In depth conversation with bluegrass legend Tom Gray
Tom Gray showing a photo of Bill Monroe at a jam in his basement – photo © Tara Linhardt Over this past weekend, Tara Linhardt visited legendary bluegrass bassist Tom Gray at his home, and recorded this video of their conversation. Tom, of course, served as bassist with several important bluegrass groups based around Washington, […]
Tom Gray inducted into Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Hall of Fame
Tom Gray is inducted into the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame – photos by Barb Diederich Iconic bassist, Tom Gray, was inducted into Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Hall of Fame in Bean Blossom, IN last month. In the ceremony, coinciding with Uncle Pen Fest, Gray was inducted along with the late great fiddler, Vassar Clements. […]
Tom Gray’s 82nd birthday bash
The DC Bluegrass Union hosted a party over this past weekend to celebrate the birthdays of two capitol area bluegrass greats, Tom Gray and Carroll Swam, both of whom are turning 82 years of age. Tom’s 82nd was last week, and Carroll’s is upcoming in March. Most bluegrass lovers know Tom from his many years […]
Congratulations Tom and Barb!
Tom Gray, former bass player with The Country Gentlemen, Seldom Scene, and many other DC-based bluegrass groups, was married to Barbara Elizabeth Diederich on Saturday May 11 at the Palisades Community Church in Washington, DC. Of course there was music, as Tom sang his bride up the aisle. Additional music during the ceremony was provided by The [...] Reminisce with Tom Gray on WAMU
Hey all you Country Gentlemen fans out there... Has Katy Daley got a deal for you! On her morning show tomorrow on WAMU's Bluegrass Country, Katy will spend two hours with Tom Gray talking about his early days with The Country Gentlemen, starting in 1960. They will play many classic tracks from that time, and discuss the [...] Tom Gray on George Shuffler
George Shuffler, Tom Gray, and James Alan Shelton perform during Shuffler's induction to the IBMA Bluegrass Hall of Fame - photo by Roy Swan This reminiscence comes courtesy of Tom Gray, among the most prominent bass players in the history of bluegrass music. He spent memorable time as a member of both the Country Gentlemen [...] The Seldom Scene Turns Back the Clock
Novelist Thomas Wolfe was wrong. You can go home again. The Seldom Scene proved it Sunday night, returning to the venue that provided the seminal band’s first home more than 40 years ago for a show that included current members and the surviving founders, along with tributes to those who are gone. Sure, the Red [...] Seminars at IBMA 2013
IBMA's World of Bluegrass gives folks many chances to meet and learn from others in the industry, both from experts on panels and just chances to mix, mingle and swap stories with other musicians, broadcasters, mangers, and festival promoters. I attended a few of the seminars where I learned things, and got new ideas to chew [...] A ‘Clusterpluck’ for Mike Auldridge
It’s one thing when one of the most talented Dobro players on the planet attributes his success to Mike Auldridge. It’s something else entirely when a whole stageful of top Dobro players line up to pay tribute. Sally Van Meter had the most colorful way of putting it Tuesday night at the Birchmere Music Hall [...] Mike Auldridge tribute at The Birchmere
An all-star collaboration concert has been scheduled for February 12 to celebrate the life and music of Mike Auldridge, who died after a lengthy illness on Dec 28, 2012. Mike's influence on the worlds of bluegrass and resonator guitar can scarcely be overstated. No one playing the instrument today is untouched by his brilliance, and [...] 