Rhonda Vincent has released a music video for the title track of her latest CD, Taken.
This album is the first on her own label, Upper Management Music. In an interview with Bluegrass Today when Taken hit in October 2010, Rhonda discussed how many new hats she had to wear as artist, producer, banker, label owner, etc. Now, she and her husband/manger Herb Sandker can add video producer to the list.
The new video was shot in the Caribbean last year during the Rhonda Vincent Bluegrass Cruise, and features both Rhonda and Herb, and her touring band, The Rage. And yes… the beach shots include glimpses of the lovely and talented Ms. Vincent in her bathing attire.
Rebel recording artists Paul Williams and the Victory Trio are looking forward to the summer 2011 release of Satisfied, their latest album of bluegrass Gospel music.
Williams is a bluegrass survivor, staying active as a touring and recording pro for nearly sixty years. He made his name as a young man with Ezra and Curly Cline and their Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, followed by time with Jimmy Martin. He is also among the most prolific songwriters in bluegrass, and many of his new Gospel songs are included on this new CD.
As with other recent projects, Paul is playing mandolin and singing lead and tenor vocals, supported by Dan Moneyhun and Adam Winstead on guitar and vocals, Jerry Keys on banjo and vocals and Susie Keys on bass. Hunter Berry guests on fiddle.
Here’s a bit of Victory Trio singing from the 2010 Doyle Lawson festival in North Carolina.
From October 1, 2010 through to the end of September 2011, we will, each day, celebrate the life of Bill Monroe by sharing information about him and those people who are associated with his life and music career. This information will include births and deaths; recording sessions; single, LP and CD release dates; and other interesting tidbits. Richard F. Thompson is responsible for the research and compilation of this information. We invite readers to share any tidbits, photos or memories you would like us to include.
May 5, 1951 Single released – Prisoner’s Song / Kentucky Waltz (Decca 9 – 46314, 78rpm)
May 5, 1967 Paul Wiley filled in, playing banjo, with the Blue Grass Boys, in Centralia, Washington. *
May 5, 1972 Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys played the two-day Low Country Bluegrass Festival, Varnville, South Carolina.
May 5, 1989 Recording session – Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys recorded Molly And Tenbrooks, Footprints in the Snow, Sitting Alone in the Moonlight, Precious Memories, Raw Hide, My Sweet Darlin’, In the Pines, Love, Please Come Home, Pike County Breakdown, I’m Working On A Building and Watermelon Hanging on the Vine on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, Tennessee. Completing the line-up were Tom Ewing [guitar], Blake Williams [banjo], Billy Rose [bass] and Tater Tate [fiddle]. The producers were Steve Buchanan and Bill Monroe. **
* Phil Williams, playing bass, and Vivian Williams, playing fiddle, also filled in during this concert.
** Some of the songs were actually recorded on June 13 (or 14) and June 27, 1989.
All titles are included on the album Bill Monroe – Live at the Opry: Celebrating 50 Years on the Grand Ole Opry (MCA Special Products MCAD 42286), which was released on March 10, 1998.
The Infamous Stringdusters will be recording their stage shows this next few days for a live CD expected this Fall on Sugar Hill.
The first show tracked was in Charlottesville, VA on April 29, and they captured audio last night in Burlington, VT. They will also record tonight’s show in Brighton, MA plus Friday’s in New York city, and Saturday’s in Falls Church, VA.
‘Dusters guitarist Andy Falco shared a few details about the project.
“Audio will be engineered by our dude, and seventh Stringduster, Drew Becker, and producer Billy Hume.
Were not sure exactly what songs will be used yet, but it will be a mix of old and new Stringdusters material, including some songs that are faves at the show, but have not been recorded on an album. Be looking for a few surprises as well.”
The guys have been road warriors from their start in 2005, and have developed a loyal fan base from their raucous live performances. Reso man Andy Hall said that they have been wanting to give their fans the live album they have been requesting for the past few years.
“We’re trying to capture the live ‘Duster experience as realistically as we can – the energy, the crowd, the songs, all of it. We’re making up our sets pretty much as we usually would, and changing them up night to night. But we’re doing some new songs that people may not have heard if they haven’t seen us in a while.
We also have a videographer/photographer out with us to help produce bonus content to go along with the audio recording.
The plan is to listen to everything when we’re done, and choose what we like best. We haven’t decided if we’ll use chunks from each night, or maybe just one whole show. Once we listen we’ll decide that; we’ll have 5 shows to choose from.
We are very excited about this project!”
Here’s a look at one of the new songs that may find its way onto the live CD.
If you want to be in the audience for one of these remaining tracking dates, you can find all the show details on the Infamous Stringdusters web site.
The International Bluegrass Music Association has announced that all balloting for Board elections, Hall of Fame inductions and IBMA awards will be held online starting next week. They will be utilizing the eBallot interface to facilitate and tabulate votes.
Current voting members of the organization will receive information today about the new system, with an opportunity to cast a test ballot now to become familiar with the new process before IBMA Board elections open on May 13. The first round ballots for the International Bluegrass Music Awards begins on May 20.
In speaking this morning with IBMA Executive Director Dan Hays, I learned that a system is in place for those approximately 7% of voting members who do not have an email address on file.
“If we have your email address, you will be notified by email when each ballot opens. If not, you will receive a paper ballot which can be returned by mail, but will also include instructions for casting your vote online.”
Hays said that going online has several advantages for IBMA, with a substantial reduction in costs front and center.
“The cost of using the online system will be roughly the same as what we had been paying the accounting firm of Riney & Hancock to tabulate paper ballots, but we will save on printing and mailing costs. Last year we spent $12,000 on printing and postage for the awards balloting alone.”
Using eBallot also provides a high degree of security, ensuring that double voting can not occur. Each voter will have a unique user ID and password for each ballot.
“IBMA staff will still have no access to any of the data until it is complied by Riney & Hancock, but we will be able to keep track of who has and hasn’t voted, and can send out email reminders to anyone who is likely to miss the deadline. Plus it eliminates the mailing delays that can cause ballots to be lost and delayed in transit.”
Perhaps most importantly, the second and third round ballots can include audio samples and images to make considering projects more convenient for voters.
Any professional member of IBMA who does not receive a test ballot should contact the office to ensure that the email address on file is correct – or check their Spam filter to make sure future messages won’t be flagged.
My conversation with Dan also touched on the annual World Of Bluegrass in late September. He said that early registration for 2011 is running about 12% ahead of last year. That is no guarantee of expanded attendance come convention time, but it’s certainly an encouraging indicator.
Hays also pointed out that WOB will be looking for a new host site for 2013. The city of Nashville is currently building a new convention facility, the Music City Center, near the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the existing Nashville Convention Center will be converted for other uses. IBMA is looking now at other potential sites in the Nashville area, and inviting other cities to bid on multi-year contracts for the event.
“Our membership has told us that they prefer having all events under the same roof, so we will be examining bids with that in mind, but we are still open to the possibility of holding Fan Fest as an outdoor festival adjacent to the primary site. The Board should have everything in place for 2013 by this time next year.”
Full details on WOB can be found on the IBMA web site. Tickets, including new access/pricing options, go on sale June 1
Audie Blaylock is using the Centennial of Bill Monroe’s birth as the occasion to release a tribute project on Rural Rhythm, appropriately titled, I’m Going Back To Old Kentucky. Recorded with his road band, Redline, the Big Mon album also features guest artists Del and Ronnie McCoury, Bobby Osborne, Lou Reid, Carl Jackson, Glenn Duncan and Jason Carter.
Though Blaylock has been performing as a bluegrass professional since the early 1980s – working with Jimmy Martin, Rhonda Vincent, and Michael Cleveland before launching a solo career in ’08 – it was the release of an all-star Martin tribute record in 2004 that really brought him to the attention of a wider audience. His driving rhythm guitar and traditional bluegrass vocals established the foundation for the album, which was nominated for both Grammy and IBMA awards.
So why not back to the well once more?
A debut single has been released, a powerful rendition of Mighty Dark To Travel, cut with Redliners Patrick McAvinue on fiddle, Russ Carson on banjo, and Reed Jones on bass, along with special guests Ronnie McCoury on mandolin and Bobby Osborne on tenor vocals.
Mighty Dark To Travel: [http://www.ruralrhythm.com/audio/Song%20Clips/clip-AudieBlaylock&Redline-Mightydark.mp3]
Other Monroe favorites on the CD include My Little Georgia Rose, You’ll Find Her Name Written There, Out In The Cold World, Cry, Cry Darlin’, and When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall. The album closes with a rousing triple fiddle version of Tall Timber.
I’m Going Back To Old Kentucky is set for digital release on May 17, with CDs available May 31. This looks like a good’n, folks.
From October 1, 2010 through to the end of September 2011, we will, each day, celebrate the life of Bill Monroe by sharing information about him and those people who are associated with his life and music career. This information will include births and deaths; recording sessions; single, LP and CD release dates; and other interesting tidbits. Richard F. Thompson is responsible for the research and compilation of this information. We invite readers to share any tidbits, photos or memories you would like us to include.
May 4, 1946 Kentucky Waltz (Columbia 36907) peaked at No. 3 in the Billboard country singles music chart. In terms of chart position, this was Bill Monroe’s most successful single release.
May 4, 1966 Bill Monroe recorded playing Fire on the Mountain in concert as New York’s Gaslight Cafe, later released on Smithsonian/Folkways.
May 4, 1976 Recording session – At the Nugget Recording Studio in Nashville, Bill Monroe recorded Uncle Pen, Footprints in the Snow, Jerusalem Ridge, I’m Working on a Building, Mary Jane, Won’t You Be Mine, Blue Moon of Kentucky, Dear Old Dixie and It’s Me Again Lord for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s series Country Roads. Accompanying Bill Monroe for this session were James Monroe [guitar], Bob Jones [guitar], Bob Black [banjo], Randy Davis [bass] and Kenny Baker [fiddle]. Ira Stewart was the producer and Vic Mullen was the MC. *
May 4, 1983 Recording session – During an evening session at Burns Station Sound studio Bill Monroe and Barbara Mandrell [vocal/Dobro] recorded My Rose of Old Kentucky. Wayne Lewis [guitar], Kenneth W. Lewis [guitar], Blake Williams [banjo], Mark Hembree [bass], Kenny Baker [fiddle] and Buddy Spicher [fiddle] provided additional instrumental support. The producer was Walter Haynes. **
May 4, 1992 Hubert Davis died, age 87, in Nashville’s Memorial Hospital, after a heart attack. ***
* These eight recordings were later released in 1982 on an LP Live Radio (Country Road CR 02).
** The recording is included on the LP Bill Monroe and Friends (MCA-5435), released on January 12, 1984.
*** Davis, who featured in just one recording session as a studio musician, was buried at the Spring Hill Cemetery, in Nashville, Tennessee.
In the early 1950s Davis played banjo with Hack Johnson and The Tennessean’s. About that time he recorded on some of Jim Eanes’ Decca cuts also.
He is best known for leading the Season Travelers that recorded a couple of albums for the Texas-based Stoneway label, and later had three LPs on the RHD label. Davis continued to perform with the Season Travelers at the Bluegrass Inn, his own bluegrass night club in Nashville, until his death.
Here’s a video of her helping out a fellow student, Caleb Gilbreath, on his senior recital. Caleb’s a drummer, and brought Sierra along to sing Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ 455 Rocket, a hit for Kathy Mattea in 1995.
All Berklee students have to perform in such a recital before graduation, and are responsible for getting musicians together, arranging the material, and rehearsing the band themselves. This performance really casts Sierra in a different light, where she is obviously enjoying herself – perhaps not thinking it would ever show up online?
It’s a bird… it’s a plane… it’s Mandolin Mashup 5!
Tonight (May 4) at 8:15 p.m., Berklee College of Music mandolin instructor John McGann will host a concert at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston to celebrate the skill and artistry of the many mandolin students who are currently studying at the school. Berklee has long been a beacon for students of a wide variety of modern music, but only agreed to allow mandolin and banjo as principal instruments in 2006.
John tells us that the concert will include performances by Sierra Hull, set to complete her Berklee diploma program later this month, and Jacob Jolliff, who finishes a four year degree this year as well. Dominick Leslie will be featured with the group with whom he regularly performs, The Deadly Gentlemen, which also includes Crooked Still banjoist Greg Liszt.
Other students and student-led groups scheduled to take the stage tonight are Alex Gable and Cuarteto Pasado de Moda, Bryce Milano, Dan Bui, Chasing Blue, Matthew Wittler, and Liam Lewis. In keeping with Berklee’s reputation as an international institution, McGann says that the show will highlight students from Canada, South Africa, Brazil, Venezuela, and all across the US.
He is understandably pumped for this opportunity to show off his young mando-charges…
“Styles are sure to include bluegrass, jazz, Brazilian and original music; but you never know – you may hear the dawn of a brand new genre.
This is a very special showcase for some of the finest young players on Planet Earth!”
For those who won’t be in Boston this evening, you can watch live video of the concert online at www.ConcertWindow.com. Be sure to log in at 8:15 tonight (EDT), as there will be no archive of the concert preserved.
The Boxcars are featured on the cover of the May 2 issue of Cashbox magazine, in celebration of the position of their debut album atop this week’s Cashboxbluegrass chart.
This latest bluegrass supergroup is anchored by Adam Steffey on mandolin and Ron Stewart on banjo, with Keith Garrett on guitar, John Bowman on fiddle and Harold Nixon on bass. Congratulations on the cover, guys!
Cashbox was once among the premiere music business publications, launching in the 1940s to report on the then burgeoning juke box trade. It expanded to include radio play and record sales, and published weekly until the magazine folded in 1996. It has been resurrected as an online journal, still publishing weekly, with a small number of commemorative print editions each year.
They have been very generous to bluegrass and roots music of late, with both Wade Mainer and Mumford & Sons serving as cover artists so far in 2011. New issues appear each Wednesday online.
