Current Issue
January 2022

The Tradition

Notes & Queries – January 2022

By Gary Reid

Queries Q: I heard a song “Hills of Jackson County” on the radio recently. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch name of the group. Can you help? DC, via email A: The…

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Sonny Osborne, mid-1970s. Photo by Doc Hamilton

Sonny Osborne

By Murphy Henry

I Believe In Truth But Not In Spite Photo by Doc Hamilton Sonny Osborne started writing a monthly Banjo Newsletter column, “Keep On The Sonny Side” in October 1977 and,…

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Osborne Brothers performing in 1990 at the 15th Annual New Years Bluegrass Festival in Jekyll Island, GA (Terry Smith -bass, Sonny Osborne) Photo by Penny Clapp

Sonny Osborne

By Derek Halsey

Remembered by his Older Brother Bobby and his Friends in the Bluegrass World The first signs that bluegrass legend Sonny Osborne was in real trouble came with the announcement that…

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Clyde Mattocks in 1964 with The Country Carolinians
(left to right): Bob Jenkins, Clyde Mattocks, Lebb Brinson, Jerry Dunbar, Walter Hearne

 Clyde  Mattocks

By Jack Bernhardt

Hugging The Hound Clyde Mattocks has a lifetime of stories. He remembers seeing Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys play 20-minute shows between cowboy films at his hometown theater.  He’s shared…

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The Artists

Maddie Denton with the Dan Tyminski Band. Photo by nate dalzell

Maddie Denton

By Dan Miller

A Champion Contest Fiddler Makes Her Name in Bluegrass  Bluegrass music has produced a very long line of phenomenal fiddlers—from Art Wooten, to Tommy Magness, Howdy Forrester, Chubby Wise, Jim…

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Paolo Ercoli

By Mike England

The Wrong Side Of The Ocean “Yes, we love bluegrass music, it’s the thing we like the best. We sing, play and learn from Bill, Lester, Josh and Earle.  Since…

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Photo by Adam Sweeney

Jacob Jollif

By Darcy Cahill

Discipline, Hard Work, and High Standards  Written By Dale and Darcy Cahill Jacob Jolliff’s bluegrass roots run deep. He picked up a mandolin at seven years old and attended his…

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The Sound

Bil VornDick with Don Henley and Rodney Dillard

Bil VornDick

By Sandy Hatley

Putting Together The Pieces   Photos Courtesy of Bil Vorndick Bil VornDick, audio engineer/producer to the stars, summarized his role in the studio and music industry, “I’m there to help…

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The Venue

Dave Howard teaching at the Louisville Folk School. Photo by Chris Witzke

Dave Howard

By Dan Miller

And the Louisville Folk School A big part of the reason many of us enjoy bluegrass music is because of the tight-knit bluegrass community.  Getting together with other bluegrass fans to…

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The Briarhoppers performing at the induction ceremony.

 North Carolina Music Hall of Fame  Inducts Tony Rice, Briarhoppers

By Sandy Hatley

Photos By Gary Hatley In a celebration to recognize the amazing musical heritage of their state, the NC Music Hall of Fame inducted its newest members during a red carpet…

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Telluride 2021—Audience reduced by 9000 attendees. Photo by Molly McCormick

Festival Lessons Learned 

By Darcy Cahill

During a Pandemic Written By Dale and Darcy Cahill The pandemic has now been with us for almost two years. While it completely shut down the 2020 festival season, its…

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