Sad news for fans of the gritty, eastern Kentucky based outfit, Cumberland River, who have just announced the immediate dissolution of the group.
They recorded a pair of albums for Rural Rhythm Records, and generated a good bit of buzz through their association with the FX network’s popular show, Justified, starring Timothy Oliphant. Cumberland River had a song included in the show, after performing for the writers and producers when they were shooting season two in Harlan County where the band was based.
That experience led the guys to write and record a song about the lead character in the show, which they called Justified, and produced this video.
The proximate reason given for the break-up is the fact that founding member Jamie Dean, who played banjo and sang lead with the band, has moved his family to Florida to accept a job outside the music business. Both the distance between Florida and Kentucky, and Jamie’s scarcity of time to dedicate to music, spelled the end for Cumberland River.
There are no plans for the remaining members Dustin Middleton, Jamie Stewart, Brad Gulley, and Gary Robinson Jr., to reform the group.
Farewell, Cumberland River.
