Bobby O remembers Rocky Top

New Bluegrass & Old Heartaches - Bobby OsborneBobby Osborne has used the imminent release of his next album with Rocky Top X-Press as the occasion to record some remembrances of his storied career on video.

The first episode of what is being called Bobby Osborne On The Air features him recalling how he and Sonny came to record Rocky Top, a song that is perhaps the most universally known and played song in the history of bluegrass. Rocky Top was not only a radio hit, charting for both The Osborne Brothers and Lynn Anderson, but its adoption as a fight song for the University of Tennessee’s football team has kept it alive to this day – much to the chagrin of bluegrass bar bands worldwide.

Bobby chronicles how the song was a last-minute addition to a 1967 recording session, and how its inclusion barely survived the scrutiny of music publisher, Teddy Wilburn.

 

More episodes will be available over the next few weeks leading up to the May 22 release of New Bluegrass & Old Heartaches on Rural Rhythm.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.