• Lester Flatt’s 1942 Martin D-18

    Readers so enjoyed our feature last week on Earl Scruggs' D-18 Martin guitar, that we thought we would post this report from Matthew Tessier and Alan W. Tompkins about Lester Flatt's earlier model D-18. It was recently published on the

  • Carrying on the Tradition at SPBGMA

    Alan Tompkins playing an RB-75 at Gruhn's during SPBGMA week 2020 - photo by Gerald Jones This additional SPBGMA 2020 reflection comes from Alan Tompkins, a Dallas-area attorney, festival promoter, and bluegrass musician. He is also a recent graduate of the

  • No Part of Nothin’ – Alan Tompkins

    “No part of nothin’,” Bill Monroe’s famous phrase describing music unworthy of praise just so happens to be the seemingly unusual choice for the title of the new release this month from Alan Tompkins, the president and founder of the

  • No Part Of Nothin’ – Alan Tompkins

    Alan Tompkins is a true Renaissance man, what once was called a dilletante without a hint of disparagement. Growing up in western Kentucky, he developed a passion for traditional music, and found that he possessed a knack for playing and singing