This week we talk with multi-instrumentalist David McLaughlin. David is best known as the mandolin player for the Johnson Mountain Boys and as such was inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in the fall of 2020. Today we talk with David about his role in Christopher Henry’s Monroe Style Improvisation Course, about his musically rich upbringing in the Washington, D.C. area, about his relationship with Bill Monroe, and much more.
This week’s podcast features Christopher Henry, son of the talented musicians and instructors Red and Murphy Henry and brother to bluegrass banjo player and teacher Casey Henry. Christopher has performed with his family, has fronted his own band and has been a member of Peter Rowan’s bluegrass band for the past six or seven years. Today we are talking with Christopher about his online Monroe Style Improvisation course that was featured in the June 2021 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine.
Our podcast interview this week features Doctor Howard Marshall, Professor Emeritus from the University of Missouri. Doctor Marshall is an expert on Missouri style fiddling having written two very in-depth books about the subject. Fiddler Mike Hartgrove, who was featured in our May issue, learned from some of Missouri’s master fiddlers. In speaking with Howard Marshall, we learn more about Missouri fiddle styles. You will also get to hear old recordings from six of the fiddlers we discuss.
Our podcast interview this week features bluegrass bass master Mike Bub. Mike has performed with a long list of bluegrass bands, including The Weary Hearts, The Del McCoury Band, The Sidemen, Tim O’Brien, The Peter Rowan and Tony Rice Quartet, and many more. Today we talk with Mike about his home-away-from-home at the Station Inn and he shares many stories about his life on the road and in the studio with the above mentioned bands.
Our podcast interview this week features banjo player Marc Pruett. Marc has had a long career in bluegrass music having played for Jimmy Martin in the 1970s, the Marc Pruett band in the 1980s, Ricky Skaggs in the 1990s, and Balsam Range for the past fourteen years. Marc recently published a book about his life growing up in the North Carolina Mountains and career in bluegrass titled “Rascally Mountain Boy.” Marc his here today to answer questions about this wonderful new book.
Our podcast interview this week features Joe Mullins, a well known banjo player and radio broadcaster from the southwestern area of Ohio. Today we talk with Joe about his involvement in the Industrial Strength Bluegrass project that was featured in our April 2021 issue and we catch up with the latest from Joe’s band the Radio Ramblers. You will also listen to a couple of cuts from the Industrial Strength Bluegrass recording.
Our podcast interview this week features Murphy Henry, who our subscribers will know from her “General Store” column in the magazine. Today we are talking with Murphy about her “Murphy Method” instructional DVDs, the process of learning to play by ear and her banjo camps series.
Our podcast interview this week features Jake Workman, the guitar player with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. The focus of our April 2021 print issue is “Learning How to Play” and Jake has been teaching private lessons for guitar, mandolin, and banjo for many years. Today we talk with Jake about his approach to teaching private bluegrass music lessons and about his newest CD “Landmark.”
Our podcast interview this week features bluegrass banjo legend Pete Wernick. The focus of our April 2021 issue is “Learning How to Play” and part of the motivation to learn how to play is being able to play with other people. Today we talk with Pete about his Wernick Method Jam Camps, which provide students with a safe and comfortable environment to learn how to play music with other people. We talk about how the camps work for jammers at all ability levels and how you might become a Wernick Jam Camp instructor yourself.
Our podcast interview today features Bill Bay of Mel Bay Publications. The focus of our April 2021 issue is “Learning How to Play” and most people who have learned how to play a bluegrass instrument have, at some point in time, learned from a Mel Bay Publications book or video. Today we talk with Bill about how the company started, how it developed to fit the needs of bluegrass players, where it is today and plans for the future.
Our podcast interview today features Steve Kaufman. Steve is well known for his many flatpicking contest victories, his instructional books and videos, his weekend workshops for guitar and mandolin players, and his summer music camps for old-time and bluegrass musicians. Today I will talk with Steve about all of his music camp and teaching activities as April is “Learn to Play’ month.
Our podcast interview this week features bluegrass singer and multi-instrumentalist Josh Williams. Josh is best known as the guitar player with Rhonda Vincent, but has also toured with the Tony Rice Unit, performed with the Bluegrass Album Band and has been on the road with his own Josh Williams Band. Today we talk with Josh about his time spent on stage with Tony Rice, his band and solo recording, and we catch up with him regarding his recent work with Rhonda Vincent.
