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Author Archive: Richard Thompson
Richard F. Thompson is a long-standing free-lance writer specialising in bluegrass music topics.
A two-time Editor of British Bluegrass News, he has been seriously interested in bluegrass music since about 1970. As well as contributing to that magazine, he has, in the past 30 plus years, had articles published by Country Music World, International Country Music News, Country Music People, Bluegrass Unlimited, MoonShiner (the Japanese bluegrass music journal) and Bluegrass Europe.
He wrote the annotated series I'm On My Way Back To Old Kentucky, a daily memorial to Bill Monroe that culminated with an acknowledgement of what would have been his 100th birthday, on September 13, 2011.
Long Road Home – Back To Dixieland
What’s more retro than a vinyl 45? Long Road Home, the quintet formed in 2005 by Martin Gilmore (guitar) and Justin Hoffenberg (fiddle), and now additionally consisting of Pete Wernick (banjo), Jordan Ramsey (mandolin) and Andrew Bonnis on bass, has announced the release of a [...]
Story Behind the Song – Crossing the Bar
Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote Crossing the Bar in 1889, three years before he died. The poem describes his placid and accepting attitude toward death. Although he followed this work with subsequent poems, he requested that Crossing the Bar appear as the final poem in all [...]
John McEuen honored by Charlie Poole Festival
John McEuen, a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, is to receive the 2013 Charlie Poole Lifetime Achievement Award. Banjo player McEuen, who is scheduled to top the bill at the 18th Annual Charlie Poole Music Festival, is to receive the award at [...]
On This Day #12
On This Day……………………… On May 15, 2002 Ray Park died. Ray Park (guitar and fiddle) is most notable for his partnership with mandolin player Vern Williams. In 1959 they formed a band called the Carroll County Country Boys; the very first bluegrass band in greater [...]
On This Day #11
On This Day ……… On May 9, 1956 Jimmy Martin had his first recording session for Decca Records. At an afternoon session at Bradley Studio, 804 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee, Jimmy Martin recorded four songs Before the Sun Goes Down, Skip Hop and Wobble, [...]
Having a Coffee with ……………. Bob Wolff
This is the third in a fun new series in which we ask bluegrass music personalities, some famous, some not so well known, about some of their interests as well as about the music that they love. Today’s guest is Bob Wolff, who initiated the concept [...]
George Jones and Bluegrass Music
As has already been noted, George Jones had a significant influence on bluegrass music, most notably on those whose voice was still being formed in the early days of bluegrass. Rhonda Vincent has praised him for helping her to find hers. As for Jones himself, [...]
Bill Lowe passes
William Forrest “Bill” Lowe of West Union, South Carolina, passed away on Sunday, April 28. He was aged 82. Born at Hatfield, Pike County, Kentucky, on May 8, 1930, he grew up listening to old-time country music. His uncle Grover taught him how to play [...]
Bluegrass Country to launch the Spinney’s No Borders
WAMU’s Bluegrass Country will feature an official debut of No Borders, the brand new CD from the The Spinney Brothers on the Mountain Fever label, tomorrow, April 30th. The band, consisting of Allan Spinney (guitar and vocals), Rick Spinney (banjo and vocals), Gary Dalrymple (mandolin) [...]
Pretty Good for a Girl – Murphy Henry
Pretty Good for a Girl is the rather grudging term often used in the past to damn with faint praise a female who is inclined to excel in some way. Murphy Hicks Henry, the author, has the good humour to use this phrase as the [...]
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