Remembering Tony Rice Early Years Tony Rice, born David Anthony Rice on June 8, 1951, was a highly influential American bluegrass guitarist. He was a master of the acoustic guitar and played various genres, including bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass, and acoustic jazz. Throughout his illustrious career, Rice collaborated with notable musicians. Born in Danville, Virginia, Rice grew up in Los Angeles, California. His father, Herb Rice, introduced him to bluegrass music. Influenced by musicians like Clarence White, he honed his skills and developed a deep love for the genre. Blu ..read more

Let's wish Doyle a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Comment your favorite Doyle Lawson song below! Available for Purchase Current show Music Free For All 05:00 07:00 ..read more

Photo by Susie Neel Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out Interested in seeing Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out? Visit their website for an event or festival near you!  Banners Current show All Around Bluegrass 16:00 19:00 ..read more

Photo by Susie Neel Larry Stephenson Band Put yourself in the seat and enjoy Larry Stephenson Band during their 2024 tour.  Also, check out the latest album, Cast a Lonesome Shadow, which combines new, original material and past songs.  The album is available from your favorite downloadable websites ..read more

Photo Credit: Susie Neel Taken at Lucketts Schoolhouse The Johnson Mountain Boys The Johnson Mountain Boys were a bluegrass band that succeeded significantly during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Unlike many of their contemporaries, the group elected to model their sound on the pioneering bluegrass musicians of the past, reinvigorating the genre by reimagining overlooked classics. Their performances were noted for their engaging stage presence, characterized by the group’s Western-style hats, ties, and matching suits, which commanded the audience’s attention. Available for Purchase T ..read more

Ernie Thacker was a beloved figure in the bluegrass world who left an indelible mark on the genre with his soulful voice, passionate delivery, and exceptional songwriting skills. Ernie grew up in Northern Ohio, steeped in the rich traditions of bluegrass music. His influences came from legends like Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, and Jimmy Martin. At 13, Ernie already had a band called the Country Cousins. Two years later, he formed another band called the Bluegrass Revelators. His star began to shine when he joined Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys as their lead singer and guitarist. R ..read more

Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith was an American old-time fiddler born on April 10, 1898, and significantly impacted the music world. He discovered his passion for the fiddle early, influenced by fellow fiddlers Grady Stringer and Walter Warden, while being raised on a farm near Bold Springs, Tennessee. Let’s take a closer look at the life of this musical legend: Early Years and Influences: Arthur Smith, a man of humble beginnings, married at sixteen and began his musical journey. He started performing at local dances and fiddlers’ conventions, honing his skills alongside his cousin Homer Smith and fiddl ..read more

The Orange Blossom Special was a deluxe passenger train that inspired the tune by the same name. Ervin T. Rouse wrote and copyrighted the song in 1938, and Ervin and Gordon Rouse recorded it first in 1939.   There has been a bit of controversy as to the original composer of the instrumental.  Robert Russell (Chubby) Wise also claimed the song telling the story that he and Rouse had toured the train.  After being so impressed, Rouse said they should “write a song about it.”  Rouse never contested Wise’s claim to the song but others who knew both men have stated that it did ..read more

When discussing the most popular bluegrass songs, “Nine Pound Hammer” nearly always floats to the top. Let’s follow the scent and try to sniff out the origins of this famous tune. After the Civil War, when able-bodied men were scarce, former slaves and convicts were conscripted to build tunnels and lay track in constructing a network of railroad lines throughout the mountains in the southeast. In the case of the Swannanoa Tunnel in North Carolina, at least 500 black convict laborers were used for this always dangerous and sometimes fatal work. These work crews frequently sang while they worked ..read more

  The Country Gentlemen In the early 1970s, “Fox on the Run” was among the most requested bluegrass songs. Along with “Rocky Top,” a bluegrass band could scarcely play a show without fans yelling for “Rocky Top” or “Fox on the Run.” The song was written in 1968 by an Englishman named Tony Hazzard and first recorded as a rock song by Manfred Mann in February 1969. Cliff Waldren and the New Shades of Grass were the first bluegrass band to record it. Listening to this bluegrass recording, many people were puzzled by one line of the lyrics that sounded like Cliff was singing, “I Fillustrat ..read more