Author: Richard Thompson

On this day …… On August 18, 1992, the Bass Mountain Boys released their first Pinecastle CD, Carolina Calling Me (PRC 1011). The 14 tracks were recorded at the Doobie Shea Studios, Ferrum, Virginia, by Steve Dilling , Johnny Ridge , Mike

The latest release from Patuxent Music, The Patuxent Banjo Project (Patuxent CD 250), has a very interesting aspect in that it brings together 40 regional banjo players to showcase their talents. However, these pickers are from the bluegrass-rich Greater Washington,

Just to Hear the Whistle Blow was written by Tim Stafford and Steve Gulley in late 2012 or early 2013. They wrote their first tune together in 2003 and have written around 75 songs, not all of which have seen the

Cullen's Bridge was formed about three years ago with the intention that the band perform in the way that Mickey Galyean's father, Cullen Galyean, did. Hard-core traditional bluegrass is the order of the day. From the traditionally rich area of Lowgap,

On This Day ………….. On August 5, 1924, Darrell 'Pee Wee' Lambert was born in Thacker, West Virginia. Like many Appalachian entertainers of his day, he found that music was an abiding relief from coal mining. Lambert has been described as "a charter

Having A Coffee With… is a fun series in which we ask bluegrass music personalities, some famous, some not so well known, about some of their interests as well as about the music that they love.  Born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama,

Another Washington State grasser down. Gary Phelps passed away suddenly from a heart attack on July 22, 2014, while at Providence St. Peter Hospital, Olympia, Washington. Gary Eldon Phelps was born in Olympia, Washington, on November 27, 1939. He served in the Navy,

Milan Miller started learning guitar around the age of five. Guitar is his primary instrument, but he also plays the mandolin, bass, piano, and "just enough banjo and Dobro to get myself into trouble." Miller's song catalog includes such Balsam Range

Roy McMillan passed away on July 5, 2014, at his home in Lewisville, North Carolina, after experiencing many years of serious ill health. He was 84 years old. Roy Berlin McMillan was born May 17, 1930, in Fancy Gap in Carroll

In late April James Alan Shelton, the much loved lead guitar player for Ralph Stanley, was diagnosed as having multiple stage 4 cancers. Barely a month later he had very sadly passed away, the cancers too far advanced for him to