We are posting this episode on what would have been J.D. Crowe's 85th birthday. He was a dear friend of the podcast, and was our special guest on our first two episodes. J.D. Crowe passed away on December 24th, 2021. His friend and former lead guitarist, Tony Rice passed away 364 days earlier on December 25th, 2020. In the days following Tony's passing, Daniel Mullins interviewed J.D. Crowe about his late friend, Tony Rice, for Daniel's daily radio program on Real Roots Radio. We are grateful to Real Roots Radio for allowing us to feature this special interview on the Walls of Time: Bluegrass ..read more

Bill Emerson was a banjo giant, whose work with Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys, The Country Gentlemen, Emerson & Waldron, and more, resulted in his 2019 induction into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. His impeccable playing, innovative spirit, and pleasant demeanor, made this southern gentleman a beloved figure in bluegrass music. This interview was recorded the day after his Hall of Fame induction in Raleigh, NC. Due to some technical difficulties with Mr. Emerson's microphone, the audio quality of this interview is subpar, but the content that this legend has to share i ..read more

A member of the Grand Ole Opry and the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, Del McCoury has one of the most distinctive voices in all of roots music. With The Del McCoury Band, he has led one of the most successful bluegrass bands of all time, bringing the high lonesome sound to new places and new heights. Del sits down with Daniel Mullins at the Dayton Art Institute to talk about his legendary career. From his humble beginnings growing up on a farm, to his many years working in the timber business, Del’s story is one of unexpected twists and turns, both personally and professionally. He talks with Daniel ..read more

From the Ozark hills to the Grand Ole Opry, CJ Lewandowski and his band The Po Ramblin Boys are a bluegrass success story who have taken their traditional sound to new audiences. Daniel Mullins sits down with  CJ in Nashville at the 2020 SPBGMA convention in Nashville to talk about CJ’s introduction to music, his fascination with the mandolin and first generation of bluegrass artists, and about his path to a successful career in the genre. Hear why bluegrass is more than just music to mandolin player and singer, CJ Lewandowski, in this episode of Walls of Time. This episode is brought to ..read more

Russell Moore is IBMA’s most-awarded Male Vocalist and leader of the award-winning band, IIIrd Tyme Out. Here in Part 2 of his interview with Daniel Mullins, Russell recounts his journey from sideman to band leader, and the journey in-between. He talks about his favorite moments in music, as well as the songs that made his career, and band, stand out among others in the genre. Listen to Russell talk about where his passion for music still comes from, even after thirty years as a bandleader in this second episode of his spotlight interview, recorded in Columbus, OH with Daniel Mullins on Walls ..read more

As the most awarded male vocalist in bluegrass, Russell Moore has earned a pedigree as a lead singer and guitarist from the biggest artists in the industry. Still at the top of his game, Russell continues to record and perform with his award-winning band, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out. Here in Part 1 of a two-part interview with host Daniel Mullins, recorded in Columbus, OH at Musicians Against Childhood Cancer, Russell recounts his journey from Texas to North Carolina, and all the miles between and since. In this episode, Russell talks about how it all started as a teenage musician an ..read more

A renaissance woman of bluegrass, Andrea Roberts has led the life of a musician with the trailblazing, all-female group, Petticoat Junction, as well as one of manager, promoter, and talent agent for some of bluegrass music's most well-known artists. She is the wife of mandolin player, Danny Roberts of The Grascals, and mother to up-and-coming artist, Jaelee Roberts. She has been a mentor to countess young artists and tastemakers in the field including our own, Daniel Mullin,s who she sits down with Andrea in Lexington, KY at Bluegrass in the Bluegrass to talk about her journey on this episode ..read more

  Fiddle master, Michael Cleavland is considered one of today's greatest bluegrass artists. Here in Part 2 of Daniel Mullins' interview with Michael, they talk about his journey in bluegrass, from his first professional performances to fronting his own Grammy award-winning band, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper. Recorded backstage during rehearsal for the 2019 IBMA Awards Show in Raleigh, NC, hear the conclusion of this two-part episode with fiddling legend, Michael Cleveland. This episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:  -- Samson's Haircare: samsonshaircare.com ..read more

  As one of the most awarded fiddle players in bluegrass music today, Michael Cleveland’s career is still unfolding. Born visually impaired, Michael has had a unique journey as an artist. In this two-part episode, Daniel sits down with Michael in Raleigh, NC, backstage during rehearsal for the 2019 IBMA Awards Show, as Michael shares his story of becoming an accomplished master of bluegrass fiddling. Michael talks about his influences, his philosophy of music, and his intense study of the instrument and music, that molded him into the fiddling tour de force he is today. Enjoy this first p ..read more

For over three decades, Larry Stephenson has been a band leader, recording artist and leader in bluegrass music. Prior to launching his solo career, Larry worked with some important figures in the genre, including Bill Harrell and the trailblazing band, The Bluegrass Cardinals. Over the last thirty years, a who's who of world class musicians have been members of The Larry Stephenson Band. Daniel sits down with Larry in Nashville, TN to talk about his journey in pursuit of originality and authenticity as he continues to be a celebrated mandolin player and singer in bluegrass.   This episod ..read more