Anyone who knows her realizes that Kristin Scott Benson is a musician of the highest caliber, as her multiple IBMA Banjo Player of the Year awards can attest, but also that she is among the most thoughtful and intelligent people
banjo
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Ask Sonny Anything… three versions of Earl
Sonny is again unable to respond to questions this week, so we are re-running another of his most popular columns. Let's hope he is back at it next week. Sonny, I read your column weekly, and one thing is obvious; you are the
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Bill Emerson passes
Bluegrass Hall of Fame banjo player Bill Emerson passed away on August 21 from complications of pneumonia. He died surrounded by his family at 83 years of age. Surely one of the most consequential banjo players of the 20th century, Bill
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Ask Sonny Anything… who was Krako?
Sonny was not able to answer new questions this week, so we are running a classic edition of his column. We hope to have a new set of responses from him next Friday. Sonny, years ago you said that there was
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Dennis Caplinger passes
Dennis Caplinger - photo by Dennis Andersen Dennis Caplinger, described by close friend since high school days and former band mate John Moore as "a MONSTER banjo player," passed away on Saturday morning, August 14, 2021. He was 57 years of age. He
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Ask Sonny Anything… tell us about singing with Ira Louvin
Sonny, I'm curious about that session when Ira Louvin sang the low tenor part (is that right?) with you and Bobby on Give This Message to Your Heart. I think it was your fifth session for Decca. Pardon me if you've
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Catalpa Hop video from Brad Kolodner
Photo of Brad Kolodner by Casey Vock. Album art by Kelley Wills Brad Kolodner is a popular figure in the music scene of the Baltimore/Washington region. The noted clawhammer banjoist is the son of another well-known old time musician, Ken Kolodner,
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Wheels Up – new single from Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart
Béla Fleck has dropped a second single from his landmark, 2-disc project, My Bluegrass Heart, expected September 10 on Renew Records. The album finds this genre-bending banjoist back in the bluegrass, supported by a who's who of top players, both grey-haired
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Neighbor Mike video from George Jackson
George Jackson is a Kiwi fiddler who makes his home in Nashville, working as a recording artist and free lance bowman for hire. Born in New Zealand, he never heard bluegrass music until he was 14, but having moved to
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Ask Sonny Anything… what do you think about country singers doing bluegrass?
Sonny, I always liked your baritone singing a whole lot. I know you started on banjo early on. When did you become interested in singing, and do you remember the first recording you sang on? Also, what were the banjos you