Tony Mabe Archives - Bluegrass Today

Introducing Red Camel Collective, new PInecastle artists

Pinecastle Records is introducing a new bluegrass act, that is also a very familiar one at the same time.

Red Camel Collective, also known as Junior Sisk’s band, have plans to record and tour independently of the boss man, when his schedule allows. Heather Berry Mabe on guitar, Tony Mabe on banjo, Jonathan Dillon on mandolin, and Curt Love on bass make up the group, with Heather and Tony taking on the lead vocals.

They pay tribute to the man who brought them together with the band name, taken from Junior’s song, The Man in Red Camels.

Speaking jointly, the band says that they are proud to align themselves with the label.

“We are so honored and excited to sign on with and become part of the Pinecastle family. We have been working hard to put together an excellent and eclectic album of music! We can’t wait for you to hear it!”

The Collective is currently working in the Bonfire Music studio on a debut project, and a first single is expected early next year. It is likely to be a grassy remake of Charley Pride’s Roll On Mississippi from 1981.

This is great news for bluegrass lovers, keeping this bunch busy as Junior starts to slow down a bit.

Welcome Red Camel Collective!

Old Soul: A Collection of Mountain Music – Tony & Heather Mabe

Although Tony and Heather Mabe have been spending most of their time lately picking and singing in Junior Sisk’s band, the North Carolina-based couple have also taken the time to record a new duo record, showcasing their love of old-timey mountain music. Old Soul: A Collection of Mountain Music was recently released from Clay Hess’s 7Flat Records. Its blend of modern traditional bluegrass, Gospel, and Carter Family-style early country music is a unique one in today’s music landscape, but it’s thoroughly and completely enjoyable.

Before signing on with Sisk, the Mabes had spent most of their touring time performing in churches throughout the region, and have long been open about their faith and Christian ministry. As such, several the songs here are religious in nature. Most listeners will recognize the popular hymn Beulah Land, given a beautiful reading by Heather here. She accompanies herself on the autoharp, giving the song a peaceful feel, and allowing her vocals to shine. Another excellent vocal showpiece is Coming Home (sometimes known as Lord I’m Coming Home), performed a capella with a hint of that haunting Ralph Stanley/Primitive Baptist feel. The arrangement was a great choice, making the song truly moving.

Sea of Galilee offers listeners a duet between Tony and Heather. Again, the vocals are great, with Tony offering an earnest lead on the verses. The couple has long been influenced by Tom T. Hall, and Tony’s singing here is reminiscent of Hall’s straightforward style. Kneel at the Cross picks up the tempo a bit with the addition of some spot-on old-time banjo. It’s a catchy number, easy to sing along and rejoice with.

On the secular side of things is Alice Gerrard and Hazel Dickens’s, West Virginia, My Home. The Mabes have arranged this one with more touches of acoustic country and modern bluegrass, and Heather tackles it with ease with plenty of emotion in her voice. It could easily become a radio hit. Little Annie has a similar bluegrass treatment, guided by gentle mandolin and banjo. It’s slower and more serene than most versions of this old song are, fitting in with the feel of most of this album.

Throughout their time playing together, and with some of Heather’s solo work, the Mabes have often drawn from classic Carter Family songs and given them slight modern updates. On this album, Wildwood Flower is a highlight. While it seems like it will be an instrumental (as is usually common when this number is performed in bluegrass circles), the couple comes in with the lesser-known vocals to the song about halfway through. It’s a pleasant tune and a nice tribute to the First Family of Country Music.

If you’ve just recently been introduced to the Mabes through their work with Junior Sisk, check out this album. If you’ve been a long-time fan, check out this album. If you’ve never heard of them, but you enjoy gentle melodies and excellent singing with an old-time flavor, check out this album. Have I gotten my message across yet?

The Mabes have done a fine job with Old Soul, and I’m sure you’ll soon be hearing the album on a radio station near you.

Junior and Heather and Tony… oh my!

Big news for lovers of traditional mountain music! Two of the most sincere and evocative vocalists in the genre will be touring together throughout 2019.

Junior Sisk has added Heather Berry-Mabe and her husband, Tony Mabe, to the Junior Sisk Band. All three grew up in the Blue Ridge regions of Virginia and North Carolina, and are steeped in the style of mountain music long associated with this area. Sisk says they have been singing together a good bit this early part of the year and that the sound is gelling very nicely.

They did their first big show over the weekend at MerleFest and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive from the large audience in attendance. At this point, it’s still primarily Junior’s show, doing the many hit numbers he had recorded over the years with Ramblers Choice. But he says that he has worked in a couple songs for Heather and Tony to do as a feature in each set, and will be incorporating more as they go along. Plus he is excited to add more new material – new old songs as he put it – from the deep catalog of early bluegrass and traditional country music.

Heather and Tony had been performing primarily as a duo of late, working mostly within the small church community, and doing work with their personal ministry. But with a new album coming out with Clay Hess and 7Flat Records in the next few weeks, a return to the bluegrass circuit seems like a good idea.

Sisk tells us that he is eager to get this new band in to the studio and capture their sound. In addition to Junior and Heather on guitar, and Tony on banjo, Jonathon Dillon remains on mandolin, as does Gary Creed on bass. For the time being, Jamie Harper is filling in on fiddle until a full-time hire can be made.

Keep an eye on Junior’s web site for a chance to see them live this season.

Heather and Tony Mabe sign with 7flat Records

When Clay Hess launched his record label, 7flat Records, he really intended it for distributing the music he would record with his own Clay Hess Band. But thinking more about it recently, he began to believe that he should use the opportunity to celebrate other artists in our music that are deserving of greater attention.

And so 7flat has signed a deal with Heather and Tony Mabe, soulful pickers and singers from Virginia. You may recall the names, as the husband-and-wife duo toured together on the bluegrass circuit for several years. But a decision to focus their talents on Christian ministry has taken them from the festivals to the church house, where they continue to share their music with folks all over the southeast.

Clay says that a discussion with his wife set the wheels in motion for a new album with the Mabes.

“This was something I felt led to do. I was talking with my wife a few years ago about there being people with incredible talent out there that aren’t recording, and she immediately said, ‘like Heather Berry Mabe.’ Heather, like Stacy Grubb (who I am recording a Gospel project for now), is an incredible talent that needs to be heard. In my opinion she and Stacy are not only two of the best female vocalists in this genre, but two of the best vocalists period. I was thinking a few months ago, ‘It is a shame when great artists can’t get a record deal.’ Then I thought, ‘instead of saying it is a shame, do something about it,’ so I am going to try. It will be a big undertaking, but I feel strongly about it, so we’ll see how it goes.”

They should get to recording this spring with hopes to have a finished project later this year. It will primarily feature Heather’s lovely singing voice and Tony’s strength as a picker, with a number of guests artists joining them in the studio.

This past few years the only place you could hear them pick and sing has been online, unless they happen to visit your church along their way.

Here is one they put on YouTube in 2016…

This is definitely one to look forward to!

Thursday at 2015 Land Fest

The Dailey & Vincent Land Fest held at Denton Farm Park in Denton, North Carolina opened on Thursday. Cindy Baucom is the emcee at this show with assistance from Jamie and Darrin.

The ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band opened the show. The ETSU bluegrass music program is growing by leaps and bounds, drawing students from all over the United States. Heather and Tony Mabe were next up with their Gospel music ministry. This was their first bluegrass festival appearance since 2012. They have been doing church shows and revivals.

Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper put on the high energy show that fans have come to expect. Jamie and Darrin joked with Michael about him wearing a pink shirt and the rest of the band blue. Michael said he would get even with Jamie and Darrin. Michael was wearing a blue shirt! The Isaacs closed the evening with a show that can only be characterized as “Isaacs music.” They had the crowd on its feet several times.

Friday brings The Church Sisters, Danny Paisley and Southern Grass, The Lonesome River band, Blue Highway, and Dailey and Vincent to the stage. There will also be cooking demonstrations from Springer Mountain Chicken along with product tasting.

Jesus Folk from Tony & Heather Mabe

Tony & Heather Mabe have a new album of Gospel music, called Jesus Folk.

The husband/wife team perform primarily as a trio, with Heather on guitar, Tony on banjo, and Rob Strupe on bass supporting Heather’s lovely singing voice. This new record comes as a result of their conversion to the Christian life, and their involvement with Exodus Ministries in King, NC.

This audio sampler offers a taste of the 13 songs on the album.

They put together a pair of videos to explain what brought them to this music, and share their love and commitment to their faith.

Here they perform a live version of Bless The Lord (Son Of Man) from Jesus Folk…

… and here they discuss how they have come to their current ministry, with music from the album in the background.

Jesus Folk can be ordered from Tony and Heather’s web site.

The Heather Berry & Tony Mabe Show

Mountain Fever Records has pegged February 14 as the release date for the self-titled debut album from The Heather Berry & Tony Mabe Show.

But you don’t have to wait for Valentine’s Day to have a listen. Tonight at 8:00 p.m. (EST), WorldWideBluegrass.com will feature a play-through of the entire CD on Geoff Morris’ Monday night program. Geoff will also include an interview he recorded earlier with this talented husband and wife duo.

Heather and Tony perform a sincere and unadorned sort of pre-bluegrass music that forms a stark contrast with the slickly-produced sound that we find in so many genres at present. Berry’s voice is the star of the show, supported by her guitar and autoharp, Mabe’s guitar, mandolin and banjo, and Jamie Collins on bass.

Mountain Fever’s Mark Hodges sums it up well as he shares a few details about the album.

“I think everyone that has ever complained about ‘modern music’ or today’s county should own this record. Heather has the a gift that most can only dream of. No auto-tune will ever touch a performance of hers as long as I still have a breath in my body. She doesn’t need it.

Darrin Vincent joins heather on one song (Remembrance Is A Golden Chain), and Randy Cook plays pedal steel on a soon to be classic country song written by Tony’s grandfather (Tears and Roses). As the story goes, it was the first song that a then young Tony Rice ever played live on a radio show.”

Here’s a taste from The Heather Berry & Tony Mabe Show, a Tom T. and Dixie Hall song which was released as a single last year.

Walk Slow: [http://traffic.libsyn.com/thegrasscast/walk_slow.mp3]

And don’t forget Heather’s Song of the Day, where she has challenged herself to post an online video each day for a full year.

See them all on YouTube.