High Lonesome Sound

08/20/2024

🎉 𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐏𝐇 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐋𝐄𝐘 𝐈𝐈 | HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎉

He first started working professionally for his late and legendary father in 1995 and has been keeping the Clinch Mountain sound alive ever since. Please join with us in extending massive happy 46th greetings to 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐈𝐈, leader of the current-day Clinch Mountain Boys, who was born on this day, August 20, in 1978.

Happy birthday, Ralph! 🎉

📷 | ©️ Laci Mack- Photographer

Ralph Stanley II & The Clinch Mountain Boys

08/16/2024

We lost a giant today of bluegrass fiddle: Rest in peace my long-time friend Bobby Hicks. Bobby passed away at age 91.

For many years, Bobby taught at my string camps. Perhaps thousands of fiddlers and violinists learned knee to knee from this legend there.

From North Carolina, Bobby spent much time in Nashville joining up with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys in the early 1950s and a rich musical life beyond it.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been around Bobby, played with him, traded stories. I tried to learn things from him from time to time, but half of the time he insisted that I always play for him instead! These are just a few pics of us on stage together, and a shot of just that where he wanted me to play fiddle tunes for him.

Some things that I can tell you about Bobby includes that he was an innovator, a fiddling creative master. Double stop waltzes were as important as those fast bluegrass rides he took. Another thing about Bobby was that he was always curious, and loved being around players who were different than he was… he reminded me of Kenny Baker, Vassar Clements and Benny Thomasson that way as old-time fiddle masters with open ears---all of these innovative fiddlers shared a lot in common that way.

One of my greatest pleasures as a string camp director was hosting Bobby there at so many of them. When you have bluegrass fiddle royalty walking around on the campus you just can’t be thankful enough for the students to be around him. With so much love to Bobby for a lifetime of knowing him so well. I am deeply grateful for the time spent with the bluegrass fiddle master. The gradual passing of this era is a lot to take in today. My deepest condolences to Bobby's family. RIP my old friend.

08/16/2024

Katie Laur passes
https://bluegrasstoday.com/katie-laur-passes/

08/15/2024

Thinking of Ben on what would’ve been his 86th birthday today. Miss him big time ❤️

08/14/2024

Wishing a happy 79th birthday to comedian and banjo picker Steve Martin! Steve has done a lot to shine a spotlight on the banjo and Bluegrass music. We're glad you're a part of the community, Steve. Have a banjoriffic birthday!

08/10/2024

Happy Birthday to Jimmy Martin. I grew up with this man’s music,And I’m better for it as a musician.

08/10/2024

We are playing at the Missouri State Fair (in Sedalia, Missouri) this coming Monday & Tuesday! 🎪🎡🎶
We will be performing on the "Superior Sleep Stage" at 1:30pm, 4:30pm, and 7:00pm on August 12th & 13th and will be at the Rural Missouri Booth to visit with people all day on Wednesday, August 14th. Stop in and say hi... we hope to see you there! 👏🏻

08/08/2024

Happy Birthday to a loyal friend and fellow lover of the banjo, Alison Brown.

I’ve been fortunate to play with her many times, collaborate with her on a few projects, and of course be friends in “real life” and I can tell you she is a caring friend to all artists and someone who does all she can for bluegrass…

Help me wish her a wonderful birthday!

08/06/2024

Join us for an Unforgettable Journey at The Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival on September 21, 2024!

08/06/2024

Photograph taken today on his 63rd birthday (b. August 5th, 1961), Mark O'Connor is a 7-time CMA-winning, 3-time Grammy-winning composer, violinist/fiddler, guitarist, mandolinist, author and producer. Enjoying a few days off in beautiful Western North Carolina with his wife Maggie.

www.markoconnor.com

08/06/2024

The Dillards have spread all across the globe!

08/02/2024

Wishing a happy birthday to our banjo picker today! He’s been with us for eleven years officially (twelve if not)! If you aren’t familiar with his playing, it’s highly suggested you look around for his “Five String Magic!” album, also known as “the Pink Panther” album.

📸: Micah Schweinsburg

07/31/2024

07/30/2024

Join us in wishing Dann-o a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🎉🥳🎈🎂

07/28/2024

From the album "Bill Monroe - Bluegrass '87", featuring former Blue Grass Boys, Bobby Hicks & Buddy Spicher.

07/23/2024

🎉 𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐊𝐑𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐒 | HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎉

It’s Alison’s birthday, y’all! Please join with us in sending massive happy 53rd greetings to multi-talented singer-vocalist-bandleader-producer and 27-time Grammy winner 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐊𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐬, the fourth most awarded artist, male or female, in Grammy history 😮, your 4-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year (1990, 1991, 1993 & 1995), a Grand Ole Opry member (inducted July 3, 1993), and a 2021 IBMA Hall of Fame inductee who was born on this very day, July 23, in 1971.

💬 “You know, for most of its life bluegrass has had this stigma of being all straw hats and hay bales and not necessarily the most sophisticated form of music. Yet you can’t help responding to its honesty. It’s music that finds its way deep into your soul because it’s strings vibrating against wood and nothing else.” - Quoted by Alfred Hickling in 'Alison Krauss: Back to Her Roots'. The Guardian, April 14, 2011.

Happy birthday, Alison! 🎉

07/21/2024

🎉 𝐁𝐎𝐁𝐁𝐘 𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐒 | HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎉

He’s a living legend and no mistake. Please join with us in extending massive happy 91st greetings to the great 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 ‘𝐁𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐲’ 𝐇𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬, IBMA Hall of Famer (inducted 2017), a National Fiddler Hall of Fame inductee (inducted 2018), and a former Blue Grass Boy (a multi-instrumentalist, Hicks was initially hired to play bass for Monroe before switching to fiddle and subsequently contributing to a series of now legendary instrumentals that were recorded in the mid- to late-1950s) who's probably best known for his 23-year stint with Ricky Skaggs (who he first joined forces with in 1981) and who was born on this very day, July 21, in 1933.

💬 “… the truest fiddler I have ever heard". – Bill Monroe commenting on Bobby Hicks.

Happy birthday, Bobby! 🎉

07/18/2024

🎉 𝐉𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 | HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎉

It’s Jesse’s birthday, y’all! Please join with us in extending massive happy 52nd greetings to mandolin maestro 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤, your two-time IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year (2009 & 2015) and current mando shredder (and vocalist) with Authentic Unlimited Band, who was born on this day, July 18, in 1972.

Happy birthday, Jesse! 🎉

📷 | ©️ Laci Mack- Photographer

07/18/2024

Wishing a very happy birthday to one of the best mandolin players and Opry star Ricky Skaggs today! 🎂

07/17/2024

Congratulations to the Entertainer of the Year nominees for the 2024 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards!

07/17/2024

07/17/2024

We are pleased to announce the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Class of 2024! The induction ceremony will take place Thursday, September 26, at the 2024 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards.

07/17/2024

Congratulations to the 2024 recipients of the IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award!

07/17/2024

Congratulations to the New Artist of the Year nominees for the 2024 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards!