The guy who was selling it told me to just take it for the weekend, and it would go home with me.

It really clicked for me, the bass, and we had to get someone else to take it back home since we didn’t have room. It always stuck with me as something my parents did for me.

I played that bass at both of their funerals, and it feels like my attachment to them. It’s hard to put into words, all the emotions that I have experienced this past few days.”

What a remarkable story! Jaime really believes that it was divinely inspired.

“To the person who took it, I thank them for not destroying it, throwing it off a bridge, putting it in a dumpster, or something. Whatever it was that made her contact me… it’s just a crazy, off-the-wall story.

It’s emotional… it’s humbling to see how the bluegrass community supports each other. My social media has just exploded with comments and messages.

With the grace of God, the bass is back home.”

Congratulations Jaime Carter, and shame on the coward who took her bass!

West Virginia’s Chandler Beavers, currently mandolinist with Caleb Bailey & Paine’s Run, has released a debut single from his upcoming album, an original instrumental titled Commencement.

Written in the basic fiddle tune style, Chandler takes it for a jammy turn after a few times through, before bringing it back down to earth to close.

Support comes from Jeremy Garrett on fiddle, Jake Eddy on guitar, and Josh Underwood on banjo. Beavers plays bass as well as mandolin.

Chandler says this one comes from his jamgrass side.

“This tune definitely lands more in the progressive style of bluegrass music, such as from artists like Yonder Mountain String Band, Larry Keel, and Sam Bush, who were heavy influences of mine growing up, and still are to this day.”

It’s a very strong track. Have a listen…

Commencement from Chandler Beavers is available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

Sideline at the 2023 Yeehaw Music Fest in Florida – photo © Bill Warren

Evans Media Source has kicked off their second festival of 2023 with the Yeehaw Music Fest, held at the Okeechobee Agri-Civic Center in beautiful Okeechobee, Florida.

Once again, Sherry Boyd is keeping the stage show on track and EMS Sound makes the bands sound their best.

Caroline Owens started things off with a stirring rendition of our national anthem.

Florida band, Sandy Back Porch, opened the stage show. They play a lot of local Florida shows and several EMS shows.

Swinging Bridge played two sets of traditional country music. They are a Florida band also and have been a part of the Florida music scene in both bluegrass and country for many years.

Caroline and Company is a young band from North Carolina fronted by Caroline Owens. She brings a combination of seasoned and younger musicians to the stage. 

Sideline closed out the day’s show. They announced the shutting down of the band at the end of April. They will be missed on the festival circuit.

Friday and Saturday bring a number of local and national groups to the festival. They include Justin Mason and Blue Night, Penny Creek, The Malpass Brothers, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Deeper Shade of Blue, Keith Bass and the Florida Bluegrass Express, The Lonesome River Band, and Ricky Skaggs.

Support your local music venues.

John Cowan, who earned his bluegrass stripes as the lead vocalist with New Grass Revival, has announced a short run of shows this year during his off time with The Doobie Brothers.

During February he will be out with John Cowan’s Newgrass All-Stars, a super group well worthy of the name. Jim Hurst will be on guitar Johnny Staats on mandolin, Shad Cobb on fiddle, and Scott Vestal on banjo.

Booked at this time are the following

• 2/03 Ludlows Garage – Cincinnati, OH
• 2/17 Franklin Park Arts Center – Purcellville, VA
• 2/18 Floyd Country Store – Floyd, VA (SOLD OUT)
• 2/19 Floyd Country Store – Floyd, VA
• 2/25 Pure Life House of Music – LaGrange, GA
• 3/04 Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center – Lexington, KY

John is also in residency with Andrea Zonn this month as The HercuLeons at 3rd and Lindsey in Nashville on Tuesdays, with different guests each week. Remaining shows include performances with Rodney Foster & Bill Lloyd on the 24th, and Darrell Scott on the 31st.

Then in May he will do a string of shows in Prague with Seth Taylor on guitar, Ashby Frank on mandolin, and Matt Menefee on banjo. Those dates are May 14-16.

Cowan has just recently signed with New Frontier Touring in Nashville, who will represent him for these special concerts while the Doobies are off the road.

If you want to get your New Grass groove on, check out these dates and others that may be added. More details and tickets are available on John’s web site.

Central North Carolina-based bluegrass band, Grass Strings, formed in 1975. They played their first show at Pfeiffer College in January 1976, and have been performing ever since. The band has seen many changes in personnel throughout the years, but one founding member has remained constant, mandolinist Jim Burris, of Kannapolis. After almost 48 years, Burris is retiring from the group.

“I’ve loved every minute of it,” Burris stressed. “I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was never a job. I was extremely lucky to have the musicians that we have had. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. We were a band of brothers.”

Burris joined original members Jeff Russell on bass, Greg Pettigrew on banjo, and the late Bob Hatley on bass. In the beginning, both Burris and Russell played guitar.

“We split the shift,” the 69-year-old picker explained.

Burris’ switch from guitar to mandolin in the Grass Strings is quite the story.

“I literally picked up the mandolin in 1979 or 80. We were booked on a show in Florida. Our mandolinist at the time quit and Bob (Hatley) said, ‘Jim, what are we going to do? We are supposed to be on the road in a few hours.’ I went to Music Mart in Albemarle, bought a mandolin, and a book with chords. I started working on it as we drove from Albemarle to Florida. I don’t know how good I was, but I played it on stage at the show and have ever since.”

The North Carolina musician started playing guitar as boy of eight or nine, and he was in good company.

“We would go to my grandma’s house in Enochville, NC. My Uncle Junior would hold pickings on the front porch. Famous folks came. I remember Johnny & Jack, Bill Monroe, Chubby Wise, Tommy Faile, Speedy Shepherd, and little Wayne Haas coming at one time or another.”

Since starting the band in his 20s, Burris and the Grass Strings have recorded six albums and played festivals, music halls, and private parties across the eastern United States.

Burris recalled some of their most memorable venues. “We entertained in Kalamazoo, MI, for a baseball collectors’ swap meet. There were three or four thousand folks there. We played for the Professional Bull Riders’ rodeos in Alabama and Florida.”

Though Burris has enjoyed his tenure with the band, he feels it is time to pass the baton.

“I am soon to be 70 years old. It’s time to go. I have reached my plateau. I don’t have anything else to give. The rest of the band has much more to offer, more potential.”

Current senior band members of the Grass Strings include Randy Mauldin on banjo, Lester Deaton on guitar, and Ronnie Elwood on electric bass. Two of their band mates are teenagers, Grace Bemus of Charlotte on fiddle, who has been with the band about a year, and Burris’ replacement, Jonah Chaney of Albemarle on mandolin.

Bemus shared how she became a member of the group. “I played at the East Rowan Fiddlers’ Convention in October 2021 and Randy approached my mom about me playing in the Grass Strings.”

Though she really wasn’t familiar with the group, Grace went to a practice with the band.

“They were really, really good, and I didn’t think I would asked me back because I was very quiet and reserved, but Randy wanted to give me a second chance.”

The budding musician was invited back and ultimately was offered a position in the band. She accepted.

“It was a good decision to make. I have improved so much in music from their mentorship. They all have a lot of experience.”

Though Bemus wasn’t familiar with the Grass Strings, she knew Jim Burris.

“I’ve known Jim almost my whole life. I first met him at an open mic night at a brewery in Salisbury. When he announced his retirement, I was sad about it, but happy that I was able to play in a band with him.”

Grace is looking forward to what lies ahead musically.

“I am excited to have Jonah. He is very talented and I am excited to see what he can bring to the band. And I am no longer the youngest!”

Chaney said, “I am grateful to have this opportunity to play with such talented musicians and to learn from new experiences as a member of the band.”

Mauldin, Grass Strings banjoist, has been a part of the group for the past 22 years. He shares a long history with Burris. “Jim and I have been friends almost 40 years. We met through Bob Hatley (the band’s founding bassist). This probably has been the most difficult situation that I’ve been put in. Jim’s retirement caught us off guard. I’m happy for him, but sad to see him go. He’s been there since it started. I’m going to miss him something fierce.”

Guitarist Deaton agreed. “I’m very sorry to see Jim go. He is my good friend and a great singer. He will be missed for sure. I guess we all have to retire at some point, and like Jim, I guess we’ll all know when that point comes. I wish him all the best in anything he decides to do. He’s a good one!”

Burris seems at peace with his decision. “It’s been the ride of a lifetime. It is well worth it when you see people tapping their toes, smiling, and clapping. I’ve been able to express myself through music. I wouldn’t change anything that I did.”

As one exits and another enters, Burris and Chaney will both perform with the Grass Strings this weekend. They will share the stage another band, Jack Lawrence (formerly with Doc Watson) & Red Rocking Chair, this Sunday, 2:00 p.m., at the Swanee Theatre in Kannapolis.

Tickets are available online.

Flooding is a recurring problem for many people in California, and this week’s incidence caught banjo player and well-known west coast bluegrass personality Frank Solivan Sr on Monday morning as he was returning home.

According to his son, Frank Solivan II, singer, songwriter, mandolinist, and band leader with Dirty Kitchen, his dad had been trapped by floodwaters in the pre-dawn hours after dropping someone off at the airport. While crossing a creek on the ranch where he lives near Tracy, CA, his truck was engulfed by rapidly rising water.

Fortunately, Frank Sr’s good friend, Rhona Cheatwood, who owns the ranch where he lives, came quickly to the scene after getting a phone call from the truck. She stayed on site, contacted rescue workers, and kept Frank’s truck in her headlights until he was rescued.

Frank the younger tells us that his dad, now 77 years of age, was recovered just in time. After extricating himself from the truck, Frank Sr. sat down in the moving water with his feet facing downstream, and managed to tread water and safely reach the bank.

“The rescue folks found him nearly unconscious, hypothermic, confused, and barely functioning. They got his temp back up in the ER, where they kept an eye on him for a while.”

Still hospitalized for a variety of concerns, Frank II tells us that his dad isn’t completely out of the woods just yet.

“They are doing more tests to rule out a few things, like why his heart is racing while he is at rest. Some thought is that it’s left over anxiety from the whole ordeal.

He’s pretty banged up and really sore all over… knee is injured but nothing broken. He’s lucky to be alive.”

There is hope that he may be released today or tomorrow, and will recuperate further under the guidance of his close friend Sharon Elliot at her home.

Frank Sr. has been an active member of the California Bluegrass Association from its founding. He is credited with launching the organization’s esteemed Kids on Bluegrass program at the CBA Father’s Day Festival, and at the NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival and the Plymouth Bluegrass Festival.

His son has always credited his father as his first and primary inspiration to pursue bluegrass music.

What a remarkable story. It seems that Frank Solivan Sr. still has more work to do before his days are done.

Get well soon, Frank!

Pinecastle Records has released a music video for their current single with the King James Boys, Walk on Faith, the title track of their latest project.

Walk on Water was written by Paula Breedlove, Brad Davis, and John Mathis Jr, based on the Biblical story of Jesus walking out to join his apostles across the water, following the miracle of the loaves and fishes. When Peter is unable to walk out to greet Jesus, and begins to sink, Jesus admonishes him for his lack of faith.

The song is sung by founder and guitarist Randy Spencer, who says this one hit them right from the start.

“We loved the song the first time we heard it. It was completely different than anything we had done before, as far as the melody. We also loved the message in the song, which is about living by faith. When Paula pitched it to us, we knew right away we had to cut the song, and we hope everyone loves it like we do, and will listen to the music, but also take the words to heart.”

Randy is supported by regular bandmates Cole Spencer on bass, Curtis Lewis on banjo, Will Hart on mandolin, and Josh Greene on fiddle.

Have a look/listen…

Walk on Water, both the single and the album, are available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers will find the tracks at AirPlay Direct.

Illinois fiddler and bluegrass promoter George Portz passed away on January 9, 2023, from a heart attack, just two days after his last performance – at the Missouri Area Bluegrass Committee’s (MABC) Winter Festival, Eureka. He was 70 years old.

Since 1969, when Portz won the Illinois State Fiddling Championship, he became one of the nation’s leading fiddlers and promoters.  

George Perry Portz was born on October 17, 1952, in Granite City, IL into a family of fiddlers, and had a fiddle in his hands before he could walk or talk.

At the young age of 16 he won the Illinois State Open Fiddle Championship, becoming the youngest State Champion in the United States. His grandfather, Perry Biggs – after whom he established the Perry Biggs Memorial Fiddle Contest – won the Illinois State Senior Division Championship that same year (1969). They became the nation’s only grandfather-grandson combo of champions.

He won another Illinois State Championship (in 1987) and overall was a five-time Illinois State Fair Fiddle Champion, seven-time Western Illinois Fiddle Champion, and was the 1981 National Open Fiddle Champion of United States. Portz won more than 130 first place titles and amassed over 300 trophies. 

In the years that followed, Biggs’s daughter, (Portz’s mother) Kathaleen, won the Ladies Division at the Illinois State contest and his son, Jason, was placed in the Junior Division. They appeared at many events and contests billed as the nation’s only four generations of fiddlers.

Also, his daughter, Kaitlin, began competing in 1997, adding many more awards to the family collection. George’s other son, Justin, is an accomplished songwriter and musician whose band, The Gloaming, received a recording contract after winning a Battle of the Bands in 2005 hosted by Pop’s Blue Moon and 12 Bar Studios of St Louis, Missouri. 

In 1970, Portz was asked to be the fiddler for Jeff Cook & The Grasscutters, a St Louis bluegrass group (making his debut as a full-time member in a band), and performed locally with them for about a year.

Cook was the first President of the newly formed MABC and a DJ with his own radio show on KDNL, which provided the opportunity for live appearances on the radio that gave Portz more exposure around the Missouri and Illinois area.

He also filled-in for various area groups, including with local music legend Dub Crouch, who was viewed as the Bill Monroe of the St Louis Bluegrass music scene, and made friends while jamming with a lot of other musicians.  

So, by 1971, he formed his own band, The South County Bluegrass Ramblers. While performing with this group, he became acquainted with Don Brown & The Ozark Mountain Trio, and he became part of that band, replacing Bobby Puckett as their fiddle player. Portz stayed with them from August 1971 through to the end of May 1973. 

As Brown’s group performed more for festivals, Portz was able to keep his own band going as well, since they just did local shows, such as homecomings, county fairs, and other annual events in the two state area.

Subsequently, he joined The Goins Brothers, playing bass. His debut show with the Goins Brothers was on June 10, 1973, and thereafter he toured with them extensively on the festival circuit and elsewhere for the next two years. The following month Portz went into theJessup Recording Studio with Melvin and Ray Goins, Ralph “Joe” Meadows, and Harley Gabbard to cut tracks for what was the Goins Brothers first all-gospel album. 

The Goins Brothers – Six Hours On The Cross

from God Bless Her, She’s My Mother (Jessup MB-146)

The same individuals did an all-instrumental LP for Meadows. 

In July of 1973, Portz, along with Melvin Goins, played with Bill Monroe at the White House for then-President Richard Nixon and, earlier that day, at the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival.

During the 1970s he appeared on WSM’s Grand Ole Opry numerous times, with The Goins Brothers and with Bill Monroe. 

After his stint with the brothers ended Portz left Kentucky and returned to Illinois, where with George and Paul Brake, another well-known name in the area’s bluegrass community, started playing music together with some other musicians. When they performed on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River (generally booked by Paul Brake) they were billed as the Bluegrass Limited, and on the Illinois side of the river (mainly booked by Portz himself), they were billed as George Portz and Friends.  

Around about the spring of 1975 Portz joined the North Country Bluegrass Band as a fiddler. Other members of the group included Merle Lawson (banjo), Devra Lawson (bass), and George Colclasure, (guitar). 

Eventually, Portz focussed on his own band, and after making a concert appearance in 1979 at Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville, they became known as George Portz & the Friends of Bluegrass.

For over 40 years they made over 2,000 appearances, performing throughout southwest Illinois and eastern Missouri and recorded a handful of self-released albums. With Portz an energetic on-stage presence, the Friends of Bluegrass played a fiery blend of bluegrass roots with traditional Irish and Louisiana bayou/Cajun, Country and Gospel music that entertains audiences of widely varying ages. 

George Portz & the Friends of Bluegrass – bluegrass gospel worship service (Salem In Ballwin United Methodist Church, Ballwin, Missouri) 

George Portz (fiddle); David Dalton (lead vocals and rhythm guitar); Dave Montgomery (harmony vocals and lead guitar); Gene Hall (banjo); and Kathie Pohlman (harmony vocals and bass).  

One prestigious event occurred in 1986, during Ronald Reagan’s second term as President, when the Friends of Bluegrass band performed for him at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.

In 1997 Portz teamed up with Zane Prosser, a St. Louis, Missouri-area bluegrass artist, and released a CD entitled Together at Last. Prosser had previously been a member of Portz’s group and of 1980s band The Over The Hill Gang.

Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine 

from the CD Portz & Prosser – Together at Last

Wil Maring, singer, highly acclaimed songwriter, and well-travelled touring musician from southern Illinois, feels his influence strongly ….. 

“I’d say that for many, many people, in the Illinois and Missouri area, George was the introduction to the world of old-time and bluegrass style fiddle music. He was an institution around here, since he ran almost all the fiddle contests. I started going to his contests around 1980 and played back up guitar for the fiddlers. I love playing rhythm for others; I remember seeing teenaged Alison Krauss and Andrea Zonn at the same contests, who have gone on to become famous. George also organized music festivals, offered musicians like myself places to play here close to home. His level of energy and enthusiasm for the music down to the very end was always astounding and inspiring. If everyone could pick a way to go, I would pick the way George went out, in a moment of rest after doing something he totally loved.”

Portz mentored and taught over 100 young folks in his music room in Shiloh, Illinois, teaching them without ever charging a fee for doing this.

One of his proudest achievements was seeing one of his former students, Alison Krauss, perform on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, and becoming a household name in the process. She gave him credit for giving her the start she needed in the music industry by thanking him on her debut album, Too Late To Cry.

Made a Kentucky Colonel in 2013 by the State of Kentucky for his contributions to traditional music, Portz recently received a Legacy Award from State of Illinois Department of Aging in recognition of his efforts in preserving, promoting, and perpetuating bluegrass and other American music traditions. This is the state’s highest honour. 

Over 40-plus years Portz organized a considerable number of fiddle contests, amounting to over 200 in all. His first was back in 1979, held at the American Legion in O’Fallon, IL (after a couple of years this venue could not support the crowd size of the event. Hence, he decided to move it to the KC Hall in O’Fallon). This event will continue perpetually, at his request, as the George Portz Memorial Fiddle Contest and Bluegrass Show (this year’s date is April 15, 2023).

Additionally, he had long-running contests in Murphysboro, IL (started in 1980); in Patoka, IL – The Perry Biggs Memorial Fiddle Contest (1981); and at the Madison County Fair in Highland, IL (which ran for 20 years from 1977 through to 1997). Also, Portz originated and co-ordinated one at the Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site near Chester, IL (1989) – moved 11 years ago to Festus, MO, and re-named the Festus Missouri Traditional Music Festival 

Ex-wife Kathie Pohlman remembers some moments in their 40-year long musical adventure together   … 

“One particular jam that George was invited to in the Winter of 1976 was a Sunday afternoon session at Wayne Lanter’s Lebanon home. Wayne was an English Professor at BAC College, later Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC). While jamming, Wayne asked George if he could get a group of bluegrass pickers together for a show on the final day (Sunday) of BAC’s Spring 1977 Fine Arts Festival. 

That first year’s show featured 10 of the area’s old-time fiddlers and area musicians playing along with them. Our Bluegrass Show consisted of George on fiddle, Zane Prosser on guitar, Paul Brake on mandolin, Dean Crowe on banjo, and Jerry Whitener on bass.

When introducing the bluegrass portion of the program, the MC asked George what the name of his group was, and George said they were a ‘bunch of his bluegrass friends’… from that point on, the band became known as George Portz & his Friends of Bluegrass.

Throughout the 46 years, we’ve had many outstanding performers grace our stage; such as 14 year old Alison Krauss and her new band Union Station (her band’s first performance), George’s former band mate from the Goins Brothers, Joe Meadows; The Lost Kentuckians; Corrina Logston & Family; Illinois State Harmonica Champions Cliff Patterson and later Matt McElroy; harmonica champion Mel Creasey (who received a standing ovation that night); award-winning fiddler Liesl Schoenberger; The Worthington Family; The Moore Family; The Baker Family of Birch Tree, MO, and so many more. 

Our SWIC College Roots of Bluegrass Show we believe is the longest continuous running music show of any college in the nation!”

George Portz & Friends of Bluegrass

Orange Blossom Special 

Frank Ray, the leader of Missouri-based Cedar Hill, confessed …. 

“It was very sad news about George Portz. I knew him for a little over 50 years. He was a very energetic person as well as a good guy. Not to mention a very good fiddle player.”

Zach Hardesty was a member of the Friends of Bluegrass from 2009 …  

“I spent 11 years on stage with George, playing the music that he loved so dearly. From the early days of playing in his banjo contests, to then hiring me as his regular banjo player, he gave me a chance, and he definitely helped shape who I am today as a banjo picker. While his show didn’t fit the typical ‘bluegrass festival’ circuit, George was one of the busiest pickers in the St. Louis area, and has one of largest and most dedicated followings of any band I’ve ever seen. He has introduced bluegrass music to countless people who otherwise might not have ever gotten the chance, or taken a chance, to hear it. Playing music with George has taken me all over Missouri and Illinois to countless county fairs, town/church picnics, concerts, and other venues… some that have remained on his schedule throughout the years, and some that have not. Many of his fans and followers have become like family. George was an inspiration, a mentor, and a teacher to literally hundreds of fiddle students. He helped countless youth discover the fiddle. I don’t believe he even charged for fiddle lessons. His legacy will absolutely never be forgotten.”

George Portz & Friends of Bluegrass have played shows with many other well-known musicians, including John Hartford, Johnny Gimble, Riders in the Sky, ‘Pappy’ Wade Ray, Michael Martin Murphy, Patsy Montana and Rhonda Vincent.

Ashoken Farewell 

from the CD George Portz & His Friends of Bluegrass (according to Zach Hardesty, Portz played this “at mini funerals.”)

R.I.P., George Portz 

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2023, from 4:00 p.m – 8:00 p.m. at the Schildknecht Funeral Home & Cremation Services in O’Fallon, IL.

Funeral Services for George will be held on Friday, January 20th, with a brief visitation from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at Shiloh United Methodist Church in Shiloh, IL, with the Funeral Service commencing at 1:00 p.m. at the church, followed by graveside service immediately after at Shiloh Valley Cemetery, opposite.

Memorial donations may be made to Bank of O’Fallon, c/o “George Portz Memorial Scholarship Fund,” 901 South Lincoln Avenue; O’Fallon, Illinois 62269.

We are extremely grateful to Kathie Pohlman for her considerable help in completing this obituary.

Thank you, Walter Volz, DJ KDHX public radio, for the MP3s.  

A Discography 

George Portz

• Grandpa Biggs’ Fiddle Favorites (cassette, 1988, re-released on CD, 2021)
• Champion Fiddler George Portz “Jest Jammin” with Friends (2009)

George Portz & His Friends of Bluegrass

• George Portz & His Friends of Bluegrass (2004)
• Volume 5 (2013)
• All Requests (2017) 

Portz & Prosser

• Together at Last (1997) 

Joe Meadows

• Ralph Meadows And His Bluegrass Fiddle (Bluegras C 002, 1973) 

The Goins Brothers

• God Bless Her, She’s My Mother (Jessup MB-146, July 1974) 
• Bluegrass Blues / Hateful Thing (Jessup MB-147, 1974) 
• Bluegrass Blues (Plantation PLC-67 1984) (cassette)

Mel Creasey

• Harmonica: Country Harmonica Favorites (2000) 

Portz has played fiddle on other Mel Creasey releases; for Cliff Patterson (two or three times); and with local fiddler, The Reverend Fred Baue (once) also. 

In addition, George Portz & His Friends of Bluegrass can be seen on a DVD of the Traditional Music Festival. 

Morning Glory Music has a new single this week from The Churchmen, I Know He’ll Let Me In, another from their upcoming album, Shadow of the Cross.

The Churchmen have been carrying the bluegrass gospel flag for more than three decades from their base in southwestern Virginia. Bass player Keith Clark is the sole remaining founding member, though banjo picker Carroll Arnn has been on board nearly as long. They are currently joined by Greg Jones on mandolin and Jay Adams on guitar. All four sing lead and harmony, offering the group a varied vocal sound.

Jones sings this latest, which he wrote, and says was inspired by his love of The Easter Brothers.

“Growing up in the Cana, Virginia, and Mt. Airy, North Carolina areas, I was exposed to the music of The Easter Brothers pretty early on in life. My parents were both fans of the music and had records and 8-track tapes of many bluegrass artists including the Easters. Their style was unique, and their message was clear! I had their sound in mind when writing down the words to the song I Know He’ll Let Me In. I hope the style and message of the Easter Brothers come through when folks hear this song!”

The band gets support on this track from Nathan Aldridge on fiddle and Aaron Ramsey on bass vocal.

Have a listen…

I Know He’ll Let Me In from The Churchmen is available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers will find the track via AirPlay Direct.

The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) has announced the nominees for their 2023 National Bluegrass Awards. These awards will be decided by voting that takes place during the SPBGMA National Convention in Nashville over January 26-29.

The Nashville convention this month is also the site for their prestigious International Band Contest.

In a change from prior years, SPBGMA has also announced that they are moving the Awards Show from Sunday to Saturday night.

And the nominees are:

Bluegrass Promoter Of The Year 

• Dell Davis 
• Danny Stewart 
• Darrell Adkins 
• Cindy Pinion 
• Ernie Evans 
• Cody Johnson 

Bluegrass Radio Station Of The Year 

• WDVX-FM, Knoxville, TN 
• WOBL-Oberlin, OH 
• Sirius XM 62 
• WOBO-Batavia, OH 
• WLHR-Lavonia, GA 
• WBGJ-Princeton, NC 

Bluegrass DJ Of The Year 

• Alex Leach-WDVX 
• Michelle Lee-WOBL 
• Kyle Cantrell-Sirius XM 
• Gary Strong-WOBO 
• Michael Branch-WLHR 
• Joey Black-Sirius XM 

Bluegrass Songwriter Of The Year 

• Edgar Loudermilk 
• Jerry Cole 
• John Meador 
• Daryl Mosley 
• Donna Ulisse 
• Mark Brinkman 

Bluegrass Album Of The Year 

• Something You Didn’t Count On – Jaelee Roberts for Mountain Home Music 
• We’re All Crazy – Dave Adkins for Mountain Fever Records 
• Never Slow Down – The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys for Smithsonian Folkways 
• Changes – Amanda Cook Band for Mountain Fever Records 
• In Dreams I Go Back – Seth Mulder and Midnight Run on Mountain Fever Records 
• Small Town Dreamer – Daryl Mosley on Pinecastle Records 

Bass fiddle Performer Of The Year 

• Mickey Harris 
• Jason Moore 
• Gary Trivette 
• Zak McLamb 
• Terry Smith 
• Edgar Loudermilk 

Dobro Performer Of The Year 

• Rob Ickes 
• Andy Hall 
• Justin Moses 
• Jerry Douglas 
• Josh Swift 
• Tim Graves 

Guitar Performer Of The Year 

• Josh Williams 
• Rick Faris 
• Greg Blake 
• Kody Norris 
• Zach Arnold 
• Kenny Smith 

Mandolin Performer Of The Year 

• Wayne Benson 
• Larry Stephenson 
• Alan Bibey 
• Sierra Hull 
• Ronnie McCoury 
• C.J. Lewandowski 

Banjo Performer Of The Year 

• Daxson Lewis 
• Kristin Scott-Benson 
• Gena Britt 
• Greg Cahill 
• Aaron McDaris 
• Joe Mullins 

Fiddle Performer Of The Year 

• Jason Carter 
• Michael Cleveland 
• Becky Buller 
• Hunter Berry 
• Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris 
• Laura Orshaw 

Female Vocalist Of The Year 

• Amanda Smith 
• Jaelee Roberts 
• Dale Ann Bradley 
• Rhonda Vincent 
• Donna Ulisse 
• Amanda Cook 

Male Vocalist Of The Year 

• Russell Moore 
• Rick Faris 
• Daryl Mosley 
• Danny Paisley 
• Alan Bibey 
• Junior Sisk 

Gospel Group Of The Year 

• King James Boys 
• The Farm Hands 
• The Isaacs 
• Dailey and Vincent 
• Nick Chandler and Delivered 
• Balsam Range 

Vocal Group Of The Year 

• Amanda Cook Band 
• The Farm Hands 
• The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys 
• Balsam Range 
• Blue Highway 
• Rhonda Vincent & The Rage 

Instrumental Group Of The Year 

• Rhonda Vincent & The Rage 
• Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper 
• Kody Norris Show 
• Seth Mulder and Midnight Run 
• Alan Bibey and Grasstowne 
• Special Consensus 

Bluegrass Band (Overall) Of The Year 

• Rhonda Vincent & The Rage 
• The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys 
• Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out 
• The Farm Hands 
• Grascals 
• Alan Bibey and Grasstowne 

Entertainer(s) Of The Year 

• Kody Norris 
• Rhonda Vincent 
• Fast Track 
• Little Roy 
• Po’ Ramblin Boys 
• Balsam Range 

Song Of The Year 

• Heartache & Trouble – Fast Track for Englehardt Music Group 
• Deep River – Rick Faris for Dark Shadow Recording 
• Riding the Chief – Chris Jones and the Night Drivers for Mountain Home Music 
• Mill Worker – Becky Buller for Dark Shadow Recording 
• My My My – Seth Mulder and Midnight Run for Mountain Fever Records 
• Riding the Boston & Maine – Nick Dumas for Skyline Records

Congratulations and best of luck to all the nominees!

Longtime Ohio-based musician/singer/songwriter, Edward “Beanpole” Efaw, 92, passed away on January 17. He had led The Bluegrass Mountaineers for more than four decades before retiring.

His son, Larry, shared, “I couldn’t ask for a better dad. He loved us all and we loved him. He was a faithful Christian. He loved his bluegrass music and every one of his friends and fans.”

Larry shared a little musical history.

“Dad started the band in 1963, and I started at age 10 in 1968. We were together side-by-side for 45 plus years.

My dad played a pivotal role in bluegrass music in the eastern United States and Canada. He had seen so many musicians come into the band. Each and every one became family, no matter how long they were there. 

People admired my dad and looked up to him, not only because of his music, but because he was a great person. He played music until being on the road was just a little too much for him, but he continued to write songs and always asked about how our shows went when we would be out for the weekend. Our family is very sad and heartbroken, but we feel very fortunate that we had him for so long. We want to thank everyone for the calls, texts, and prayers. Dad might not be here with us now, but we know him and Mom are in heaven waiting on us.”

Former banjoist with the Efaws, Chris Smith, shared…

“When I heard the news, I shed quite a few tears, and then got a big smile on my face thinking of him. Northeast Ohio bluegrass fans lost someone who played a pivotal role in our music, and more importantly, was a great man. I can only imagine the smile Dora Efaw had on her face when Beanpole walked into heaven. I remember them walking around at bluegrass festivals, holding hands, laughing, and thinking to myself how solid and picture-perfect they were together. They sure loved each other and their family unconditionally. Carris, Larry, Shirley, Doris, Lola, and Patti, and all the grandkids, I can’t tell you how sorry I am. So many miles, so many great memories. The stage act that Beanpole and I had made thousands of people laugh, that was both of our goals. Bean loved to see people laugh, and so did I. Nothing was ever planned. It was all off the cuff comedy. I never heard him say a sour word about anyone, unless it was about me.

He wrote a song called The City of Gold. How lucky he is to see it! We weep, but he is in paradise. 

In 1986, at 13 years old, Beanpole asked me to fill in for Ron Dawson at the Mercer County Coonhunters. My dad and I loaded up and headed to Pennsylvania. Beanpole pulled in in an old school bus, and I thought boy oh boy, I have hit the big time! Shortly after, Ron Dawson retired, and thus started a lifelong friendship. The entire Efaw family took me in, made me family, and treated me as one of their own. RIP Ed ‘Beanpole’ Efaw, my friend, my family, and my partner in laughs. You will never be forgotten. This is a tough one for all of us.”

Edward Efaw’s visitation will be held on Thursday January, 19, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. His funeral service will be conducted on Friday, January 20, at 1:00 p.m. at the Schermesser Funeral Home in Akron, Ohio.