Category Archives: bluegrass

Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- In the Pines

One of my favorite pseudo-bluegrass songs is “In the Pines”.  As is the case with many songs like this, it isn’t a bluegrass song at all though, it is one of those songs of “indeterminate origin”.  Over the years it … Continue reading

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The True Story of Molly and Tenbrooks

Bill Monroe had a big hit in 1949 with the song Molly and Tenbrooks.  It was the B side of a record he cut in 1947 (the A side was I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky) for Columbia Records.  The … Continue reading

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Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- Tony Rice

Anybody who listens to acoustic music knows the name Tony Rice.  For many years Tony has been a guitar icon to players of all ages and musical styles.  He has also written and/or sang songs that are firmly entrenched in … Continue reading

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Roger Sprung is Here

When I think back the many years to the time when I went to the Galax Fiddlers Convention for the first time, one memory stands out.  People were everywhere, walking, talking, playing music; venders were selling vintage instruments, food, t-shirts … Continue reading

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Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- Steve Martin

(Used with permission from Roger Gupta, photographer) “Do you love to…..get small?” Back in the late 70s when anyone said that, most people in the room would start laughing and usually start reciting the entire comedy album called…. well it … Continue reading

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Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- Bela Fleck- Drive

Bela Fleck is a darned good banjo player and seems to be a darned nice guy too (I have not spent much of any time with him to actually know that, but the little bit that I have spent with … Continue reading

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Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- Butch Robins Part 2

(Used with permission from Bud Bennett, photographer) I started the first part of the Butch Robins posting with a story about how and when I met Butch.  Since this is the second part of the posting I will now continue … Continue reading

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Highlights of McConnell Library’s Appalachian Music Collection- John Hartford

(Used with permission from C.L. Garvin, photographer.) When I was younger, I had a very good friend, Billy.  Billy was a lot older than me and he loved bluegrass music.  He would play and loan his bluegrass records to me, … Continue reading

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Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- JD Crowe

   (Used with permission from Mark Harvell, photographer.) If you ask a roomful of bluegrass banjo players who their favorite 5 banjo players are, I’ll bet two names will be on most every list- Earl Scruggs and JD Crowe.  I … Continue reading

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Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- Butch Robins PART 1

This will be part 1 of a multi-part post on local legend Butch Robins. In 1981, while a student at VPI, I had a show at WUVT, the college radio station there.  The show was from 6:00-9:00 AM Monday mornings … Continue reading

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