Bluegrass Videos Archives - Bluegrass Today

Ralph II does the Opry with the Clinch Mountain Boys

Ralph Stanley II on the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium (1/17/25)

January 17 was a special night for Ralph Stanley II. After many years of playing the Grand Ole Opry as a member of the Clinch Mountain Boys, alongside his father, the great Dr. Ralph Stanley, he had his first opportunity to play the Opry under his own name, leading The Clinch Mountain Boys as his father and uncle had done in the past.

To make it even sweeter, the show was at The Ryman Auditorium, where it all began, and it was in honor of Dr. Ralph’s induction as an Opry member on January 15, 2000, the first member of the new millennium!

So II brought the band to Nashville, and tells us that he really felt the thread that runs through the multi-generational Stanley sound.

“Being back on the Ryman stage where I had stood many times with my dad, but now as a solo headliner meant the world to me. There were so many emotions that night! I was proud and honored to represent my dad, and also show the world that the Stanley sound is alive and well!!!”

With him were regular members of the Clinch Mountain Boys Alex Leach on guitar, Curtis Coleman on banjo, Stanley Efaw on fiddle, and Randall Hibbitts on bass, along with special guest Wyatt Ellis on mandolin.

II shared a number of photos of his big night, along with this behind-the-scenes video of their time at the Ryman.

Well done, Ralph! Your dad would be proud.

Face Of Appalachia from The Herculeons

Two Nashville vocal powerhouses have joined together to form The Herculeons, in the persons of John Cowan and Andrea Zonn. They have a new album coming in March on True Lonesome Records which will also feature fellow singing stars Michael McDonald, Darrell Scott, John Hall, and Reese Wynans.

Today they have released a first single, Face of Appalachia, tracked back before the terrible storm that ravaged so many communities in that area at the end of September ’24. So they have decided to use the song, and its music video, to continue raising awareness about the ongoing needs of these mountain people and their families, especially now that media attention has been drawn to the ruination from the California wildfires.

Speaking jointly, John and Andrea say…

“When we recorded this song, we couldn’t have foreseen the fate that would befall our beloved Appalachian region with the destructive force of Hurricane Helene. The heart center of the music and musicians that have nurtured and nourished us has been dealt an unimaginable blow.

Our dear friend and gifted photographer, Madison Thorn, traveled to the region in the aftermath of the hurricane and captured stunning images of the devastation. We asked her to help us make this video to raise awareness and funds as this region embarks on the long and difficult process of rebuilding their homes and their lives.”

Face of Appalachian is a lovely song, written by John Sebastian and Lowell George, and recorded on Sebastian’s 1974 album, Tarzana Kid. This is the same team that composed Dixie Chicken, the title track of Little Feat’s 1973 album, also included on Tarzana Kid.

Andrea sings the lead here, with John’s harmony wailing behind her, on a stark track that lets their voices take the forefront. Beautifully done.

They are using the video to encourage people to contribute time and treasure, as they are able, to the various organizations who are doing such exemplary work to bring relief to the Appalachian region.

The Herculeons, i.e., John and Andrea, especially recommend the following agencies when you consider donations:

We’ll see more information from The Herculeons in the coming weeks, and their upcoming project, expected March 21.

Wyatt Ellis studio visualizer video with Peter Rowan

Wyatt Ellis has been getting a lot of mileage from his current single, Winds of Rowan County. He’s released it as a double-side, 45 RPM vinyl single, backed with Bill Monroe’s Memories of You, also available through the popular download and streaming services.

The combination of these two artists, at the opposite ends of their careers – Rowan is 82 and Ellis is 15 – has captured the attention of people both inside the bluegrass world, and well beyond.

Now Wyatt has released a music video for Winds of Rowan County, filled with behind the scenes clips from the recording studio. Ellis and Christopher Henry play mandolins, with Rowan on guitar and vocals, David Mansfield and Christian Ward on fiddles, Max Wareham on banjo, and Mike Bub on bass.

Check it out…

If You Don’t Climb the Mountain video from Wilson Banjo Co

Pinecastle Records has brought out a music video for the new single from Wilson Banjo Co, just as the band releases a five-track EP, Lonely As It Gets, which nicely showcases the latest iteration of the group.

The video is for If You Don’t Climb the Mountain, written by Jeff Hovis and Rick Lang, which was filmed by the folks with Bonfire Recording Studio on a hotel roof during last September’s World of Bluegrass convention in Raleigh, NC.

It’s a bluesy song about the need to put in the work to obtain the results you hope for in life, perfectly encapsulated in the last line of the chorus: “If you don’t climb the mountain, you can’t enjoy the view.”

Founder and band leader, banjo picker Steve Wilson – who really does make banjos – says that the song is a great fit for Andrew Crawford, who has joined the band on guitar along with his wife, Brandi Colt on mandolin.

“If You Don’t Climb the Mountain is a powerful anthem that Rick Lang brought to us, and we were instantly inspired by the lyrics and the dynamic groove. It truly sets the tone for the 10th Anniversary of Wilson Banjo Co. My wife and I gave up everything completely stable in our lives to follow this bluegrass dream ten years ago, and never looked back. We don’t do it for fame and fortune, but for the love of the music and creation, fulfillment in the journey, and we do hope to make enough folks happy that we can pay the bills and continue to climb our mountain.

We are strong believers in being a captain of our own destiny and not just ‘following the leader’ or ‘working for the man,’ for as long as the good Lord permits us.

We knew this was the perfect song to debut Andrew Crawford’s tenacious, gravely tone as a new lead singer with Wilson Banjo Co., and he absolutely crushed it along with the entire band driving the arrangement from start to finish.

We couldn’t be more proud of how it turned out, and hope it inspires you too!”

With Wilson on banjo, Crawford on guitar, and Colt on mandolin, the group is completed by Adam Bachman on reso-guitar and Jamie Carter on bass. Darren Nicholson plays mandolin on the track.

Have a look and listen to If You Don’t Climb the Mountain below.

If You Don’t Climb the Mountain, and the full Lonely As It Gets EP, are available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

Larry Cordle drops video for Old Richmond Road

Veteran bluegrass hero Larry Cordle has released a music video for his current single, Old Richmond Road, consisting of photographs that visualize the lyrics of the song.

Old Richmond Road is a cross between a love song to his beloved wife, Wanda, and a memoir of their marriage and life together. It describes places and people that populated their lives, which is nicely set off in the video by a collection of photos from Cord’s own archive.

The combination of the personal frankness in these lyrics with images of Larry and Wanda together, makes this a highly emotional viewing experience. Especially once you understand that the road in the title, and the directions in the first verse, describe the way to Wanda’s house when she and Larry were first dating back in Kentucky.

We should all to have someone who loves us this well.

Support on the audio track comes from Clay Hess on guitar, Steve Thomas on mandolin, Jenee Fleenor on fiddle, Mike Anglin on bass, and Mike Rogers on percussion. Mike and Larry add harmony vocals.

The song and the video are starkly beautiful, but what else would you expect from Larry Cordle?

Check it out…

Old Richmond Road is available now from popular download and streaming services online, and to radio programmers via AirPlay Direct.

95 – new single from Breakin’ Strings

Maine’s Breakin’ Strings has released a song with a theme familiar to anyone who lives along the US east coast. It’s another from their upcoming Homegrown album, which has been delayed due to some health issues.

It’s titled 95, for I-95, the longest north/south highway in the United States, which runs from Miami, Florida to the border with New Brunswick in Maine. Much of its route follows the old US-1, connecting major cities all along the way. A busy highway, especially near the metro areas, I-95 is all but unavoidable in parts of many states.

Written by the group’s two guitarists, Cliff Gelina and Cody Howe, 95 tells of events that have occurred for the band along this road, including a return from World of Bluegrass with a major storm on their heels.

Gelina sings lead, supported by Howe on lead guitar, guest Cory Walker on banjo, Sam Acus on mandolin, and Amanda Gelina on bass. David Bevins provides reso-guitar. The track drives it hard, with solid solos all around.

Give it a listen…

95 is available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers are invited to contact Breakin’ Strings online to obtain an airplay copy.

Ghost Riders in the Sky video from Todd Taylor, plus another health scare

South Carolina banjo man Todd Taylor has a new video, his rock ‘n’ roll five string version of the classic song, Ghost Riders in the Sky.

Todd has made a career for himself in this distinct stylistic niche, taking three-finger, roll-style banjo to rock music lovers with his arrangements of hit songs, and appearing with both rock and country acts on stage. His many collaborations with The Oak Ridge Boys have cemented his appeal with their massive fan base, as did his performances in years past on the Jerry Lewis telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Taylor suffers from a related disease, mitochondrial myopathy, and his appearances on the telethon both showed the world that people with muscular diseases could still accomplish much, and gave hope to the thousands of suffers of MD.

In that light, let’s talk about his most recent health concerns before checking out the new video.

Todd told us this afternoon that he has just received a diagnosis of colon cancer, following the extraction of a large polyp, with a treatment plan yet to be determined. But in typical Taylor fashion, he says that he’s not afraid, because he knows that God is with him, and feels that he will certainly beat this.

Given that his doctors found no spread of the cancer into his lymphatic system, Todd has good reason to be optimistic. He is likely to undergo a regimen of chemo and/or radiation therapy starting within the next few weeks, and at only 59 years of age, he says that he feels great. Prognosis in such cases is for better than 90% of patients recovering fully.

Todd asks that everyone pray for him, as he has seen the power of faith and prayer in his past brushes with mortality.

Now, let’s have a look at his take on Ghost Riders in the Sky.

Best of luck, Todd, as you go through treatment. We’re all praying for a happy outcome!

Short Life of Trouble available online

The short film treatment of the life of legendary old time fiddler G.B. Grayson, Short Life of Trouble: The Legend of G.B. Grayson, has been made available to the public for online viewing.

The 2020 project, directed by Kelley St. Germain, follows the life of Gilliam Banmon Grayson, who lived from 1887-1930, from his youth in eastern Kentucky until his death in an auto accident in his early 40s. He didn’t achieve notoriety until shortly before he died, but a number of the songs he is credited with writing have become staples in old time and bluegrass music.

Though some may have been based on existing folks songs, he is believed to have been responsible for or popularizing classics like Tom Dooley, Train 45, Handsome Molly, Short Life of Trouble, Going Down the Lee Highway, Omie Wise, Rose Conley, Banks of the Ohio, and Little Maggie.

St. Germain has placed the full 39 minute documentary on YouTube, where it can be viewed at no charge.

Short Life of Trouble won a number of film festival awards for its coverage of Grayson’s music and its impact, in interviews filmed with Ketch Secor, John McCutcheon, Ralph Stanley II, Kody Norris, Josh Beckworth, and a number of Grayson’s grandchildren.

To view, visit YouTube, or simply watch below.

Thanks Kelley!

Video Premiere: When It Rains, She Pours from Nu-Blu

Nu-Blu debuts their new music video today, a thoughtful, slice of life presentation of their current single with Turnberry Records, When It Rains, She Pours.

It’s something of a departure for the husband-and-wife duo that leads Nu-Blu, Daniel and Carolyn Routh, in that guitarist Daniel sings the lead on this one. Though he takes the lead on a healthy percentage of the material on their live show, their radio releases tend to be sung by Carolyn, who plays bass with the group.

When It Rains, She Pours comes from the writing team of Tim Stafford, Kim Williams, Larry Shell, and Dawn Frank, and tells of a doomed relationship distorted by alcohol abuse.

Daniel says that he saw the potential in this one right away.

“When we first heard this song, it immediately pulled me in. With songwriters like this behind it, you know it’s going to be good. I told the team we had to cut it! We originally planned to film a video at a later date, but when it became our most-streamed song, and climbed the radio charts, we knew we had to act fast.

When It Rains, She Pours isn’t just a song; it’s a story that resonates with so many people. We wanted the video to reflect that raw, emotional truth.”

Once they decided that this song needed a video, the band built a set and created a concept over the course of two days. The final result nicely captures the sadness and despair that drives the sort of drinking that can break a family or a relationship apart.

Daniel sings it powerfully, supported by Carolyn on bass, Austin Hefflefinger on banjo, and Justin Harrison on mandolin.

Give it a look/listen…

When It Rains, She Pours, and the full Where You’ve Been album on which it is contained, are available from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers can get a copy of the track at Get It Played.

Falling video from Mason Via

Mountain Fever Records has released a clever animated music video for their current single for bluegrass singer/songwriter Mason Via, Falling.

Mason has a particular knack for songwriting, which is evident in this one created with Charlie and Dover Chamberlain. It captures the chaotic rush of emotions that accompany the realization that you are falling in love, hence the title. In this case, it’s love of the instant variety, meeting someone and suddenly knowing that an adventure is about to begin.

The music video created by Skybone Studios in Nashville nicely draws out the lyrics in cartoon form.

The audio track finds Via on guitar and lead vocal, supported by Aaron Ramsey on mandolin, Jason Davis on banjo, Jim VanCleve on fiddle, Kyser George on guitar, and Jeff Partin on reso-guitar and bass. Nick Goad and Brooks Forsyth sing harmony.

Give it a go…

Falling is available now from popular download and streaming services online, and to radio programmers at AirPlay Direct.