An online resource for information on all things Bluegrass in southern New England from the folks at WHUS Radio's "Bluegrass Cafe." We broadcast each Sunday from 4:00-7:00PM (EST) on WHUS, 91.7FM and whus.org in Storrs, CT. Call us during the show -- (860)486-9487, or send email to bgcafe@gmail.com.
Not too long before going on the air this afternoon, the news came that one of the true legends in the world of Bluegrass (and Country) music died earlier today. Mac Wiseman had one of the most distinctive voices in all of Bluegrass music, and was a fine song stylist and performer who achieved much success on both sides of the microphone during his 8+ decades involved in the music industry. While we didn't have time to pull together a full tribute to "The Voice With A Heart" for this week's show, we will be sure to play lots more music from Mac Wiseman next Sunday. Hope you can join us. Though today's show got a late start due to a UConn Basketball broadcast, we still managed to play music in celebration of several birthdays (those of Don Reno, Ralph Stanley, Pete Wernick, and Country Music Hall of Famer Faron Young). We also remembered a 49-year-old mandolin-playing sideman who died this past week, Alan Perdue. Hope to join you for a full three-hour broadcast next Sunday. In the meantime, have a fine week! Amy O. SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL [Requests are RED]
Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home / Mac Wiseman / High Lonesome / CMH [Remembering Mac Wiseman (5/23/1925 - 2/24/2019)]
Love Letters In The Sand / Mac Wiseman / Eight Classic Albums / Real Gone [Remembering Mac Wiseman (5/23/1925 - 2/24/2019)]
Little Rosewood Casket / Mac Wiseman / Grassroots To Bluegrass / CMH [Remembering Mac Wiseman (5/23/1925 - 2/24/2019)]
'Tis Sweet To Be Remembered / Mac Wiseman / Eight Classic Albums / Real Gone [Remembering Mac Wiseman (5/23/1925 - 2/24/2019)]
The Guitar / Sierra Hull & Justin Moses with Mac Wiseman / I Sang The Song / Mountain Fever Records [Remembering Mac Wiseman (5/23/1925 - 2/24/2019)]
Remembering / Mac Wiseman / Eight Classic Albums / Real Gone [Remembering Mac Wiseman (5/23/1925 - 2/24/2019)]
Can't You Hear Me Calling / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, 1946-1949 / Jasmine [Remembering Mac Wiseman (5/23/1925 - 2/24/2019)]
Going Back To Bristol / Shawn Camp / I Sang The Song / Mountain Fever Records [Remembering Mac Wiseman (5/23/1925 - 2/24/2019)]
Reno Ride / Reno & Smiley / Early Years, 1951-1959 / Gusto [Don Reno birthday, 2/21/1926]
Follow The Leader / High Fidelity / Hills And Home / Rebel [Don Reno birthday, 2/21/1926]
Remington Ride / Reno & Smiley / Early Years, 1951-1959 / Gusto [Don Reno birthday, 2/21/1926]
Richmond Ruckus / Reno & Smiley / Early Years, 1951-1959 / Gusto [Don Reno birthday, 2/21/1926]
Alone With You / White Mountain Bluegrass / Oh So Many Years / Self-Produced [Faron Young birthday, 2/25/1932]
Goin' Steady / Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers / Shades Of The Past / Sugar Hill [Faron Young birthday, 2/25/1932]
Go Back You Fool / Bear Bridge Band / Broken Hearts & Better Times / Open Road [Faron Young birthday, 2/25/1932]
Clinch Mountain Backstep / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, 1971-1973 / Rebel [Ralph Stanley birthday, 2/25/1927]
How Mountain Girls Can Love / Stanley Brothers / The Early Starday King Years, 1958-1961 / Gusto [Ralph Stanley birthday, 2/25/1927]
Gonna Paint The Town / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, 1971-1973 / Rebel [Ralph Stanley birthday, 2/25/1927]
Your Light Leads Me On / Hot Rize / Hot Rize's 40th Anniversary Bash / Ten In Hand Records [Pete Wernick birthday, 2/25/1946]
I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me / Carolina Blue / I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me / Pinecastle
Bluebirds Are Singing For Me / Country Gentlemen / Folk Session Inside / Copper Creek
I'm Satisfied With You / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / My Heart Is Yours / Sugar Hill
Who Do You Think You're Foolin' / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / That's Why I'm Lonesome / Patuxent Music
Sad And Lonesome Day / Randy Waller & Lou Reid / Epilogue: A Tribute To John Duffey / Smithsonian Folkways
Ocean Of Diamonds / Jimmy Martin / The King Of Bluegrass / Audium Records
Katy Cline / Mountain Heart / Mountain Heart / Doobie Shea Records [Remembering Alan Perdue]
Walls Of Time / After Five / Walls Of Time / Meridian [Remembering Alan Perdue]
You Still Call Me Baby / Mountain Heart / Mountain Heart / Doobie Shea [Remembering Alan Perdue]
Dust On The Bible / Mac Wiseman / Grassroots To Bluegrass / CMH [Remembering Mac Wiseman (5/23/1925 - 2/24/2019)]
Wait For The Light To Shine / Mac Wiseman / Grassroots To Bluegrass / CMH [Remembering Mac Wiseman (5/23/1925 - 2/24/2019)]
Bouquet In Heaven / Bluegrass Patriots / Kneel At The Cross: Songs Of Faith And Inspiration / Red Feather
Will You Be Ready To Go Home? / Seldom Scene / Scene 20 / Sugar Hill
Shadow Of The Son / Still Pickin' / Reuben's Train / Self-Produced
Walk Your Way To Heaven / Southern Rail / Glory Train / Pinecastle
I'd Rather Live By The Side Of The Road / Jerry Wicentowski / Thanks, Mac!: Songs Of Mac Wiseman / Self-Produced
Honey In The Rock / Lewis Family / A Gospel Bluegrass Homecoming, Volume One / GGS [Little Roy Lewis birthday, 2/24/1942]
So Many Years, So Many Blessings / Lewis Family / A Gospel Bluegrass Homecoming, Volume One / GGS [Little Roy Lewis birthday, 2/24/1942]
Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder
For Sunday's edition of our Bluegrass Cafe, the focus was on a few of the performers showcased at the 34th annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, as well as birthday tributes to a Bluegrass Hall of Famer (Red Allen) and a future Bluegrass Hall of Famer (Dudley Connell).
While I wasn't able to stay for the entire Joe Val Festival this year, the bands I saw were really fine, and many of them were first-time festival invitees. We shared music from a few of these bands during Sunday's show: Carolina Blue, Appalachian Road Show, and High Fidelity. Another band that made a big-festival debut at Joe Val was Mainline Express -- a band that includes Jesse Brock. Seems like it's safe to say that all of these bands found themselves a few new fans in New England after their JV appearances. There was a tiny bit of brand new music for Sunday, too, as we included selections from forthcoming recordings by the Edgar Loudermilk Band featuring Jeff Autry and Mile Twelve. Hope you were able to join us on Sunday, but if not, you'll get another chance to tune in next Sunday afternoon, 4-7PM. Enjoy the week! Amy O.
SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL [Request is RED]
Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
Cold, Lonely And Blue / Carolina Blue / I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me / Pinecastle
Georgia Buck / Appalachian Road Show / Barry Abernathy & Darrell Webb Present Appalachian Road Show / Billy Blue Records
Party For One / Feinberg Brothers / Party For One / Cabinwood Music
I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow / High Fidelity / Hills And Home / Rebel
Gotta Get You Near Me Blues / High Fidelity / Hills And Home / Rebel
The Hills Of Caroline / Big Country Bluegrass / Mountains, Mamas And Memories / Rebel
Another Day / McCoury Brothers / The McCoury Brothers / Rounder
Country Boy Rock And Roll / Reno & Smiley / Good Old Country Ballads / King
Billy In The Lowground / Kentucky Colonels / Appalachian Swing! / Rounder
Wait A Minute / Seldom Scene / Different Roads / Rebel
Grandpa Get Your Guitar / Seldom Scene / Like We Used To Be / Sugar Hill
Old Train / Seldom Scene / Different Roads / Rebel
Girl From The North Country / Steve Gulley / Epilogue: A Tribute To John Duffey / Smithsonian Folkways
Girl From The North Country / Country Gentlemen / 25 Years / Rebel
Southbound / Travelin' McCourys / The Travelin' McCourys / McCoury Music
Lonesome Riverboat Blues / Edgar Loudermilk Band with Jeff Autry / single / Rural Rhythm
The Guitar Song / Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers with Del McCoury / single / Billy Blue Records
City That Drowned / Mile Twelve / City On A Hill / Self-Produced
Don't Lie To Me / Red Allen / Keep On Going / Rebel [Red Allen birthday, 2/12/1930]
Philadelphia Lawyer / J.D. Crowe / Bluegrass Holiday / Rebel [Red Allen birthday, 2/12/1930]
I'm Just Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail / Red Allen & Frank Wakefield / The Kitchen Tapes / Acoustic Disc [Red Allen birthday, 2/12/1930]
I Beg To You / James King / Lonesome And Then Some / Rounder [Red Allen birthday, 2/12/1930[
Teardrops In My Eyes / David Grisman with Red Allen / Home Is Where The Heart Is / Rounder [Red Allen birthday, 2/12/1930]
Don't Wake Me / Blll Emerson with Red Allen / Reunion / Webco [Red Allen birthday, 2/12/1930]
Calamity Jane / Becky Buller with Rhonda Vincent / Crepe Paper Heart / Dark Shadow Recording
Get Me Gone / Balsam Range / Aeonic / Mountain Home
Ain't Nothing Wrong With That / Junior Sisk / Brand New Shade Of Blue / Mountain Fever Records
White House Blues / David Davis & the Warrior River Boys / Didn't He Ramble: Songs Of Charlie Poole / Rounder
Salty Dog Blues / Earls Of Leicester / Live At The CMA Theater At The Country Music Hall Of Fame / Rounder
Long Journey Home / Monroe Brothers / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, 1936 / JSP Records [recorded 2/17/1936]
What Is A Home Without Love / Monroe Brothers / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, 1936 / JSP Records [recorded 2/17/1936]
A Face In The Crowd / Larry Sparks / Bound To Ride / Rebel
Old Timey Risin' Damp / Nashville Bluegrass Band / The Nashville Bluegrass Band / Rounder
Let The Whole World Talk / Johnson Mountain Boys / Let The Whole World Talk / Rounder [Dudley Connell birthday, 2/18/1956]
The Shape I'm In / Seldom Scene / Dream Scene / Sugar Hill [Dudley Connell birthday, 2/18/1956]
Meet Me By The Moonlight / Dudley Connell & Don Rigsby / Meet Me By The Moonlight / Sugar Hill [Dudley Connell birthday, 2/18/1956; Don Rigsby birthday, 2/18/1968]
Weathered Gray Stone / Johnson Mountain Boys / Favorites / Rounder [Dudley Connell birthday, 2/18/1956]
It Don't Bring You Back To Me / Johnson Mountain Boys / Blue Diamond / Rounder [Dudley Connell birthday, 2/18/1956]
Gone Home / Gibson Brothers / Iron & Diamonds / Sugar Hill
Glory Bound Train / Carolina Blue / I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me / Pinecastle
I'll Shout And Shine / Corrina Rose Logston & Jeremy Stephens / Songs Of Home And Inspiration / Self-Produced
I Am Just A Pilgrim / Appalachian Road Show / Barry Abernathy & Darrell Webb Present Appalachian Road Show / Billy Blue Records
Drifting Too Far From The Shore / Monroe Brothers / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, 1936 / JSP Records [recorded 2/17/1936]
Beyond The Sunset For Me / Doyle Lawson, Russell Moore, Jamie Dailey, Josh Swift / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
Joshua / Rhonda Vincent / Sunday Mornin' Singin' Live! / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
Go Home / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / 16 Biggest Hits / Columbia Legacy
That Glory Bound Train / Bear Bridge Band / Broken Hearts & Better Times / Open Road
Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder
Sunday's Bluegrass Cafe had a somewhat delayed start, as there was a UConn Men's Basketball broadcast. Still, we managed to squeeze in a whole lot of fine music into our 2 hour, 50 minute program ~ hope you got to listen!
Among the features on Sunday's show: a selection from each of the nominees for "Best Bluegrass Album" for this year's Grammy Awards (turns out the Travelin' McCourys were the winners); a whole set of positive love songs in honor of Valentine's Day; and birthday tributes to two Country Music Hall of Famers whose material has been widely recorded in the world of Bluegrass (Ernest Tubb born February 9, 1914 and the songwriter Boudleaux Bryant, who was born February 13, 1920). If you missed a chance to listen to the show today, don't despair. We will be back next Sunday, so be sure to join us from 4-7PM, if you're able. Have a good week! Amy O.
SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL
Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
Wheel Hoss / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, 1954-1957 / JSP Records
Night / Jimmy Martin / Good 'N' Country AND Country Music Time / Jasmine
The Memory Of Your Smile / Stanley Brothers / Selected Cuts, 1956-1959 / JSP Records
Gonna Settle Down / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Sides, 1950-1952 / JSP Records
Big Spike Hammer / Bluegrass Album Band / The Bluegrass Compact Disc, Volume 2 / Rounder
After a one-hour, sports-shortened program during the last week of January, our Bluegrass Cafe was full-length today. The three hours were filled with birthday tributes, a remembrance, and a whole lot of new music. February 1st is always a big day for birthdays in the World of Bluegrass, with four important musicians celebrating that day, including Jason Carter (born 1973) and David Parmley (1959), as well as two members of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame: Tom Gray (1941) and Del McCoury (1939). Becky Buller just missed the February 1st parade, as she celebrated her birthday on January 31st. During the short show last week, we paid tribute to the late Maxine Brown of Country Music Hall of Famers, the Browns. The Browns were not "Bluegrass" performers, but as with several other country performers of the 1950s and 1960s, some of their songs have been covered in Bluegrass. We shared a couple of those songs on Sunday, too. There was brand new music galore, too, with 2019 music from Big Country Bluegrass, Blue Moon Rising, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, the Tony Rook Band, Jeff Scroggins & Colorado, Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers (featuring Del McCoury), Aaron "Frosty" Foster, and Alan Bibey & Grasstowne. Other recent music was from Balsam Range, Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass, and Carolina Blue.
Hope you got to tune in today, but if not...be sure to join us next Sunday afternoon, 4-7PM. Have a good week! Amy O.
SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL
Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
Ground Hog / The Dillards / Bluegrass Breakdown / Vanguard
Remembering / Mac Wiseman / Eight Classic Albums / Real Gone
Sweet Little Miss Eyes / Jim & Jesse / Grand Ole Opry Live Classics: The Bluegrass Collection / Cracker Barrel
Rocky Top / Osborne Brothers / High Lonesome / CMH
I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home / Mac Wiseman / High Lonesome / CMH
A Good Man Like Me / Del McCoury / By Request / McCoury Music [Del McCoury birthday, 2/1/1939]
Daisey Mae / Jason Carter / On The Move / Rounder [Jason Carter birthday, 2/1/1973]
Loneliness And Desperation / Del McCoury & the Dixie Pals / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel [Del McCoury birthday, 2/1/1939]
Pretty Little Indian / Jason Carter / On The Move / Rounder [Jason Carter birthday, 2/1/1973]
I Feel The Blues Moving In / Del McCoury / High Lonesome And Blue / Rounder [Del McCoury birthday, 2/1/1939]
Steel Rails / Alison Krauss / I've Got That Old Feeling / Rounder
Carry Me Across The Mountain / Jeff White / Right Beside You / Self-Produced
Beautiful Brown Eyes / Still Pickin' Trio / Reuben's Train / Self-Produced
Always On A Mountain / Big Dogs with Tony Trischka / Live At The Birchmere / Strictly Country
Steppin' Stones / Paul Williams / A Tribute To Jimmy Martin: The King Of Bluegrass / Koch Records
Angel Band / Stanley Brothers / Selected Cuts, 1955-1956 / JSP Records
I've Got That Old Feeling / Alison Krauss / I've Got That Old Feeling / Rounder
Another Love Gone Wrong / Becky Buller / Crepe Paper Heart / Dark Shadow Recording [Becky Buller birthday, 1/31/1979]
Too Late To Say Goodbye / Mickey Galyean & Cullen's Bridge / Songs From The Blue Ridge / Rebel
Country Boy, Banjo, And Flat Top Guitar / Big Country Bluegrass / Mountains, Mamas, And Memories / Rebel
Louisville Rambler / Blue Moon Rising / 2019 Winter Singles / Mountain Fever Records
Lena / Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen / If You Can't Stand The Heat / Compass Records
Kentucky Girl / Tony Rook Band / Reflections / NC Records
Walking Back To Bluefield / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / That's Why I'm Lonesome / Patuxent Music
Big Train / Jeff Scroggins & Colorado / Over The Line / Patuxent Music
Keep On Going / Big Country Bluegrass / Mountains, Mamas, And Memories / Rebel
The Guitar Song / Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers feat. Del McCoury / For The Record / Billy Blue Records
I Take The Chance / Bear Bridge Band / live recording / no label [Remembering Maxine Brown (April 27, 1931-January 21, 2019)]
Here Today And Gone Tomorrow / Hazel Dickens with the Johnson Mountain Boys / Songs Of The Louvin Brothers / Rounder [Remembering Maxine Brown (April 27, 1931-January 21, 2019)]
Looking Back To See / Jim Ed & Maxine Brown / The Essential Jim Ed Brown & the Browns / RCA [Remembering Maxine Brown (April 27, 1931-January 21, 2019)]
Smoke Along The Track / Parmley & McCoury / Families Of Tradition / BGC Records [David Parmley birthday, 2/1/1959]
Wing And A Prayer / David Parmley, Scott Vestal & Continental Divide / David Parmley, Scott Vestal & Continental Divide / Pinecastle [David Parmley birthday, 2/1/1959]
You Left Me Alone / Country Gentlemen / Can't You Hear Me Callin': Early Classics, 1963-1969 / Rebel [Tom Gray birthday, 2/1/1941]
Nightwalk / Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray / Many A Mile / Patuxent Music [Tom Gray birthday, 2/1/1941]
Bessie's Tune / Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike / Small Town Heroes / Bell Buckle Records [Tom Gray birthday, 2/1/1941]
I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me / Carolina Blue / I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me / Pinecastle
No Other Man / Feinberg Brothers / Party For One / Cabinwood Music
Soldiers Joy/Ragtime Annie / Roland White & Friends / A Tribute To The Kentucky Colonels / Mountain Home
Some Old Day / John Cowan / Epilogue: A Tribute To John Duffey / Smithsonian Folkways
Dim Lights, Thick Smoke / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Cuts, 1952-1955 / JSP Records
Don't Stop The Music / Del McCoury / Don't Stop The Music / Rounder [Del McCoury birthday, 2/1/1939]
The Lighthouse / Gibson Brothers / Bona Fide / Sugar Hill
When I Wake Up To Sleep No More / Aaron "Frosty" Foster / single / Bee Hive Records
Let My Life Be A Light / Balsam Range / Aeonic / Mountain Home
Waiting For The Boys To Come Home / Jerry Wicentowski / Thanks, Mac!: Songs Of Mac Wiseman / Self-Produced
When Jesus Swings The Wrecking Ball / Alan Bibey & Grasstowne / 2019 Winter Singles / Mountain Fever Records
Joy Of Revelation / McCoury Brothers / The McCoury Brothers / Rounder [Del McCoury birthday, 2/1/1939]
Bring Him Your Talents / Bluegrass Cardinals / Way Down Deep In My Soul / Sugar Hill [David Parmley birthday, 2/1/1959]
Throne Of Grace / Warrior River Boys / New Beginnings / Rounder
Blue Grass Twist / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder
We didn't create this blog to talk about ourselves. If you'd like to learn a bit about some of the WHUS Bluegrass alumni, you can find info in this blog. Primarily, though, the site exists to promote the Bluegrass music we play weekly on air at the "Bluegrass Cafe." We love to hear from listeners, so give us a call during the show (860-486-9487) or send an email to bgcafe@gmail.com.
