The Archives
Hoke Jenkins—Pioneer Banjo Man
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine September 1985, Volume 20, Number 3 Some great names in bluegrass picked under an old oak tree in Harris, North Carolina many years ago. Oren Jenkins, who still lives in this rural community, remembers summer nights when he, his brother Hoke and his uncle Dewitt “Snuffy” Jenkins were joined there…
Kenny Baker & Josh Graves — The Best Years of Their Lives
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine January 1988, Volume 22, Number 7 You walk up to Kenny Baker at a bluegrass festival and introduce yourself and explain that you’d like to interview him for a possible feature in a music magazine. He listens quietly, but courteously, and replies, “Maybe later, I’m kind of busy now.” You…
Arvil Freeman—Portrait of an Independent Fiddler
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine June 1991, Volume 25, Number 12 Why would any fiddle player turn down offers from Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Grandpa Jones and Mac Wiseman? “I’m pretty much of an individualist,” says Arvil Freeman. “I’ve never been a person that’s wanted a lot of attention.” In fact, anyone wanting to hear…
Crown of Bright Glory—The Legendary Carter Stanley
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine February 1996, Volume 30, Number 8 There are an extraordinary number of bluegrass and country music performers who achieved stardom by simply emulating Carter Stanley’s hauntingly emotional vocal style or by recording one of his many remarkable hit songs. The songs he wrote have been recorded and/or performed by nearly…
It’s Been Nothing But Fun! — Hub Nitchie and Banjo Newsletter
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine August 1989, Volume 24, Number 2 In October, 1988, Banjo Newsletter, the 5-string banjo magazine, celebrated fifteen years of continuous publication. That’s one magazine a month for fifteen years! That’s 180 magazines—all devoted to the 5-string banjo. “Surely,” you ask, “can there actually be that much to say about the…
Sixty Years Ago This Month
Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine July 1995, Volume 30, Number 1 [Sixty Years Ago This Month — Bluegrass Unlimited ran a column for a number of years titled “Thirty Years Ago This Month.” Now that we are in our sixtieth year of publication, we thought it would be fun to look back at some of…