Hard core traditionalists, The Bluegrass Brothers, have released a new single from Generations, their upcoming Mountain Fever album. The song is Memories Of My Childhood, written by Danny Lamm, and sung by Donald Dowdy, who plays mandolin with the group.
The original brothers are Victor Dowdy on bass, and brother Robert on banjo, who have been performing as The Bluegrass Brothers for 25 years. Band members came and went over that period, until Victor’s sons (Donald and Steven) were old enough to join up. So now there are two sets of bluegrass brothers in the band, all named Dowdy. The fifth member is Chris Hart, who handles the reso-guitar.
These boys can pick just fine, but their ragged-but-right vocals is what really sets them apart. Victor has been recognized for years as one of the best mountain-style bluegrass singers around, with an old time sound that would make Ralph Stanley proud. His boys have developed that same skill, but with a more modern edge. When the three of them harmonize, it’s something to hear.
Here’s a sample of the single, where you can hear Victor singing tenor to Donald’s lead.
Memories Of My Childhood is available for download now by radio programmers at Airplay Direct, with Generations due to drop sometime in July.
