2016 is starting off with a bang for Chris Jones.
This week marks the release of his new music video, for One Night In Paducah from his current Mountain Home project, Run Away Tonight, and a very special milestone for his second (third?) career with us here at Bluegrass Today.
His weekly bluegrass humor column tomorrow will be the 200th such contribution, an occasion of some note in our world. During the four plus years we have been running this column, Jones has been twice nominated and once selected for the prestigious Bluegrass Print Media Personality of the Year award from the IBMA. At one of those award shows, he was personally sought out by the great comedian Steve Martin, who wanted to share how much he enjoyed reading Chris’ musings each week.
As the old stage trope has it, “Dying is easy, but comedy is hard.” Being funny on command is perhaps the most trying issue a writer can face, and Chris has come through consistently and with class. Few topics in the bluegrass universe have escaped his examination, with several offerings sufficiently classic to be resurrected for a second look.
All of us here at Bluegrass Today would like to extend a hearty salute and expression of our gratitude to Chris Jones, even as we eagerly await the next 200 examples of his wit and wisdom. Well done, you!
And for those of you more interested in the tuneful side of Chris’ oeuvre, here’s the new video, showcasing both live and studio clips of he and the Night Drivers along with guests Buddy Melton and Tim Surrett from Balsam Range.
