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This past week (May 9th) marked the 23rd anniversary of the passing of Keith Whitley. Every time his honest voice is heard, people across the globe wonder why he had to leave us so early in life. He joined the likes of Hank Williams, Carter Stanley, and Jimmie Rodgers as great contributors to American music [...]
In light of the sad but understandable news that bluegrass visionary J.D. Crowe is going to be retiring at the end of this year, this week’s Album of the Week is going to be an often overlooked gem from the master. One of his earliest albums, Blackjack (Ramblin’ Boy) is definitely worth digging out for [...]
Another banjo milestone is about to be passed. The great J.D. Crowe has announced his intention to retire from performing at the end of 2012. He will turn 75 years old this summer. Crowe is widely regarded as among the most influential bluegrass banjo players of the 20th century, with many placing him as second [...]
This July at the Uncle Dave Macon Days festival in Murphreesboro, TN, two fabulous banjo players will receive awards for their lifetime contributions to the instrument. Macon, of course, was the legendary entertainer who used frailing banjo to accompany himself during his hey day in the 1920s and '30s. He is widely regarded as responsible [...]
We reported over the weekend that banjo legend J.D. Crowe was taken ill during a show Friday night, and had to leave the stage. Fortunately for the audience and the band, Josh Williams was in the house, and hopped up to take over banjo duties for the remainder of the show. Crowe's representative, Mike Drudge, [...]
Friday night at the Station Inn in Nashville, J. D. Crowe became ill and was unable to finish the show. According to New South guitarist Ricky Wasson, Crowe was recovering from a recent bout with pneumonia, and probably overexerted himself. Fortunately, consummate multi-instrumentalist Josh Williams was in the house and filled in for the rest of [...]
Most Bluegrass Today readers are familiar with the careers of Earl Scruggs and J.D. Crowe, who have led their own bands and, at one time or another, played supporting roles within bluegrass music. Both appeared as sidemen for performers like Jimmy Martin and Bill Monroe (Crowe filled in with Monroe on one show). But have you [...]
On Saturday, December 3, 2011, J. D. Crowe & The New South, with special guests Alison Krauss and Dan Tymnski, will perform a concert at Powell County High School in Stanton, Kentucky to benefit underprivileged children. As a part of the Cops & Kids program conducted by the Fraternal Order of Police and the Powell County [...]
On Sunday, November 20, 2011, Rural Rhythm Records and some of its brightest stars gathered to celebrate the release of Bill Monroe 100th Year Celebration Live At Bean Blossom, a live recording of 12 selections from Rural Rhythm's family of artists, recorded live at the 45th annual Bill Monroe Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival. The CD release [...]
From receiving his first banjo as a Christmas present at the age of 13 to his IBMA Hall of Fame Induction in 2003, very few people have made as big an impact on a musical genre as J.D. Crowe has had on bluegrass. The recent book Crowe on the Banjo: The Music Life of J.D. [...]
