Search Results for: jd crowe

Lawson, Doyle

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DOYLE LAWSON (AND QUICKSILVER)

  • From Kingsport, Tennessee. Lives in Bristol, Tennessee.
  • His father was in an acapella gospel group called the Clinch Mountain Quartet.
  • 1963, joined Jimmy Martin’s band the Sunny Mountain Boys, playing banjo.
  • 1966, joined J.D. Crowe and the Kentucky Mountain Boys, playing mandolin.
  • 1971, joined the Country Gentlemen, playing mandolin.
  • 1979, formed his own band Quicksilver (original name was Foxfire but discovered the name was already in use.)
  • 1995, adopted a new look and new sound, performing around a single vocal mike with precision choreography.
  • 1998, was the first bluegrass band invited to perform at the National Gospel Quartet Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.
  • 2003, won IBMA award for Song of the Year (“Blue Train”).
  • 2005, was elected chairman of the board of the International Bluegrass Music Trust Fund which provides financial assistance to bluegrass artists in times of emergency need. He continues to serve in this capacity.
  • 2006, was presented with a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.
  • 2007, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree by Kings College in Bristol, Tennessee.
  • 2007, won his sixth IBMA Award for Gospel Recorded performance of the Year (also won in 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2006).
  • 2010, recorded with Paul Simon.
  • 2011, added drums to the band’s sound, much to the consternation of some of his fans. He discontinued using the drums in live performances about a year later.
  • 2011, won the IBMA Award for Recorded Event of the Year for the song “Prayers Bells of Heaven” by J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson and Paul Williams (from their album Old Friends Get Together).
  • 2012, was inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame (IBMA).
  • 2012, won the Inspirational Country Music Award for Band/Vocal Group of the Year.
  • 2018, won his eighth IBMA Award for Vocal Group of the Year (also won in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007).
  • 2020, won the IBMA Award for Album of the Year (Live in Prague: Czech Republic).
  • 2021, announced that he will retire after the 2022 season.
  • 2021, received the Tennessee Governor’s Arts Award.
  • 2021, after Doyle’s retirement, his band members formed a new band called Authentic Unlimited.

RECOMMENDED ALBUMS:

  • Tennessee Dream (County Records, 1977) This is Doyle’s first solo project, an album of mandolin instrumentals.
  • The Original Band (Sugar Hill, 1979, 1982) This is a reissue of the first two non-gospel albums by Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver “Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver” and “Quicksilver Rides Again.” Band included Terry Baucom, Lou Reid and Jimmy Haley.
  • Rock my Soul (Sugar Hill, 1981) This is a classic album of gospel songs. Includes one of his most requested: “On the Sea of Life.”
  • Heavenly Treasures (Sugar Hill, 1983) Gospel album. Band includes Terry Baucom, Jimmy Haley and Randy Graham.
  • Once And For Always/The News Is Out (Sugar Hill, 1985/1987) Two albums now packaged together. Two bands: one with Terry Baucom, Jimmy Haley, Randy Graham; the other with Russell Moore, Scott Vestal and Ray Deaton.
  • Beyond the Shadows (Sugar Hill, 1986) Gospel album. Band includes Russell Moore, Scott Vestal and Curtis Vestal.
  • Heavens Joy Awaits (Sugar Hill, 1988) Gospel album (acapella). Quartet includes Russell Moore, Scott Vestal and Ray Deaton.
  • Hymn Time in the Country (Sugar Hill, 1988) Gospel album. Band includes Russell Moore, Scott Vestal, Ray Deaton.
  • I’ll Wander Back Someday (Sugar Hill, 1988) Band includes Russell Moore, Scott Vestal, Ray Deaton.
  • I Heard the Angels Singing (Sugar Hill, 1989) Gospel album. Band includes Russell Moore, Scott Vestal, Ray Deaton.
  • My Heart Is Yours (Sugar Hill, 1990) Band includes Russell Moore, Ray Deaton, Jim Mills and Mike Hargrove.
  • Only God (Sugar Hill, 1991) Gospel Album. Band includes Jim Mills, Shelton Feazell and John Bowman.
  • Pressing On Regardless (Music Mill Entertainment, 1993) Band includes John Bowman, Jim Mills, Shelton Feazell, Kim Gardner, Jim Edmonds.
  • Treasures Money Can’t Buy (Music Mill Entertainment, 1993) Gospel album. Band includes John Bowman, Jim Mills, Shelton Feazell.
  • Hallelujah In My Heart (Music Mill Entertainment, 1994) Gospel album. Band includes Shawn Lane, Jimmy Stewart, Brad Campbell and John Berry.
  • Never Walk Away (Sugar Hill, 1995) Band includes Steve Gulley, Barry Abernathy, Dale Perry and Owen Saunders plus guest artists.
  • There’s a Light Guiding Me (Sugar Hill, 1996) Gospel album. Band includes Steve Gulley, Barry Abernathy, Dale Perry and Owen Saunders.
  • Kept & Protected (Sugar Hill, 1997) Gospel album. Band includes Barry Scott, Barry Abernathy, Dale Perry, Owen Saunders.
  • Gospel Radio Gems (Sugar Hill, 1998) Gospel album (acapella). Quartet includes Barry Scott, Barry Abernathy and Dale Perry.
  • Winding Through Life (Sugar Hill, 1998) Band includes Jamie Dailey, Barry Scott, Dale Perry, Doug Bartlett.
  • Just Over in Heaven (Sugar Hill, 2000) Gospel album. Band includes Barry Scott, Dale Perry, Jamie Dailey, Doug Bartlett.
  • Gospel Parade (Sugar Hill, 2001) Gospel album. Band includes Jamie Dailey, Barry Scott, Dale Perry and Hunter Berry.
  • Hard Game of Love (Sugar Hill, 2002) Includes both the IBMA Song of the Year “Blue Train” and IBMA Gospel Recording of the Year “The Hand Made Cross.” Musicians includes Jamie Dailey, Barry Scott, Dale Perry, Hunter Berry, Barry Abernathy, Jim Van Cleve, Owen Sauders.
  • Thank God (SSK, 2003) Gospel album. Band includes Jamie Dailey, Barry Scott, Dale Perry, J.W. Stockman, Jess Barry.
  • School of Bluegrass (Crossroads, 2004) A celebration of Doyle’s 25th anniversary with Quicksilver featuring many of his former band members.
  • Beyond the Shadows (Sugar Hill, 2004) Band includes Jamie Dailey, Barry Scott, Dale Perry, Jesse Stockman.
  • You Gotta Dig a Little Deeper (Rounder, 2005) Band includes Jamie Dailey, Barry Scott, Terry Baucom, Jesse Stockman.
  • He Lives in Me (Horizon, 2006) Won the IBMA Award for Gospel Recording of the Year both in 2006 and 2007. Band includes Jamie Dailey, Terry Baucom, Darren Beachley, Barry Scott, Mike Hartgrove and Jesse Stockman.
  • More Behind the Picture Than the Wall (Rounder, 2007) Band includes Jamie Dailey, Darren Beachley, Terry Baucom and Mike Hartgrove.
  • Help Is on the Way (Horizon, 2008) Gospel album. Band includes Darren Beachley, Alan Johnson, Joey Cox, Carl White and Josh Swift.
  • Lonely Street (Rounder, 2009) Band includes Carl White, Joey Cox, Josh Swift and Darren Beachley.
  • Light on My Feet, Ready to Fly (Horizon, 2010) Gospel album. Band includes Josh Swift, Jason Barie, Corey Hensley, Mike Rogers, Carl White and Jesse Baker.
  • Drive Time (Mountain Home, 2011) Band includes Josh Swift, Jason Barie, Corey Hensley, Mike Rogers, Carl White and Jesse Baker.
  • Sing Me A Song About Jesus (Mountain Home, 2012) Gospel album. Band includes Josh Swift, Mike Rogers, Jessie Baker, Carl White, Jason Barie and Corie Hensley.
  • Roads Well Traveled (Mountain Home, 2013) Band includes Joe Dean, Corey Hensley, Jason Barie, Mike Rogers and Josh Swift.
  • Open Carefully: Message Inside (Mountain Home, 2014) Gospel album. Band includes Josh Swift, Jason Barie, Joe Dean, Dustin Pyrtle and Eli Johnston.
  • In Session (Mountain Home, 2015) Band includes Dustin Pyrtle, Eli Johnston, Joe Dean, Josh Swift and Stephen Burwell.
  • Life is a Story (Mountain Home, 2017). Band includes Dustin Pyrtle, Eli Johnston, Joe Dean, Josh Swift and Stephen Burwell.
  • Live in Prague Czech Republic (2019, Billy Blue Records). Band includes Jake Vanover, Jerry Cole, Joe Dean, Josh Swift and Stephen Burwell.
  • Roundtable (2021, Billy Blue) Band includes Eli Johnston (banjo), Ben James (guitar), Matt Flake (fiddle), Stephen Burwell (fiddle) and Jerry Cole (bass).

Wasson, Ricky

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RICKY WASSON

  • From Clay City, Kentucky.
  • Began playing bluegrass when he was four years old. He says that he never knew there was any other kind of music until he was 10.
  • 1984, formed a band called Southern Blend.
  • Owns a music store in Clay City.
  • Filled in as guitar player in Alison Krauss’ band for a short time.
  • 1996, released first CD “Songs from the Old Country Church.”
  • 1998, joined J.D. Crowe and the New South, singing lead.
  • 2008, released solo project From The Heart & Soul (Rural Rhythm).
  • 2012, formed a new band called American Drive with Dwight McCall and other former members of The New South (after J.D. Crowe retired).
  • 2016, released solo project “Croweology” (Truegrass Entertainment) and formed the Ricky Wasson Band.

McCall, Dwight

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DWIGHT MCCALL

  • From Cincinnati, Ohio (born in Maryland).
  • Began playing mandolin as a teenager.
  • First pro job: Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass.
  • 1992-1995, had a band called Union Springs.
  • 1995, worked with Charlie Waller and the Country Gentlemen.
  • 1996, joined J. D. Crowe and the New South.
  • 1999, released first solo project “Kentucky Peace of Mind” (no label).
  • 2007, released Never Say Never Again album (Rural Rhythm).
  • 2012, formed American Drive with other former members of J.D. Crowe and the New South (after Crowe retired).

Webb, Darrell

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DARRELL WEBB

  • From Knoxville, Tennessee.
  • 1993, began his pro career at age 19 playing mandolin with the Lonesome River Band (replacing Dan Tyminski).
  • 1997, joined J.D. Crowe and the New South.
  • 1999, released first solo project “Webbsite.”
  • 2000, joined a group called New Reflections, then returned to work a second time with J.D. Crowe’s New South.
  • 2001, formed a new band called Wildfire with New South bandmates Phil Leadbetter, Robert Hale and Barry Crabtree.
  • 2003, performed on Dolly Parton’s “Halos and Horns” project.
  • 2005, released solo project Behind the Scenes (Lonesome Day).
  • 2007, joined Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, playing guitar (replaced Josh Williams).
  • 2008, joined Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, playing guitar.
  • 2009, formed The Darrell Webb Band.
  • 2010, released Bloodline album (Rural Rhythm).
  • 2012, released Breaking Down the Barriers album (Rural Rhythm).
  • 2013, was an original member of the group Sideline.
  • 2014, joined a part-time band called Mountain Jacks, the pre-show band for the Lumberjack Feud dinner theatre in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee four nights a week.
  • 2014, released Dream Big album (Mountain Fever) with several guest artists celebrating his 20th year as a professional musician.
  • 2014, left Sideline. His Darrell Webb band became regulars at the Ole Smokey Distillery in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
  • 2017, released Lovers Leap album (Mountain Fever).
  • 2018, disbanded his Darrell Webb band to pursue a solo career.
  • 2018, teamed up with Barry Abernathy (banjo) to form a new band called Appalachian Road Show.

Rice, Tony

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TONY RICE

  • From Danville, Virginia. Grew up in southern California, near L.A.
  • Considered one of the greatest flatpick guitar players of all time. Until he lost his voice in the 1990’s, he was also considered one of bluegrass music’s top lead singers.
  • Main influence: Clarence White whom he met in 1963. (Tony owns Clarence’s Martin D-28).
  • 1970, left California to join the Louisville-based Bluegrass Alliance.
  • 1971, joined his brother Larry in J.D. Crowe’s band, The Kentucky Mountain Boys (later re-named The New South). While with this band, he recorded one of the most important bluegrass albums of all time: J.D. Crowe & The New South (1973, Rounder).
  • 1975, joined the The David Grisman Quintet, playing jazz-oriented “Dawg Music.”
  • 1977, released Tony Rice album (Rounder).
  • 1978, released Guitar album (Rebel).
  • 1978, released landmark Manzanita album (Rounder), the first bluegrass album without a banjo.
  • 1980, recorded a classic album of duets with Ricky Skaggs Skaggs & Rice: The Essential Old-Time Country Duet Recordings (Sugar Hill).
  • 1981, arranged the first Bluegrass Album Band recording with friends Doyle Lawson, J.D. Crowe, Bobby Hicks, and Todd Phillips. The album sold so well, five more were recorded and the ensemble won the IBMA award for Instrumental Group of the Year (1990).
  • 1983, released Church Street Blues album (Sugar Hill).
  • 1984, released Cold On The Shoulder album (Rounder).
  • 1985, formed his own band, The Tony Rice Unit.
  • 1987, released and album of duets with guitarist Norman Blake Blake & Rice (Rounder). This was followed up with Blake & Rice 2 (1990, Rounder).
  • 1988, released Me & My Guitar album (Rounder).
  • 1993, his home in Florida was destroyed in a hurricane. His guitar was underwater for three hours, but Tony dried it out very slowly and reported that “it sounds better than ever.”
  • 1993, participated in a recording session at David Grisman’s Dawg Studios in Berkeley, California with Grisman and Jerry Garcia. The recordings were later released as The Pizza Tapes (Acoustic Disk).
  • 1994, developed voice problems, a malady called Muscle Tension Dysphonia and was forced to curtail his singing.
  • 1995, the Tony Rice Unit won the IBMA award for Instrumental Group of the Year.
  • 1996, released Tony Rice Sings Gordon Lightfoot album (Rounder), his last featuring vocals.
  • His hobbies: photography and collecting/repairing old watches.
  • 1997, 2000, recorded and performed with brother Larry, Chris Hillman and Herb Pederson as Out of the Woodwork and also as Rice, Rice, Hillman and Pederson.
  • 1998, released Native American album (Rounder).
  • 1998, released Tony Rice Plays And Sings Bluegrass album (Rounder).
  • 2000, released The Bluegrass Guitar Collection album (Rounder).
  • 2001, began performing and recording with Peter Rowan. Released Quartet album (Rounder) and You Were There for Me album (Rounder).
  • 2007, won his fifth IBMA award for Guitar Player of the Year (also won in 1990, 1991, 1994 and 1997).
  • 2008, worked dates with Mountain Heart.
  • 2010, his biography Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story was was published, co-authored by Tim Stafford and Caroline Wright.
  • 2011, released Hartford-Rice-Clements album (Small Dog a-Barkin’) with John Hartford and Vassar Clements. This album was recorded in John Hartford’s home in 1988 but was not released until 2011.
  • 2013, was inducted into the IBMA’s Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. His memorable acceptance speech included a seemingly miraculous recovery of his voice.
  • 2020, died on Christmas day at the age of 69.

Flashback

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FLASHBACK

  • From Tennessee/Kentucky.
  • Formed in 2015 as a 20-year reunion of the version of J.D. Crowe and his New South band that recorded the album “Flashback.” The group included Crowe, Richard Bennett (guitar), Don Rigsby (mandolin), Curt Chapman (banjo) and Phil Leadbetter (Dobro™).
  • After Crowe retired in 2016, the band continued to perform together under the name Flashback, with Stuart Wyrick joining them on banjo.
  • 2017, released album Foxhounds and Fiddles (Pinecastle).
  • 2017, Leadbetter retired from the group to take care of his health and to pursue a career in real estate.

Crowe Brothers, The

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THE CROWE BROTHERS

  • From Nebo, North Carolina. They are originally from Clayton, Georgia.
  • Featured brothers Wallace (guitar) and Wayne (bass). They both go by their middle names (James Wallace and John Wayne). Wallace is also known as Josh.
  • Early 1970’s, performed as the Blue Ridge Mountain Boys.
  • 1975-1991, worked with legendary banjo player Raymond Fairchild, known as “King of the Smoky Mountain Banjo.”
  • 1981, released “The Crowe Brothers Sing ‘Always True'” album (Skyline).
  • 1984, released “The Gospel Way” album (Skyline).
  • 1985, released “The Winds Are Blowing in Maggie Valley” album (Atteiram).
  • 1988, released “Jesus is Coming” album (Atteiram).
  • 1989, released “I Knew It Wasn’t You” album (Atteiram).
  • 1990, formed their own band, The Crowe Brothers.
  • 1993, Wayne retired from music and Josh formed a duo with David McLaughlin (formerly with the Johnson Mountain Boys). They released one album Going Back (Rounder).
  • 1999, released “Regenesis” album (Copper Creek).
  • 2004, Josh formed the Josh Crowe Band and released “Sincerely” album (Pinecastle).
  • 2005, began performing together again.
  • 2008, released Brothers-N-Harmony (Rural Rhythm).
  • 2011, released Bridging The Gap album (Rural Rhythm).
  • 2014, released Forty Years Old album (Mountain Fever) commemorating their 40 years in the music business.

Crowe, J.D. (and the New South)

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J.D. CROWE (AND THE NEW SOUTH)

  • From Lexington, Kentucky.
  • 1955, began his career as a member of Mac Wiseman’s band.
  • 1956, joined Jimmy Martin’s band, The Sunny Mountain Boys and established himself as one of the top banjo players in the world
  • 1966, formed his own group The Kentucky Mountain Boys which included Doyle Lawson and Larry Rice. Red Allen joined in 1968.
  • 1971, changed band name to The New South. Early band included Tony Rice, Larry Rice and Bobby Slone. Doyle Lawson replaced Larry Rice (after a short stint with Jimmy Martin), and Lawson was later replaced by Ricky Skaggs.
  • Other New South alumni: Jerry Douglas, Keith Whitley, Jimmy Gaudreau, Paul Adkins, Wendy Miller, Gene Johnson (of Diamond Rio), Tony King (of Brooks and Dunn), Phil Leadbetter, Rick Pardue, many others.
  • Was also a member of the legendary Bluegrass Album Band (with Doyle Lawson, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, Bobby Hicks and Todd Phillips).
  • 1990, retired from music (became a mail carrier) but returned in 1992 with a new version of The New South.
  • 2000, his band members left en masse (with Crowe’s blessing) to form a new group called Wildfire.
  • 2003, was inducted into the IBMA’s Hall of Fame.
  • 1994, 2004, won IBMA Award for Banjo Player of the Year.
  • 2004, was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.
  • 2007, won IBMA award for Album of the Year (“Lefty’s Old Guitar”)
  • 2011, won the IBMA Award for “Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year” and “Recorded Event of the Year” (both for “Prayers Bells of Heaven” by J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson and Paul Williams)
  • 2012, retired again (this time for good) and disbanded The New South, most of whom formed a new band called American Drive.
  • 2012, his biography was published by the University of Illinois press titled Crowe on the Banjo: The Music Life of J.D. Crowe written by Marty Godbey.
  • 2012, was presented with an honorary doctorate degree by the University of Kentucky.
  • He was a long-time member of the IBMA’s Trust Fund Board of Directors.
  • 2021, died at the age of 84 on Christmas Eve.

RECOMMENDED ALBUMS:

 

Blackwell, Curtis (and the Dixie Bluegrass Boys)

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CURTIS BLACKWELL AND THE DIXIE BLUEGRASS BOYS

  • From Long Creek, South Carolina.
  • Formed in 1960 when seventeen-year-old guitarist/singer Curtis Blackwell with his brother Haskell (bass) and Junior Crowe (banjo; father of The Crowe Brothers). They won a talent competition sponsored by WNEG in Toccoa, Georgia. The prize was a performance on The Grand Ole Opry.
  • 1964, band included Sam Cobb (bass) Larry Jefferson (mandolin), Martin Beckman (guitar), Al Osteen (banjo), and Randall Collins (fiddle).
  • 1965, won first place at Asheville’s Bascom Lamar Lunsford’s Mountain Dance and Folk Festival.
  • 1970, won first place in the band contest at Union Grove Fiddler’s Convention.
  • During the mid 70’s, Curtis Blackwell and the Dixie Bluegrass Boys regrouped with South Carolina fiddler Verner Foster joining the band and Curtis’s son Terry Blackwell (mandolin) and Tom Roach (banjo). Wallace Crowe of the Crowe Brothers also worked with them on occasion.
  • 2010 lineup: Curtis Blackwell (guitar), Sam Cobb (bass), Vic Blackwell (mandolin), Charles Wood (banjo), and Chuck Nation (fiddle).

American Drive

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AMERICAN DRIVE

  • From Ohio/Eastern Kentucky area.
  • Formed in 2012 by former members of J.D.Crowe’s band “The New South” (after Crowe retired.)
  • Original members: Ricky Wasson (guitar), Dwight McCall (mandolin), Matt DeSpain (Dobro™), Justin Jenkins (banjo) and Kyle Perkins (bass).
  • 2012, released first album American Drive (Rural Rhythm).
  • 2013, Wasson and Jenkins left the band and were replaced by Adam McIntosh (guitar) and Shayne Bartley (banjo). Dwight McCall assumed leadership of the band.
  • 2015, disbanded.