Deford Bailey A Legend Lost
Deford Bailey was the most influential harmonica player in the first half of the 20th Century. Despite such acclaim, Deford dies quietly without recognition of his place in American music history...
Recent Posts, Blogs & Articles
Black Hillbilly - or - What you really know about the Upper South?
The first non-Native American settlers of Appalachia and later, the Ozarks, were of primarily of three ethnicities: Scots-Irish, English, and German. These hard-working farmers and craftsmen created a distinct culture which in the 19th Century came to be named “hillbilly.” Although the Northern European roots of hillbilly are routinely acknowledged, even scholars on the culture are far less likely to recognize hillbilly’s other significant place of ancestral origin, West Africa.
Welcome to African Bluegrass
Being of the African American persuasion I had found myself in the minority a lot when in the world of Bluegrass. To my knowledge there were not any others African Americans involved in Bluegrass Music. In the field of Country Music there was always Charley Pride, but not much else. I guess in this realm I was a bit of a trial blazer though getting involved with Unity Bluegrass Band this was not my intention. It was more "Steve is quitting, do you want to learn bass and replace him?" This was my introduction to becoming a Bluegrass Musician.