Saturday, November 8, 2008

TONY RICE

Tony Rice
There are legends and there are legends. When it comes to acoustic guitar players Tony Rice is the name that comes out of ones mouth. I began to hear his name when I was in my early twenties and Tony Rice had always been a legendary acoustic guitar player. He never ceases to amaze me. He has his own style and his own guitar licks and there are many who can mimic him but theirs is not the original. If you wish to learn some Tony Rice guitar licks, look them up on You Tube or Google Video and there are many free lessons available, or watch Tony himself and he will always mesmerize you with his playing. By the way, in the early years of Tony Rice's playing he did a lot of singing and his song selections were superb. What makes Tony Rice a legend? It is his accuracy and style and most of all humbleness.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Bluegrass Jam Sessions

Bluegrass Jam Sessions
We have listed on our site several places to go locally for bluegrass jam sessions. A bluegrass jam session is when a group of people gathers together to play, and most of the time you play traditional bluegrass songs that everyone should know. You just gather around in a circle sometimes sitting, sometimes standing, and each one will take a break on his or her instrument should he want to. It can be a beginner to professional in this voluntary group. If someone knows the words they can sing and if you can sing harmony, you can join in on the chorus. In doing this you use courtesy to let others take a break on their bluegrass instrument. If there is a lot of people you can break out into smaller groups and spread out. This is a good place where one can come and learn how to play a bluegrass instrument and also learn the traditional bluegrass songs. At most bluegrass festivals and fiddlers conventions you will find many bluegrass jam sessions going on all around the campsites. So get together and have some fun. Playing bluegrass music or being in a bluegrass band is a very fulfilling pastime. You meet a lot of down to earth people and it is not limited. I have jammed with doctors and lawyers and professionals around the campfire several times. People from all walks of life coming together to perform.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

BLUEGRASS LEGENDS

Bluegrass Legends
A Bluegrass Legend is someone who over the years as a bluegrass musician, name has reached out to everyone in the industry as a household word and also has excelled in their field on their instrument or vocal ability. They have paid their dues and have added tremendously to the Bluegrass industry. You have them in every type of music. You have rock legends, country legends, and so forth. Here is my list of the ones that I feel that should be mentioned. They are bluegrass musicians and bluegrass bands.
Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice, Charley Waller, John Duffy, Vassar Clements, Josh Graves, Bill Monroe, Charlie Monroe, Sonny Osborne, Bobby Osborne, Del McCoury, Earl Scruggs, Sam Bush, John Cowan, Peter Rowan, Ralph Stanley, Lester Flatt, Jimmie Martin, Doyle Lawson, J D Crowe, Mac Wiseman, Clarence White, David Grisman, Terry Baucom, John Hartford, Mike Auldridge, John Starling, Doc Watson, Norman Blake, Seldom Scene, The Newgrass Revival, Kentucky Colonels, Country Gentlemen, Osborne Brothers, McPeak Brothers, Jim and Jesse, Stanley Brothers.
These are individuals that I as a young musician back in the early 1970’s cut my teeth on and they have never faded in my mind. I used to go to bluegrass festivals as a young musician and hear some of these bluegrass bands play their music all throughout the Appalachian Mountains.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

SOLID ROCK GOSPEL MUSIC


SOLID ROCK GOSPEL

Union Grove, NC

Ronnie Moore, Guitar & Vocals

Renae Hutchens, Lead Vocals

Leon Cass, Bass Vocals

Carolyn Wilhelm, Alto Vocals

Keith Hall, Electric Bass Guitar

Monday, October 27, 2008

BLUEGRASS MUSIC

Bluegrass Music

North Carolina Foothills

We are very blessed to live in the area that we live in because of our musical heritage with bluegrass music. There is something going on within driving distance every weekend to see, hear, and play in the bluegrass music genre.

Bluegrass Festivals

There are all types of bluegrass festivals in western North Carolina, all usually having some type of bluegrass music entertainment. There are also places to go mainly to see some of the big name acts too.

Bluegrass Jam Sessions

If you are a bluegrass musician there are many local bluegrass jam sessions that you can go to and participate in. No one is turned down from beginner to pro in these sessions. So grab a bluegrass instrument and learn to play and have fun. You will never be sorry that you did.