"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 4/29/2012 - Travers Chandler, Buzz Busby

Hi Folks,

Travers Chandler

Though we lost a half-hour for UCONN sports, we still fit in a great visit from Travers Chandler who, along with his band Avery County, is on the verge of releasing a new CD on the Mountain Fever label titled Pardon Me...   Travers allowed us to debut some of the tracks from that new CD, and it is a winner.

Travers has mined the catalogs of Charlie Moore, Buzz Busby, Keith Whitley, Carter Stanley, Johnny Paycheck, Don Stover, and more to create a dark, emotion-packed set of traditional bluegrass that is refreshing for exactly that song selection and the performances of his mostly new band members.

We preceded Travers' visit to Bluegrass Cafe with a set of music tipping our hat to the late Buzz Busby, the dean of Washington DC bluegrass.  The crown jewel of the Busby set was the play of a very rare original Jiffy 45 rpm recording of "Lost" and "Me And The Jukebox."

Other newer music on the program included tracks from The Grascals, Marty Raybon, The Steep Canyon Rangers, Bill Evans, The Spinney Brothers, Sweet Potato Pie, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (who performed his only two northeast concerts for the year this weekend in CT and MA), Jim Hurst, and Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein.

Be sure to join Amy next week as she makes the banjos and fiddles ring.

Jim Beaver

 

Title / Artist / Album / Label

• Fire On The Mountain / Michael Cleveland / Sawing On The "C" String / Self-released
• Old New Straitsville Moonshine Run / Special Consensus / Scratch Gravel Road / Compass
• Final Farewell / Chris Jones & The Night Drivers / Lost Souls and Free Spirits / Rebel
• Too Late To Say Goodbye / Johnson Mountain Boys / Walls of Time / Rounder (LP)
• Lost / Buzz Busby / 45 Single / Jiffy (45)
• Reno Bound / Buzz Busby / Going Home / Starday
• I Stood On The Bridge At Midnight / Buzz Busby and Leon Morris / Honkytonk Bluegrass / Rounder
• Me & The Jukebox / Buzz Busby / 45 Single / Jiffy (45)
• Lay That Hammer Down / The Grascals / Life Finds A Way / Mountain Home
• Long Shot / The Steep Canyon Rangers / Nobody Knows You / Rounder
• Down The Road / Marty Raybon / Southern Roots & Branches / Rural Rhythm
• The Hills Of Tennessee / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Day / Raincoe
• Mash Your Finger / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Day / Raincoe
• Dakota / Bill Evans / In Good Company / Native & Fine
• Travers Chandler Interview
• Blue Monday Morning / Travers Chandler & Avery County / Pardon Me... / Mountain Fever
• Rueben Takes The D Train / Travers Chandler & Avery County / Pardon Me... / Mountain Fever
• Whiskey / Travers Chandler & Avery County / Pardon Me... / Mountain Fever
• Pardon Me (I've Got Someone To Kill) / Travers Chandler & Avery County / Pardon Me... / Mountain Fever
• Avery County / Charlie Moore / Avery County / Old Homestead (LP)
• Makin' A Killin' / The Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever
• More Bad Weather On The Way / Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers / Rare Bird Alert / Rounder
• New Camptown Races (bed) / Saravanan Sankaran / Back To Bassics / Self-released
• Daley's Reel (bed) / Saravanan Sankaran / Back To Bassics / Self-released
• Deeper Than The Holler / Sweet Potato Pie / Brand New Day / Mountain Fever
• The Greatest Creator / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Sing Me A Song About Jesus / Mountain Home
• Life's Railway To Heaven / Lee Marcus / Grandpa's Pond / Self-released
• Singin' All Day & Dinner On The Ground / Doug Dillard / Heaven / Flying Fish
• Just As I Am / Jim Hurst / Intrepid / Self-released
• Don't You Hear Jerusalem Moan / Mac McHale & The Old Time Radio Gang / Down In Memory Lane / Fishtraks
• Paul's Ministry / Williams-Lawson-Crowe / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
• God Needed My Mother / Ralph Stanley II / Born To Be A Drifter / Stanley Generation
• I'd Rather Live By The Side Of The Road / Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein / Home From The Mills / Rebel
• Walking In A Dream / Fred Etheridge w. Nick Anderson & Mark Doyle / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 4/22/2012

"Star of the Day -- who will it be?"  Those were the opening lines sung by the contestants on a local talent show called "Community Auditions" that used to air on Boston's WBZ-TV when I was a kid.  For all I know, the program may still be in existence, but whether it is or not, that theme song has stuck in my head for 30+ years.  What does that have to do with Bluegrass?  Not much, really, but if the question of who was going to be the "Star of the Day" was posed during today's BG Cafe, the answer would definitely be Doyle Lawson.  On April 27th, Doyle will make a rare trip to New England to play a show in Hamden, CT for GuitartownCT Productions (followed by a show on Saturday, April 28th in Lexington, MA for the Boston Bluegrass Union), so what better reason for us to have a chat with Doyle and shine a bit of a spotlight on him? 

With the Country Gents c. 1971
or 1972 -- is this Indian Ranch?

Bluegrass Album Band...
for lack of a better name

Doyle Lawson has had an outstanding career in the world of BG -- so far -- and on Tuesday of this past week, I got to sit down and record a conversation with Doyle while he relayed some interesting stories of a career that began in February 1963 when he was hired to pick the banjo with Jimmy Martin.  From there, he worked with J.D. Crowe in Lexington, KY, spent nearly eight years with the Country Gentlemen, and then, on April 1, 1979, struck out on his own with his own band, which would become known as Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.  In addition, Doyle was a key member of an iconic recording band known as the Bluegrass Album Band, and just last year, he won two IBMA Awards for a recording project he made with old friends, Paul Williams and J.D. Crowe.  Amazing.  To celebrate Doyle, we played a good bit of his music before and after the interview, including a selection from his most recent gospel record with Quicksilver, "Sing Me A Song About Jesus," released last month on Mountain Home/Crossroads.  


If you missed my chat with Doyle, you'll have another opportunity to hear an interview with him on Monday, April 23rd, when "Mando Richard" Gordon talks to Doyle on WNHU's "Black Diamond" Bluegrass show sometime between noon and 2PM.  Looks like you can listen online, too:  http://www.wnhu.net/index.html.


So, while Doyle Lawson was our "Star of the Day," we still managed to play music from a few other folks on today's show, including selections from newer projects by the Missy Werner Band, Chris Jones, Merl Johnson, the Grascals, a New Hampshire band known as Monadnock, Lou Reid & Carolina, the Spinney Brothers, the Special Consensus, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, and the Boxcars.  We also gave what I think might have been a BG Cafe debut to new music from Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein (their new Rebel CD is "Home From The Mills") and a forthcoming project on Rural Rhythm Records from Audie Blaylock & Redline.

Check out page 9!

Hope you enjoyed something you heard today, and that you'll be sure to join Jim for next week's BG Cafe.  If you're a subscriber to Bluegrass Music Profiles, be sure to check out Page 9 of the May/June issue, as you'll be able to read all about our own Mr. Beaver in the "DJ Profile."  Nice!  


Have a mighty fine week, and thanks for listening!


Amy 




SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL (request is RED)

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• I'll Pretend It's Raining / McCoury Brothers / The McCoury Brothers / Rounder
• Breaking In A Brand New Pair Of Shoes / Osborne Brothers / Hillbilly Fever / CMH
• Three Kinds Of Lonesome / Missy Werner Band / Three Kinds Of Lonesome / Self-Produced
• Shoulder To Shoulder / McPeak Brothers / Yesteryears / Rebel
• Red Wicked Wine / Charlie Sizemore with Ralph Stanley / Heartache Looking For A Home / Rounder
• Come And Sit By The River / Country Gentlemen / The Sugar Hill Years / Sugar Hill
• Final Farewell / Chris Jones / Lost Souls & Free Spirits / Rebel
• Amandalyn / Merl Johnson / Better Man / Patuxent Music
• I Can't Keep You In Love With Me / Expedition Show / The Expedition Show / Mountain Fever Records
• Helen / J.D. Crowe / Bluegrass Holiday / Rebel
• Hello Mr. Lonesome / The Grascals / Life Finds A Way / Mountain Home
• Dark Hollow / Monadnock / House Upon The Hill / Self-Produced
• I'm Just A Used To Be / Peter Rowan / The First Whippoorwill / Sugar Hill
• My Little Georgia Rose / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Anthology / MCA
• When You Are Lonely / Bluegrass Album Band / The Bluegrass Album Band, Volume 4 / Rounder
• Wearin' The Blues / Josh Williams with David Peterson / I'll Take Love : From The Pen Of Louisa Branscomb / Compass Records
• My Blue Tears / Gloria Belle with the Johnson Mountain Boys / Love Of The Mountains / Webco
• Early Morning Rain / Bill Emerson & Cliff Waldron / The Best Of Emerson & Waldron / Rebel
• ** Conversation with Doyle Lawson **
• The Greatest Curator / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Sing Me A Song About Jesus / Mountain Home
• Little Bessie / Country Gentlemen / Live In Japan / Rebel
• A Natural Thing / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Fresh Cuts & Key Tracks / Emmaline
• Emmaline / Lou Reid & Carolina / Callin' Me Back Home / KMA Records
• Help My Brother / Gibson Brothers / Help My Brother / Compass Records
• What A Wonderful Life / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
• Sea Of Heartbreak / Special Consensus / Scratch Gravel Road / Compass Records
• Big Muddy / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Drive Tyme / Rural Rhythm
• Sad Prison Song / Hylo Brown / Lovesick And Sorrow / Starday
• Bending Blades / Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein / Home From The Mills / Rebel
• Prayer Bells Of Heaven / Crowe, Lawson, Williams / Old Friends Get Together / Mountain Home
• Prison / The Boxcars / All In / Mountain Home
• I Can Call Jesus / Lynn Morris / Mama's Hand / Rounder
• Jordan / Stanley Brothers / Best Of The Best / Federal
• It's Gonna Rain / Kathy Kallick [Good Ol' Persons] / Count Your Blessings / Live Oak Records
• Give The Devil An Inch / Billy Boone Smith / Five Flat Rocks / Muddy Sunshine
• The Power Up Above / Edgar Loudermilk / Roads Travelled / Mountain Fever Records
• The Old Fashioned Preacher / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Father's Table Grace / MME
• On The Sea Of Life / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / A School Of Bluegrass / Crossroads
• Blue Grass Twist / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 4/15/2012

 Hi Folks,

George Shuffler born April 11, 1925
photo by Roger Haile

 
With musical recognitions of Tax Day, George Shuffler's birthday, Lincoln's death, the sinking of the Titanic, and Doug Dillard's convalescence, we still had time to bring lots of new music to the WHUS airwaves.

Titanic Sank April 15, 1912

Steep Canyon Rangers' Latest

The New Doyle Gospel Album

New music came from The Steep Canyon Rangers, Marty Raybon, The Grascals, Brand New Strings, The Boxcars, Carrie Hassler, The Spinney Brothers, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.  We also heard a couple of tunes from the new "Life Goes On" release of performances at the Musicians Against Childhood Cancer festival in Ohio of which we featured The Gibson Brothers and J.D. Crowe and the New South.

Pennsylvanian Saravanan Sankaran is mostly known in bluegrass as the bass player and excellent vocalist with The Dixie Bee Liners.  Sav has had a solo album out for a while that we finally were able to play on the air, and it's a dandy.

We also played a couple of tunes from Norman Blake and Tony Rice in recognition of the anniversary of the death of Abraham Lincoln April 15, 1865.


We couldn't let the show pass without playing a Doug Dillard banjo tune to wish Doug a speedy recovery from his recent hospitalization.

Doug Dillard and Jim - Kannapolis NC, 1997

 We hope you enjoyed this swath of great bluegrass music, and ask you to join Amy next week on Bluegrass Cafe as she makes the banjos and fiddles ring.

Jim Beaver

requests in red

Title / Artist / Album / Label

• Fire On The Mountain / Michael Cleveland / Sawing On The "C" String / Self-released
• Taxman / Songs From The Road Band / As The Crow Flies / Lucks Dumpy Toad
• I Ain't Broke (But I'm Badly Bent) / David Grisman / Hand-Picked / Rounder
• Empty Pocket Blues / Hot Rize / So Long Of A Journey / Sugar Hill
• Lower On The Hog / Larry Cordle Glen Duncan & Lonesome Standard Time / Self-titled / Sugar Hill
• Ungrateful One / Steep Canyon Rangers / Nobody Knows You / Rounder
• Rocky Road Blues / Marty Raybon / Southern Roots & Branches / Rural Rhythm
• I Think I Hear A Train / Ralph Stanley II / Born To Be A Drifter / Stanley Generation
• Coat Of Many Colors / The Lynn Morris Band / The Bramble And The Rose / Rounder
• Mystery Train / The Grascals / Life Finds A Way / Mountain Home
• Other Side Of Lonesome / Brand New Strings / Stay Tuned / Rural Rhythm
• Ol' Lonesome Won't Leave Me Alone / The Boxcars / All In / Mountain Home
• Goin' Across The Sea / J.D. Crowe and the New South / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
• Luxury Liner / Carrie Hassler / The Distance / Rural Rhythm
• Close The Door Lightly When You Go / Lonesome River Band / Chronology Volume One / Rural Rhythm
• Jump On A Pullman / Saravanan Sankaran / Back To Bassics / Self-released
• In Those Hills / Merl Johnson / Better Man / Patuxent
• Mountain Sally Ann / Ted Lundy and the Southern Mountain Boys / Self-titled / Old Blue
• Lincoln's Funeral Train / Norman Blake & Tony Rice / 2 / Rounder
• John Wilkes Booth / Tony Rice / Night Flyer / Rounder
• Me And The Jukebox / Leon Morris / Thinking Today Of My Home / Patuxent
• Walk Softly On This Heart Of Mine / Ricky Skaggs And Friends w. Dixie Chicks / Sing Songs of Bill Monroe / Lyric Street
• Nine Pound Hammer / George Shuffler / Aged To Perfection / Copper Creek
• Worried Man Blues / James Alan Shelton / Clinch Mountain Guitar / Zap
• McCormick's String Picnic / The McCormick Brothers / The Very Best of... / Varese Sarabande
• Back To My Roots / Carolina Road / Back To My Roots / Rural Rhythm
• The Working Man / Shannon Slaughter / The Sideman Steps Out / Elite Circuit
• The Titanic / Ernest V. Stoneman / The Unsung Father of Country Music / 5-String
• Down With The Old Canoe / Dixon Brothers / Complete Recorded Works Vol. 3 / Document
• The Sinking Of The Titanic / The Stoneman Family / 28 Big Ones / King
• The Great Titanic / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Fertile Ground / Rounder
• Home Sweet Dixie Home / Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie / The Touch Of Time / Rural Rhythm
• Been All Around The World / Shady Creek / Get Your Feet Wet, Vol. 2 / Self-released
• This Morning At Nine / Eddie & Martha Adcock / Many A Mile / Patuxent
• Banjo In The Hollow / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
• Dill Pickle Rag (bed) / Reno & Harrell / Sound Traditions: The Best of Bluegrass Instrumentals, Vol. 1 / Rural Rhythm
• Snowflake Breakdown (bed) / Vassar Clements, Bobby Atkins, Frank Poindexter / Sound Traditions: The Best of Bluegrass Instrumentals, Vol. 1 / Rural Rhythm
• Wheel Hoss (bed) / Mac Martin & The Dixie Travelers / Sound Traditions: The Best of Bluegrass Instrumentals, Vol. 1 / Rural Rhythm
• Flop Eared Mule (bed) / Bobby Atkins, Vassar Clements, Frank Poindexter / Sound Traditions: The Best of Bluegrass Instrumentals, Vol. 1 / Rural Rhythm
• Gold Watch And Chain / Taylors Grove / Keep On The Sunny Side / Fishtraks
• A Far Cry From Lester And Earl / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / The Heart Of A Song / Rebel
• I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow / The Soggy Bottom Boys / O Brother Where Art Thou? / (Soundtrack) / Mercury
• Heavy Traffic Ahead / The Del McCoury Band / Old Memories / McCoury Music
• Wild Horses / Johnny Warren & Charlie Cushman / A Tribute To Fiddlin' Paul Warren vol. 2 / Self-released
• Ragged Man / The Gibson Brothers / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
• Way Down Deep In My Soul / Carl Story & The Rambling Mountaineers / A Life In Rural Music 1942-1959 / Bear Family
• Lay My Body Down / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Day / Raincoe
• Weeds In The Wheat / Front Range / One Beautiful Day / Sugar Hill
• Never Shall Run Dry / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Sing Me A Song About Jesus / Mountain Home
• Old Roman Soldier / The Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever
• Lord Lift Me Up / Darin & Brooke Aldridge / So Much In Between / Mountain Home
• Micah 6:8 / Monroe Crossing / Joy Joy Joy / Self-released
• The Fourth Man In The Fire / Dailey & Vincent / The Gospel Side Of Dailey & Vincent / Cracker Barrel
• Satisfied / Paul Williams & The Victory Trio / Satisfied / Rebel
• That Home Far Away / Ralph Stanley / A Mother's Prayer / Rebel
• Walking In A Dream / Fred Etheridge w. Nick Anderson, Mark Doyle / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 4/8/2012

Easter is a time for "new," so it seems only appropriate that we had so very much new Bluegrass music to share with listeners on the show today.  Over the last several weeks, we've accumulated a whole bunch of great new recordings that we didn't really get a chance to play during the two weeks of Radiothon, or during Jim's fine tribute to Earl Scruggs last week.  Today, we tried to squeeze in as much of that newer music as possible, while still including a good portion of Easter-themed BG tunes, and, of course, more music from the one-and-only Earl Scruggs.  Another hour or two of broadcast time would have been okay with me, but at least we had a full, 3-hour, non-sports preempted program -- hooray!


The new music came from 
several performers on several different labels, including the Special Consensus ("Scratch Gravel Road" on Compass Records), Lou Reid & Carolina ("Callin' Me Back Home), and the Steep Canyon Rangers (their debut "solo" recording on Rounder Records is "Nobody Knows You").  There was also the sophomore recording from the Boxcars ("All In" on Mountain Home Records), and two new projects from Rural Rhythm Records:  a fine, solo project from Marty Raybon ("Southern Roots & Branches") and the two-CD all-star live recording of music from the MACC festivals between 2006 and 2011 called, "Life Goes On."  Remember that a portion of the proceeds of the Bluegrass Classic/MACC (Musicians Against Childhood Cancer) festival -- and this CD -- will go to the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.  Fabulous.  Other newer music came to us from Akira Otsuka, Nothin' Fancy, the Spinney Brothers, the Grascals, Freeman & Williams, the Lonesome River Band, and the Heather Berry & Tony Mabe Show.  

Perfection.

So many tributes continue to be written 
about Earl Scruggs, who left this world on March 28th.  It's amazing to think of how many lives this one banjo picker from North Carolina touched and impacted since he made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry as a member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys on December 8, 1945.  While Jim filled his 2 1/2 hours of broadcast time last Sunday with much music from the Blue Grass Boys, Flatt & Scruggs, the Earl Scruggs Review, and more, I had to share a bit more this week.  Three of the tunes played today came from projects on which Earl guested on as recently as 2008, and other F&S music came from the 1950s.  The more I watch and listen to Lester & Earl & the Foggy Mountain Boys from those old "Flatt & Scruggs Grand Ole Opry" shows sponsored by Martha White, the more I realize that the group of Flatt & Scruggs with Curly Seckler on the mandolin and tenor vocals, Paul Warren with the fiddle and bass vocals, "Uncle" Josh Graves on the Dobro, and his bass playing comedy partner, "Cousin" Jake Tullock was THE Perfect Bluegrass Band.  If you haven't seen video of these old shows, you owe it to yourself to seek out the DVDs, and give them a look and listen.  And remember, if you missed the WSM broadcast of Earl Scruggs' funeral on April 1st, or Eddie Stubbs' great tribute to the life and career of Earl Scruggs, on April 4th, you can listen to the both broadcasts online through the WSM website.  In addition, if you'd like to read some of the various tributes and remembrances of Earl Scruggs and his impact, check out the blog:  www.bluegrasstoday.com. 

Not the greatest quality picture, but the one & only time
I got to see Earl Scruggs in person -- 2005 at Thomas Point Beach.

Hope you had a fine Easter Sunday with friends and family, and that you enjoyed something you heard somewhere along the way today.  Be sure to join Jim in the BG Cafe next Sunday afternoon for 3 more hours of the best in Bluegrass!


Amy



SONG TITLE / PERFORMER / ALBUM TITLE / LABEL


Requests are RED.

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Cry From The Cross / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, 1971-1973 / Rebel
• Purple Robe / Spinney Brothers / Here At The Cross / Self-Produced
• I Am The Man, Thomas / Scottie Sparks / The Stanley Gospel Tradition:  Songs About Our Savior / Doobie Shea Records
• Scratch Gravel Road / Special Consensus / Scratch Gravel Road / Compass Records
• Love You In Vain / Alison Krauss & Union Station / Two Highways / Rounder
• Singing Waterfall / Warrior River Boys / Sounds Like Home / Rounder
• Rye Straw / Bob Paisley & the Southern Grass / Heritage / Brandywine
• When Halley Came To Jackson / Freeman & Williams / Freeman & Williams / Mountain Roads Recordings
• Wreck On The Highway / Tennessee Mafia Jug Band / Barnyard Frolic / RME Records
• The Other Side / Balsam Range / Trains I Missed / Mountain Home
• The Waves On The Sea / Johnson Mountain Boys / Favorites / Rounder
• The Old Man In The Shanty / Lonesome River Band / Chronology / Rural Rhythm
• Hooverville / Shannon Slaughter / The Sideman Steps Out / Self-Produced
• Goin' Back To Old Kentucky / Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder [with Earl Scruggs] / Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass:  A Tribute To 1946 And 1947 / Skaggs Family Records
• One Of Those Days (When I Miss Lester Flatt) / Tom T. Hall [with Earl Scruggs] / Tom T. Hall Sings Miss Dixie & Tom T. / Blue Circle Records
• Buck Creek Gal / Johnny Warren & Earl Scruggs / A Tribute To Fiddlin' Paul Warren / Self-Produced
• Fiddler And Banjo [Buck Creek Gal] / Paul Warren & Earl Scruggs / Flatt & Scruggs At Carnegie Hall! / Columbia
• I'll Go Steppin' Too / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Cuts, 1952-1955 / JSP Records
• Till The End Of The World Rolls 'Round / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / The Essential Earl Scruggs / Columbia
• Shuckin' The Corn / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Cuts, 1955-1959 / JSP Records
• One Car Funeral / Gibson Brothers / Help My Brother / Compass Records
• Fools Road / Volume Five / Children Of The Mountain / Mountain Fever Records
• Stone Was Rolled Away / Old Time Bluegrass Singers / Plastic Heart / Open Road
• Broken Stone / Paul Adkins & the Borderline Band / Wings Of Gold / Rebel
• Goodbye To The Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
• When The Love We Have Is Gone / Lou Reid & Carolina / Callin' Me Back Home / KMA Records
• Nobody Knows You / Steep Canyon Rangers / Nobody Knows You / Rounder
• Ol' Lonesome Won't Leave Me Alone / The Boxcars / All In / Mountain Home
• Line Drive / Akira Otsuka / First Tear / Patuxent Music
• Next To You, Next To Me / Marty Raybon / Southern Roots & Branches / Rural Rhythm
• Fraulein / Lost & Found / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
• Life Finds A Way / The Grascals / Life Finds A Way / Mountain Home
• I've Lost You / The Boxcars / All In / Mountain Home
• She Put The Tears In My Eyes / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Day! / Self-Produced
• Remembrance Is A Golden Chain / Heather Berry & Tony Mabe with Darrin Vincent / The Heather Berry & Tony Mabe Show / Mountain Fever Records
• I Knew It Wasn't You (The Telephone Song) / Crowe Brothers / Bridging The Gap / Rural Rhythm
• Grandma Bought A Hog / Nothin' Fancy / Nothin' Fancy / Virginia Dreams Records
• Who Will Sing For Me / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Gospel / Columbia
• Search Inside An Empty Tomb / Rarely Herd / What About Him / Pinecastle
• Old Roman Soldier / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
• Springtime In Heaven / Reno & Smiley / Early Years, 1951-1959 / Gusto
• Beyond The Sunset For Me / Doyle Lawson, Russell Moore, Jamie Dailey, Josh Swift / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
• The Place Prepared For Me / Country Gentlemen / Calling My Children Home / Rebel
• So Happy I'll Be / Rhonda Vincent & the Rage / Ragin' Live / Rounder
• By The Mark / Dailey & Vincent / Dailey & Vincent / Rounder
• Springtime In Glory / Johnson Mountain Boys / We'll Still Sing On / Rounder
• Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 4/1/2012 - Earl

Earl Eugene Scruggs

 January 6, 1924 – March 28, 2012

Memorial Service Articles:

Peter Cooper for USA Today

Chet Flippo for CMT

 Joe Edwards for Associated Press
Brian Mansfield for USA Today

Title / Artist / Album / Label

• Foggy Mountain Breakdown / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Pick Like Earl / Larry Perkins / I Just Want To Pick Like Earl / Self-released
• The Boys From North Carolina / John Hartford / Goin' Back To Dixie / Small Dog A-Barkin'
• Heavy Traffic Ahead / Bill Monroe / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
• Will You Be Loving Another Man / Bill Monroe / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
• How Will I Explain About You / Bill Monroe / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
• Bluegrass Breakdown / Bill Monroe / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
• Molly And Tenbrooks / Bill Monroe / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
• I'm Travelin' On And On / Bill Monroe / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
• God Loves His Children / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• We'll Meet Again Sweetheart / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Down The Road / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Pike County Breakdown / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Take Me In A Lifeboat / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Old Salty Dog Blues / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Jimmie Brown, The Newsboy / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Don't Get Above My Raising / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Earl's Breakdown / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Flint Hill Special / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Foggy Mountain Special / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Randy Lynn Rag / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Joy Bells / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Foggy Mountain Chimes / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Ballad Of Jed Clampett / Flatt & Scruggs  / At Carnegie Hall / Koch
• Mama Blues / Flatt & Scruggs / At Carnegie Hall / Koch
• You're Not A Drop In The Bucket / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Soldiers Joy / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / EMI
• Cumberland Gap / Hylo Brown w. Earl Scruggs / Bluegrass At Newport / Vanguard
• Before I Met You / Flatt & Scruggs / Bluegrass At Newport / Vanguard
• Liberty / Flatt & Scruggs w. Doc Watson / Strictly Instrumental / County
• T For Texas (Blue Yodel #1) / Earl Scruggs Revue / Live At Kansas State / Columbia
• My Tennessee Mountain Home / Earl Scruggs Revue / Rockin' 'Cross The Country / Columbia
• The Engineers Don't Wave From The Trains Anymore / Earl Scruggs & Tom T. Hall / The Storyteller and the Banjo Man / Wounded Bird
• Sally Goodin / Byron Berline w. Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs / Fiddle and a Song / Sugar Hill
• Black Mountain Blues / Earl Scruggs w. Family & Friends / Live At The Ryman / Rounder
• Home Sweet Home / Jerry Douglas w. Earl Scruggs, Tony Rice / Glide / Koch
• Daddy Played The Banjo / Steve Martin w. Earl Scruggs / The Crow / Rounder
• Obelisk Flour /Little Roy Lewis, Earl Scruggs, Lizzy Long / Lifetimes / Mountain Home
• Get In Line Brother / Flatt & Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Gospel / Columbia
• You Are My Flower / Flatt & Scruggs / Songs Of The Famous Carter Family / Columbia

Farewell, Earl...

The legend enjoying the stage with his son, Gary

By now, you've probably heard that THE Banjo Man, Earl Eugene Scruggs, died Wednesday, March 28th at the age of 88.  I've read many, many tributes to Earl and his influence today in various websites, and all over Facebook, and I'm sure there will be more and more tributes over the coming days and weeks.  Generally, I think the word "legend" might be thrown around a bit too liberally, but there's absolutely no doubt that "legend" fits perfectly when describing Earl Scruggs.  He may not have been the first to try the three-finger style of picking on the banjo, but he's the one who brought that style to the forefront, and pretty much made it his own (a/k/a "Scruggs-style" picking).  In fact, Earl literally wrote the book on the banjo -- Earl Scruggs And The Five-String Banjo -- 44 years after it was first published, this book is still in print, and is still being used as a learning tool by novice and more advanced banjo pickers all over the world.  Amazing.

The "classic" Foggy Mountain Boys -- the perfect Bluegrass band

If you've not had a chance to read any of the obituaries and tributes posted today, here are a few links.


From the New York Times:  
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/29/arts/music/earl-scruggs-bluegrass-banjo-player-dies-at-88.html


From CNN (including a video clip of Earl getting his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003):
http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/28/showbiz/obit-earl-scruggs/index.html


From The Guardian (UK):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/mar/29/earl-scruggs

A very nice tribute in Nashville's Tennessean:
http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2012/03/28/earl-scruggs-country-music-hall-of-famer-dies-at-age-88/


The NBC Nightly News:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#46898947

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Earl's time on this Earth may have passed, but his influence will live on as long as anyone picks up a banjo.  Jim will join you with a slightly-shortened BG Cafe this Sunday (4-6:30PM, I believe), and while I don't KNOW this for certain, I might wager that you'll hear a boatload of tremendous music from legendary Earl Scruggs.  Sure hope you can tune in...


Amy




Post-script:  
It was announced today that the Celebration of Life ceremony for Earl Scruggs will be held on Sunday, April 1st at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.  This is the same historic stage where the world was first introduced to "Scruggs-style" picking when Earl joined Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys at the Grand Ole Opry.  WSM broadcast that first performance in December 1945, and on Sunday, they'll broadcast the Celebration of Life ceremony, too.  It begins at 3PM Eastern (2PM Central), and can be listened to all over the world:  www.wsmonline.com


Another listening option for next week on WSM is Wednesday's "Eddie Stubbs Show."  On that night, Eddie will devote 3 hours of his program to the life, times, and music of Earl Scruggs.  This special tribute will air from 9PM-midnight (Eastern time), also at www.wsmonline.com


The online tributes continue to Earl Scruggs...as they should.  While most of these tributes recognize Earl as the Banjo King, a segment on NPR today highlighted Earl's fabulous  guitar playing...especially in the great Foggy Mountain Boys Quartets.  In the first Flatt & Scruggs & the Foggy Mountain Boys session as a band in the fall of 1948, they recorded a song co-written by Lester and Earl which would become a BG gospel classic, "God Loves His Children."  Here's a link to NPR's story:  http://www.npr.org/2012/03/30/149653779/a-look-back-at-the-hidden-earl-scruggs

"Bluegrass Cafe" - 3/25/2012 -- Radiothon Week #2: the FINALE

Well, it's over.  The Spring 2012 Radiothon campaign ends at midnight tonight, and while we were not able to reach our 2-week show goal of $3,500, I don't believe you're going to see Bluegrass Cafe disappear from the WHUS schedule as a result.  If you're a "regular" listener to WHUS during Radiothon, you probably know that our fundraising efforts generally coincide with the NCAA Basketball Tournaments for Men and Women.  That wouldn't be a big issue if the school had sub-par teams, but most years, the Men and Women's teams are generally pretty successful.  This year, the Men bowed out early, but the Women keep on playing, and today, their Sweet 16 round game happened from 4:30-6:30PM -- right in the middle of the Bluegrass Cafe.  Any hope that we had of really getting close to that $3,500 2-week goal totally fell apart when the basketball game got a 4:30PM start time.  Plus, Jim wasn't able to be at the station today, so that left me all alone to try to bring in a few bucks.  It wasn't terrific fun, but that we were able to take in a bit more than $500 in about 20 minutes is definitely a good thing.  Our grand total of pledges during the two weeks was well-short of the big goal, but we still know we've got some tremendous listeners to the program every week.  Big THANKS to everyone who took the time to make a pledge last Sunday or today...


There's no way we could have had any kind of success at all during Radiothon without the great support and donations we received from several record labels and performers.  Many thanks to Acoustic Blue, the Hadley Music Group, Mountain Fever Records, Mountain Home, Mountain Roads Recordings, Patuxent Music, Rebel, Rounder, and Rural Rhythm Records.  


All together, our BG music broadcast today was about one hour, so we didn't end up playing too many songs.  Still, we were able to feature a couple of songs from two new recordings from the Mountain Home label:  "Life Finds A Way" by the Grascals and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver's "Sing Me A Song About Jesus."  It seems our most popular "thank you gift" for Radiothon pledges this year was a recording from Mountain Fever Records:  "Memories" by the Spinney Brothers.  If you pledged for one of these CDs, or perhaps something else, expect that your premiums will be mailed to you within the next few weeks.  


Many thanks again to everyone for their pledges during Radiothon!! Be sure to join Jim next Sunday for LOTS of music in the BG Cafe!


Amy

• One Day Late And A Dollar Short / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
• The Greatest Creator / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Sing Me A Song About Jesus / Mountain Home
• Golden Leaves / Acoustic Blue / This Is Now / Self-Produced
• I Was Left On The Street  / Audie Blaylock & Redline / I'm Going Back To Old Kentucky / Rural Rhythm
• I'm On My Way Back To The Old Home / Tony Rice / The Bill Monroe Collection / Rounder
• Gonna Paint The Town / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
• Old Horse And Buggy / Various / Close Kin / Mountain Roads Recordings
• Lay That Hammer Down / The Grascals / Life Finds A Way / Mountain Home
• Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Mike Scott et al / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Rural Rhythm
• Never Shall Run Dry / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Sing Me A Song About Jesus / Mountain Home
• Lord Lift Me Up / Darin & Brooke Aldridge / So Much In Between / Mountain Home
• Makin' A Killin' / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
• String, Eraser And Blotter / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / The Heart Of A Song / Rebel
• No Blues Is Good News / Charlie Sizemore Band / Good News / Rounder
• Nightwalk / Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray / Many A Mile / Patuxent Music

Radiothon preemption, but still LOTS of great reasons to pledge!

As you're likely quite aware, Radiothon has been happening at WHUS since March 17th, and it will end at midnight on Sunday, March 25th.  Generally, we have two Sundays in which to try to meet our pretty-high, station-set goal ($3,500 for the two weeks), but this year, that won't be the case.  The UCONN Women's Basketball team is in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament, and that game will be played this Sunday, with a start time around 4:30PM.  That leaves us about 30 minutes of Bluegrass time to raise some funds for the station -- won't you consider helping us get at least halfway toward our show goal?  Click here to learn more about what we hope your money will help us accomplish at the station.


To sweeten the pot a bit, we've received a few more items this week to offer as "thank you gifts."  In addition to the things listed on the WHUS website -- various WHUS items and lots of BG CDs -- this week, we'll also be offering two great new CDs from Mountain Home/Crossroads:  Life Finds A Way by the Grascals and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver's Sing Me A Song About Jesus.  We also have a live DVD from Massachusetts-based band, Acoustic Blue:  Live From The Road.  If you're interested in any of these items -- or some of the other fine recordings we still have available (including new music from the Spinney Brothers, Eddie & Martha Adcock, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, and others) -- please give us a call on Sunday.  Even though the basketball game will preempt our show, I'll still be at WHUS, and I'm sure I'll be hoping to answer the phone.  Put me to work by calling (800)599-9487, won't you?


And don't forget, each person who pledges to "BG Cafe" during Radiothon 2012 gets a chance to win a copy of The Music Of Bill Monroe by Neil Rosenberg & Charles Wolfe.  


If you really don't want to wait 'til Sunday to make your pledge, you can call WHUS anytime at (800)599-9487.  The CDs from DL&Q and the Grascals, as well as the Acoustic Blue DVD won't be available 'til Sunday, though.  


Many thanks to all of you for your continued support of our BG programming at WHUS.  We hope to hear from you on Sunday...or sooner!


Thanks!!

Amy

"Bluegrass Cafe" - 3/18/2012 Radiothon Week #1

Waiting patiently for some calls...

March is generally the time of year a lot of college and community radio stations have fund drives, and so it has been at WHUS for the last several years.  On Sunday, we worked through the first week of our fundraising campaign (better known as Radiothon), and while Jim and I are always delighted to hear from folks who listen to -- and we hope, enjoy -- the show, we didn't quite hear from as many listeners yesterday as we had hoped we might.  There's always next Sunday, I suppose...

Rachel, Jim, and James study one of
the pledge cards.

We couldn't do Radiothon without the support of some mighty fine record labels:  Hadley Music Group, Mountain Fever Records, Mountain Home, Mountain Roads Recordings, Patuxent Music, Rebel, Rounder, and Rural Rhythm Records.  Big THANKS to each of them. 


If you're considering making a pledge to the program and WHUS, next Sunday will be your next -- and we hope, last for this year -- chance to do so.  There are still a boatload of great "thank you gifts" we can offer for your pledge -- check out the list of them here.  If you're wondering what WHUS hopes to do with your pledge, check out the explanation here.  Remember, too, that for each pledge you make, no matter the amount, you'll get one chance for our drawing at the end of Radiothon on March 25th for a copy of The Music Of Bill Monroe -- the terrific biography/discography of the Father of Bluegrass published by the Univ. of Illinois Press in 2007.  We might have a few other surprises to offer on Sunday, so be sure to tune in, please. 

We'd be absolutely delighted to hear from you next week, so if you can help us out, please do.  No pledge amount is too small...or too large! 

Have a great week, and join us again for Radiothon Week #2 on Sunday at 4PM.

Amy & Jim


Playlist comes from CDs available as premiums during Radiothon:

• Foot Hill Hop / Various / Born Into Bluegrass:  The Songs Of Cullen Galyean / Mountain Roads Recordings
• Hard Rock Mountain Prison ('Til I Die) / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Rural Rhythm
• Picture Me There / Lou Reid & Carolina / My Own Set Of Rules / Rural Rhythm
• Emotions / Reno & Smiley / Together Again / Rebel
• Buck Ryan Rag / Reno & Smiley / Together Again / Rebel
• Makin' A Killin' / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
• Swinging Bridge / Rich In Tradition / Black Mountain Special / Mountain Roads Recordings
• Helen / Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray / Many A Mile / Patuxent Music
• The Black Fox / Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie / Southern / Rural Rhythm
• The Nights Are So Long / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper / Fired Up / Rounder
• Sea Of Regret / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / The Heart Of A Song / Rebel
• Close By / Dailey & Vincent / Bill Monroe Centennial Celebration / Rounder
• Molly & Tenbrooks / Tony Rice / The Bill Monroe Collection / Rounder
• Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself / Louvin Brothers / Radio Favorites '51-'57 / CMF
• Stranger In My Home / White Mountain Bluegrass / Aragon Mill / Strictly Country
• Lonesome Without You / Donna Ulisse / An Easy Climb / Hadley Music Group
• In Despair / Audie Blaylock & Redline / I'm Going Back To Old Kentucky / Rural Rhythm
• Old Roman Soldier / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
• Rare Bird Alert / Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers / Rare Bird Alert / Rounder
• Sweetest Love / Merl Johnson / Better Man / Patuxent Music
• Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die / Lost & Found / Love, Lost & Found / Rebel
• We're In This Love Together / Darin & Brooke Aldridge / So Much In Between / Mountain Home
• Bring 'Em On Back / Larry Sparks / Almost Home / Rounder
• Holly Ding / Various / Close Kin / Mountain Roads Recordings
• Wrong Road Again / Freeman & Williams / Freeman & Williams / Mountain Roads Recordings
• Bad News For The Devil / John Miller / Look To The Light:  Songs Of Faith From The Pen Of Rick Lang / Rural Rhythm Christian
• God's Front Porch / Lou Reid & Carolina / Sounds Like Heaven To Me / Rural Rhythm Christian

Here it comes again...Radiothon!

There are things that one expects to happen in the month of March:  windy days, blooming flowers, LOTS of basketball games, and, of course, at WHUS -- it's time for Radiothon!  For the last several years, we've come to you, our listeners, and asked for a bit of financial support to do things like help finance our move to the Student Union studios or to allow us to build some shelving for the music library.  This year, we're hoping for your financial support as the station would like to build a new recording studio in the WHUS suite, which could be used to accomodate larger bands for broadcasting, or to allow UCONN students to come in and make recordings.  Click here to read the reasons for Radiothon on WHUS Comptroller/CEO Aaron Price's blog.  


As always, we'll have several ways to say thanks to you for your kind donation to WHUS.  In addition to the "usual" station items (i.e. t-shirts, sweatshirts, stainless steel travel mugs), we'll have plenty of great CDs from all sorts of genres.  Our BG offerings are still coming in as I write this, but here's a sampling of what we've got to offer you so far:

• Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray - "Many A Mile" (Patuxent Music)
• Darin & Brooke Aldridge - "So Much In Between" (Mountain Home)
• Freeman & Williams - "Freeman & Williams" (Mountain Roads Recordings)
• Reno & Smiley - "Together Again" (Rebel)
• Rich In Tradition - "Black Mountain Special" (Mountain Roads Recordings)
• Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice - "The Heart Of A Song" (Rebel)
• Spinney Brothers - "Memories" (Mountain Fever Records)
  

These are just a few examples of some of the fine recordings we've received for Radiothon, and we appreciate the generosity of the record labels who've donated items to us:  Mountain Fever, Mountain Home, Mountain Roads Recordings, Patuxent Music, Rebel, Rounder, and Rural Rhythm Records.  Be sure to tune in on Sunday from 4 to 7PM to learn more about what's available.

For every donation made to the Bluegrass Cafe during the two Sundays of Radiothon, one entry will be added to a drawing to be held at 7PM on Sunday, March 25th for a copy of The Music Of Bill Monroe by Neil Rosenberg & Charles Wolfe.  This is a mighty fine book, and even if Bill Monroe's "official" 100th birthday was celebrated in 2011, it's never too late to remember the work of the Father of Bluegrass.

If you've contributed to WHUS in the past, thanks!  If you've made your donation to the Bluegrass Cafe, that's really awesome!  For the last couple of years during Radiothon, the Bluegrass Cafe has been the #1 listener-supported music program on the air at WHUS -- can we keep our (totally unofficial) "most popular" title for another year?  Time will tell...

Jim and I will hope to hear from you this Sunday -- THANKS!!!

Amy