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Ok West Virginians., what are your recommendations for the best in bluegrass music.
I listen and enjoy most genres on music but have few bluegrass cd’s. I have always enjoyed the bluegrass music I have heard, have found it to me amongst the most joyous of music…always puts a smile on my face
Is any store a particularly good source, since I will be in WV all next week.
Like Moonshine and Mountain Air...Bluegrass has to be pure...
My favorite purist for 'old time gospel' and Bluegrass was Lester 'Grandpa Jones' of HeeHaw fame. Had his beginnings at Fairmont's WMMN 9.20 in the late 20's and 30's. Wore the old man costume then. Would stop to visit my dad when they were in town. My grandad made a 'washtub bass' for him in his workshop one summer. They decided to sing a few songs to try it out and got into that shelf of peach brandy and cherry wine...I can remember my dad blowing on the whiskey jug and my grandad playing the spoons.
It was either Cowboy Loy or Cowboy Copas on the gituar...impromtu bluegrass jug band that my grandmother disbanded in a hurry...there was no drinkin' allowed around her house...none that she really ever knew about. My folks went to the show later that night to continue the visit.
Grandpa Jones had an attitude about playing music in the old style and he is credited with keeping those styles intact...perhaps some of his music is still being sold with the new CD and digital formats. good luck.
I don't know about "best", but it's hard to go wrong with Flatt & Scruggs as far as conventional bluegrass is concerned. Speaking of Grandpa Jones & Hee Haw, I know that Roy Clark and Buck Owens dabbled in pickin' some. For modern'ish bluegrass there are folks like Ricky Scaggs and Patty Loveless.
I also think Alison Krauss (who has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard) swings a mean fiddle.
"And you spend your life digging coal from the bottom of your grave." From "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive." One of the best songs and lyrics ever written.
We've got to get her to come to Mountain Stage.
It is possible. I got Robert Earl Keen to put it on his tour schedule and it was a sell out and a fantastic concert. He came out afterwards and talked personally to everyone who stood in line.
Check this website, which carries CDs with traditional mountain music and bluegrass. Their store is located in Hillsboro.
Depending on where you're going to be, you should be able to catch some "live" performances, too. Check the entertainment section of the local newspaper.
Millersangel:
You're comment about Robert Earl Keene made me think of something Minnie Pearl once said about being the best with your craft...
she said, "A person may only see one show in their life...and this might be the night.. They are going to see my show and I'll do the best I can do...I want to connect with them... when they leave, they will not only feel that they got their moneys worth, but they will feel that they made a friend out of me in the process."
Its a trait that only professionals make easy, It's beause they're real people.
I don't know about "best", but it's hard to go wrong with Flatt & Scruggs as far as conventional bluegrass is concerned. Speaking of Grandpa Jones & Hee Haw, I know that Roy Clark and Buck Owens dabbled in pickin' some. For modern'ish bluegrass there are folks like Ricky Scaggs and Patty Loveless.
I also think Alison Krauss (who has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard) swings a mean fiddle.
Ceezer, I just posted the following message to you somewhere else and wanted to make sure you saw it:
Don't know if you're still looking for info but I came across your question by accident, and thought I'd help. I've lived in both cities. I lived in Roanoke twice for a total of seven years and in Greenville for over 20. I much prefer Greenville. It has a great downtown, great parks and a fantastic arts community. It also has really great schools that perform higher than the national average in many areas despite the rest of the state's reputation. There are a lot of great local restaurants, and the climate is nice. Roanoke is located in nice area of the country but the city itself is kind of run down and the people are not very friendly at all. There are plenty of great outdoor activities in both places if you like hiking, camping fishing, mountain biking, paddling, etc. Greenville is 3 hours from Charleston and 1/2 hour from Western, NC. Greenville is much nicer than Charlotte but much smaller.
There's also plenty of great homegrown bluegrass between Greenville and Asheville.
Good luck to you and your family wherever you end up
Oh, wow, thank you ASquare. I didn't see that. As much as I'd like to be closer to WV and family, I'd pretty much already decided that Greenville was a better fit. Like you said, Roanoke is kind of run down whereas Greenville seems to appreciate and embrace their surroundings. I love that they love their land. Plus no matter how much growth and development goes up they seem to try and tie everything together by linking areas with parks and bike/running paths. I think we're stuck over here around Columbia for about another year but I'm looking at making the transition around September '08. Thanks again!
And sorry y'all, back to the bluegrass!
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