Chad Darou Archives - Bluegrass Today

North End of a South Bound Train from Chad Darou

Turnberry Records has released a first single from Chad Darou in advance of Susquehanna Line, their full-length project with the veteran bluegrass songwriter and multi-instrumentalist next year.

Known these days primarily for his reso-guitar work, Chad has also played as a professional on mandolin and banjo. He made waves with his slide work at an early age, being invited to play on the Grand Ole Opry with Charlie Collins and Brother Oswald when he was 12. Over his career, Darou has worked with a long list of artists in bluegrass and country music, including Del Reeves, Bill Harrell, The Gibson Brothers, Wheeler Creek, Bill Anderson, Boxcar Willie, and James King. Most recently, he drew attention touring with Dave Adkins .

The new single is a song called North End of a South Bound Train, written by Ed Williams, where Chad demonstrates his abilities on reso-guitar, mandolin, banjo, and bass, supported by Ray Legere on fiddle and David Carey on bass. Mallory Evans sings the lead, with Chad and Kristin Darou providing harmonies.

Have a listen in this lyric video.

North End of a South Bound Train is available now from popular download and streaming sites online. Pre-orders for the full album are also enabled.

Chad Darou to Turnberry Records and Management

Turnberry Records and Management has announced the signing of bluegrass veteran, Chad Darou, to the label. This new agreement covers Chad’s next album, and Turnberry providing him artist representation and management services.

Darou, a Pennsylvania native, has been performing professionally in bluegrass most of his life, singing and playing either banjo, mandolin, or reso-guitar. His most recent album, Raising The Bar, was released in 2018.

Label head Keith Barnacastle says that they have high hopes for their association .

“Chad’s a phenomenal musician. He’s got a great harmony bass-baritone. We love what he does. We’re excited. Hopefully, we’ll have the first single out in May or June.”

A concept video of the track is also expected in short order.

Chad says that he is still putting the finishing touches on this next record, on which he plays all the instruments but fiddle. Wayne Taylor of Blue Highways also provides guest vocals.

He is likewise pleased to come on board with Turnberry.

“I am super excited to have been asked to sign on with Turnberry Records. Keith [Barnacastle] is a phenomenal businessman and has a great heart for the music.

Here’s the title track from his previous effort, to give a taste of Darou’s music.

A Few Old Memories video from Chad Darou

Bell Buckle Records has released a music video for the current single from Chad Darou, A Few Old Memories.

It’s one of the tracks on Chad’s recent project, Raising The Bar. Written and recorded by Hazel Dickens back in ’80s, the song has also been prominently covered by Dolly Parton and James King.

And it was the latter version that inspired Darou to include it on his album.

“I spent many years on the road with James King. James taught me what it meant to put on the show. This song has always been one of my favorites James did. Shortly after James’ passing I set out playing with my buddy Dave Adkins. Dave is a powerhouse of a singer and when I decided to record this song I knew right away he was the one to sing it. Merl Johnson does a great job on fiddle adding more of that King band sound to this classic. I think ole James would be proud.”

The video was shot during a live performance of Chad Darou and friends at Daryl’s House in Pawling, NY. Darou’s bass player, Mike Pokalsky, provided the cover image for the single, and much of the video footage included in the music video. His grandfather, Peter Pokalsky, is the man shown on the cover, and Mike says that these photos and video are very important to his family history.

“In late winter of 1911, photographer Lewis Hines came to Pittston, PA to photograph workers in the Pittston coal mine, or so he said. His real purpose was to expose the plight of child labor in America. These photos are special to my family because these copies were given to my great grandmother by Mr. Hines, when he visited some of the homes of these children, including the photo depicting my great grandmother, back to camera, and her neighbor in Scranton, PA, just north of the mine. They lived in a ramshackle house on Stanton Street, literally on the wrong side of the tracks. It was to my great grandmother’s dismay that my grandfather took a job in the mine as a breaker boy, and she used to clip newspaper articles about the dangers in an attempt to dissuade him, but nowhere else could he earn as much to help support the family. My grandfather Pete died at age 83 from delayed manifestation of black lung disease. These saved photos and a few old memories are all that’s left.”

Adkins serves as guest vocalist on the track.

Chad’s album and the single are widely available wherever you stream or download music online.

Chad Darou to Mountain Fever

Mountain Fever Records has announced the signing of multi-instrumentalist Chad Darou to the label. A new album is expected in 2019.

Darou has worked in bluegrass for many years as a sideman, starting out as a youngster. Playing bass, banjo, guitar, mandolin – and these days most prominently – reso-guitar, Chad has always had plenty to offer in support of vocalists. And his 40 years in the business have brought him an ear for what works in choosing and arranging music.

A current solo project, Raising The Bar, has elevated his profile to the point where Mountain Fever President Mark Hodges saw something special in his music.

“Chad is known across the bluegrass genre as a man with exceptional talent. He is a creative genius and has a great work ethic that will meld nicely with the fantastic music our musical family creates. We look forward to seeing what we can do together!”

One of the songs from Raising The Bar has spent several weeks on our Bluegrass Today Weekly Airplay chart, Chad’s arrangement of the 1984 Bryan Adams hit, Heaven, done up with a grassy twist and sung by Cia Cherryholmes.

Look for more news about Chad Darou’s first Mountain Fever release as the new year turns.

Two singles from Chad Darou

In advance of the release of his debut album, Raising the Bar, Chad Darou has released not one, but two singles today, the title track, an instrumental, and Heaven, a re-working of the Bryan Adams’ ballad, with Cia Cherryholmes stealing the limelight with her stellar vocals.

Darou started playing music at the ripe old age of eight, and by the age 12 he had established enough of a reputation to get asked to perform at the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee.

After a break from music to focus on his education, the classically trained bass player joined Stan Tyminski – Dan’s brother – and Rustic Blue on a tour of The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. This was the springboard that set Darou back on the road as a full-time musician.

In nearly 40 years of making music he has played with such notable artists as Bill Keith, Del Reeves, Boxcar Willie, Bill Harrell, The Lonesome River Band, The Gibson Brothers, and Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen.

Raising the Bar, a Bell Buckle Records/Chad Darou Records’ release, showcases his playing of his Beard resonator guitar on what Darou describes as “an eclectic mix of music that painted a picture of who I am.”

This is what Darou has to say about the two tracks …

Raising the Bar, the album, will be available from September 4, 2018, with a release party the following evening at Daryl’s House Restaurant & Live Music Club in Pawling, NY.

Special guests at the release party will be Cia Cherryholmes, Alecia Nugent, Dave Adkins and Mike Munford, all of whom share their skills in the recording of this forthcoming album.

Here’s a listen to the twin singles, with a few words from Chad about each.

“Raising the Bar is my personal tribute to two of my biggest influences on the dobro. Mike Auldridge and Jerry Douglas both influenced my playing so much that I wanted to pay homage by writing and recording a tune that showed just how much. I also wanted to push myself to a new height in my playing.”

“I heard a dance remix of this classic Bryan Adams ballad, and decided right then it was meant to be done ‘bluegrass.’ As soon as I started playing around with the arrangement I knew the only voice for this was Cia Cherryholmes. No one has heard from Cia in quite a while, making her an even better choice, and she did an amazing job. Great to hear this one come together.”

Both singles are available to radio programmers at AirPlay Direct.

Pre-orders are available online.