"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 5/27/2012 - Memorial Day

 

Doc Watson (Lauren Carroll-
Winston-Salem Journal)

Hi Folks.

While we had great weather this day to support holiday weekend activities, we honored the reason for the Memorial Day holiday by playing songs throughout this show about the sons and daughters who did not return from wars.

As this show was about to begin, we became aware of the dire status of American guitar legend, Doc Watson, and opened the show with one of his classic tunes.  (Doc passed away two days later on May 29th.)

New music included songs from Larry Stephenson, MA group Acoustic Blue, CT/NY group Too Blue, The Boxcars, The Steep Canyon Rangers, The Grascals, Randy Jones, Bob Amos, Travers Chandler & Avery County, Heather Berry & Tony Mabe, The Spinney Brothers, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.

L-R   Donna, Patsy, Roni Stoneman

For her birthday, we had Patsy Stoneman perform a song from The Stonemans, Patsy, Donna, Roni, disc released on Patuxent a couple years ago. 

Be sure to tune in Tuesday afternoons from 3 til 5 when James & Kathy Ward bring two hours of drive-time bluegrass to WHUS, and next Sunday 4-7pm when Amy Orlomoski will serve up the bluegrass on Bluegrass Cafe.

Jim Beaver

requests in blue

Song / Artist / Album / Label

• Black Mountain Rag / Doc & Merle Watson / Black Mountain Rag / Rounder
• More Than A Name On A Wall / Dailey & Vincent / Self-titled / Rounder
• A Hero In Harlan / Tom T. Hall / Sings Miss Dixie & Tom T. / Blue Circle
• Me And John And Paul / The Grascals / Self-titled / Rounder
• Ungrateful One / Steep Canyon Ranger / Nobody Knows You / Rounder
• Tarred And Feathered / Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen / Self-titled / Self-released
• I'd Rather Love A Memory / The Missy Werner Band / Three Kinds Of Lonesome / Self-released
• Rebel Soldier / Charlie Moore / Civil War Memories (Compilation) / Wango
• Bein' Country / Acoustic Blue / Bein' Country / Self-released
• Blue Monday Morning / Travers Chandler & Avery County / Pardon Me... / Mountain Fever
• Bright Sunny South / Alison Krauss / New Favorite / Rounder
• Two Little Boys / Eddie & Martha Adcock / Many A Mile / Patuxent
• Old New Straitsville Moonshine Run / Special Consensus / Scratch Gravel Road / Compass
• Seen It All / Bob Amos / Borrowed Time / Bristlecone
• I Know What It Means To Be Lonesome / Randy Jones / When Old Lonesome Comes Around / Southfork
• With Love From Normandy / Mark "Brink" Brinkman / On The Brink Of A Dream / Brinksongs
• Liberty / The Dillards / Live Almost / Elektra
• Goodbye To The Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Life Goes On (Compilation) / Rural Rhythm
• Johnny Gray - Rye Straw / Peter Feldmann & The Pea Patch Quintet / Grey Cat on the Tennessee Farm / Hen Cackle
• Someone Play Dixie For Me / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Tried & True / Rounder
• John Hardy / The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots 1961 / Smithsonian Folkways
• Don't Fall In Love With A Girl Like That / The Boxcars / All In / Mountain Home
• Honky Tonk Lullaby / The Grascals / Life Finds A Way / Mountain Home
• Welcome Home / Dailey & Vincent / The Gospel Side Of Dailey & Vincent / Cracker Barrel
• Arkansas / The Heather Berry & Tony Mabe Show / Self-titled / Mountain Fever
• When Johnny Comes Marching Home / Merl Johnson / Better Man / Patuxent
• I've Never Been So Lonesome / Ted Lundy and the Southern Mountain Boys / Self-titled / Old Blue
• And The Band Played "Waltzing Matilda" / Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein / 2:10 Train / Rebel
• When You're Holding Me / Rhonda Vincent / Single / Upper Management
• Memories / The Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever
• It's You Baby You / The Old Time Bluegrass Singers / Plastic Heart / Open Road
• Til They Came Home / Rhonda Vincent / All American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
• Long Journey Home (bed) / Josh Williams / Flatpicking Bluegrass / FGM
• I'll Stay Around (bed) / Tim Stafford / Flatpicking Bluegrass / FGM
• Banks Of The Ohio (bed) / Brad Davis / Flatpicking Bluegrass / FGM
• A Purple Heart / Curly Seckler / Bluegrass, Don't You Know / Copper Creek
• What Really Matters / Larry Stephenson / What Really Matters / Compass
• Trouble With The Grey / Too Blue / Trouble With The Grey / Self-released
• Must Be The Wind / Nu-Blu / The Blu-Disc / Pinecastle
• A Hero's Death / Mac Wiseman / Plum Pitiful / Time Life
• Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar / Doc & Merle Watson / Black Mountain Rag / Rounder
• Soldier's Grave / Wade Mainer / I'm Not Looking Backward / Gusto
• Hold Fast To The Right / Taylors Grove / Keep On The Sunny Side / Fishtraks
• Casualty Of War / Larry Sparks / The Last Suit You Wear / McCoury
• Little Star / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Sing Me A Song About Jesus / Mountain Home
• Shouting Time In Heaven / Kenny & Amanda Smith / Life Goes On (Compilation) / Rural Rhythm
• Leaning On The Everlasting Arms / Rodney Dillard & The Dillard Band / I Wish Life Was Like Mayberry / Rural Rhythm
• Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Lee Marcus / Grandpa's Pond / Self-released
• Prayers And Pinto Beans / The Stonemans / Patsy, Donna, Roni / Patuxent
• Walking In A Dream / Fred Etheridge w. Nick Anderson, Mark Doyle / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released

Yet another Friday fill-in -- 5/25/2012

Happy Birthday to both Tom T. (5/25) & Miss Dixie (5/26)!

Friday's fill-in this week was actually supposed to be 4 hours long, but a UCONN Baseball rainout on Thursday night in Florida moved the team's NCAA tourney game to Friday morning, instead.  Hence, the sports preemption began at 11AM.  Still, a 3-hour program allowed enough time to adequately play birthday celebration sets from two important gentlemen in the history of country music:   "The Voice With A Heart", Mac Wiseman (born May 23, 1925) and "The Storyteller," Tom T. Hall (born May 25, 1936).  

Bluegrass Hall of Famer, Mac Wiseman turned 88 on 5/25.

An extended set of Memorial Day music was a definite necessity, too.  As you might expect, the common theme in most of the songs played in that set is about the soldier who went to war, but didn't make it back home.  It seems that too often these days, lots of people get caught up in all of the Memorial Day hype such as big sales at retail stores or what's going to be served at the big barbecue, and the hope is that these songs make you remember that those things are nice, but they aren't the real reason for the holiday.  Songs in this set came from all kinds of performers, including classic performers like the Louvin Brothers, Hank Williams, and Elton Britt to more modern acts like the Spinney Brothers, Dailey & Vincent, and Chris Jones.  

Next Friday morning, my plan is to NOT be on the radio, as I hope to be at the Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival in nearby Preston, CT.  I'm not sure how much longer this country and BG fill-in show will be on the WHUS schedule, but we'll keep you posted, for sure.


Hope you've got plans to join Jim in this Sunday's BG Cafe -- he'll be with you for 3 hours beginning at 4PM on Sunday afternoon....


Enjoy the weekend!


Amy






SONG / ARTIST / ALBUM / LABEL

• In The Summertime / Roger Miller / 20th Century Masters / Mercury
• Summer When You First Loved Me / Lonesome  River Bnad / Head On Into Heartache / Mountain Home
• Skies In Summer Rain / Edgar Loudermilk / Roads Travelled / Mountain Fever Records
• Green Grass / Statler Brothers / Flowers On The Wall:  The Essential Statler Brothers, 1964-1969 / Columbia
• Foggy Mountain Top / Bill Monroe & Doc Watson / Off The Record, 1963-1980 / Smithsonian Folkways
• Whiskey Before Breakfast / Doc Watson & Bryan Sutton / Best Of The Sugar Hill Years / Sugar Hill
• Black Mountain Rag / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Doc Watson / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Capitol
• Grand Ole Opry Song / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Jimmy Martin / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Capitol
• Mama's Opry / Chris Brashear / sngle / no label
• Wreck On The Highway / Roy Acuff & His Smokey Mountain Boys / The Golden Age / Capitol
• Filipino Baby / Ernest Tubb / The Definitive Collection / MCA
• Second Fiddle To An Old Guitar / Jean Shepard / Opry Country Classics, Volume 2 / Opry Music
• Why Don't You Love Me / Hank Williams / Live At The Grand Ole Opry / Mercury
• You Ain't Woman Enough / Loretta Lynn / Opry Country Classics, Volume 2 / Opry Music
• Devil Woman / Marty Robbins / Legends Of The Grand Ole Opry / Time Life
• The Rhumba Boogie / Hank Snow / The Goldrush Is Over / Bear Family
• Green, Green Grass Of Home / Porter Wagoner / Opry Country Classics, Volume 1 / Opry Music
• I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home / Mac Wiseman / High Lonesome / CMH
• Jimmy Brown, The Newsboy / Mac Wiseman / Bluegrass, 1971 / Rural Rhythm
• The Letter Edged In Black / Mac Wiseman / Bluegrass Hits And Heartsongs / Rebel
• Bluebirds Are Singing For Me / Mac Wiseman with Lester Flatt / Bluegrass, 1971 / Rural Rhythm
• I Was Left On The Street / McCoury Brothers / The McCoury Brothers / Rounder
• Stoney Lonesome / Tony Rice [Bluegrass Album Band] / The Bill Monroe Collection / Rounder
• Age / Bluegrass Album Band / The Bluegrass Album, Volume 4 / Rounder
• Another Day / McCoury Brothers / The McCoury Brothers / Rounder
• Billy Christian / Statler Brothers / Flowers On The Wall / Sony
• Margie's At The Lincoln Park Inn / Bobby Bare / The Essential Bobby Bare / BMG
• Ballad Of Forty Dollars / Tom T. Hall / The Essential Tom T. Hall:  The Story Songs / Mercury
• The Year That Clayton Delaney Died / Charlie Sizemore / The Story Is...The Songs Of Tom T. Hall / Rebel
• Harper Valley PTA / Michelle Nixon & Drive / A Place I Belong / Mountain Fever Records
• Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine / Tom T. Hall / The Essential Tom T. Hall:  The Story Songs / Mercury
• The Boys In Hats And Ties / Big Country Bluegrass / The Boys In Hats And Ties / Rebel
• Holding On When You've Let Go / Crowe Brothers / Brothers-n-Harmony / Rural Rhythm
• Bouquet In Heaven / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Sides, 1958-1950 / JSP Records
• Robe Of White / Louvin Brothers / The Family Who Prays:  26 Classic Tracks / Country Stars
• A Hero In Harlan / Chris Jones / Lost Souls & Free Spirits / Rebel
• Sally's Waltz / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
• A Purple Heart / Curly Seckler / Bluegrass, Don't You Know / Copper Creek
• Searching For A Soldier's Grave / Hank Williams / The Unreleased Recordings / Time Life
• More Than A Name On A Wall / Dailey & Vincent / Dailey & Vincent / Rounder
• There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere / Elton Britt / Ridin' With Elton / Soundies
• Don't Fall In Love With A Girl Like That / The Boxcars / All In / Mountain Home
• Slowly But Surely / Amy Gallatin & Roger Williams / Something 'Bout You / Happy Appy Records
• Ragged Man / Gibson Brothers / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
• I'm Layin' It On The Line / Don Rich & the Buckaroos / Country Pickin' : The Don Rich Anthology / Sundazed
• Three Ways Of Knowing / Allerton & Alton / Black, White & Bluegrass / Bear Family
• Do I Like It? / Carl Smith / Let's Live A Little / Living Era

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 5/20/2012

How many discovered BG through the music of
the  Darlin boys on "Andy Griffith?"   

As has become a common theme in the BG Cafe in recent weeks, we spent time on Sunday's show paying tribute to another BG legend who has passed.  There can be no doubt that Douglas Flint Dillard, who died on May 16th at the age of 75, brought Bluegrass (or, Ozark Mountain Music) to the masses through several appearances as a member of the Darlin' boys on "The Andy Griffith Show," and he was able to do it pretty much without ever saying a single word.  With the Dillards, Doug's infectious music was able to speak for itself loud and clear.  Later on, Doug Dillard was a pioneer in the country rock sound, but we mostly stuck to a Dillard diet in our celebration of Doug Dillard today.  


New music was a big part of the show today, too.  There was brand new music from forthcoming projects by Larry Stephenson and a live, all-gospel project from Rhonda Vincent.  We also included a couple of tunes from a relatively new, Cincinnati-based band called Nightflyer, as well as one from an Earl Scruggs banjo tribute project on Rounder Records to be released in June.  It's called, "Foggy Mountain Special:  A Bluegrass Tribute To Earl Scruggs" and features music from twelve top-notch banjo pickers.  Other recently-released music came from projects by Freeman & Williams, Feller & Hill & the Bluegrass Buckaroos, Blue & Lonesome, the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press, the Spinney Brothers, Sweet Potato Pie, Marty Raybon, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.


Jim will return to the BG Cafe next Sunday afternoon, so please be sure to join him.  If you're so inclined, perhaps you can join me for a Friday fill-in from 8-10AM, too...


Have a good week!


Amy




SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL


Requests are RED.

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Day / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Day! / Self-Produced
• Where The City Ends / Chris Brashear & Peter McLaughlin / So Long Arizona / Dog Boy Records
• Timber I'm Falling / White Mountain Bluegrass / January Weekend / Self-Produced
• God Bless Her 'Cause She Is My Mother / Gibson Brothers / Long Forgotten Dream / Hay Holler
• Never See My Home Again / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
• Silence Or Tears / John Duffey [Country Gentlemen] / The Rebel Years:  1962-1977 / Rebel
• Bluegrass Breakdown / Ronnie Reno & the Reno Tradition / Rural Rhythm Records Salutes Bill Monroe / Rural Rhythm
• Wrong Road Again / Freeman & Williams / Freeman & Williams / Mountain Roads Recordings
• Can't Live Life / Edgar Loudermilk with Rhonda Vincent / Roads Traveled / Mountain Fever Records
• Heavy Traffic Ahead / Del McCoury Band / Old Memories / McCoury Music
• Take My Ring From Your Finger / Johnnie & Jack / For Old Times Sake / Bear Family
• Johnny [sic] & Jack Medley / Country Gentlemen / The Early Rebel Recordings / Rebel
• Little Cabin Home On The Hill / Johnnie & Jack / Johnnie & Jack with Kitty Wells at KWKH / Bear Family
• Philadelphia Lawyer / Larry Stephenson with Sam Bush / What Really Matters / Compass Records
• Flint Hill Special / David Talbot / Rounder Records 2010 IBMA Sampler / Rounder
• Together Again / Feller & Hill & the Bluegrass Buckaroos / single / Self-Produced
• My Heart Is On The Mend / Larry Stephenson / What Really Matters / Compass Records
• The Hangman's Daughter / Nightflyer / Nightflyer / Kang Records
• Field Of Flowers / Blue & Lonesome / Live From Harrietville, Australia / Self-Produced
• Hell Amongst The Yearlings / Tennessee Mafia Jug Band / Screams From The Holler / Self-Produced
• Muddy Waters / Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press / New Bluegrass & Old Heartaches / Rural Rhythm
• These Old Blues / Nightflyer / Nightflyer / Kang Records
• Two Chairs For Ray And Alice / Pine Hill Ramblers / Two Chairs For Ray And Alice / Self-Produced
• The Blind Man / Spinney Brothers / Live at WHUS, 5/8/2010 / no label
• Hickory Hollow / The Dillards / Back Porch Bluegrass / Elektra
• The Old Home Place / The Dillard / There Is A Time / Vanguard
• Hamilton County Breakdown / Doug Dillard Band / Jackrabbit! / Flying Fish
• Hard Travelin' / Arlo Guthrie & the Dillards / Thirty Two Cents/Postage Due / Rising Son Records
• Doug's Tune / The Dillards / Back Porch Bluegrass / Elektra
• Dooley / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
• Banjo In The Hollow / The Dillards / Bluegrass Breakdown / Vanguard
• There Is A Time / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
• Reuben's Train / The Dillards / Back Porch Bluegrass / Elektra
• Stafford's Stomp / Jim Hurst / Second Son / Pinecastle
• I'll Get Along Somehow / Allerton & Alton / Black, White & Bluegrass / Bear Family
• Walking The Floor / Sweet Potato Pie / Brand New Day / Mountain Fever Records
• He Was A Friend Of Mine / Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray / Many A Mile / Patuxent Music
• Old New Straitsville Moonshine Run / Special Consensus / Scratch Gravel Road / Compass Records
• At The End Of A Long, Lonely Day / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
• Jesse James / Bill Emerson with Marshall Wilborn & Lynn Morris / Eclipse / Rural Rhythm
• Sugar Coated Love / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Live In Japan / Rounder
• Where We'll Never Say Farewell / Rhonda Vincent & the Rage / Sunday Mornin' Singin' Live! / Upper Management Music
• Silent Partner / Rhonda Vincent & the Rage / Sunday Mornin' Singin' Live! / Upper Management Music
• That Home Far Away / Stanley Brothers / All Gospel, All Bluegrass / Federal
• Get Up In Jesus Name / Marty Raybon / Southern Roots & Branches / Rural Rhythm
• Old Roman Soldier / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
• Going On Home / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Sing Me A Song About Jesus / Mountain Home
• Let Me Rest / Johnson Mountain Boys / We'll Still Sing On / Rounder
• Oh What A Day / Barry Scott & Second Wind / In God's Time / Rebel
• Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder 

Another Friday fill-in - 5/18/2012

It looks like I'll be doing a summer fill-in from 8-10AM on Fridays for a little bit longer, although I'm told there's someone who might be stepping in to fill the timeslot later on in June.  We shall see.  In the meantime, once again, I fully enjoyed my two-hour show this morning, and I was able to play the very fun combo (for me, anyway) of classic country and BG tunes.

One of the greatest fiddlers ever, Paul Warren.

On Friday, we spent a bit of time remembering the musical partners, Johnnie Wright (born May 13, 1914) and Jack Anglin (born May 13, 1916) with some of their great songs, as well as a couple of tunes they wrote for Johnnie's wife, Kitty Wells.  We also celebrated the lives of two Bluegrass greats who were both born on May 17th -- Arthur Lee "Red" Smiley in 1925 and in 1918, the wonderful, oh-so-fun-to-watch fiddler, Paul Warren.  

In addition, we featured a number of songs from banjo great, Doug Dillard, who died this past Wednesday (May 16th) at the age of 75.  One of the original members of the Dillards, Doug was with the band as they brought BG to mainstream America through their appearances on "The Andy Griffith Show."  He later went on to be one of the pioneers in the world of country rock, and we explored a bit of that on Friday's program.  During the BG Cafe this coming Sunday, there'll be lots more music -- concentrating more on the Bluegrass, I'm thinking -- from Doug Dillard and the Dillards, so do join me, if you can...

Amy

• Beware Of It / Johnnie & Jack / For Old Times Sake / Bear Family
• No One Dear But You / Johnnie & Jack / For Old Times Sake / Bear Family
• Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide / Johnnie & Jack / For Old Times Sake / Bear Family
• One By One / Kitty Wells with Red Foley / Makin' Believe / Country Stars
• Sugar In The Gourd / Tommy Jackson / The Kitty Wells Show / Decca
• You Left Your Mark On Me / Kitty Wells / The Kitty Wells Show / Decca
• You And Me / Kitty Wells with Red Foley / Makin' Believe / Country Stars
• The Singing Waterfall / Kitty Wells / Johnnie & Jack with Kitty Wells at KWKH / Bear Family
• Moanin' The Blues / Hank Williams / Live At The Grand Ole Opry / Mercury
• Nobody's Lonesome For Me / Hank Williams / Live At The Grand Ole Opry / Mercury
• Dooley / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
• Fiddle 'n Banjo / Doug Dillard / You Don't Need A Reason To Sing / 20th Century Records
• Don't Come Rollin' / Doug Dillard, John Hartford, Rodney Dillard / Dillard-Hartford-Dillard / Flying Fish
• Cross The Border Line / Doug Dillard, John Hartford, Rodney Dillard / Dillard-Hartford-Dillard / Flying Fish
• Music City U.S.A. / Doug Dillard / You Don't Need A Reason To Sing / 20th Century Records
• Banjo In The Hollow / The Dillards / Bluegrass Breakdown / Vanguard
• Shuckin' The Corn / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Live In Japan / Rounder
• Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Live In Japan / Rounder
• My Rambling Heart / Jim Reeves / Four Walls--The Legend Begins / RCA
• Talk To Your Heart / Ray Price / The Essential Ray Price / Columbia
• It Don't Show On Me / Buck Owens / Sweethearts In Heaven / Starday
• He'll Have To Go / Jim Reeves / RCA Country Legends / RCA
• In Memory / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-Produced
• What A Wonderful Life / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
• Old Kentucky Farmers / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Prime Tyme / Rural Rhythm
• Let's Live For Tonight / Don Reno & Red Smiley / Good Old Country Ballads / King
• I Know You're Married / Don Reno & Red Smiley / Good Old Country Ballads / King
• Durham's Reel / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Flatt &Scruggs At Carnegie Hall! / Columbia
• Let The Church Roll On / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Gospel / Columbia
• Get Up Susan / Paul Warren / Johnnie & Jack with Kitty Wells at KWKH / Bear Family
• Drifting With The Tide / Don Reno & Red Smiley / Early Years, 1951-1959 / Gusto
• Less Of Me / Statler Brothers / The Essential Statler Brothers / Columbia
• Not A Word From Home / Louvin Brothers / The Louvin Brothers Sing The Great Roy Acuff Songs / Gusto
• Wabash Cannonball / Tennessee Mafia Jug Band / Screams From The Holler / Self-Produced
• I Couldn't Believe It Was True / Roy Acuff / The Prodigal Son / Country Stars
• We're Gonna Hold On / George Jones & Tammy Wynette / Duets / Cracker Barrel
• Dirt Roads / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / Self-Produced
• Peacock Rag / Don Reno / The Golden Guitar Of Don Reno / King

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 5/13/2012 - Everett Lilly and Kenny Roberts

Hi Folks,

It has been a very tough year with the loss of so many great pioneering musicians, and today was another day of tributes, this time to Kenny Roberts (October 14, 1926 - April 29, 2012) and Everett Lilly (July 1, 1924 - May 8, 2012).

Kenny Roberts

Though Kenny Roberts was not known as a bluegrass musician, he was a respected country singer with an amazingly clear voice who was perhaps the best yodeler I've ever heard.  In fact, he was called "King of the Yodelers" for his yodeling talent (he won the World Yodeling Championship in Madison Square Garden in 1964), and "The Jumpin' Cowboy" because of his antics while performing on his pioneering kids television program in Ohio in the 1950s.  Kenny and his music were loved by many bluegrass fans, and he was a New England local, having moved back to the hometown of his youth, Athol, Massachusetts, in 1975.  You can read my personal remembrance of Kenny Roberts on our old Red Rooster Party blog at this link.  Our musical tribute on this show included a sampling of Kenny Roberts' songs and excerpts from a 2006 interview that my wife Marti and I conducted with Kenny.

Everett Lilly (photo: Matt Withrow)

Everett Lilly was an important member of The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover -- all West Virginians who, along with Tex Logan, brought bluegrass music to New England, Boston in particular, around 1952.  Dick Bowden has written a great remembrance of Everett on Bluegrass Today.  You can read it here.

Some of the earliest studio recordings of
The Lilly Brothers were made by Al Hawkes 1956-57

Early Lilly Brothers in their
Confederate Mountaineer period

New music on this program included a single from Ray Edwards and a host of great singers and musicians remembering Jimmy Martin, and new tunes from Bobby Osborne, The Boxcars, NewTown, Bill Emerson, Freeman & Williams, John Bowman, and Doyle Lawson.

Be sure to tune in next week when Amy Orlomoski will make the banjos and fiddles ring.


Jim Beaver

requests in blue

Title / Artist / Album / Label

• Fire On The Mountain / Michael Cleveland / Sawing On The "C" String / Self-released
• Bring Back My Blue Eyed Boy / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Early Recordings / Rebel
• Tragic Romance / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Early Recordings / Rebel
• Why Don't You Tell Me So / The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / On The Radio 1952-1953 / Rounder
• The Prisoner's Song / The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / On The Radio 1952-1953 / Rounder
• John Henry / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Early Recordings / Rebel
• Are You Tired Of Me My Darling / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Early Recordings / Rebel
• Little Annie / Lilly Brothers / Early Recordings / Rebel
• I'm Going Back To The Mountain / Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press / New Bluegrass & Old Heartaches / Rural Rhythm
• My Name Is Jimmy Martin (Do You Remember Me) / Ray Edwards, and others / Single release / Rural Rhythm
• Just The Same / Missy Werner w. Chris Jones / Three Kinds Of Lonesome / Self-released
• Pardon Me / Tommy Brown & The County Line Grass / Hard Drivin' / Lavenir
• Mama's Hand / Lynn Morris / O Sister! / Rounder
• Hillbilly Style / Kenny Roberts / Jumpin' & Yodelin' / Bear Family
• Excerpts of Kenny Roberts Interviewed by Jim Beaver and Marti Harmon in 2006 interspersed among his songs
• I Never See Maggie Alone / Kenny Roberts / Jumpin' & Yodelin' / Bear Family
• She Taught Me How To Yodel / Kenny Roberts / Jumpin' & Yodelin' / Bear Family
• Blue / Kenny Roberts / The Incredible Kenny Roberts / Starday (LP)
• Slide Them Jugs Down The Mountain / Kenny Roberts / Then & Now / Longhorn
• Cannonball Yodel / Kenny Roberts & Elton Britt / Then & Now / Longhorn
• The Waves On The Sea / The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots - 1961 / Smithsonian Folkways
• Close The Door Lightly When You Go / Lonesome River Band / Chronology Volume One / Rural Rhythm
• Pretty Little Girl From Galax / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Prime Tyme / Rural Rhythm
• Cold Heart / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / The Heart Of A Song / Rebel
• Ol' Lonesome Won't Leave Me Alone / The Boxcars / All In / Mountain Home
• I Know Whose Tears / The Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass
• That Star Belongs To Me / The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Volume 5: Have A Feast Here Tonight / Prestige Folklore
• Love The Way I Do / NewTown / Self-titled / Self-released
• Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss / Charlie Moore / Sings Good Bluegrass / Crosscut Records
• Cotton Farmer / Travers Chandler & Avery County / State Of Depression / Patuxent
• Rawhide / Frank Wakefield / A Tribute To Bill Monroe / Patuxent
• Grandma's Little Boardside Cabin / Crowe Brothers / Bridging The Gap / Rural Rhythm
• Dig A Hole In The Meadow / The Lilly Brothers / Volume 5: Have A Feast Here Tonight / Prestige Folklore
• Run Pete Run / Jimmy Martin / Me 'N Ol' Pete / Gusto (LP)
• The Touch Of Time / Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie / The Touch Of Time / Rural Rhythm
• Little Maggie (bed) / Tom Adams / Right Hand Man / Rounder
• Cumberland Gap (bed) / Tom Adams / Right Hand Man / Rounder
• Mississippi Sawyer (bed) / Tom Adams / Right Hand Man / Rounder
• Boil That Cabbage Down (bed) / Tom Adams / Right Hand Man / Rounder
• Whispering Hope / Blue Sky Boys / Precious Moments / Pine Mountain (LP)
• Ice Cold Stone / The Gillis Brothers / Best of the Gillis Brothers / Hay Holler
• Train 45 (Heading South) / Del McCoury / Old Memories / McCoury Music
• Bear In The Barn / Maranacook String Band / Bear In The Barn / Self-released
• Little Jean / Al Hawkes / Old Time Pickin' & Singin' / Event
• I Would Not Be Denied / The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / What Will I Leave Behind / Rebel
• Lord Protect My Soul / Kathy Kallick / Count Your Blessings / Live Oak
• Living In The Kingdom Of God / Dailey & Vincent / The Gospel Side Of Dailey & Vincent / Cracker Barrel
• Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies / Charlie Moore / Gospel Time / Crosscut Records
• Keep On The Sunny Side / Charlie Daniels w. Mac Wiseman, Earl Scruggs / Songs From The Longleaf Pines / Koch
• Wicked Path Of Sin / The Bluegrass Cardinals / Home Is Where The Heart Is / Sugar Hill
• I Surrender All / Freeman & Williams / Self-titled / Mountain Roads
• I'll Sail For Higher Ground / John Bowman / Family Chain / Pisgah
• It Took A Man Like That / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Sing Me A Song About Jesus / Mountain Home
• Walking In Dream / Fred Etheridge w. Nick Anderson & Mark Doyle / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released

A summer diversion at WHUS - 5/11/2012

The Summer Broadcast Schedule at WHUS has officially begun, even if "official" Summer won't start for another several weeks.  As you've likely heard us say, we have to apply for our timeslot for Bluegrass Cafe three times a year, and I'm happy to tell you that our show time will remain the same -- 4-7PM on Sundays. 

Lots of times during the summer schedule, with many of the student DJs gone for the summer break, the Program Director has a tough time finding enough bodies to fill all of the timeslots.  To help solve this problem, some DJs "double-up" on shows.  I had considered the idea of doing a summer show -- maybe playing a bit of BG mixed in with some classic country music, or something like that.  On my application, I wrote that I might be available to do a second show, but I didn't really commit.  Well, long story short is that I've been assigned a second show on Friday mornings from 8-10AM.  After a talk with the Program Director, we've come to an understanding that I probably won't be doing this "extra" shift all summer, but I must confess, I had a pretty fine time doing the "bonus" show this morning.  Will I keep doing it for a bit?  Really not sure, but we'll keep you informed...

Anyhow, there were LOTS of birthdays and anniversaries and other important things to spotlight this morning.  For birthdays, we celebrated both Maybelle Carter and the recording date of one of her most recognizable tunes, "Wildwood Flower."  Both events happened on the very same date:  Maybelle born on May 10, 1909 and "Wildwood Flower" recorded by the Carter Family for the first time on May 10, 1928. 

I couldn't let the day pass without playing a few songs from the Singing Ranger, Hank Snow.  Born in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, Canada on May 9, 1914, Clarence Eugene Snow overcame a pretty miserable childhood to become Canada's most famous export to the Country Music World.  This Country Music Hall of Famer made 840 recordings between 1936 and 1985, 85 of which made the Billboard Country Music charts.  We played five of Hank's tunes on the show today, including one of his earliest recordings made in 1936, a duet record with the angel-voiced Anita Carter, and the song that made Hank Snow a bona fide Country Music Star in the U.S.A. in 1950:  "I'm Movin' On."

On May 11, 1979, the Bluegrass world lost one of its most distinct voices:  Lester Flatt.  Many years later, Claire Lynch wrote and recorded a song with her memories of where she was that day, and simply titled it, "The Day That Lester Died."  This was a song that absolutely begged to be played today...and so it was.

There was one fun track today, too, this time from Merle Haggard's live LP from 1970, "The Fightin' Side Of Me." This was Haggard's heyday, and the album gives a good overview of his show, with a few Haggard hits, as well as a couple of songs from the Strangers and Haggard's wife, Bonnie Owens. One of the fun cuts on the record, though, is Hag's impersonations of Marty Robbins, Hank Snow, Johnny Cash, and Buck Owens. Some of 'em are pretty close, and the audience certainly ate 'em up.

Everett Lilly (with mandolin) second from left

It seems like there have been almost too many reasons for us to have tribute shows on Bluegrass Cafe in recent months, and sadly, that pattern will not be broken this week.  The younger of the two Lilly Brothers, Everett Lilly, died this past Tuesday at his home in West Virginia.  The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover get a whole lot of credit for bringing BG music to New England back in the early 1950s, as they had a "regular" gig at Boston's Hillbilly Ranch from 1952 until 1970.  Among those influenced by the Lillys:  Joe Val, Peter Rowan, Bill Keith, and countless others.  I would imagine you'll hear Jim play a whole bunch of music from the Lilly Brothers & Don Stover on Sunday, and don't be surprised to also hear at least a tune or two from Kenny Roberts -- a yodeling legend who died in Massachusetts on April 29th.  We played music from each of these gentlemen today, but be sure to join Jim for more on Sunday afternoon.

Amy


SONG/PERFORMER/ALBUM/LABEL

• Muleskinner Blues / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Live At Mechanics Hall / Acoustic Disc
• This Morning At Nine / Country Gentlemen / Folk Session Inside / Copper Creek
• The Young Fisherwoman / Country Gentlemen / Folk Session Inside / Copper Creek
• Matterhorn / Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray / Many A Mile / Patuxent Music
• Wildwood Flower / Carter Family / Anchored In Love / Rounder
• Remembrance Is A Golden Chain / Heather Berry & Tony Mabe / The Heather Berry & Tony Mabe Show / Mountain Fever Records
• Can You Hear Me Now / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / More Behind The Picture Than The Wall / Rounder
• Worried Man Blues / Carter Family / Johnny Cash At Madison Square Garden / Columbia Legacy
• The Day That Lester Died / Claire Lynch / Crowd Favorites / Rounder
• I'll Never Shed Another Tear / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / The Mercury Sessions / Mercury
• I Got A Gal Waitin' For Me / Charlie Monroe & the Kentucky Pardners / Early Country Radio / JSP Records
• We'll Meet Again Sweetheart / Charlie Monroe & the Kentucky Pardners / Early Country Radio / JSP Records
• How Will I Explain About You? / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / The Essential Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Legacy
• Devil Woman/I'm Movin' On/Folsom Prison Blues/Jackson/Orange Blossom Special/Love's Gonna Live Here / Merle Haggard / The Fightin' Side Of Me / Capitol
• Lonesome Blue Yodel / Hank Snow / The Singing Ranger / Living Era
• Down The Trail Of Achin' Hearts / Hank Snow with Anita Carter / I'm Movin' On / Proper
• One More Ride / Hank Snow / The Goldrush Is Over / Bear Family
• My Nova Scotia Home / Hank Snow / RCA Country Legends / RCA
• I'm Movin' On / Hank Snow / The Essential Hank Snow / RCA
• Truck Driver's Queen / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
• Face The Music / Too Blue / Trouble WithThe Grey / Self-Produced
• I Can't Like Myself / Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass Records
• Lula Wall / Tennessee Mafia Jug Band / Screams From The Holler / Self-Produced
• In My Dear Old Southern Home / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots / Smithsonian Folkways
• Why Don't You Tell Me So / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / On The Radio, 1952-1953 / Rounder
• No More The Moon Shines On Lorena / Everett Lilly / Everett Lilly & Everybody & Their Brother / Swift River Music
• Chime Bells / Kenny Roberts / Indian Love Call / Starday
• My Blue Tears / Dolly Parton / Box Set Sampler / Legacy
• You Tried To Ruin My Name / Johnnie & Jack / For Old Times Sake / Rounder
• Sea Of Regret / Keith Whitley & Ricky Skaggs / Second Generation / Rebel
• Johnson Mountain Chimes / Johnson Mountain Boys / Walls Of Time / Rounder
• Polka On The Guitar / Don Reno / The Golden Guitar Of Don Reno / King

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 5/6/2012

Today was a day to pay special tribute to a New England Bluegrass pioneer, Rhode Island native Sam Tidwell, whose battle with cancer ended on April 30th.  In his 75+ years of living, Sam touched a whole lot of people with his humor and, of course, his talent.  Proficient on all of the BG instruments, to those in New England, Sam Tidwell will long be remembered for his many years working with his musical partner Fred Pike in their band known as the Kennebec Valley Boys.  Somehow, I neglected to mention during Sunday's radio program that Sam, along with his wife, Edie, has been recognized and honored by the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, KY as one of the Pioneers of Bluegrass.  (Side note:  in all the world, there are fewer than 400 recognized Pioneers of BG, and eight of them are from New England -- in addition to Sam and Edie, other Pioneers include Herb Applin, Bob & Grace French, Al Hawkes, Mac & Hazel McGee, Fred Pike, and Joe Val). 

In recent years, Sam Tidwell had an opportunity to be honored by some of those folks he'd inspired through the years, both during Sam Tidwell Day in Sterling, CT (6/14/2009) and by the Boston Bluegrass Union in February 2011 with their Heritage Award.  (The video below comes from Sam Tidwell Day in 2009).  At both events, one of Sam's former music students - RI native Jimmy Gaudreau - spoke about what Sam meant to him as a teacher.  Is there a better tribute to a person while he's living than to hear kind words from those he's inspired over the years?  I don't think so.  On Sunday's show, we included a bit of music from Sam's first Bluegrass band with his younger brother, Bobby (the Cedar Mountain Boys), as well as music from the Kennebec Valley Boys and Kennebec Valley Folks, and even a few of Sam's trademark "Maine stories."



While the music of Sam Tidwell was the dominant feature this week, there was also plenty of new music from new-ish (or forthcoming) projects from the likes of Marty Raybon,  NewTown, Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein, the Heather Berry & Tony Mabe Show, the Boxcars, Bill Evans, Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press, Blue & Lonesome, the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, and the Spinney Brothers.   

Hope you enjoyed something you heard on today's Bluegrass Cafe, and that you'll be sure to join Jim next Sunday (Mother's Day!) for another edition of the show.

Have a good week!

Amy

REQUESTS ARE RED.

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Hard Times, Sometimes / The Traditional Grass / Songs Of Love And Life / Rebel
• When You Are Lonely / Tony Rice / The Bill Monroe Collection / Rounder
• Miles And Miles Of Texas / Randy Waller & the Country Gentlemen / One Mile East Of Hazel Green / Lendel Records
• Lonely Violet / Peg & Ed / Lonely Violet / Self-Produced
• The Last Log Drive / Fred Pike, Sam Tidwell & the Kennebec Valley Boys / The Last Log Drive / Revonah
• Six Feet Under The Ground / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Rural Rhythm Records Salutes Bill Monroe / Rural Rhythm
• The First Mistake / Missy Werner Band / Three Kinds Of Lonesome / Self-Produced
• Up This Hill And Down / Ivan Rosenberg & the Foggy Hogtown Boys / The Hogtown Sessions / Vole-O-Tone Records
• Where The Red River Flows / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Band / One Morning In May / Rounder
• I've Lived A Lot In My Time / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Just For The Record / Rounder
• Dirt Road Heartache / Marty Raybon / Southern Roots & Branches / Rural Rhythm
• Lost Highway / Tony Holt & the Wildwood Valley Boys / Lost Highways & Treasured Memories / Old Heritage Records
• Hickory Hollow / Fred Pike, Bill Rawlings & the Twin River Boys / Genuine Authentic Folk Music / Osage Records
• No Longer A Sweetheart Of Mine / Reno & Smiley / Good Old Country Ballads / King
• Trouble And Pain / NewTown / NewTown / Self-Produced
• Home From The Mills / Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein / Home From The Mills / Rebel
• Little Darling Pal Of Mine / Heather Berry & Tony Mabe / The Heather Berry & Tony Mabe Show / Mountain Fever Records
• Jeffrey's Hell / The Boxcars / All In / Mountain Home
• Big Chief Sonny / Bill Evans / In Good Company / Native & Fine Records
• I'm Going Back To The Mountains / Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press / Fresh Cuts & Key Tracks / Rural Rhythm
• Chalk Up Another One / Blue & Lonesome / Live From Harrietville, Australia / Self-Produced
• Sunshine Special / Tennessee Mafia Jug Band / Screams From The Holler / Self-Produced
• Who Showed Who / Dan Tyminski / Wheels / Rounder
• Durham's Bull / Del McCoury & the Dixie Pals / Live In Japan / Copper Creek
• Cold Wind / Northernbound / Time Goes So Fast / Self-Produced
• Kentucky Mountain Chimes / Tidwell Brothers & the Kennebec Valley Boys / single / no label
• Headed Home For Maine / Kennebec Valley Folks / Different Bands Together / Self-Produced
• Horse story / Sam Tidwell / Down On The Farm / Self-Produced
• Orange Blossom Special / Fred Pike, Sam Tidwell & the Kennebec Valley Boys / Maine Train / Interstate Records
• Show and tell / Sam Tidwell / Down On The Farm / Self-Produced
• Blackberry Blossom / Fred Pike, Sam Tidwell & the Kennebec Valley Boys / The Last Log Drive / Revonah Records
• The Last Log Drive / Fred Pike, Sam Tidwell & the Kennebec Valley Boys / Live at the Plainfield Town Hall, 5/14/1988 / no label
• Model T story / Sam Tidwell / Live / Self-Produced
• My Walking Shoes Don't Fit Me Anymore / Tidwell Brothers & the Cedar Mountain Boys / single / no label
• Tidwell Pike / Jimmy Gaudreau / Pieces And Bits / Goose Creek Music
• The Golden Rocket / David Peterson & 1946 / In The Mountaintops To Roam / Self-Produced
• The Train Song / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
• Trains I Missed / Balsam Range / Trains I Missed / Mountain Home
• One More Ride / Bear Bridge Band / One More Ride / Open Road
• Kneel At The Cross / Bluegrass Patriots / E Pluribus Bluegrass / Red Feather
• Eternal Vacation / Dailey & Vincent / The Gospel Side Of Dailey & Vincent / Cracker Barrel
• Throne Of Grace / Warrior River Boys / New Beginnings / Rounder
• Let The Light Shine Down / Country Gentlemen / Let The Light Shine Down / Rebel
• Beyond The Sunset / Doyle Lawson, Russell Moore, Jamie Dailey, Josh Swift / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
• Down To The River To Pray / Tim & Mollie O'Brien / Take Me Back / Sugar Hill
• Give Me The Flowers While I'm Living / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Cuts, 1955-1959 / JSP Records
• He Will Set Your Fields On Fire / Kennebec Valley Folks / Different Bands Together / Self-Produced
• Gone Home / Gibson Brothers / Iron & Diamonds / Sugar Hill
• Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

So long, Sam Tidwell...

On today's Bluegrass Cafe, one of our planned features is a tribute to a New England Bluegrass legend, the one and only Sam Tidwell.  As you may know, Sam died earlier this week at his Rhode Island home after battling cancer for the last several years.  In a musical career spanning more than 50 years, Sam was able to accomplish A LOT, and we'll touch upon a good bit of that this afternoon.  Of course, there will be music from Sam and his longtime partner, Fred Pike, and their Kennebec Valley Boys, as well as a tune or two from Sam's earliest BG band, the Tidwell Brothers & the Cedar Mountain Boys.  Expect to hear a few of Sam's stories in the mix, too.

The Tidwell Brothers (Sam on banjo, Bob on bass) & the Cedar Mountain Boys (c. 1960)



Sam receiving the Boston BG Union's Heritage Award in Feb. 2011
 from BBU President, Stan Zdonik



Hope you can join us in the Bluegrass Cafe at WHUS this afternoon from 4:00-7:00PM Eastern.  If you're in southern New England, you can find us at 91.7 on the FM dial.  Our broadcast streams on the Internet, as well:  http://www.whus.org/.