Remembering Thomas W. “Tom” Riggs (March 3, 1936 – August 30, 2014), Pinecastle Records founder and former owner. Tom left an indelible mark on the bluegrass music industry and will be remembered not only for the way he conducted business but for the many artists that he encouraged and helped establish. Tom was born
Fiddlin’ John Powers at the White Top Folk Festival, circa 1939. White Top, Virginia. (Blue Ridge Heritage Archives, Ferrum College/Blakemore Collection) First fiddlers convention in America, which took place in Hanover City, VA, August 30, 1736. Fiddle contests first appeared in the U.S. in November of 1736. The first recorded fiddle contest was held as
Jimmy Martin records “Stormy Waters”, August 30, 1962 Jimmy Martin may have helped keep bluegrass music on the country charts in the ’60s with his secular, mainstream approach to music-making, but he had a spiritual side, too. “Stormy Waters” is simply a gospel classic..
Happy Birthday Brett Smeltzer, born August 26, 1963, hosts Bluegrass Retrospect, a Bluegrass/Bluegrass Gospel/Pre-Bluegrass program on The Bluegrass Jamboree Radio Station. Brett Smeltzer makes his home in Charles Town, WV, just outside of Northern Virginia and Maryland. Though Brett’s earlier days of music influences were mostly Rock of the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, he
Happy Birthday Roger Sprung (born August 29, 1930, in New York City) is an American banjo player and teacher best known for introducing authentic bluegrass banjo picking styles to the folk music community in the north and for the eclectic manner in which he has adapted bluegrass banjo techniques to music of other genres. His
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jeannette Williams born, August 28, 1965 her professional career originated with country music when she was in her early twenties. In 1989, she switched to bluegrass and joined a band called Clearwater. Working as singer for Clearwater, Jeanette performed at countless bluegrass festivals and earned a number of awards, including four Female Vocalist
HAPPY BIRTHDAY James Dee “JD” Crowe (August 27, 1937, in Lexington, Kentucky) is an American banjo player and bluegrass band leader. He first became known during his four-year stint with Jimmy Martin in the 1950s. In the late 1960s, Crowe formed the Kentucky Mountain Boys, principally performing in the Lexington region. By the early 1970s,
Remembering Emory Martin (August 26, 1916 – April 17, 2006), a native of Hickman County, Tennessee, who is believed to be the world’s only one armed banjo player! Having been born with only a six-inch stub instead of a left arm, Emory had to improvise to accomplish the results of the usual left-hand action. “I
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Matt Wallace born, August 26, 1984 – One of the latest sidemen to make a solo debut is bass player Matt Wallace. A Knoxville, TN native who has done stints with Newton & Thomas, Paul Williams & the Victory Trio, David Parmley & Continental Divide, and Audie Blaylock & Redline, among others, Currently
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Teresa Sells born, August 24, 1959 along with Tommy Sells formed the Big Country Bluegrass in 1987 and perform what some call “Galax” or “Mt. Airy” bluegrass: very hard core traditional sound. James King is a former member of this band. In 1999 they won a contest sponsored by Martha White flour on