September 18 has been given as the release date for The Blue Are Still The Blues, a 15-song retrospective CD from Rebel Records taken from the four albums recorded for the label by The Traditional Grass in the 1990s.
The highly influential group featured the father/son team of the late Paul “Moon” Mullins, icon of The Boys From Indiana, and Joe Mullins, current leader of Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers. For many bluegrass fans, this was Joe’s introduction to the national market, along with Mark Rader on guitar and vocals, and north-central US legend, the late Gerald Evans. Mike Clevenger completed the band on bass.
Together they created a major buzz in the bluegrass world, bringing what has come to be described as the Ohio/Indiana sound to a wider market. They featured the sort of soaring harmonies that had been the hallmark of the Boys From Indiana two decades earlier, on a mix of newly-written songs and bluegrass classics.
While these original Rebel albums were enthusiastically received in the market, it was the band’s powerful live shows that cemented their status as bluegrass legends, and established the younger Mullins as among our most talented tenor singers and banjo players, a role he continues to this day.
Historians of the era rightly consider the emergence of The Traditional Grass as a major impetus for the revival among modern bands playing and writing new music within a solidly traditional bluegrass format.
Songs chosen for the retrospective project include:
The Blues Are Still The Blues
You Are My Flower
I’ll Not Be A Stranger
Rough Edges
The Shuffle of My Feet
A Broken Heart Keeps Beatin’
Old Joe
It’s Grand To Have Someone To Love You
I Believe In The Old-Time Way
She Has Forgotten
Lazarus
You’ll Never Be The Same
You Can Keep Your Nine Pound Hammer
Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar
Back To Hancock County
Anyone who missed this tremendous outfit in the ’90s will want to have this disc in their collection.
We have reported previously about Gerald Evans, the popular Kentucky bluegrass musician, singer and songwriter, and his battle with cancer. He had been diagnosed in the summer of 2009 with an aggressive, stage 4 cancer that was already widespread throughout his body.
Gerald lost his struggle this past Saturday (April 10) when he passed away early that morning at 50 years of age. He had been perhaps most visible nationally and internationally as a member of The Traditional Grass during the 1990s, but was well-known and loved in his native Kentucky and among the many bluegrass musicians and fans in the Bluegrass State.
Two of his bandmates from the Traditional Grass have sent remembrances of their dear friend. First up is Mark Rader, who played guitar and shared singing duties with Gerald.
“Gerald was a rough and tumble kind of guy with a heart of gold. He loved to play music more than anyone I have ever met, and he was darn good at it too! What a touch on that fiddle! And songwriting was something he did constantly.
He never met a stranger, and due to that and his love of jamming, he made many friends all across the country. When he joined The Traditional Grass in 1990, our group had been in existence for nearly seven years. Paul Mullins told him ‘You’ll have to make yourself a place here to where you’d be missed if you weren’t there.’
Little did we know that Gerald did this in anything he became involved with. He’ll be missed by all who knew and loved him.”
Joe Mullins has called Gerald a friend since they first started to play music together.
“I had the blessing of Gerald’s friendship for 25 years. We first met in the 1980’s when he was fiddling for Dave Evans. His time with the Goins Brothers in the late 80’s though was certainly memorable for me and thousands of fans. Gerald had been working eastern Kentucky and southern Ohio with Rick May and Bill Hamm. When all three joined Melvin and Ray as the Shed House Trio, they really lit a fire under two bluegrass pioneers and created a fantastic show! The Traditional Grass and the Goins Brothers worked dozens of the same festivals back then and Gerald, Rick and Bill became like brothers to me. We would jam all night!
The Trio got to record a gospel project for Vetco records in Cincinnati. One of the guys called me one afternoon and said ‘We are going to record and would like you to play banjo if you are available.’ I said ‘Absolutely – when is the session’ – they said ‘Tomorrow!’ So, I invited them to drive up to Ohio that evening so we could rehearse. My Dad cooked a kettle of beans and put them up that night and the session came off the next day with no problems at all. Oh the wonderful memories of being young and spontaneous!
Within the next year, the Traditional Grass began touring full-time and needed to expand our show. Me (banjo and vocals), Mark Rader (guitar and vocals), my Dad Paul Mullins (fiddle and vocals) and Glen Inman (bass) had been together several years as a four piece band. We needed a lot to take our music to the next level – mandolin, more vocal variety and original songs. Gerald Evans Jr, was all of the above. A good mandolin player, a great fiddler and showman, could sing ANY part and he was fast becoming one of the most thoughtful songwriters I have known.
Gerald had written some wonderful gospel songs in the 1980’s. He spent a little time in Nashville with Wayne Lewis and worked on Bill Monroe’s farm for a while. Monroe’s Grammy-winning album Southern Flavor included Gerald’s song Give Me Wings. He was really thankful for his time and friendship with Bill.
Gerald joined the Traditional Grass in September 1990. He was an immediate inspiration to our music, stage show and audience. He inspired me and Mark Rader to get much more creative vocally and to become songwriters ourselves. Over the next five years, we recorded four Traditional Grass CD’s for Rebel, each one featuring some of Gerald’s original songs, strong vocal, mandolin and fiddle work. Gerald and I also did an all instrumental CD of just old-time fiddle and banjo tunes.
He continued to create and perform great, original music through last year. He worked with the Wildwood Valley Boys, his own band Paradise and Don Rigsby and Midnight Call. I was so glad to record two of his songs on my latest CD with my band the Radio Ramblers.
One of my most memorable moments on the road with Gerald was in the summer of 1991. We were working the Smithsonian Folk Festival for a week in downtown Washington DC. One afternoon we were free to walk around town and site-see. As with any big city, you encounter a few unfortunate folks who are asking for a hand out. Gerald and I passed a homeless guy by an alley asking for money. Gerald said something to the guy as we passed. The next street had a vendor wagon selling food. Gerald bought a big burrito with the works and carried it back to the homeless guy. I have never forgotten that moment and I will never forget my friend Gerald.”
Funeral arrangements are being handled through Waddell & Whitt in Sandy Hook, KY. Visitation is scheduled for this afternoon (Monday April 12) at 5:00 p.m. with the funeral service tomorrow (4/13) at 1:00 p.m.
Online condolences can be posted on the funeral home web site, where you can also read Gerald’s obituary notice. Friends and fans are also welcome to leave their thoughts and comments here on Bluegrass Today.
Larry Cordle also sent along this remembrance of his friend and fellow Kentuckian, Gerald Evans.
“Bluegrass lost a great musician saturday April 10, 2010. His fiddle silenced by that scourge of mankind, cancer. Gerald Evans was far too young to leave us but is undoubtedly meeting with the other luminaries today in God’s heavenly band, that band of greats gone on before us, of which he is undoubtedly a member now.
Gerald was a wonderful fiddle player, mandolin player, guitar player, songwriter, singer, husband, father and friend. I’ll always remember the last time I saw him at rehearsal for a gig last summer in Greenup, KY. Though far too weak and sick to be there, his drive to play the fiddle for us got him through the rehearsal; he was unable to do the show later in the evening, and in fact, had to be admitted to the hospital in serious condition.
That’s the Gerald I want to remember. The Gerald whose love for music far outweighed personal concerns for his health, fiddle under his chin, big smile on his face for the thing that moved his soul, bluegrass music ….
God rest your soul brother, I’ll see you on the other side……..”
We have reported previously about Gerald Evans, the popular Kentucky bluegrass musician, singer and songwriter, and his battle with cancer. He had been diagnosed in the summer of 2009 with an aggressive, stage 4 cancer that was already widespread throughout his body.
Gerald lost his struggle this past Saturday (April 10) when he passed away early that morning at 50 years of age. He had been perhaps most visible nationally and internationally as a member of The Traditional Grass during the 1990s, but was well-known and loved in his native Kentucky and among the many bluegrass musicians and fans in the Bluegrass State.
Two of his bandmates from the Traditional Grass have sent remembrances of their dear friend. First up is Mark Rader, who played guitar and shared singing duties with Gerald.
“Gerald was a rough and tumble kind of guy with a heart of gold. He loved to play music more than anyone I have ever met, and he was darn good at it too! What a touch on that fiddle! And songwriting was something he did constantly.
He never met a stranger, and due to that and his love of jamming, he made many friends all across the country. When he joined The Traditional Grass in 1990, our group had been in existence for nearly seven years. Paul Mullins told him ‘You’ll have to make yourself a place here to where you’d be missed if you weren’t there.’
Little did we know that Gerald did this in anything he became involved with. He’ll be missed by all who knew and loved him.”
Joe Mullins has called Gerald a friend since they first started to play music together.
“I had the blessing of Gerald’s friendship for 25 years. We first met in the 1980’s when he was fiddling for Dave Evans. His time with the Goins Brothers in the late 80’s though was certainly memorable for me and thousands of fans. Gerald had been working eastern Kentucky and southern Ohio with Rick May and Bill Hamm. When all three joined Melvin and Ray as the Shed House Trio, they really lit a fire under two bluegrass pioneers and created a fantastic show! The Traditional Grass and the Goins Brothers worked dozens of the same festivals back then and Gerald, Rick and Bill became like brothers to me. We would jam all night!
The Trio got to record a gospel project for Vetco records in Cincinnati. One of the guys called me one afternoon and said ‘We are going to record and would like you to play banjo if you are available.’ I said ‘Absolutely – when is the session’ – they said ‘Tomorrow!’ So, I invited them to drive up to Ohio that evening so we could rehearse. My Dad cooked a kettle of beans and put them up that night and the session came off the next day with no problems at all. Oh the wonderful memories of being young and spontaneous!
Within the next year, the Traditional Grass began touring full-time and needed to expand our show. Me (banjo and vocals), Mark Rader (guitar and vocals), my Dad Paul Mullins (fiddle and vocals) and Glen Inman (bass) had been together several years as a four piece band. We needed a lot to take our music to the next level – mandolin, more vocal variety and original songs. Gerald Evans Jr, was all of the above. A good mandolin player, a great fiddler and showman, could sing ANY part and he was fast becoming one of the most thoughtful songwriters I have known.
Gerald had written some wonderful gospel songs in the 1980’s. He spent a little time in Nashville with Wayne Lewis and worked on Bill Monroe’s farm for a while. Monroe’s Grammy-winning album Southern Flavor included Gerald’s song Give Me Wings. He was really thankful for his time and friendship with Bill.
Gerald joined the Traditional Grass in September 1990. He was an immediate inspiration to our music, stage show and audience. He inspired me and Mark Rader to get much more creative vocally and to become songwriters ourselves. Over the next five years, we recorded four Traditional Grass CD’s for Rebel, each one featuring some of Gerald’s original songs, strong vocal, mandolin and fiddle work. Gerald and I also did an all instrumental CD of just old-time fiddle and banjo tunes.
He continued to create and perform great, original music through last year. He worked with the Wildwood Valley Boys, his own band Paradise and Don Rigsby and Midnight Call. I was so glad to record two of his songs on my latest CD with my band the Radio Ramblers.
One of my most memorable moments on the road with Gerald was in the summer of 1991. We were working the Smithsonian Folk Festival for a week in downtown Washington DC. One afternoon we were free to walk around town and site-see. As with any big city, you encounter a few unfortunate folks who are asking for a hand out. Gerald and I passed a homeless guy by an alley asking for money. Gerald said something to the guy as we passed. The next street had a vendor wagon selling food. Gerald bought a big burrito with the works and carried it back to the homeless guy. I have never forgotten that moment and I will never forget my friend Gerald.”
Funeral arrangements are being handled through Waddell & Whitt in Sandy Hook, KY. Visitation is scheduled for this afternoon (Monday April 12) at 5:00 p.m. with the funeral service tomorrow (4/13) at 1:00 p.m.
Online condolences can be posted on the funeral home web site, where you can also read Gerald’s obituary notice. Friends and fans are also welcome to leave their thoughts and comments here on Bluegrass Today.
Here’s some heartwarming news that demonstrates the kindness and generosity of our bluegrass community…
We got this note from Megan Brugger at MyClassicCountry radio in Xenia, OH. The station was among the sponsors for the Gerald Evans and Dale Vanderpool Appreciation concert we told you about earlier this month.
The station is managed by Joe Mullins, who performed for several years with Evans in The Traditional Grass. Here is Megan’s note:
A little snowy weather and a busy Holiday season did not hinder the success of a special Appreciation Concert this past weekend, benefiting fiddler and songwriter Gerald Evans, Jr. and banjo player Dale Vanderpool. Both are fighting cancer.
Sunday, bluegrass fans from the Ohio and Kentucky area packed the Roberts Convention Centre in Wilmington, Ohio. With an all-star lineup of bands and special guests, nearly $20,000 was raised. Special thanks to all of the following performers and contributors:
Lost and Found, Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, Blue and Lonesome, Melvin Goins and Windy Mountain, Don Rigsby and Midnight Call, the Grascals, the Wildwood Valley Boys, J.D. Crowe and the New South, the Larry Stephenson Band, Sonny Osborne, Mark Rader, Larry Cordle, Dwayne Sparks, Darrell Adkins and the staff of the Musicians Against Childhood Cancer Bluegrass Classic, the staff and volunteers of the Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival and WBZI Radio.
Many other members of the national Bluegrass community sent donations as well.
It was truly a special day for two talented gentlemen who remain in our thoughts and prayers this Christmas season.
Joe Mullins would like to sincerely thank all contributors for their support and generosity.
If you would like to make an after-the-fact donation, you can send it to:
My Classic Country
23 East Second St.
Xenia, OH 45385
A whole raft of bluegrass artists from the Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee area are banding together this Sunday (12/20) to raise money in support of two of their own. Dale Vanderpool and Gerald Evans have labored long and hard in the bluegrass trenches, and earned the respect and admiration of many of the current performers in our business.
Both men are battling cancer, and an Appreciation Concert will be held on Sunday to both honor their musical achievements and help them and their families with the financial burdens of their medical expenses.
Dale has played banjo with Larry Stephenson, Don Rigsby and many others, while Gerald is known primarily for his tenure with The Traditional Grass and his own group, Gerald Evans & Paradise.
Evans and Vanderpool will both perform on this show December 20, as will The Grascals, Joe Mullins and The Radio Ramblers, Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain, Lost and Found, Don Rigsby & Midnight Call, Wildwood Valley Boys, JD Crowe & The New South, and The Larry Stephenson Band. Special guests for the afternoon show include Sonny Osborne, Mark Rader and Larry Cordle.
All these acts have ties to Gerald and Dale, and are donating time for their benefit.
The show will be held at the Roberts Convention Centre in Wilmington, OH. Those who can’t attend, but would like to make a donation, can send it to:
My Classic Country
23 East Second St.
Xenia, OH 45385
You can also get more details about the show from the folks at My Classic Country.
Gerald Evans, popular bluegrass singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has been diagnosed with cancer. He has recently begun chemotherapy treatment, but his cancer has already reached stage 4, where the disease has spread widely through the body.
Evans was part of the Traditional Grass in the 1990s, along with Joe Mullins and Paul “Moon” Mullins, and had worked also with Dave Evans. He currently fronts his own group, Gerald Evans & Paradise.
Friends and fans who would like to send along words of encouragement can do so at the following address:
