North County Bluegrass & Folk Club

The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) held their 29th National Convention and the 38th Anniversary Bluegrass Music Awards February 2-5, 2012. The four-day event was held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The awards were posted by SPBGMA yesterday evening. The awards are the big item of the convention and we have the winners listed below. Jamie Dailey, pictured, took home the 2012 Entertainer of the Year honors.

The National Convention featured an extensive lineup of America's top bluegrass bands, many who received awards during the event. Bands included Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Lou Reid & Carolina, Audie Blaylock & Redline, Larry Stephenson Band, The Grascals, Dailey & Vincent, The Martins, The James King Band, Danny Stanley & The Bluegrass Gentlemen, Bluegrass Brigade, The Newfound Road, Special Consensus, Punches Family, Mountain Faith, The Bluegrass Brothers, Revonda Roberts & Harvest Wind, Michelle Nixon & Drive, The Expedition Show, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, The Marksmen Quartet, Ronnie Reno & The Reno Tradition, Jeanette Williams Band, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, Midwestern Town, Don Rigsby & Midnight Call, Grasstowne, Tony Holt & The Wildwood Valley Boys, Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain, Gibson Brothers, Tim Graves & Cherokee, Nothin' Fancy, The Chapmans, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, Buck & Company, Randy Waller & The Country Gentlemen, and Big Country Bluegrass.

The event also included the 29th International Band Championship. Flatt Lonesome was crowned the champion of the competition for 2012.

Rhonda added another award to her collection with Female Vocalist of the Year. She and her group are the Most Awarded Artist in bluegrass music with over 80 awards. Rhonda proved once again why she is the Queen of Bluegrass, when she performed with her new generation band, The Rage, for the half time show at the National SPBGMA Awards in Nashville, TN. Her performance debuted a historical mark in her band, as she featured her newest member "Brent Burke" on dobro, who is proclaimed to be the "next Jerry Douglas." Burke wowed the crowd with his dobro wizardry, to add yet a new dimension to the multi-award winning group. Brent Burke is also the first and only recipient of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music from East Tennessee State University.

Bluegrass phenoms Dailey & Vincent were voted Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall), Vocal Group of the Year, and Gospel Group of the Year (Contemporary). Jamie Dailey was also awarded for being Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary), while Darrin Vincent picked up the Bass Fiddle Performer of the Year award. This group has taken the bluegrass community by storm since the duo started performing together. The fire still burns!

2012 SPGBMA National Awards Winners Are:

• BLUEGRASS PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
  • DA Calloway
• BLUEGRASS RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
  • WDVX-FM - Knoxville, TN
• BLUEGRASS DJ OF THE YEAR
  • Joe Mullins (WBZI-AM)
• BLUEGRASS SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
  • Leigh & Eric Gibson
• BLUEGRASS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
  • "HELP MY BROTHER" - by The Gibson Brothers for Compass Records
• . BASS FIDDLE PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
  • Darrin Vincent
• DOBRO PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
  • Tim Graves
• GUITAR PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
  • Josh Williams
• MANDOLIN PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
  • Larry Stephenson
• BANJO PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
  • Kristin Scott Benson
• FIDDLE PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
  • Michael Cleveland
• FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (Contemporary)
  • Rhonda Vincent
• FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (Traditional)
  • Jeanette Williams
• MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (Contemporary)
  • Jamie Dailey
• MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (Traditional)
  • James King
• GOSPEL GROUP OF THE YEAR (Contemporary)
  • Dailey & Vincent
• GOSPEL GROUP OF THE YEAR (Traditional)
  • Paul Williams & The Victory Trio
• VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
  • Dailey and Vincent
• INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
  • The Grascals
• BLUEGRASS BAND OF THE YEAR (Overall)
  • Dailey & Vincent
• SONG OF THE YEAR
  • "HELP MY BROTHER" - by Gibson Brothers for Compass Records
• ENTERTAINING GROUP OF THE YEAR
  • Nothin' Fancy
• ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
  • Jamie Dailey

The Sheraton Music City Hotel is located just south of Opryland USA, just off Jct. I-40 and Briley Parkway. From Opryland take Briley Parkway south to Elm Hill Pike, then turn east to third signal light at McGavock Pike, turn right and go 1/4 mile to the Sheraton Music City on the left at the top of the hill.BANJO PERFORMER OF THE YEAR

Nashville, TN -- International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) Entertainers of the Year the Steep Canyon Rangers announced the April 10 release of their Rounder Records solo band debut album, Nobody Knows You. With this 5th album, the band – current Grammy nominees for ‘Best Bluegrass Album' for 2011's Rare Bird Alert collaboration with Steve Martin – takes a giant step forward as songwriters and performers who continue to redefine both traditional and progressive approaches to the genre.

With a 2012 schedule that features their most ambitious international theater, university and festival tour to date – including headlining the Winnipeg Festival in Winnipeg, Canada, the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California and the Rhythm and Roots Festival in Bristol, Tennessee – they remain the band bringing bluegrass to perhaps its biggest audience ever. "The Steep Canyon Rangers, with whom I have had the great pleasure of touring and have shared the wonderful honor of IBMA's Entertainer of the Year Award," says Martin, "are not only great musicians who continue to explore both the new and old styles of bluegrass and bring a fresh energy to the traditions of American music, but they are also really fun on a bus."

Nobody Knows You is the next level for the North Carolina quintet – Mike Guggino (mandolin/vocals), Charles Humphrey III (bass/vocals), Woody Platt (guitar/lead vocals), Nicky Sanders (fiddle/vocals) and Graham Sharp (banjo/vocals) – known for forging their own distinct path within a famously traditional genre. Having defied all notions of "déjà bluegrass" since their beginnings more than 12 years ago at UNC Chapel Hill, the new album – co-produced by the band and nine-time Grammy-winner Gary Paczosa – is fueled by deft musicianship, impeccable songwriting, distinctive vocals, and creative arrangements that eschew all formulas.

"We've made enough records by now that if we can't just follow what we want to do," says Graham Sharp, who wrote seven of the album's dozen songs, "then what's the point of us doing it?" The result – which blasts out of the box with the album's buoyantly mold-breaking title track – is the most adventurous and fully realized accomplishment Steep Canyon Rangers have achieved to date, and the record is poised to bring them to audiences beyond their already devoted bluegrass, folk, americana and jamband fanbase.

The band's acclaimed 2010 album Deep In The Shade remained in Billboard's Bluegrass Top 10 for 18 weeks. In March 2011, Rare Bird Alert – the band's Grammy nominated collaborative and featuring special guest vocals from Paul McCartney and the Dixie Chicks – debuted at #1 on Billboard's Bluegrass Chart and at #43 on the Billboard Top 200. Contributing key performances at festivals like MerleFest and Bonnaroo alongside Steve Martin throughout 2011, the Steep Canyon Rangers also performed alone as a quintet on stages such as Telluride, RockyGrass, and ‘A Prairie Home Companion' with Garrison Keillor.

Recent national and international television appearances by the band with Steve Martin include The View, Late Show With David Letterman, The Colbert Report, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Austin City Limits and Later With Jools Holland. The band and Steve Martin will be attending the 54th Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles on February 12th. Steep Canyon Rangers will celebrate the release of Nobody Knows You with CD release events in both Nashville and New York during the last week of March in preparation for the April 10th, 2012 release date.

Sao Paulo, Brazil -- Bluegrass remains hot in Brazil and the Sao Paulo, Brazil Bluegrass Music Association and the band Motorgrass will be hosting a series of workshops to get it even better. The acoustic string instruments of bluegrass music and the styles in which they're played will be part of the agenda.

Bill Monroe style bluegrass, 5-String banjo, mandolin, viola flat picking, acoustic bass and even cross picking will be available. The sessions will take place February 11, 2012. This will be a one day workshop that we will explain the basics of bluegrass, the instruments, the history for both musicians and fans. Everybody is welcome.

The São Paulo Bluegrass Music Association promotes acoustic music and helps to inegrate the music with their own national music segments such as the Brazilian choro, valuing the artist musician, honoring traditions and creating presentations and events of gratifying cultural recognition.

The last bluegrass workshop that the Sao Paulo Bluegrass Music Association had was about ten years ago and Erio organized that. And now, Cesar Benzoni has recreated the Bluegrass Experience. These workshops are not only for musicians, but for fans and people that are curious to know what is bluegrass all about. The course is going to explain the chronology, talking about fiddle tunes, Bill Monroe and his influences, Earl Scruggs and his 3-finger banjo picking style and a summary about those three generations. São Paulo Bluegrass Music Association is promoting it and Motorgrass, Cesar Benzoni's band, will lead the workshop.

It's happening on february 11 at 2:00a.m. at H-Unit, that is an school of music. If you're interested in a multi-cultural experience, contact Cesar Benzoni at cesar@bandablacksmith.com.br or visit them on the web at H-Unit.com for the full flyer (in Portuguese).

Founded by songsmiths Brandi Hart and Buddy Woodward, the band is named for Kentucky Highway 41 – The Dixie Bee-Line. The Dixie Bee-Liner's brand of traditional-meets-contemporary music has earned them a reputation for breaking new ground. Saturday, February 25th, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a bluegrass concert by the Dixie Bee-Liners. Admission to the concert is $7 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free.

Brandi Hart, a native of the Bluegrass State, grew up singing and playing music in Southern Baptist church choirs. In addition to handling the band's vocals; Brandi is an accomplished, prolific songwriter. Her work has been featured on IBMA's Songwriter's Showcase and by ASCAP at the IBMA conference. Brandi plays guitar, fiddle, and the mountain dulcimer.

Buddy Woodward is a bluegrass veteran who plays nearly every instrument you can mention – mandolin, guitar, banjo, and bass to name a few. He was a founding member of the alternative country Ghost Rockets and later the honky-tonk group the Nitro Express. Buddy was featured in the Barter Theatre play Man of Constant Sorrow, and he also worked on the soundtrack of the film Freedom. He has played with John Starling, Steve Earle, Rosie Flores, Jim Lauderdale, the Coal Porters, Bill Keith, Laura Cantrell, Beat Rodeo, Sid Griffin, Smalltown Parade, the Jet Set, the Chelsea Mountain Jamboree, and many others.

The group records for Pinecastle Records. Their second CD, Susanville, follows the 2008 release of Ripe which earned the band four number one hits on the bluegrass charts. This critically-acclaimed group of accomplished musicians has performed and taught in hundreds of venues around the world including BBC Radio Scotland, NPR, the Food Network, Sirius radio, and SM satellite radio. Their dynamic musicianship adds grit, humor, and emotion to their performances. For more information on the group, go to www.dixiebeeliners.com

For an unforgettable evening of music and dance, be sure to see the Dixie Bee-Liners at the Carter Family Fold. Known for their high-octane harmonies and beautiful original songs, the Bee-Liners represent bluegrass at its' finest. Be sure to bring along your dancing shoes, too! The Bee-Liners are high energy, and you'll want to hit the dance floor.

Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to www.CarterFamilyFold.org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at www.CarterFoldShow.com.

Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at TheCrookedRoad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information on Saturday's concert, contact the Mountain Music Museum at 276-645-0035. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054.

"Folks Are Talking" is a double CD that includes 28 oral histories of folks Garret Mathews interviewed as a young feature writer on the Bluefield, W. Va., Daily Telegraph between 1974 and 1979. The mountainous circulation area includes Mercer, McDowell, Wyoming, Monroe and Raleigh counties in West Virginia and Tazewell, Buchanan, Bland, Wythe, Russell and Giles counties in Virginia. It's rural America. No community in the two-state area has more than 20,000 residents. Some places visited for this collection – Bandy, Rhodell, Jenkinjones and Beeson – have fewer than 300 inhabitants. Music evocative of the region is included on the double CD.

During his stay in Bluefield, Mathews published two books – "Folks" and "Folks 2" – about some of the characters he met while prowling back roads in search of feature stories. "Folks Are Talking" seemed a logical title for the looking-back project that also contains original songs by his wife, MaryAnne, as well as Appalachian-related music contributed by friends in the Evansville area.

Mathews, who moved to Evansville, Ind., in 1987 to write the metro column for The Courier, retired in 2011 after penning more than 10,000 articles on a variety of subjects from a 91-year-old female bootlegger in Princeton, Kentucky, to the members of a snake-handling church in Jolo, West Virginia.

Mathews selected 28 of his early Daily Telegraph stories – gathered primarily in southern West Virginia but also in southwest Virginia – for "Folks Are Talking." They include an early UMW organizer, a horse trader, survivors of coal mine explosions, coal camp baseball players, a girl born during the deadly flood of 1977 and a female furrier who carves muskrats while eating peanut-butter sandwiches.

"These men and women are from a bygone era and most are long dead," Mathews says. "I wanted to record our time together as a way of keeping their stories alive."

Copies of "Folks Are Talking" will be made available to public and school libraries in that two-state area as well as to historians and colleges and universities that offer Appalachian studies.

"It's as I point out in the introduction: You just don't find these folks any more," Mathews says. "What they shared with me, I want to share with future generations."

The double CD costs $17 plus $3 shipping. Checks should be sent to "Folks Are Talking," c/o Garret Mathews, 7954 Elna Kay Drive, Evansville, Indiana 47715. For more information, see www.FolksAreTalking.com

The DC Bluegrass Festival is growing to two days and moving to a new home in Maryland. Join us indoors and out of the winter weather for the Great 2012 DCBU Band Competition on Friday night (see below for entry details), stay to hear top national and local bluegrass performers and attend workshops all day Saturday, or just pick to your heart's content from Friday night through Sunday morning.

Headlining this year's festival will be two of bluegrass music's top artists - The Boxcars and Sierra Hull & Highway 111. Also appearing will be the U.S. Navy Bluegrass Band, Country Current. Bluegrass legends Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray, Dede Wyland, Randy Barrett & Mama Tried. Big Chimney and Mitch Harrell & The Virginians will also be performing.

The Boxcars have been confirmed to perform at the DC Bluegrass Festival. This new group brought four awards at the 2011 IBMA awards show. 2011 Emerging Artist of the Year, 2011 Instrumental Group of the Year, 2011 Banjo Player of the Year, 2011 Mandolin Player of the Year!

Young mandolinist Sierra Hull and her group have been confirmed to perform at the DC Bluegrass Festival. Sierra's band was nominated for 2011 IBMA's Emerging Artist of the Year and Sierra was also nominated for Mandolin Player of the Year.

Tom Gray says, "I hope you will come to the two-day bluegrass festival sponsored by the DC Bluegrass Union where I will perform with my partners in music, Eddie and Martha Adcock. It will be held on Friday and Saturday February 24 & 25 at the Holiday Inn on U.S. 1 in College Park MD. For more info about schedules, prices, tickets, etc., see www.dcbluegrassfest.org You can even stay there at the Holiday Inn and enjoy a whole weekend of bluegrass music."

Workshops and jamming will continue to be a part of the fare at this fun-filled bluegrass festival. Learn from the best in bluegrass. Sit in on instrument and vocal workshops with members of the Boxcars, Sierra Hull and her band, and local legend Dede Wyland. Jamming is always encouraged, so bring your instruments. A secure instrument check room will be provided.

Show off your chops to a new audience too. Bring your best bluegrass tunes to the festival Friday night to compete for $1,300 in prizes and the opening performance on Saturday. The Great 2012 DCBU Band Competition will offer three great prizes.

Heather Berry grew up in Sherando, Virginia, which is located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia. She got her first experience singing in front of a crowd in her grandfather's church in Waynesboro, Virginia, at age five. Listening to old Carter Family records, Heather learned early to accompany herself with guitar and autoharp. By age 12 she was singing with the Lewis Family and the Country Gentlemen. She formed her first band and recorded her first CD. Saturday, Febraury 18th, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of bluegrass music by the Heather Berry and Tony Mabe Band. Admission to the concert is $7 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free.

At 16, Heather recorded a gospel CD that included several songs she had written. Heather has released multiple CDs. She's worked with the Whites, Mac Wiseman, Eddie & Martha Adcock, Wayne Benson, Mike Bub, Chris & Sally Jones, Don Rigsby, Alecia Nugent, the Issacs, and many more notable musicians.

Tony Mabe, on banjo and vocals, was born and raised in Walnut Cove, North Carolina. His love for music began at the early age of four when he started playing southern gospel style piano. His instrumental abilities include banjo, upright bass, guitar, mandolin, autoharp, and piano. He's played for Bobby Atkins and the Countrymen (at age 14) and also with the Jeanette Williams Band. Tony and Heather have been married for several years and now reside in Meadows, North Carolina.

For more information, go to www.heatherberrymusic.com There will be several fine musicians backing Heather and Tony. We'll have lots of fiddle tunes for the dancers and some of the finest harmony this side of Heaven. Don't miss Heather Berry and Tony Mabe at the Carter Fold!

Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to www.CarterFamilyFold.org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at www.CarterFoldShow.com.

Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at TheCrookedRoad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information on Saturday's concert, contact the Mountain Music Museum at 276-645-0035. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054.

Clintwood, VA -- The Ralph Stanley Museum & Traditional Mountain Music Center will host Dr. Ralph Stanley's 85th Birthday Dinner and Fund Raiser at Heartwood at 6:00 PM on Saturday, February 18, 2012 in Abingdon, VA. Heartwood is Southwest Virginia's Artisan Gateway, situated off Interste 81 at exit 14. Come and be with us to celebrate Dr. Stanley's birthday with Dr. Stanley himself. A first-class buffet-style dinner will be served and much more at this once-in-a-lifetime event! Tickets to the dinner are priced at $100 per plate, and guests may purchase them by calling the Museum & Center at 276-926-8550.

The Museum & Center presents this special birthday event each year in celebration of Dr. Stanley's life and work. With a career spanning 65 years in the music business, Ralph Stanley has made an indelible mark upon the music industry. From old-time to bluegrass to country to gospel, Dr. Stanley has influenced countless artists and continues to break new ground in the industry. To celebrate his accomplishments, previous events have featured such well-known performers as Alison Krauss & Dan Tyminski, Porter Wagoner, Larry Sparks, Jim Lauderdale, Marty Raybon, Judy Marshall, Stella Parton, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Ricky Skaggs and more!

This years entertainment to include two time Grammy award winner Jim Lauderdale, The Jeff and Tony Brown Band with Austin and Noah, plus Special Guest Don Rigsby.

This annual event also serves as an important fundraiser for the Museum & Center to ensure that regional music will be an important part of our area in the years to come. All proceeds from this dinner will be used to support the Ralph Stanley Museum & Traditional Mountain Music Center's operating and programming needs. No proceeds from the dinner will benefit Dr. Ralph Stanley and family. A portion of the ticket price may be tax-deductible.

The Ralph Stanley Museum & Traditional Mountain Music Center is a state-of-the-art music museum that opened its doors in October of 2004. Located on Main St. in Clintwood, VA, the Museum houses exhibits and artifacts from Ralph Stanley's life and career, the Stanley Brothers, and the traditional mountain music of Dickenson County and southwestern Virginia. The Ralph Stanley Museum & Traditional Mountain Music Center also presents a full lineup of programming each year including the Passing the Pick and Bow Program and concerts throughout the year at our local venue, The Jettie Baker Center.

For more information or to order tickets, please call the Museum at 276-926-8550 or 276-926-8383.

Banjo player Kevin Decker and his wife Amy are in need of help with a mountain of medical bills following multiple surgeries and an induced coma. Several people are throwing in to help organize this event. The SouthEastern Bluegrass Association (SEBA) is are offering a free 1-year electronic membership (E membership only) to anyone who donates $100 or more to the Deckers. The bands and sound crew are donating their time to this benefit. Johnny's RV Resort in Foley, AL is donating their concert venue for the event. You can help also.

After complications from two major surgeries on Nov. 2, 2011, long time Foley resident and banjo player, Kevin Decker has been in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator. After 5 1/2 weeks in intensive care, he awoke on Jan 25th facing a long road to recovery. The family has been left financially devastated. This benefit has been organized by those who know and love The Decker's. Good news is that Kevin may be able to go home soon. It's been a very long and expensive hospital stay.

The benefit will feature the Justice Family Band, Delta Reign, High Cotton, Down Home and more. This family has always been ready to drop what they are doing to go anywhere to help others with any need and now they are the ones in need. This benefit is for both Kevin and Amy and has been organized by those who love the Decker's.

The benefit will be held Saturdasy, February 18th at At Johnny's Lakeside RV Resort located at 15810 Hwy 59, Foley, Alabama. Music runs from Noon to around 6 PM. Admission is just $10 with children under 12 free. Come for the music and cometo help Kevin and Amy out of medical and financial crisis.

A benefit account for Kevin has been established at United Bank, PO Box 1885, Foley, AL 36536 and donations can be made to the account by referencing Kevin Decker. For those interested, a Facebook page with more information titled Prayers for Kevin Decker and has the most current information available.

Nashville, TN -- Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Sonny Curtis will take a seat at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum on Saturday, February 25, as the latest subject of the quarterly programming series Poets and Prophets: Legendary Country Songwriters. The 1:30 p.m. in-depth interview and performance, held in the Museum's Ford Theater, is included with museum admission and free to museum members. The program will be streamed live at www.CountryMusicHallOfFame.org

The 90-minute program, hosted by Museum Editor Michael Gray, will include recordings, photos and film clips from the museum's collection and marks the Poets and Prophets series' fifth anniversary. Immediately following, Curtis will sign autographs in the Museum Store. (Visit the museum's website for signing details.)

Curtis has written a host of country and rock & roll hits in his 50-plus year career. Among them are "I Fought the Law," "Rock Around with Ollie Vee," "Walk Right Back," "I'm No Stranger to the Rain," "More Than I Can Say" and the theme for The Mary Tyler Moore Show, "Love Is All Around."

Sonny Curtis was born on May 9, 1937, near Meadow, Texas. He grew up performing with his brothers in talent shows and on radio stations across Northwest Texas. Listening to bluegrass artists Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs, Curtis taught himself to play the fiddle and the guitar. In his teens, Curtis performed with fellow West Texans Buddy Holly and Waylon Jennings.

When Holly recorded his first Nashville sessions for Decca Records in 1956, Curtis played lead guitar as a member of Holly's pre-Crickets band, Buddy Holly and the Three Tunes. In addition to "Blue Days, Black Nights" and "Midnight Shift," the band cut Curtis' "Rock Around with Ollie Vee."

Later that year, Curtis left Holly's band to play with Slim Whitman and other country artists. In 1957, Webb Pierce took Curtis' "Someday" to #12 on the Billboard country chart. Shortly before Holly perished in a 1959 plane crash, Curtis joined the Crickets. After Holly's death, Curtis toured with the band--first as a guitarist and later as the lead vocalist. He and band mate Jerry Allison wrote the Bobby Vee hit "More Than I Can Say" in 1960. The song also was a major pop hit for Leo Sayer in 1980.

After a 1960 tour of England with the Everly Brothers, Curtis was drafted and reported for basic training at Fort Ord in California. While on a weekend pass in February 1961, Curtis played his song "Walk Right Back" for the Everlys. They took the song to #11on the pop charts, and it became a million-seller. In 1978, Anne Murray took the song to the Top Five in the country market.

When Curtis returned from his 17-month tour of France, he rejoined the Crickets and while working with the band he also released a string of recordings as a solo artist for Dimension Records, Imperial and Viva Records.

In 1966, the Bobby Fuller Four reached the Top 10 with "I Fought the Law." The song became one of Curtis' biggest hits. It has been recorded by diverse artists including the Clash, Kris Kristofferson, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Roy Orbison and Hank Williams Jr.

In the late 1960s, Curtis began composing for advertising campaigns, writing jingles for Buick, Continental Airlines, McDonald's, Olympia Beer, Yamaha and many other companies. As the decade came to a close, Curtis received an offer to write a theme song for a new sitcom about a Midwestern girl who strikes out on her own in the big city and gets a job in a newsroom. The result was The Mary Tyler Moore Show's "Love Is All Around," which Curtis wrote and recorded in 1970.

Curtis moved to Nashville in 1976. He signed with Elektra and released songs such as "The Cowboy Singer," Paul Simon's "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover" and "The Real Buddy Holly Story"--his reaction to The Buddy Holly Story, a film starring Gary Busey.

The late 1980s brought Curtis another big hit in the #1 "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" by Keith Whitley, co-written with Ron Hellard. The Country Music Association honored it as its 1989 Single of the Year. In the early 1990s, Curtis again got the opportunity to write a TV theme song--this time for Evening Shade.

Curtis was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991. Five of his songs--"I Fought the Law," "I'm No Stranger to the Rain," "More Than I Can Say," "The Straight Life" and "Walk Right Back"--are certified by BMI for airplay of one million or more.

After a 10-year absence, Curtis rejoined the Crickets in 1994 and continues to perform with them.

The Poets and Prophets series honors songwriters who have made significant contributions to country music history. Previous Poets and Prophets honorees include Bill Anderson, Matraca Berg, Bobby Braddock, Wayne Carson, Jerry Chesnut, Hank Cochran, Dean Dillon, Jerry Foster, Dallas Frazier, Red Lane, John D. Loudermilk, Bob McDill, Roger Murrah, Dan Penn, Curly Putman, Don Schlitz, Whitey Shafer, Jeffrey Steele, Norro Wilson and Craig Wiseman.

The Poets and Prophets series is made possible, in part, by grants from the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and by an agreement between the Tennessee Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts.

Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The museum's mission is the preservation of the history of country and related vernacular music rooted in southern culture. With the same educational mission, the Foundation also operates CMF Records, the museum's Frist Library and Archive, CMF Press, Historic RCA Studio B and Hatch Show Print®.

More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is available at www.CountryMusicHallOfFame.org or by calling (615) 416-2001.

Saturday, February 11th, 2012, at 7:30 p.m., the Carter Family fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of bluegrass music by the Tim White and the VW Boys. Performing with Tim will be some of the finest bluegrass musicians in the region. Admission to the concert is $7 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free.

A longtime supporter of the musical traditions of Appalachia, Tim White settled in east Tennessee in 1974, where he pursued his dream of being an artist, sign painter, and banjo picker. Tim's music has gained a strong following throughout the Appalachian region, and he's fronted several bands over the past two decades - including Troublesome Hollow, the Beagles, and the VW Boys. While he is well-respected for his musical skills, Tim is arguably best known as host of the PBS television concert series, Song of the Mountains. This popular program features bluegrass, old time, Celtic, gospel, and Americana music.

Tim's interest of recognizing, preserving, and perpetuating the historic music of the area led him to organize the Appalachian Cultural Music Association. Tim currently serves as ACMA president. The ACMA helps to support the Mountain Music Museum, which Tim helped found, in 1999. The museum is dedicated to preserving the musical heritage of the southern Appalachians. In addition, Tim produces one of the most popular bluegrass radio programs in the region, The Bluegrass Show, on WAXM (FM 93.5), which airs every Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm as well as a nationally syndicated radio show.

Come join us at the Carter Family Fold for some of the best bluegrass music the region has to offer. Tim & the VW Boys will be doing bluegrass, gospel, and lots of dance tunes - a little something foreveryone. Load up your family and friends and get ready for an evening of unforgettable music and fun!

Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to www.CarterFamilyFold.org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at www.CarterFoldShow.com.

Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at TheCrookedRoad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information on Saturday's concert, contact the Mountain Music Museum at 276-645-0035. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054.

Franklin, TN -- Williamson SOCIAL Magazine, Williamson County, Tennessee's premier publication focusing on life, events and living in and around Williamson County and the Nashville area, has added a new staff member. Shari Lacy joins the magazine as the new Managing Editor. As a longtime writer and publicist, Lacy brings her vast experience to Williamson SOCIAL, handling numerous aspects of the magazine including working with all photographers and contributing to editorial as well as assignment based essays.

Publisher Rob Youngblood says, "I am thrilled to have Shari as the newest member of the SOCIAL team. Her background and professionalism combined with her knowledge and love of Williamson County are a perfect fit for the magazine. As SOCIAL continues to grow in 2012, Shari will be a huge part of that growth and one of the main reasons that our magazine will continue to get bigger and better."

As owner of Williamson County based PR company GoodStuff PR (GoodStuff Public Relations), Lacy will continue with her GSPR Co. client base as well as managing the magazine's needs alongside Youngblood. She's spent years working with numerous media outlets on different stories and projects for her clients. She has also worked as a freelance writer for multiple publications including Readers Digest, Nashville Parent Magazine, Bluegrass Now Magazine, Southern Exposure Magazine and more.

Lacy will oversee numerous aspects of the magazine and her artistic eye, editorial experience, and promotional background are a perfect combination to help take Williamson SOCIAL into the future.

Prior to opening the doors of her own company, Lacy worked as the Marketing/PR Director for the International Bluegrass Music Association and was Director of Publicity for Nashville based Compass Records prior to her years with IBMA. She began her editorial/promotional career with the Anchorage Daily News in Anchorage, AK. If you would like to contact Williamson SOCIAL or send information about your upcoming event, please send Lacy an email at shari@williamsonsocial.com

The February issue of the magazine hits stands and area locations later this week.

Williamson SOCIAL was formed in 2010 by Publisher Rob Youngblood with a desire to spotlight one of the most unique counties in the country - Williamson County, Tennessee. SOCIAL can be found at 20-30 primary, "high traffic" locations in Williamson County such as Belk, Cool Springs Galleria, Boxwood Bistro, The Factory at Franklin, Harris Teeter Stores, The Heritage Foundation, Puckett's, Williamson Medical Center and Whole Foods Market. SOCIAL is also available at an additional 10-20 secondary locations in WC and Green Hills and via the web at www.WilliamsonSocial.com

Event slated for Wednesday, September 12th through Saturday, September 15th, at many premiere venues in Nashville, Tennessee. To all artists looking to apply for a showcase at the Americana Music Festival; great news! Submissions are now open!

Applications for this year’s event will be accepted through Saturday, March 31st. Applicants have two submission options:

1. For non-members or those preferring to submit electronically, we’re also very happy to announce that we will be accepting online submissions exclusively through our friends at Sonicbids. If you’re not already a Sonicbids member, as part of our partnership with Sonicbids, your application to 13th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference will also come with a two-week free trial of Sonicbids membership. This membership allows you to connect with promoters in your area and/or overseas as well as promote your events to fans with tools from ArtistData (now part of Sonicbids).

To check out more info on the event, benefits on submitting through Sonicbids and how to submit your act, click here.

2. If you are a member of the Americana Music Association, you may submit your materials directly to the Americana office via mail. All submissions must include the application form. For complete details, please click here.

If you are not currently a member of the Americana Music Association, we welcome you to join us. JOIN NOW.

All applicants will be notified by Friday, June 29th, 2012 as to whether or not they’ve been selected for this year’s event.

The 13th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference is proud to return to the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel, 623 Union Street, Nashville, TN (tel 615-259-2000). The Sheraton is offering a special rate of $169 per night for single or double occupancy. To take advantage of this great rate, click here.

Register now for the 13th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference! Dates are set for September 12th – September 15th 2012 in Nashville, TN.

Described by Southern Living Magazine as Nashville's "Best Music Festival," the Americana Music Association is offering, for a limited time, a SUPER registration rate, available at $300 for AMA members and $400 for non-members. Offer Expires April 30.

Review by Joe Ross
North Carolinan brothers Josh (guitar) and Wayne (bass) have been singing and playing bluegrass for over forty years. They called themselves The Blue Ridge Mountain Boys in the early 1970s. From 1975 until they formed their own band about 1991, they worked with legendary banjo player Raymond Fairchild. During the late-1990s and 2000s, The Crowe Brothers released some stellar albums on the Copper Creek, King and Gusto labels.

Associated with the Rural Rhythm record label since 2008 when they put out their Brothers 'n' Harmony album, The Crowe Brothers continue to display remarkable powerful music in fine brother duet fashion. Their second CD on that label shows that they're still able to present a sound that is both traditional and contemporary. They find good songs from decent songwriters, and Josh even contributes three self-penned compositions (I Knew It Wasn't You, Grandma's Little Boardside Cabin, The Winds are Blowing in Maggie Valley). His songs wistfully tell of love, winsome thoughts, and carefree life in Maggie Valley. It's an old style of bluegrass, but it has a unique contemporary and spiritually-tinged flair.

The instrumental accompaniment is first-rate with experienced veterans Steve Sutton (banjo), Brian Blaylock (mandolin on 9 cuts, lead guitar), Steve Thomas (fiddle, mandolin), Ashby Frank (mandolin on 3 cuts), Randy Kohrs (Dobro). The charm of two brothers singing together with sincerity and honesty is what we've come to expect in unassuming, leisurely songs like Steve Watts' "If It Takes More Than Love to Hold You." The lively barn-burner "I'm Going Back to Old Virginia" shows another side of The Crowes. Strangely, the CD jacket does not provide songwriter or publisher credits for that song, as well as "Southern Moon." The former was originally recorded on the classic Josh Crowe & David McLaughlin 1994 album, and I'm informed that it was written by McLaughlin. And, of course, the latter is a snappy Delmore Brothers classic, complete with a short yodel to bring it home. All in all, everything fits very nicely on this harmonious album.

Rural Rhythm RUR-1087, www.ruralrhythm.com and www.crowebrothers.com

Nashville, TN (February 1, 2012) – Will the circle be unbroken? If "Country's Family Reunion" has anything to do with documenting the stories and songs of country music's legendary family, it will remain firmly and enjoyably intact. Since 1997, Gabriel Communications has been bringing artists together into one room to reunite and reminisce about their careers, perform signature songs and share stories while the cameras roll. The result has been pure magic, leading to popular TV airings and successful DVD sales leaving country fans clamoring for more.

RFD-TV (America's Most Important Rural Network) will air a new "Country's Family Reunion" show each Friday and Saturday in February beginning with the popular "Salute to the Kornfield," featuring the beloved cast members from the long-running television show HEE HAW and The Nashville Edition, Mike Snider, Gene Watson and Roy Clark. Portions of "Getting' Together," featuring performances by Moe Bandy, Linda Davis, Dailey and Vincent, Gene Watson, Joey + Rory, Neal McCoy, Jean Shepard, Johnny Lee, T. Graham Brown, The Whites, Larry Gatlin, Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius, will close out the stellar February line up:

"Salute to the Kornfield" with The Nashville Edition, Mike Snider, Gene Watson and Roy Clark:
Fri., Feb. 3 at 7 P.M. CST
Sat. Feb. 4 at 5 A.M. CST & 11:00 P.M. CST

"Gettin' Together" with Moe Bandy, Linda Davis, Dailey and Vincent and Gene Watson:
Fri., Feb. 10 at 7 P.M. CST
Sat. Feb. 11 at 5 A.M. CST & 11:00 P.M. CST

"Gettin' Together" with Joey + Rory, Neal McCoy, Jean Shepard (with commentary by Larry Butler), Johnny Lee and T. Graham Brown:
Fri., Feb. 17 at 7 P.M. CST
Sat. Feb. 18 at 5 A.M. CST & 11:00 P.M. CST

"Gettin' Together" with The Whites, Larry Gatlin, Roy Clark, Jim Ed Brown, Helen Cornelius and Dailey & Vincent:
Fri., Feb. 10 at 7 P.M. CST
Sat. Feb. 11 at 5 A.M. CST & 11:00 P.M. CST

Check local listings for exact air times.

"Country's Family Reunion Salute to the Kornfield" and "Country's Family Reunion Getting' Together" are both available for purchase in their entirety at www.cfrvideos.com or by calling 1-800-820-5405.

Started in 1996 as the idea of long-time disc jockey, Larry Black, Gabriel Communications specializes in "Reunion Videos." The success of this television and DVD series spurred the creation of more than a dozen more projects featuring hundreds of songs and stories as well as Country's Family Reunion News, a monthly newspaper which highlights the music of yesteryear, as well as a weekly format spin-off television show on RFD-TV called "Larry's Country Diner." Gabrielle Communications has additionally applied the Reunion concept to sports and created videos involving the legends of stock car racing and collegiate football teams. For more information on Country's Family Reunion products, please visit: www.cfrvideos.com . You can find all music reunion products under the Country's Family Reunion portion of this web site.Salute to the Kornfield

Dalton, GA -- The return of the Woodsongs Coffeehouse Dalton Chapter last Saturday night drew a full house including a record number of season ticket holders to the historic Dalton Freight Depot. The regionally acclaimed benefit concert series features emerging and established performers of Americana, Country, and Bluegrass music.

The series continues on Saturday February 25th and will feature Nashville songwriter Jerry Salley. Jerry is the 2003 SESAC Country Music Songwriter of the year. Jerry is a past winner of the Dove Award and has received 6 Dove nominations. He has over 14 million records sold world-wide including (7) #1 Country songs in Australia, appearances on Late Night with David Letterman, Regis and Kathy Lee, NBC's Today and The Grand Ole Opry. The February concert will also feature the highly acclaimed international band Tiller's Folly from Vancouver BC Canada. Tiller's Folly performs high energy roots, Celtic and Bluegrass music.

The proceeds from the concert benefit Providence Ministries Rescue Mission. Concert organizer Paul Byrum said "our goal is to raise awareness of Providence Ministries efforts to expand their men's shelter. Providence is in desperately need as their current facility is at full capacity".

The concert series is sponsored in part by the Dalton Downtown Development Authority (DDDA) and the Dalton Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

Performances will begin at 7:00 PM with doors opening at 6:00PM. Individual tickets are $15.00 for Adults and $8.00 for Students and will be available at the door. Reserved table seating is available at a discounted price for the remaining two shows and can be purchased on-line for $35 each or $100 for a family of four. Season tickets also include a logo coffee mug with unlimited hot beverage refills during each show. Opportunities remain for underwriting sponsors.

Visit WoodsongsDalton.com for tickets or more information. p

Frankfort, KY (January 31, 2012) – Today, Governor Steve Beshear, Country Music Highway committee members, TourSEKY members and Country Music Hall of Fame Member Tom T. Hall announced the launch of two new initiatives surrounding the legendary highway (U.S. Route 23), now referred to as the "Country Music Highway." This stretch of road, which winds along the Eastern corridor of Kentucky, has given rise to a remarkable number of country artists including Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Dwight Yoakam, Gary Stewart, Patty Loveless, Billy Ray Cyrus, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn, Rebecca Lynn Howard and many more.

The announcement made at the State Capital introduced the "Country Music Highway Road to Fame" talent competition which will allow the discovery of the next generation of talented artists from the area, as well as the development of a charitable organization, the "Country Music Highway Arts Education Fund" which will support music programs in Kentucky schools and aid children in discovering a passion for music without utilizing state education funds.

"I am certain that Governor Beshear will agree with me when I say how proud we are to honor the rich musical heritage springing from the State of Kentucky," said Jeff Crowe, President and CEO of Tour SEKY. "Our youth is teeming with musical talent and I am excited to see the impact the program will have upon them."

The "Country Music Highway Road to Fame" competition, set to begin in mid-March, will tap Eastern Kentucky's musical roots to find the next generation of talent. The winner of the 2012 "Road to Fame" competition will receive a scholarship to participate in career development and coaching under the direction of PCG Nashville valued at $25,000, an acoustic guitar and a plaque recognizing their achievement. The contest will be open to aspiring artists 13-35 years of age from the 15 counties that border the Country Music Highway (US Route 23). Details of the contest will be released on the "Country Music Highway Road to Fame" website. Potential contestants and interested parties should visit www.cmhroadtofame.com and register to receive announcements as they are made.

"I'm really excited about the competition because it will show that some of the best talent can be found in the hills of Eastern Kentucky," said Country Music Hall of Fame Member Tom T. Hall about the talent residing in his home area of Kentucky.

"The Country Music Highway means so much to me. I grew up in that special part of Kentucky, as did so many of my friends who have also been fortunate enough to find careers in country music. And now the Country Music Highway folks have launched a great project they're calling "The Road to Fame," said Naomi Judd in an earlier statement. "Keeping music alive on stage and in schools is close to my heart. I encourage everyone to get behind this project. Please join me in supporting the "Road to Fame" and the difference it will make in the lives of our friends and neighbors."

These initiatives announced today are already receiving support from corporate sponsors. The first to come on board are the Gibson Foundation, Crawdad's Classics Gourmet Flavorings, PCG Nashville, Vietti Chili, Fairway Outdoor Advertising, TourSEKY, and Ray, Foley and Hensley Accounting. For more information, contact: www.cmhroadtofame.com.

About the Country Music Highway: On March 1, 1994, a bill sponsored by State Representative Hubert Collins was passed and US Route 23 in Eastern Kentucky became "The Country Music Highway" to recognize the famous Country music stars that came from the region. In 2002, the Country Music Highway was also recognized as a National Scenic Byway. The 144-mile stretch of highway runs north and south along the eastern part of the state through the lush hills and valleys of Appalachia. Click for more information: www.CountryMusicHighway.com.

About the "Road to Fame" Competition: Auditions, qualifying rounds, semi-finals and the grand final will be held at venues along the Country Music Highway. To be eligible to enter, contestants must be between the ages of 13 and 35 and prove residency in the counties of Letcher, Pike, Floyd, Johnson, Lawrence, Boyd, Greenup, Harlan, Petty, Knott, Magoffin, Morgan, Elliott, Carter, and Lewis. Full contest rules, contest dates and venues will be announced, along with updates at www.CMHRoadToFame.com.

About PCG Nashville: PCG Nashville is recognized as one of America's leading career development organizations, working with new and emerging artist, and customizing programs to accommodate an artist's creative and professional growth. Programs include: career guidance and mentoring, strategic planning, styling, branding and marketing, entertainment relations and ethics, media training, live performance coaching, vocal evaluation and training, instrument lessons, songwriting and creative direction, studio preparation and more. Click for more information: pcgnashville.com.

About Murray State Digital Media Services: Digital Media Services is a multimedia production facility and in-house advertising agency at Murray State University. We utilize a full-time professional staff and some of the best electronic media students in the region through a partnership with the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications. Click for more information: www.murraystate.edu/ems/index.html.a target=

Bell Buckle, TN -- SPBGMA award nominee Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike are scheduled to perform at the McReynolds Memorial Concert with Del McCoury, McReynolds Tradition, The Whites, Jessie McReynolds, Retro Sisters, Stetson & Cia...Tonight, Thursday, February 2, 2012.

The benefit will take place at the Texas Troubadour Theater, in Nashville, Tennessee, tonight, February 2, 2012. The theater will host the 12th Annual McReynolds Memorial Concert, all proceeds benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in honor of Keith McReynolds. The Texas Troubadour is located at 2416 Music Valley Drive, Nashville, TN 37214.

Others performing include The Del McCoury Band, Stetson & Cia, Jesse McReynolds, The Told Heart sisters, The Whites, Retro & Smiling, Mike Scott and The McReynolds Tradition. The even will be emceed by Nashville's Eddie Stubbs and Justin Bradford.

Valerie has been recording a Roots and Country album that covers a wide range of styles. This is a work of leisure and love and plans are for a Fall release to honor her Roots and Americana community. Many hot names are involved in the creation of this project and the title has not yet been released. More to come in future news

Valerie's passion remains in finishing her fun vision of her love for bluegrass through the project "Blame It On The Bluegrass, Volume 2, she will soon have a website just for this piece. The International Bluegrass Museum will always be something that she continues to respect and want to be a part of! There will be several versions of this project with many guest stars and it will become an annual event not just a project.

Speaking of the highly successful, charted project, "Blame It On The Bluegrass", Valerie has been included in the nominees for "Traditional Female Vocalist of 2012" for SPGMA, to learn more about the awards show and the nominees, visit, www.spbgma.com/level2/natnom2012.html . If Valerie should receive the reward, she unfortunately will not be attending this year's events due to her recording schedule in Florida.

Delivering a blend of vocal harmony and acoustic music like no other. New River was born from a love of bluegrass music, and the desire to share the love of Jesus Christ. We hope you will take a moment and enjoy the bluegrass gospel experience you will find with New River as they embark on a new label with a new album.

New River Bluegrass consists of Barry Long on Banjo and Dobro and singing baritone and lead. Mike Johnson handles the Rhythm Guitar and sings tenor and lead vocals. Fiddle is in the hands of Chuck Price who also sings baritone and lead while Dwayne Brown handles the Bass and share lead vocals. You'll find Mike Mullins on the Mandolin and his voice singing bass and lead. Andy Smith plays Lead Guitar and also share lead vocals.

The band's newest release, Heart On The Run is their debut release on Crossroads' new Pisgah Ridge label which is expected to be released later this month. Pisgah Ridge, is a new label for special projects and for promising up-and-coming Bluegrass groups. Pisgah Ridge will offer an award-winning studio production team, professional marketing and radio promotion, and worldwide music distribution.

This announcement follows the recent successes of Crossroads' premiere Bluegrass label, Mountain Home Music Company. Mountain Home artists recently spent multiple months at the #1 position on Bluegrass Unlimited's monthly song and album charts. Mountain Home artists also took home seven awards, including "Song of the Year," "Instrumental Group of the Year," and "Emerging Artist of the Year," at the 22nd Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards.

Tim Surrett of Balsam Range will act as A&R Consultant for Pisgah Ridge. "I'm very excited about Pisgah Ridge," he said. "With the popularity of Mountain Home, we saw the need to have a label home for promising Bluegrass bands to grow their music and expand their fan base. Mountain Home's strength in this industry will help open doors for emerging artists on the Pisgah Ridge label. I also look forward to producing these artists whenever possible. God has blessed us richly in the Bluegrass Gospel arena, and I'm proud to be working with Crossroads in delivering great music to a wider audience."

The Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music invite you to join them for an evening of great music with Mike Compton and Joe Newberry Friday, February 10 at 8 p.m. The concert will take place at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall, 420 Willa Road, Newark, Delaware 19711.

Traditional music veterans Mike Compton and Joe Newberry love to play together -- and it shows. Although they live far apart, their music makes them seem like they are next-door neighbors. And audiences around the world agree.

Mandolinist extraordinaire Mike Compton grew up in Mississippi, where he was exposed to music at an early age. A prolific composer, he has made a powerful mark in the old-time and bluegrass music worlds, including a fertile association with John Hartford in the Hartford String Band, as a long-time member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band, and with rock legend Elvis Costello. The multiple Grammy Award-winner treasures his memories of a friendship with his mentor, Bill Monroe.

Joe Newberry is a Missouri native and North Carolina transplant who has played music most of his life. Best known for his powerful and innovative banjo playing, he is a prizewinning guitarist, fiddler, and singer as well. In addition to his work with Mike Compton, Joe makes music with the string band Big Medicine, and with old-time music stalwarts Bill Hicks, Mike Craver, and Jim Watson. He writes songs that show up on the Bluegrass charts, does solo and studio work, and teaches and performs at festivals at home and abroad.

Joe and Mike are also members of the Jumpsteady Boys, a band they formed with friends Bruce Molsky and Rafe Stefanini that is taking the traditional music world by storm. For more info: www.mikecompton.net or www.myspace.com/joenewberry Tickets: Public $17; Seniors $14; BFOTM Members $12; Ages 17 & under FREE! More info: concerts@brandywinefriends.org, www.brandywinefriends.org, or (302) 321-6466