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A couple of popular North Carolina bands have brought on new bass players this past few days. Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road have announced that Eddie Biggerstaff will handle the low end for them on the road. Eddie spent several years with Blue Ridge and has performed and recorded with Herschel Sizemore, Larry Rice, and [...]
On February 26, the 15th Annual Leon Kiser Memorial Tribute Concert was held in Bristol, TN at the historic Paramount Theater. The show is produced each year by the Appalachian Cultural Music Association to raise money to fund their Benny Sims and Leon Kiser scholarships for students in the Bluegrass and Old Time Music program [...]
Back in July, we posted about the job being advertised for a Bluegrass Lecturer at East Tennessee State University. The full time (9 month) position has been filled, with the post going to Brandon Green of Sophia, WV. Brandon has performed on banjo with Canada's Abrams Brothers, and is an endorser for Prucha Banjos. He [...]
We're always glad to do what we can to help get the word out concerning stolen instruments, but saddened that a player has been parted from a beloved axe. That's why we're even happier to report when a stolen instrument has been recovered. Last July we reported that Colby Laney, a student at ETSU, had [...]
East Tennessee State University is currently taking applications for a position within the bluegrass department. The job is described as "Bluegrass Lecturer," while a quick review of the job description will reveal that lecturing on the history and theory of bluegrass music is only one part of the duties. Job Summary/Basic Function: Teaching classes in [...]
ETSU didn't make much of a splash in the first round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament last week, but they have a real winner in David Grindstaff, a student in their Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music program. His debut CD, Here & Now, was released on March 1 and it shows Grindstaff to be [...]
In recognition of East Tennessee State University now offering the first four year Bachelor's degree in bluegrass music, the Appalachian Cultural Music Association (ACMA) has announced the launch of a new scholarship for ETSU students in the name of the late Leon Kiser. Kiser was a prominent musician and businessman in east Tennessee who earned [...]
The Bristol Herald Courier, which covers Bristol Tennessee and Virginia, plus the nearby cities of Johnson City and Jonesborough, TN, had a piece last Monday about the changing of the guard at East Tennessee State University's Bluegrass, Old Time & Country Music program. Raymond McLain, who had been overseeing the ETSU program, has taken the [...]
The dust is starting to settle from the bluegrass winter personnel rotations. The Expedition Show, formerly Williams & Clark Expedition, welcomes mandolinist Alex Hibbitts from Johnson City, TN to the band. Alex, 23 years old, is a recent graduate of East Tennessee State University, where he obtained a bacherlor's degree in accounting with a minor [...]
When we last spoke with Raymond McLain about the Bluegrass, Old Time & Country Music program at East Tennessee State University, they were in the process of seeking full accreditation to offer a four year Bachelor of Arts degree. McLain is the director of this program, which currently allows for a minor for ETSU students, [...]
