On February 3rd Cracker Barrel Old Country Store celebrated Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers CD release party at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Dailey & Vincent performed in the Ford Theater to a full crowd which consisted of media, family, friends, music industry executives, and a few well known celebrities – The Statler Brothers, Ricky Skaggs, Bill Gaither, Steve Wariner, Charlie Chase and Lori Ann Crook, Ralph Emery, Oak Ridge Boys Duane Allen and Joe Bonsall, Ronnie and Garnet Bowman, Rob and LIsa McCoury.

Afterwards, a reception took place in the Country Music Hall of Fame rotunda where Dailey & Vincent did a meet and greet. The Statler Brothers: Harold Reid, Don Reid, Jimmy Fortune, and Phil Balsey were a part of the night festivities which included posing for photos and signing autographs.

BMP’s Publisher/Editor Kevin Kerfoot interviewed each Statler Brother, Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent on what this album release meant to each of them. Look for the interview in the May/June issue of BMP.

Michael Martin Murphey and his Buckaroo Blue Grass friends ride again on the February 9, 2010 album release of BUCKAROO BLUE GRASS II.  The album expands on his passions of his Grammy nominated album, “BUCKAROO BLUE GRASS,” creating fully acoustic bluegrass versions of songs about the region to which Murphey has been deeply connected for a lifetime – the American Southwest.

The high lonesome sound in bluegrass music has always appealed to the cowboy soul. Somehow the acoustic instruments used in bluegrass have a drive, energy and expansive quality – an almost mystical “wide open country” sort of feeling that seems built into the design. You can hear and feel it on Rob Ickes’ country sound in the new version of “Wildfire.” It seems the American West has produced “running-wide-open” acoustic musicians like Pat Flynn, Sam Bush, Rob Ickes and Ryan Murphey who have been key in developing the Buckaroo Blue Grass sound as they blaze a trail connecting Cowboy and Western music to Bluegrass by exploring Wild West sonic spaces.

Murphey has utilized his label’s strong roster of top bluegrass artists to help further define his Buckaroo Blue Grass sound. Included on the new album is a powerful duet performance with bluegrass veteran Audie Blaylock covering the classic Marty Robbins hit “Running Gun.” Also, included is a stunning duet version of his mega hit, “Wildfire” with # 1 hit artist, Carrie Hassler.

Michael Martin Murphey’s songs have been recorded by bluegrass artists such as Flatt and Scruggs, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Seldom Scene, Country Gentlemen, Bluegrass Cardinals, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and many others. BUCKAROO BLUE GRASS II reprises many of his songs covered by bluegrass bands, performed with a stellar cast of bluegrass players and singers that includes; Carrie Hassler, Audie Blaylock, Sam Bush, Rob Ickes, Andy Hall, Ronnie McCoury, Pat Flynn, Charlie Cushman, Andy Leftwich and more.

For more information on Michael Martin Murphey and his Grammy nominated album, BUCKAROO BLUE GRASS, and next week’s BUCKAROO BLUE GRASS II, please visit his site or Rural Rhythm Records

This all female band turned 10 years old in January and celebrated by recording their 4th CD, and all gospel album featuring their original music and trademark harmonies. Having recently signed with Mountain Fever Records, the girls were eager to work with producers Mark Hodges and Sammy Shelor. Their new CD is scheduled for release in early spring. Critics are already praising their work as “soulful and inspiring”.

The International Bluegrass Music Association is pleased to announce the following participants in the 2010 class of Leadership Bluegrass:

• Phil Bankester; The Bankester Family, Genuine Human Productions; Carbondale, Ill.
• Carol Beaugard; WFDU-FM, WAMU’s Bluegrass Country; Chester, N.Y.
• Kissy Black; Lotos Nile; Nashville, Tenn.

Read more…

Help support the Bean Blossom Brown County Jamboree Preservation Foundation.

Just download the GoodSearch – Bean Blossom Brown County Jamboree Preservation Foundation – BBJF toolbar at http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/bean-blossom-brown-county-jamboree-preservation-foundation-bbjf

Each time you Read more…

After considering traditional offers from a handful of labels, Cadillac Sky will release their new album in early summer through a unique partnership deal with Dualtone Music.  

“After weighing all the opportunities for releasing this phenomenal new CD, remaining independent is without question the best option,” said the band’s manager Evert Wilbrink who is optimistic about the partnership. “Dualtone shares our vision and their track record speaks for itself. With Dualtone, we will optimize our national and international momentum while still owning and controlling our music.”

Scott Robinson, President of Dualtone, is excited about working with the band that brings progressive ideas not just to their music, but also in the fresh way they think about and do their business.  “I really believe Cadillac Sky has the potential to be one of the big breakout artists of 2010.  The direction they took with this new album puts them in a unique position to cross many genre boundaries that still exist out there and we’re pleased to be partnering up with these guys.” 

 The new album Letters in the Deep, produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, is anything but traditional and marks the metamorphosis of Cadillac Sky from a critically-acclaimed Bluegrass band to a band without boundaries. Over the past year, Cadillac Sky has explored a lot of new terrain live on stage and with the recent addition of David Mayfield on guitar the band has developed into one of the most exciting rock-shows around. That new energy also translated into the studio as Cadillac Sky began recording the new album in Auerbach’s studio, Akron Analog.  The Akron sessions proved to be a pivotal moment for the band and Auerbach played an instrumental role with a hands-off production approach, totally concentrating on shaping the sound of the record. The result is an honest, breathing piece of art that is amazingly authentic and gut-wrenchingly real.

Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, the reigning International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Entertainers of the Year, will take another step in honoring the legendary Statler Brothers Read more…

George and Sue Shuffler’s son Steve passed away January 27th after battling cancer.

Rounder Records is pleased to announce the release of the self titled debut album by Summertown Road on March 23. Produced by renowned bluegrass musician Don Rigsby Read more…

The International Bluegrass Music Association is currently seeking written recommendations for members interested in serving on the organization’s board of directors.  The four seats to be filled by election by fellow members during 2010 include representatives for:

- Artists, Composers & Publishers
- International (non-US members)
- Associations
- Merchandisers & Luthiers

The board is the policy making body responsible for the association’s mission achieved through its programs, functions, business affairs and property.  The board is also responsible for appointing its officers and delegating day-to-day management of the association to committees and staff.  They serve without compensation and are expected to bear of the cost of attending all board meetings and IBMA functions.  (For a complete list of expectations of board  members, contact IBMA.)

Any person being recommended for a particular board seat should be a current professional member of IBMA and belong to the membership category for which he or she is being considered.  The best candidates are those who bring special knowledge and skills to the board, who are willing and able to commit the time to be productive board members and help IBMA’s board represent the diversity within our membership.

From the full list of eligible candidates, the board nominating committee will select and recruit a slate of at least two (but not more than four) nominees for each board seat for which an election is being held.

Recommendations should be received in writing before February 15 and should include a brief outline of the proposed candidate’s credentials. Each letter or email should also include a return address, email and phone number in case the nominating committee needs additional information from the person  recommending the suggested candidate.

Send emails or letters of recommendation to:

IBMA Board Nominating Committee
2 Music Circle South – Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37203 USA
danh@ibma.org