Author: Richard Thompson

Jesse Lester McReynolds, mandolin player extraordinaire, celebrates his 80th birthday today (7/9/09). Born in Coburn, Virginia, McReynolds, known for his innovative cross-picking and split-string styles of playing the mandolin, partnered his late brother, Jim, in the pioneering bluegrass band Jim and

As reported earlier veteran singer/multi-instrumentalist Bill Harrell passed away on June 24 at his home in Davidsonville, Maryland. He had suffered a stroke on June 12 and was hospitalized for a week. His health was further complicated by advanced prostate

Steve Martin will appear on the season finale of A Prairie Home Companion on Saturday, June 27. As has often been the case, he will be performing with Steep Canyon Rangers. Hosted as usual by Garrison Keillor the program will be

Doyle Lawson and Ricky Skaggs are among the performers scheduled to appear during the forthcoming Bluegrass Nights Series at The Ryman. Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman, an annual concert series in Nashville, begins June 25 with a show featuring Doyle Lawson

One of the recent new releases from Rebel Records is Mac Wiseman's Bluegrass Hits and Heartsongs (REB CD 7523). The 14 recordings in this collection came about due to the mutually beneficial liaison during the mid-1970s between Lou Ukelson, owner of

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum continues with its fight to keep Bill Monroe's mandolin. According to a report on WGNS Radio, Murfreesboro, TN, the museum has raised about $680,000 of the $1,100,000 needed to keep several prized instruments

Tom Thomas, the President of the Flatt and Scruggs Preservation Society, has announced the creation of a blog that will naturally focus on matters relating to Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. Thomas said of his blog... "(It) will display any new information

Donna Ulisse's recent studio visit with Kyle Cantrell for the taping of his popular Bluegrass Junction show Track-By-Track will be broadcast for the first time on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 11:00am. EST. Ulisse and Cantrell discussed and played all thirteen

Last July we told you about a new magazine that was planned to start publication in the Fall. Due to an unfortunate chain of circumstances, not least the severe state of the US economy, Ron Malec's proposed Jerusalem Ridge Magazine,

Spring Creek created a good deal of media reaction and fan support with last year's self-released CD, Lonesome Way To Go, so much so that Rebel Records signed them to the label. In so doing they became the first band