This time for sure!

Our new site, Bluegrass Today is going live sometime tomorrow morning (September 23). It can take several hours for DNS changes to filter through the pipeline, so keep checking back until you see the new layout. Ditto for www.thebluegrassblog.com, which will begin redirecting to www.bluegrasstoday.com at roughly the same time.

All of us are very excited about the launch, and eager for everyone to see what we have in store. The basic site we be live on Friday, and we will be announcing new features throughout IBMA week.

Those of you attending the World of Bluegrass in Nashville are invited to stop by and see us in the exhibit hall, where we’ll be all week, through Saturday.

Of course we will also be covering the event itself, with a team of correspondents on hand all week.

Here we go…

The music video for the title track of Sierra Hull’s current Daybreak album has been released through CMT.com.

The song is a tender ballad, written by Sierra. It’s given an appropriately understated treatment by video director David McClister, whose previous work includes the If I Die Young video for The Band Perry.

It would appear that our darling little girl is all growed up!

From October 1, 2010 through to the end of September 2011, we will, each day, celebrate the life of Bill Monroe by sharing information about him and those people who are associated with his life and music career. This information will include births and deaths; recording sessions; single, LP and CD release dates; and other interesting tidbits. Richard F. Thompson is responsible for the research and compilation of this information. We invite readers to share any tidbits, photos or memories you would like us to include.

• September 22, 1947 Single released – Goodbye Old Pal / Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Columbia 20370, 37888, 78rpm)
• September 22, 1955 Robert Bowlin was born in Pocahontas, Arkansas. *
• September 22, 1963 Billy Rose was born. **
• September 22, 1963 Jim Bessire played another date filling in on bass for the Blue Grass Boys, a little over three months after first working for Bill Monroe.

* A multi-instrumentalist, Bowlin was the last fiddler employed by Bill Monroe for the Blue Grass Boys, joining in January 1993 as the replacement for Jimmy Campbell.

He participated in three recording sessions, all of which were on spec productions by Vic Gabany. Only one recording was released; that of Boston Boy, cut on January 9, 1994 and released on the 4 CD set The Music of Bill Monroe from 1936 to 1994 (MCAC/D4-11048).

Bowlin also played fiddle during the sessions for Jimmy Campbell’s Red Clay album Pieces of Time and the Smith brother’s K-Tel album Billy and Terry Smith, Bill Monroe Tribute.

The winner of the 1979 National Guitar Championship, he has created audio lessons in twin guitar and twin mandolin playing for Musicians’ Workshop.

As well as playing with Monroe, Bowlin has worked with the Osborne Brothers and Kathy Mattea and recorded as a sideman with many other bluegrass and country artists.

Currently he plays lead guitar and fiddle with the group Shady Mix.

** Billy Rose played the bass for Bill Monroe from April 1989 through to 1990.

He was involved in several recording sessions, the first of which was on May 5, 1989, one of those that produced tracks for the album Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys Live at the Opry (MCAD-42286), released on March 10, 1998.

Rose played on the MCA sessions for the Cryin’ Holy Unto The Lord album (MCAD-10017).   (more…)

We have learned that Ray Hicks, a popular radio host in Missouri and a founding member of IBMA, suffered a stroke this summer. Ray spent several month convalescing in a nursing home, and is now living with his son facing a long recovery.

A benefit concert in his hometown of Rolla, MO on November 5 is in the early planning stages. Any bands or artists who would like to perform to help Ray’s family defray his many medical expenses is urged to contact event coordinator Walter Volz by email.

Ray has many friends throughout the bluegrass community, and we’ll share more details about this show and Ray’s condition as we learn more.