Hi Sonny, I just watched you and Bobby and Dale Sledd alongside Marty Robbins. The show was called The Drifter, and was filmed in black and white. It was done before Marty had his facial hair. You boys did three songs
Opinion / Humor
From The Side of the Road… Mr. Bluegrass Manners back from COVID
Mr. Bluegrass Manners has been away from this column for a while. Since things began opening up in the United States and elsewhere, MBM has seized the opportunity to resume touring the country, attending bluegrass jam sessions, and raising one
Ask Sonny Anything… were there any songs that got away from the Brothers?
Sonny, I LOVE this column so much. Thank you for sharing so many great stories! I can only imagine the incredible things you've seen and done, but I had to wonder about the many hours of boredom on the bus
From The Side of the Road… time for another hit bluegrass movie
Not to alarm anyone about the passage of time, but the Coen Brothers movie Oh Brother, Where Art Thou came out over 20 years ago. In case you're one of the few fans of bluegrass music who missed it, this
Ask Sonny Anything… what first got you excited to play banjo?
Sonny, Let me say first off that if it wasn't for Sonny and The Earl, I would never have picked up a banjo. I've been playing now for 23 years, but it only feels like 5. Did time fly by for
Ask Sonny Anything… did President Nixon care for your bluegrass?
Hi Sonny! Thanks over and over for this column. I know back in the day that everyone was really on the road a whole lot with not a lot of down time at home. I was wondering if you guys
From The Side of the Road… and the first noun to be retired is…
Last week, I gave all publicists and artists who write their own bios in third person fair warning that in addition to the annual retirement of some of our most beloved adjectives, this year will mark the first retirement of
Ask Sonny Anything… was there ever a banjo that got away?
Banjo NewsLetter was mentioned, and I did a column for them in the '70s. It had the ingenious, and thoughtful, title of Keep on the Sonny Side (very original). I want to thank Terry Herd and John Lawless for allowing me,
From The Side of the Road… 2021 IBMA adjective removal announcement
Several years ago I wrote a column about the ceremonial retirement of adjectives at the IBMA World of Bluegrass. This is now an annual event, usually scheduled on Tuesday, right before the event producers' craft fair and square dance, and
Ask Sonny Anything… how did The Osborne Brothers find songs?
Sonny, you mentioned your tune, Banjo Boy Chimes (great tune, BTW). I'm curious to know what you think about Alan Munde's recording of it on his, Banjo Sandwich LP. David R. David, thank you for your time, and for joining us in