Mountains have always been an integral component as far as bluegrass and traditional music is concerned. Songs that reflect the inspiration of altitude originated with those who once dwelled overseas before eventually resettling in the US, and Appalachia in particular,
Kathy Wigman Lesnock was born and reared in a home where country music and singing were as natural as breathing. From those childhood days in rural Pennsylvania, Kathy became a songwriting and vocal force with Crandall Creek. Kathy is the principal
This is an update of a previous interview for the California Bluegrass Association Bluegrass Breakdown where I had the opportunity to chat with Karen Celia Heil, the versatile, passionate (and very busy) San Francisco-based American old-time fiddler and guitarist. Hello Karen,
Malin Petersen is what some folks might refer to as bi-continental. Raised in Norway by parents that considered themselves steadfast music lovers — her dad being a country musician and her mother a lover of jazz — she began her
The Ray Cardwell profile is a contribution by Dale McCurry with Bambi Grinder, founders of NoteWorthy Music in Springfield, MO. "I'm doing a little happy dance around the house right now," says Ray Cardwell. He has texted me at 7:30 in the a.m.
Following an invitation that the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) extended to its members that they share a memory from "75 years of bluegrass," we thought that we would collect a few to share with you. The exact moment when I
One of the first countries to ever reflect the extent of America's musical influence was the Soviet Union. Even at the height of the Cold War, visiting musicians from the US managed to find an immediate connection with their Russian
Bill Knopf is a prolific banjo virtuoso, former UCLA drum major, and music instructor from the LA area who has been playing since before most readers were born. He was active in the early '60s playing in his own bands
Based in New England, Rock Hearts is a band of gifted music veterans that recently charted with the debut single, 99 Year Blues, from the forthcoming album, Starry Southern Nights. The album was produced by Ned Luberecki. This group has an interesting backstory;
Sam Bush - photo by Shelly Swanger Fifty years ago this month, in Louisville, KY, 19-year-old Sam Bush joined the Bluegrass Alliance as a guitar player. It was the first step on a journey that led to an 18-year run with New
