There was interesting response to last week’s discussion about naming bands after their "hit" songs. One grammar specialist thought it should have been "Doyle Lawson and The Yellows River"rather than "Yellow Rivers," but at this point that seems like splitting hairs. Straying
Opinion / Humor
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From The Side of the Road… the ‘biggest song’ band naming scheme
Ages ago—I believe it was pre-iPhone 5—I offered up an advice column about coming up with band names. In it I provided a band-naming “kit” that involved taking an adjective or geographical location from column A and combining it with
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The School of Bluegrass with Doyle Lawson – tell us about Bean Blossom
Here we go again, and I must tell you I appreciate your questions, and quite honestly I have to dig deep in my memory bank for some of them. But that’s a good thing. Throughout the history of DL&Q, except for
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From The Side of the Road… making murder ballads safe for school
In past columns, we've discussed the fact that while bluegrass bands get booked at weddings, there are almost no appropriate bluegrass songs to play at these weddings. Most either involve a groom failing to show up for his own big
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Is Glen Harrell the new King of Bluegrass?
Since the passing of Jimmy Martin in 2005, bluegrass music has officially been without a King. Jimmy may have declared himself King, and the title accepted without dissent, but lacking an heir in the music for him to pass it
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The School of Bluegrass with Doyle Lawson – tell us about Bill Emerson and The Gents
Hard to believe but chat time is here already! Having lived my life in the DC area I saw the County Gentlemen many times and was a life long fan. I feel that Charlie Waller did not always get the recognition
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From The Side of the Road… context in attribution matters!
Quotations aren't always what they seem when taken out of context. Be especially wary when authors who write both fiction and non-fiction are quoted. It happens often, especially on calendars for some reason (the month of July is notorious for
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The School of Bluegrass with Doyle Lawson… a prank on Little Roy
My banjo picking friend of lots of years has a two subject inquiry, and what I consider a huge compliment... Howdy Doyle! I'd like to share something with you that you may not be aware of: Jimmy Martin once told me
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From The Side of the Road… jamming etiquette with Mr. Bluegrass Manners
Mr. Bluegrass Manners has made a triumphant return, although he wouldn't put it that way because he's too well-mannered. I keep telling him that social media have made it okay to brag now. We live in a time of posts
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The School of Bluegrass with Doyle Lawson – why didn’t you stay long with Jimmy Martin?
Hi folks. It appears that I didn’t wash out after the first series of answers, so he we go with this week's recollections. Hey Doyle, Jack Lawrence here. In your early days with the Gents I seem to remember you playing