Retro 78 Archives - Bluegrass Today

My Darling’s Coming Home from Retro 78

Retro 78 – photo © Laci Mack

Retro 78 has a new single sure to delight everyone who appreciates old time traditional bluegrass and country music. It’s a bright, medium-tempo song written and sung by guitarist Clint Groves called My Darling’s Coming Home

Complete with twin fiddles and a bit of walking bass, this lively number isn’t about an actual joyful reunion, but one that exists only in the dreams of the song’s narrator. For he has lost his true love and is pining for her return, but we are left with the suspicion that it isn’t to be.

The subtle paradox between the meaning and the feel of this track gives it much of its charm, along with the strong three-part harmony on the chorus. This one is likely to stick with you for a while.

With Groves on guitar and lead vocal, Retro 78 is completed by Hunter Motts on banjo, Jacob Jackson on mandolin, Jacob Turnbill on fiddle, Alex Hibbits on bass, and Ernie Evans on mandolin and guitar.

Have a listen…

My Darling’s Coming Home is available now from popular download and streaming services online, and to radio programmers via AirPlay Direct.

A Man Who’s Never Plowed drops for Retro 78

South Carolina’s Retro 78 has announced a new single this month, one written by fellow Palmetto State grasser Trey Ward, called A Man Who’s Never Plowed.

The band has been on something of a roll since winning the 2022 SPBGMA International Band Championship. They signed with the newly-formed Ram Cat Records and have found themselves booked to perform at prestigious festivals around the southeast.

This latest release is about pretenders, those who put on the trappings of something they didn’t earn, and how they are viewed by the real McCoy.

Or as banjo picker Hunter Motts says…

“This is a song written through the eyes of a blue collar American who knows what it is to get their hands dirty in order to survive.”

In addition to Hunter, Retro 78 is Clint Groves on guitar and lead vocals, Jacob Jackson on mandolin, Bill Turnbill on fiddle, Aaron Sellers on guitar, and Brad Kaylor on bass.

They turn this number into a hard driving grasser. Have a listen…

A Man Who’s Never Plowed is available now from popular download and streaming services online, and to radio programmers via AirPlay Direct.

Retro 78 introduces two new members

Retro 78 – photo © Laci Mack

South Carolina’s Retro 78 has been on a roll since they swept into Nashville for SPBGMA 2022 and won the band championship. Signed earlier this year to Ram Cat Records, the group has been working steadily this summer along the east coast.

This week they have announced two new members of Retro 78 who will tour with the band going forward. First up is Brad Kaylor from Cherokee, NC who will be playing bass, and sharing in lead and harmony vocals. Brad grew up singing in church since he was a boy, and has been performing with a number of different bluegrass outfits this past 15 years.

From Blue Ridge, GA comes lead and rhythm guitarist Aaron Sellers, who will likewise take his lead and harmony vocal parts. Like Brad, he has spent many years with a variety of North Georgia bluegrass bands.

Clint Groves, the band’s primary vocalist shared a few words about his new bandmates.

“It’s great to have two new guys that love bluegrass music as much as I do. Brad and Aaron have an appreciation for the three part harmony that sets apart bluegrass from all other music forms. I am excited for our fans to hear Brad’s high lonesome vocals and Aaron’s amazing flatpicking bluegrass guitar.

More than the music, these guys are amazing individuals who I already consider good friends. I look forward to working with them for years to come.

We are thrilled to welcome Brad and Aaron to the Retro 78 family, and can’t wait to share the magic we create together with our fans.”

Retro 78 is completed by Hunter Motts on banjo, Jacob Jackson on mandolin, and Bill Turnbill on fiddle.

Here’s their most recent single, a clever song written by Trey Ward, called Black Vinyl 45.

You can learn more about Retro 78, including where they’re playing, from their official web site.

Black Vinyl 45 from Retro 78

Speaking of the SPBGMA International Band Championship, the 2022 winners, Retro 78, have signed a record deal and released their first single after taking Nashville by storm last year.

The group consists of six friends from across the Carolinas who got together for a jam in the summer of 2021. After playing all evening, the guys decided they sounded so good together, they needed to form a band. Hunter Motts is on banjo, Clint Groves on guitar, Kevin Street on guitar, Mike Street on bass, Jacob Jackson on mandolin, Jacob Turnbill on fiddle.

Retro 78 has signed with the newly-formed Ram Cat Records, run by bluegrass artist Kim Robins. As she slows down on touring, Kim has decided to share her business expertise with new and unsigned bands as a label head. We expect to have more about Robins and her future plans sometime soon.

For their first entry, the band has chosen a song called Black Vinyl 45, written by Trey Ward, which explores the way we all used to listen to new music back in the day. Clint takes the lead vocal, with harmony from Kevin and Mike.

Robins says that these guys epitomize what she loves about contemporary bluegrass.

“Ram Cat Music is thrilled to release the outstanding debut single, Black Vinyl 45, for our newly-signed band, Retro 78. Their high-energy stage show, skilled instrumentation, and soaring vocals embody all the qualities we were looking for in a flagship group. They have an innate ability to put their own ‘retro’ style spin on many different styles of acoustic bluegrass music, and always leave the audience wanting more with their gospel and classic country arrangements. They are certain to become a fan favorite and a household name on the bluegrass scene in no time.”

They cut the song in Myrtle Beach, SC with Alan Bibey engineering and co-producing with the band. Have a listen…

Black Vinyl 45 is available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

Expect to hear more soon about this dynamic group.

Say hello to Retro 78, 2022 SPBGMA Band Championship winners

This year’s SPBGMA Band Championship in Nashville may have been the first time a lot of folks had seen Carolina’s Retro 78, but once they had won the competition all at the Sheraton Music City that weekend will surely remember their name.

Made up of six veteran grassers, Retro 78 has only been playing together about six months. They got together at a jam back in August of 2021, and decided to keep after it once they all discovered a love of the bluegrass music of an earlier time.

Given their name, you might think they are thinking of the earliest days of the music, when artists like Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and The Stanley Brothers were releasing songs on the now archaic shellac records that played at 78 rpm. But no, they are most excited about recreating the bluegrass sounds from the 1970s and ’80s, when bluegrass enjoyed a resurgence alongside the then new country rock music that was popular with young folks.

Members come from across both North and South Carolina, anchored by the father and son team of Mike and Kevin Street. Hailing from Forest City, NC, Mike is on bass, and Kevin on guitar and lead vocals. They are joined by fellow Tar Heel, Jacob Turnbill on fiddle, and South Carolinians Clint Groves on guitar and vocals, plus Jacob Jackson on mandolin and Hunter Motts on banjo, both from Inman, SC.

When we communicated with Hunter last week, he shared several videos that the guys shot at SPBGMA, which offer a nice look at the sort of bluegrass they play.

First, from the band contest the Stanley classic, Lonesome River, where Mike gets to show off his high tenor voice.

Bill Monroe’s gem, Can’t You Hear Me Calling…

…and Alabama’s smash hit, Tennessee River, which really gets a ’70s treatment.

From a late night showcase we get their version of Buck Owens’ Tall Dark Stranger…

…and this one which I didn’t recognize.

Well done, Retro 78!