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Larry Sparks is noted for his unique soulful, bluesy style of bluegrass that from a distance appears to be effortless. But clearly, there is no doubt that he works hard to keep his audience entertained. His voice and guitar could not be better matched, bluesy notes pouring/tumbling from both in a complimentary manner. Like many [...]
Once again, we have compiled all of our Bluegrass Today Weekly Airplay Charts to create a chart for the past year. It's great to see new artists, established headliners, and rising stars all represented Here's our 2014 list, showing the ranking based on total spins throughout last year. Listed are artist, song, and spin count. [...]
As a Bluegrass Today reviewer – not to mention as a bluegrass fan in general - I listen to a lot of music throughout the year. Most of it’s good, some of it’s not so good, but a few albums have been great. There’s twelve months in a year, so here’s my top twelve albums [...]
Early country stars, the Delmore Brothers were huge influences on not only bluegrass and country music, but blues, folk, rock and roll, and more. The Delmore Brothers received a long overdue Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2014, recognizing their lasting impact on bluegrass music. In order to celebrate the legacy [...]
I don't know about you, but every year, Thanksgiving ranks higher and higher on my list of favorite holidays. And every year, as Christmas seems to come earlier and earlier, it frustrates me more that Thanksgiving continues to be pushed aside. Thanksgiving is the only major holiday without a strong sense of commercialism attached to [...]
When did you first hear the music of Larry Sparks? That seems like a good question to ponder as we consider his latest album, Lonesome and Then Some... A Classic 50th Celebration. For me it was 40 years ago, sometime in 1974 after the release of The Lonesome Sounds of Larry Sparks & the Lonesome Ramblers. [...]
Our August 8 Weekly Airplay chart is out, and Larry Sparks has returned to the #1 position with Bitterweeds from his 50th Anniversray album, Lonesome and Then Some. The Bluegrass Brothers also return to the Top 5 with Memories Of My Childhood, tied with Rhonda Vincent's Only Me at #3. Filling out the Top 5 are Balsam Range (Moon Over [...]
Lonesome and Then Some is truly an album we've been waiting 50 years to hear. It's Larry Sparks' 50th anniversary record, and it's coming August 5 from Rebel Records. You may remember the superb 40 album, released to coincide with Larry's 40th year in music, and another ten years looks to have added even more [...]
Our crack festival team of John Goad and Jessica Boggs attended the Ralph Stanley Hills Of Home festival on Smith Ridge near Coeburn, VA where the Stanley family has lived for many years. They captured lots of the fun - John with a video, and Jessica with a gallery of photos. A highlight is Melvin [...]
Kody Norris and the Watauga Mountain Boys kicked off the 10th edition of the February Palatka Bluegrass show held at the Rodeheaver Boys Ranch. They were followed by the James King Band and Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers. Dailey and Vincent along with Jimmy Fortune closed out the evening. The power went out in the [...]
