The Bluegrass Standard - Desktop - Volume 2, Issue 12

2 1 e su s I P ~ O 2 T e K S m u E l D Vo ~ E U S S I L E P S GO

Kenyon Purcell

Bluegrass Fan Forever!

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The Blu e gras s St andard St aff This month's guest writer: Deborah Young Keith Barnacastle • Publisher The Bluegrass Standard is a life-long dream of Keith Barnacastle, who grew up in Meridian, Mississippi. For three years, Keith brought the Suits, Boots and Bluegrass Festival to Meridian. Now, with the Bluegrass Standard, Keith's enthusiasm for the music, and his vision of its future, reaches a nationwide audience every month!

Richelle Putnam • Managing Journalist Editor Richelle Putnam is a Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) Teaching Artist/Roster Artist (Literary), a Mississippi Humanities Speaker, and a 2014 MAC Literary Arts Fellowship recipient. Her non-fiction books include Lauderdale County, Mississippi; a Brief History, Legendary Locals of Meridian, Mississippi and Mississippi and the Great Depression. She writes for many publications.

Shelby Campbell • Journalist Editor Shelby Campbell is a writer and designer whose heart beats for creativity. A native of rural Livingston, AL, she found her passion in journalism and design at The University of West Alabama, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. Shelby also has her own photography business.

Kara Martinez Bachman • Journalist Kara Martinez Bachman is an author, editor and journalist.

Her music and culture reporting has appeared in dozens of publications and she's interviewed many performers over the years, from local musicians to well-known celebrities.

She's a native of New Orleans and lives just outside the city with her husband, two kids, and two silly mutts.

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The Blu e gras s St andard St aff Stephen Pitalo • Journalist Stephen Pitalo has been an entertainment journalist for more than 30 years, having interviewed everyone from Joey Ramone to Bill Plympton to John Landis. He is the world’s leading authority on the The Golden Age of Music Video (1976-1993), mining inside stories from interviews 70+ music video directors and countless artists of the pre-internet music era. GoldenAgeOfMusicVideo.com

Susan Marquez • Journalist Susan Marquez is a freelance writer based in Madison, Mississippi and a Mississippi Arts Commission Roster Artist. After a 20+ year career in advertising and marketing, she began a professional writing career in 2001. Since that time she has written over 2000 articles which have been published in magazines, newspapers, business journals, trade publications.

Emerald Butler • Journalist Emerald Butler is a writer, songwriter, fiddler, and entertainer from Sale Creek, TN. She has worked and performed various occasions with artists such as Rhonda Vincent, Bobby Osborn, Becky Buller, Alison Brown, top 40 radio host Bob Kingsley, and country songwriter Roger Alan Wade. With a bachelor’s degree in Music Business and a minor in Marketing, Emerald has used her education, experience, and creative talent to share the love of music with others.

James Babb • Creative Director James Babb is a native Californian, and a long-time resident of Palm Springs. Over the course of a 30+ year career, he has been involved in creative work of many types.

In addition to his graphic design for The Bluegrass Standard, James also provides custom framing of paintings by artists from his local community.

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CONTENTS Kenyon Purcell Cana's Voice Greer Family Band Canaan’s Crossing Chestnut Ridge 6

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Legacy Five

The Miller Family Tomorrow’s Bluegrass Stars:

Dixie Jubilee Wissmann Family Band Sunday's Kind of Country THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

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Fiddler’s porch

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back

The Erwins Rocky Flatts Avalon Hoyt's Kitchen Barbecue Bluegrass Festival Guide

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Kenyon Purcell Bluegrass Fan Forever!

by Richelle Putnam When people observe Kenyon Purcell listening to bluegrass music, they witness a full body experience. “If he’s enjoying the music, he’s very physically emotive about how he’s enjoying it,” said Janet, Kenyon’s mom. “People will say, ‘I watched your son more than I watched this concert because he was having so much fun; I couldn’t take my eyes off him.’ We were at Disney World and a couple came up and said ‘we so enjoyed watching Kenyon watch this parade, we didn’t see the parade.’ I enjoy Kenyon enjoying.”

Kenyon and his brother Liam didn’t have the typical bluegrass family band background, but parents, William and Janet, always had musical instruments around the house. “I was in a high school band and was in the band in college, so I had a little knowledge,” said William. “Janet studied classical piano in college, as well as education, with her major being special education. Her minor was piano.”

Liam was six-years-old when he started the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program. He would bring instruments home and Kenyon literally sat at Liam’s feet, listening and dancing. “It didn’t matter than Liam was a beginner. As Liam got better and better, Kenyon still sat at Liam’s feet and danced,” said William.

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Playing an instrument in the JAM program wasn’t an option for Kenyon.

“He was born with Down Syndrome,” William continued. “He was also born with Hydrocephalus that probably affects him more than Down Syndrome.”

Hydrocephalus is the buildup of fluid in the cavities (ventricles) deep within the brain, he explained. “The excess fluid increases the size of the ventricles and puts pressure on the brain. This has nothing to do with Down Syndrome. It happens to all sorts of people and it can happen to adults. They discovered the fluid when he was a baby.” When Kenyon was a month-old, he underwent brain surgery to insert a drain tube. “The doctors and we have never known how much of that affected Kenyon’s development.”

It turns out, however, that Kenyon Purcell didn’t need an instrument to participate in the bluegrass world.

“In this region there is a huge number of old-time fiddle festivals,” said William.

Galax Old Fiddler’s Convention is held every August in Galax, Virginia. The main part of the fiddle festival is a stage where they have competitions for vocals and instruments. They award trophies or ribbons in each category. When Liam was old enough (around 8 or 9) to play a tune on stage, the Purcells started attending these fiddle festivals. They also had a flat-footing contest where contestants dance on a board. It resembles clog dancing. “Kenyon, of course, went with us and he loved to hear the music, but he really loved the dancing. The first time he saw it, he was just drawn to it.”

As brother Liam entered fiddle and banjo contests, seven-yearold Kenyon entered the kid’s dance contest. A band played about 30 seconds of music and Kenyon danced for the crowd.

“He started placing in some of the dance competitions, which was really cool, and he won a couple and got some second places.” Contestants are judged on form, staying in rhythm, and how traditional the dance is.

Many judging sheets include a column for audience response.

Kenyon won that category hands down every time and usually received a standing ovation from a cheering crowd.

Kenyon and Liam at Pike's Peak

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“Kenyon was not just on the sidelines watching, he was participating,” William said, emotion stirring in his voice. Someone built Kenyon a dance board, which measures 2-feet by 2-feet and rises about two inches off the ground. A microphone is often placed by the dance board for watchers to better hear the sound. According to where your feet strike the board, a different sound resonates. “For years that was our lives, playing music and dancing and having a great time,” said William.

Now, the biggest challenge is that Kenyon has lost his ability to walk. It was sudden.

“He had a fall at home. He’s was getting out of bed and he hit the floor.” Kenyon has had hip dysplasia since he was born, “but it had never really affected him. He was ten years old and he had just gone through a growth spurt. He had gotten heavier and taller and his hip muscles were not keeping up with his growth. That sort of started his progression in losing his ability to walk.”

The decline was slow over the next two years, but steady. “That’s been the toughest part to navigate because Kenyon didn’t understand when we went to a fiddle festival…he still wanted to compete. He had a hard time understanding that he could not dance like he did.” Kenyon was able to use a device like a crocodile, “which is like a walker with the seat on it. And he did compete several times with the crocodile.

He rolled it out and up on to the board and he would just stomp his feet.” But that got harder because most stages don’t have steps or a ramp. “That was about 201415. It was hard explaining to him that the thing he really loved, he couldn’t do the same way anymore.”

In 2014, The Purcells formed Cane Mill Road, made up of Liam Purcell on vocals, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and clawhammer banjo; Eliot Smith on guitar and bass; Trajan Wellington on bluegrass banjo and guitar; and Casey Lewis on guitar, mandolin, and vocals. This had the Purcells attending more bluegrass festivals and less fiddle festivals.

“As Kenyon’s ability to dance declined, we were doing more bluegrass with the band, so it was a nice transition,” said William. “Kenyon is a part of Cane Mill Road. He may not be up on stage performing, but he’s always in the audience and he loves to set up and work the merchandise table. He has different tasks to do at each festival, like giving out business cards or giving out free magnets or buttons or greeting people.

He’s there after the show when the people come to the table.”

Many people know Liam at a festival or at IBMA because of Cane Mill Road. “But what makes me happy is when people know Kenyon, too, and they don’t just know him as Liam’s little brother,” said Liam. “They know him as Kenyon.”

Liam says that growing up around Kenyon has made him a different person in terms of perspective on the world and “how lucky all of us are. Not everybody, unfortunately, is accepting of all kinds of differences and disabilities.” Most are not 12

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Kenyon gets a kick out of Elvis' Cadillac

hateful, Liam was quick to add, “but they are not educated on the things you should not say, the things that are offensive. A lot of kids my age just don’t understand that some things aren’t appropriate because they haven’t been around someone with a physical disability. I’ll always take the time to take them aside and talk to them. Most of the time they are really sorry, and they’ll thank me for telling them.”

“I’m grateful for Liam that this is a safe community for him as a teenager,” said Janet. “He could be in a lot of other places doing a lot of different things. I’m grateful that this is a community where it’s very typical to see everybody’s whole family together. It’s important that it’s safe for Liam, but equally welcoming for Kenyon. It’s so unique because there are people Kenyon’s age or slightly younger or older that are genuinely his friends that we have met through the music community.”

Although the medical stuff takes precedence, “it’s never been our focus. Early on we decided that we were just going to live life and go for it. We don’t dwell on the appointments or medical stuff because it’s just information,” said Janet. So, time with family or friends is not spent talking about Kenyon’s medical updates. “It’s just not the most interesting thing about Kenyon.”

Janet hopes people see what a multifaceted person Kenyon is. “Sometimes when people don’t have the experience of knowing someone who doesn’t communicate verbally, it’s hard for them to fathom a multi-dimensional person and he is that.

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He has his own very strong personality and it’s joyous and he’s such a delight. He’s very much a trickster and plans these elaborate jokes on people and he delighted in carrying those things out. He’s very mischievous, in a good way.”

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exploring Graceland with Cane Mill Road

In 2017, the Purcell family left their Deep Gap, North Carolina home to travel the country, going as far west as Utah, as far south as Key West, and as far north as Maine, so Kenyon could experience as much as possible.

“At a lot of these places, where we couldn’t get Kenyon’s wheels into it, Liam would just put Kenyon on his back and carry him to see whatever it was we were looking at.”

One of the big concepts of acceptance with people with disabilities, said Liam, “is just because people are given equal means to do something doesn’t mean they’re all going to achieve it. If we really want everyone to be equal and have equality, we should provide everybody with what they need to do that. That means Kenyon needs more help to do the same thing that somebody else would do.” Liam carries Kenyon on his back to share his ability with Kenyon so that Kenyon has equal opportunity to see something he can’t access by chair. “That’s what equality is

about.”

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Janet Purcell encourages readers to get to know someone who experiences disability or somebody who communicates nonverbally, or somebody who uses a wheelchair, “because there’s a lot more to that person.”

“We don’t want to be a story of overcoming the odds,” said William. “This is the Purcells.”

Read and Learn More: “Disability Is Beautiful, Disability Is My Culture” – thesis by William Purcell - https://libres.uncg.edu/ir/ uncg/f/Purcell_uncg_0154M_10051.pdf Readers of The Bluegrass Standard, Volume 1, Issue 5, may not have known it was Kenyon Purcell in the lower right-hand corner of the cover holding the exquisitely framed picture of The Bluegrass Standard’s inaugural cover, featuring Rhonda Vincent. “We kid the band saying that Kenyon is the only one in the band who has been on the cover of a major bluegrass magazine…

The Bluegrass Standard,” said William.

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Three Gospel Superstars Coming Together to Shine

by Shelby Campbell Once in a while in the music industry, listeners get pleasantly surprised by the coming together of their favorite artists. Rarely, however, are they blessed with the coming together of three insanely talented artists with their own successful careers to form a band.

This is the case with the gospel band, Cana’s Voice. Although the band is new, the artists surely are not. Made up of Jody McBrayer, TaRanda Green and Doug Anderson, these artists have been performing for decades and have won countless awards on their own, with other musical acts.

Cana’s Voice had decided to keep their band a secret while making crucial band decisions on music, song selection and record companies, but the word about the uniting of these talents got out in the music industry. The exciting news of the “coming together” in 2016 is all anyone could talk about.

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Jody McBrayer got his start in contemporary Christian music right out of college with gospel group Truth. A few years later, he went on to join the multi award-winning Christian group, Avalon. He would spend the next 12 years as a part of this band – lending his voice to the band’s success. During his time there, Avalon won three Dove awards, received three Grammy nominations, and sold over four million records with 21 number one songs.

Jody released a solo studio album in 2002 with Sparrow Records that led to him winning the American Music Award for Best Contemporary Inspirational Artist. He left Avalon in 2007 due to health issues before joining his fellow Cana’s Voice bandmates.

In August 2018, Jody announced that he was temporarily rejoining Avalon for a recorded album and select tour dates while also continuing his ministry and crucial role with Cana’s Voice.

“The members of Cana’s Voice are encouraged to walk through any doors which afford an opportunity to carry the gospel to a higher platform. With Jody’s reintroduction to Avalon, his fans will have the privilege of seeing what God has been doing in his life and ministry the last several years,” said Landon Beene, founder of Cana’s Voice.

TaRanda Greene comes to the band with a multitude of success and seven solo studio albums behind her. There’s something special about a voice that sings with the experience of life’s ups and downs. TaRanda does that and more.

Her ability of song delivery combined with a powerful testimony had TaRanda receiving many prestigious awards throughout her career in addition to being a featured vocalist on projects for the Grammy award-winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. She has also been a regular guest on Turning Point Ministries and In Touch Network. Many artists in the gospel music industry respect TaRanda due to her success and the way she puts God first in all she does.

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This August, TaRanda released her solo album titled The Healing with StowTown Records. In this album, she uses her life’s toughest moments and sings about her faithfulness in God through it all.

A member of the gospel band Lighthouse before helping found Signature Sound, Doug Anderson has traveled around the world sharing his talent with others at sold-out venues. Throughout his career as a solo artist and a member of Signature Sound, Doug received a Grammy nomination and won 13 Dove awards. He was nominated as Dove Awards Singer of the Year in 2011 with the release of his first solo album.

Coming together with similar backgrounds and stories, the members of Cana’s Voice felt they were a perfect fit for one another – musically and personally. Each with their own family and health related struggles, Jody, TaRanda and Doug pushed through and came out the other side with a new ministry and new partners in music, dedicated to sharing the gospel.

“Within just a couple of minutes, we knew we has something special,” said Doug.

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Naming their band after the Biblical parable of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana, this band set out to use their stage and talents to minister from a place of personal experience.

A couple of albums and many live performances behind them, Cana’s Voice inspires others with their God-given ability to share the Word through song.

Purchase tickets for their upcoming 2019 tour at canasvoice.com

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The Greer Family Band Gospel Sounds and Family Closeness Travel Hand-in-Hand

by Kara Martinez Bachman You might chance upon the Greer Family Band if you’re ever in or around Brenham, Texas. Gospel and fiddle tunes are the likely music, and all inspired by faith and family.

For the Greers, a passion for music originates from within the pews of church. This is not at all uncommon for the gospel genre. Many musicians find their footing in music because they were exposed to – and, at an early age, inspired by – songs of praise.

“Our family has a very deep appreciation for a cappella singing, since that is our tradition at our church home,” explained family band patriarch and upright bass player, Lawrence Greer. “Being able to take many of those same songs we grew up THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

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FESTIVAL GUIDE singing, and adding music to them, not only lets us enjoy them in a whole new way, but it also allows us to share them with audiences wherever we perform.”

He said they always try to select “wholesome, familyfriendly” songs for their shows. “Since ‘Gospel’ means ‘good news,’ we try to share that everywhere we go,” he added.

The lineup includes Lawrence Greer on bass and vocals; his wife, Lisa, on guitar and vocals; and their children, including Jordan (fiddle, mandolin and dobro), Adam (banjo, guitar and vocals), Mandy (mandolin), Steven (performs on electric guitar and drums only for “select” audiences), and Stephanie (vocals).

They've released three CDs to-date, including “Down Yonder,” which was made back in 2004 at Love Monkey Studios in Austin, Texas, when the children were still young (it features what the Greers describe as “sweet little kid voices”); the old-time fiddle tunes and gospel music of “The World’s Still Turning,” a 2008 release that was put together at Kerry Jones’s Recording Studio in Alvin, Texas; and the most recent, 2014’s “Blue,” including original cuts penned by two of the Greer sons.

He said many of the family’s gigs are at bluegrass festivals. Although there are always pros and cons of spending so much time with family, it sounds as if in this instance, there’s a great deal of “pro.” The Greers simply love being together. They’d travel to shows in a motorhome while homeschooling their kids. It allowed them to make music and experience the world...together.

“These family excursions not only gave us the chance to perform together, but they served as field trips, with great opportunities to teach,” he explained. They also met tons of new friends.

“The kids got to enjoy time with other young folks who share the same interest in music,” he said.

“One of the drawbacks of performing as a family is, well...familiarity,” he said. “Times were few that we all felt like practicing at the same time, or for as long as we needed to. It seemed that, since we were always together, we could always practice...later.”

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He said since his children have grown up over time – fiddle player Jordan and banjo player Adam are both married now – adjustments needed to, of course, be made.

One of the sons lives several hours away now, and everybody works at full-time jobs.

“Finding time to get together now is nearly impossible,” Greer lamented, “but when we do, music happens.”

They of course look forward to getting together for Christmas.

The holidays are a time when family becomes even more important to us all. It’s a time when those we can count on – those who are with us through thick and thin, who have fun with us, who sit around the table with us, and who make memories with us – should be held even closer to our chests. The Greers have a plan already in place for doing this, as closeness goes hand-in-hand with their normal holiday traditions.

“Christmas means so much to us as a family, even more since the children have grown up,” Greer said. “We attend a Christmas Eve candlelit service, and then on Christmas Day we will gather for a Christmas dinner of ham and all the fixin's.”

He said they all draw names early in the holiday season, so each person only buys one gift for the person whose name they pulled. Sounds as if it’s not laziness, or thrift; it’s a philosophy.

“We try not to allow the commercialism of Christmas to consume us and stress us out,” Greer explained.

This is wise holiday advice, indeed.

Check out the Greer Family Band website: greerfamilyband.com

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Faith, Family & Fine Music

by Shelby Campbell Faith is the primary focus of many bands in the bluegrass music industry – giving their music a truthful, raw, spiritual feel. As a deeply-rooted gospel bluegrass band from Arab, Alabama, Canaan’s Crossing is dedicated to making everything they do about faith and the love of God. A five-piece band together since 2006, Canaan’s Crossing previously performed under the name Jordan River. With five albums under their belt and another in the works, they perform regularly at churches across northern Alabama.

Made up of Tim Maze on lead vocals and bass, Andy Wilks on upright bass, Joshua Black on guitar, Drew Long on guitar and banjo, and newcomer Hannah on fiddle, Canaan’s Crossing shows the embodiment of their faith. From deacons to ministers to veterinarians, these artists with diverse musical backgrounds have two things in common – faith and music.

“Being an all Gospel band, if you don't have faith, you're missing the mark. Faith in Christ is what it's all about,” said Tim, a founding member of Canaan’s Crossing 24

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who has been playing gospel music since he was a teenager. Beginning his career in music by performing with regional groups at only 11 years old, Tim learned to sing and harmonize before learning to play the upright bass. He is also a two-time Diamond Award winner of the coveted Bluegrass Gospel Male Vocalist of the Year.

“I remember falling in love with bluegrass watching the Flatt and Scruggs TV Show.

I was later introduced to the Osborne Brothers and immediately took to their tight harmonies.”

Andy Wilks was singing at the age of four with his sisters before joining FFA Quartets in high school and college. These groups went on to win two state championships during Andy’s time with them.

Joshua Black brings a new diverse style to Canaan’s Crossing giving them the feel of bluegrass gospel. As one of the youngest members of the band, Joshua is pursuing a secondary education degree while answering a call to preach the gospel.

Drew Long is a multi-instrumental talent who plays banjo for Canaan’s Crossing. He also plays guitar, writes songs, and has a voice so distinct it’s recognized instantly.

As the newest member of Canaan’s Crossing, Hannah Black joined the band this year. She took the spot recently vacated by long time fiddler Tina Miller, who moved to Tennessee for other opportunities. As guitarist Jacob Black’s sister, Hannah is the perfect fit for the band and feels right at home.

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“I am so excited and very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this group. I pray the Lord used this for His glory and His glory alone,” said Hannah.

Tim and the rest of Canaan’s Crossing couldn’t have enough good things to say about the band’s newest addition.

“Hannah is a very sincere person about her faith and that is easily recognized. She has a wonderful stage presence - plus she is always available to talk with fans before or after a show. She has a good ear for harmony as well, which makes it easy to come up with different vocal arrangements. She can take a lead, and Andy and I can do the harmonies or vice versa. She helps gives the band a lot of flexibility,” said Tim. With Hannah came her single Why Should I Worry, the perfect single to segue Canaan’s Crossing into the creation of their newest album, hopefully to be released in 2019.

“We have always been a family friendly band. Our families make it possible for us to do what we do,” said Tim. Using their music to please God, Canaan’s Crossing members have discovered that a song must move them first and foremost before it moves people. They take each song, make it original to their sound, and stay true to who they are as artists.

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“When you can leave the stage and know you connected with someone in the crowd, that’s when we feel the most successful at what we do,” said Tim. “We play a lot of churches and to see people moved and know they've been touched by the Master through our feeble efforts, brings a feeling of comfort.”

With support from their families and a faith in God in their pocket, this gospel band is looking at a bright future in bluegrass and gospel music.

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Chestnut Ridge Builds a Bridge

Knox County may not be a hotbed for bluegrass in most people’s eyes, but Chestnut Ridge has been making that a moment in the past. For more than a decade, veterans have delivered their sharp brand of gospel-fueled mandolin & fiddle. Their dedication to Jesus sits first and foremost in their mission of music, through gospel and traditional bluegrass tunes.

With members Jeanell Branstool on mandolin and vocals; Jim Dunfee on guitar and vocals; Mickey Holback on banjo and vocals; Rex Hackley on dobro; Duane Hardesty on bass; and Peter Streiber on fiddle; the band had no need for a name when they first formed sixteen years ago, but co-founder Branstool looked no further than her own front door when the time came to pick one.

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“Chestnut Ridge is actually the road I live on,” Branstool said. “We weren’t concerned with a name in the beginning. Then, as bookings came in, we were asked the name of our band. So, I went to the guys and said, “Hey, we need a name!” My husband Tom, and I opened our home, and it became the hub of our ministry and practices.

Therefore, Chestnut Ridge was born!

Branstool also said that, as a cofounder with Jim Dunfee, she has no problems as the female bandleader when it comes to her band members.

“Not at all! The guys are like brothers to me!” she said. “I love them and their families like my own family. Yes, they like to tease me, but it’s all in fun. We have a great chemistry.”

She continues to describe the Chestnut Ridge sound as bluegrass mixed with a little bit of country and gospel, resulting in a warm sound, performed with the passion of the band’s convictions and commitment. Branstool also says that they are big fans of enjoying this time together, and that’s always an element of a Chestnut Ridge recording or performance.

“We like to have fun!”

Branstool exclaimed. ‘It's been a ministry -- love of music and love of our Lord. We like to say that we hope somehow, some way, we've put a smile on your face and touched your hearts, but most of all we've lifted the name of Jesus and bring him honor and glory in what we've said and done.

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The band’s website also pays tribute to the late Thomas Arthur Booth, an early proponent and supporter of Chestnut Ridge until his death in 2011. The connection all started from Pastor Tom’s seat in a nursing home, propelled by a chance meeting that shouldn’t have happened, but the relationship stands as a testament to the power of the music that Chestnut Ridge performs.

“We met Tom in a nursing home that we were playing in one Sunday afternoon,” Branstool explained. “He and his wife Joyce were there to entertain the residents. The activities coordinator mixed up the schedules, and our times conflicted. They stayed to listen to us, and we became friends that day. He was the first pastor to invite us to play in his church. He became a follower of the band and we considered him to be one of our ‘Board of Directors.’ He would come to all of our practices and as many events that we played as possible. He was a huge support to us!”

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Legacy Five

by Susan Marquez While the Cathedral Quartet made a big name for themselves in the Gospel music world, after a 35-year run, they gave their farewell performance in December 1999. Cathedral members Scott Fowler and Roger Bennett wanted to continue that tradition, so they launched a new group, Legacy Five, in January 2000 during their official debut in Atlanta, Georgia. Since that day they have made a major mark on the Southern Gospel Music world.

Fowler serves as the lead singer and manager of Legacy Five. Bennett was the pianist for the group until he passed away in 2007 at the age of 48. Today Josh Townsend is the one sitting at the keyboard. The newest, and youngest, member of the group, Townsend joined Legacy Five in June 2017. Scott Howard, who sings baritone, is an original member of the group. Josh Feemster, who joined the group in November 2015, sings tenor. Rounding out the group is Matt Fouch, who has been singing 32

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bass with the group since August 2012. Together their rich voices weave together to create beautiful four-part harmonies in the Southern Gospel tradition.

According to Fouch, “we exist to promote the Gospel of Christ through our music. We believe that Jesus is the answer to all that is wrong in our lives. When we play, we want our audiences to leave with a smile on their face, joy in their heart, and a relationship with Jesus. That can either be fostered through our music, or inspired. Either way is fine.”

Since the group started, they’ve achieved quite a lot of recognition. With nearly 30 Top 40 radio hits, the group has also received numerous fan and industry awards. In their first ten years alone, they were nominated for 75 fan awards from Singing News Magazine, Southern Gospel music’s leading fan and trade publication. Year after year they are recognized by one of Gospel music’s favorite southern Gospel groups. The Southern Gospel Music Association honored Legacy Five with Recording of the Year and they have two Dove Award nominations.

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All of the members are residents of the Nashville area, most with families.

They play 125 to 130 concerts a year, which has them on the road much of the year, traveling across the United States and Canada. They travel in a custom tour bus which is their home on the road. “When we get back to Nashville, we kind of go our own way until the next tour,” says Fouch.

“We all like to spend time with our families, and try to make up for the time we weren’t there. And of course, we have a honey-do list that has to be done. We are doing shows most weekends, so we have to catch up on everything else during the week. Life goes on!”

The group recently returned from a 12-day, ten-city tour of the West Coast, with stops in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon and California. After spending Thanksgiving with their families, they’ll be out again, doing their annual Jubilee Christmas show. “This will be our seventh year to do the show, and we love doing it,” says Fouch. The group partners with a group called Greater Vision to do eight tour stops.

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Christmas selections. “We provide our audiences with a first class, highquality Christmas program as part of their holidays.” Their first ever Christmas CD was A Little Christmas. In 2016, they released Messiah.

“Something we started doing a couple of years ago in our shows is to sing a few patriotic songs,” Fouch says. “We do that to show our thankfulness to God for our country, our veterans, and the freedom we have to raise our families in such a great nation. That has been very popular with our audiences.”

Through the years, the group has been featured several times on the Gaither and Friends Homecoming video series, which have sold multiple copies nationwide. They have appeared on Dr. Charles Stanley’s show In Touch, as well as being guest performers on Dr. Stanley’s In Touch Ministries-sponsored cruises. Legacy Five has appeared on TNN, TBN, Sky Angel, INSP, GMT, and The Odyssey Network as well as on local television stations across the country.

“We are so fortunate to have had the strong heritage and history of The Cathedrals,” Fouch says. “Our group has had such great mentors and we are very thankful for that foundation.”

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The Miller Family

by Emerald Butler

Handmade Violins & Guitars “Each instrument takes shape in my own hands, using a blend of old world traditions and modern technology.”

One of the great pleasures that are more often seen in the Bluegrass music scene, is seeing bands that are made up of family. This may be even more special when the band is completely made up of family members. One of these family bands is the Miller Family. The Miller’s perform an arrangement of Gospel, Bluegrass, and Classic Country music for their hometown and whoever else wants to listen.

Menno Miller grew up as an Amish boy.

“The Amish don’t allow instruments,” Menno shared, “just acapella.” Along with his household, Menno left the Amish community in 2009, and they moved to Indiana. Inspired by friends from his new hometown community, Menno Miller began playing a cheap old guitar six years ago. He started out just jamming and only performing

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in the living room. Shortly after, his sons began picking up an interest in picking up an instrument of their own. His daughters soon did the same. As each child began playing their own instrument, the Miller Family band began.

Menno and his wife Treva have eight children; six boys and two girls. Their oldest is 22 years old and their youngest is 4 years old. All of the children play an instrument.

“The four-year-old even likes to come by and chop along on his little guitar that’s quite off tune,” Menno added. James is the oldest son of the family, and he plays dobro. Andrew plays banjo, bass, and he also sings. Steven plays guitar and adds some harmony and lead vocals; Michael plays the mandolin. Jason plays bass, and then there’s the four-year-old, Jaylen.

Kristina, the oldest daughter, plays bass, guitar, and vocals. Miriam, the youngest daughter, plays Fiddle and sings. Menno Miller plays guitar, sings, and leads the family band.

Although Menno is a self-taught guitar player, all of the Miller children have had lessons for some amount of time throughout the years. Yet most of the children continue to teach themselves more and more as they gain more experience. Menno shared that the family band was greatly encouraged and helped in the beginning by Brad and Laurie Lambert who have their own band, New Outlook. They helped the band with harmonies and performance. Menno also stated that the Miller Family band mainly performs bluegrass gospel music, but they also enjoy playing other bluegrass and country tunes.

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The Miller family began performing locally at festivals, and they share their music every month at local nursing homes. Though the Miller Family doesn’t get to travel as much as they would like, they have been asked to perform in other states like Arkansas and Florida. While performing in Florida, the family was able to support some prison ministries from the area.

Menno has worked for a family metal roofing company, Millers Metal Roofing, for ten years, but he also has his own sound equipment company where he does sound for different bands. “It’s a growing business,” Menno said, “it can be really stressful at times…but I really enjoy it. It’s rewarding.”

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Menno acknowledges that he and his family got a later start in music than most, but he has thought about making music a primary source of income if the opportunity presented itself. “I would love that, but I can’t see it feasibly working out right now,” he shared.

“Everybody is kind of growing into it,” Menno said about his family band. There may be some adjustments and growing pains as the band and family grow, but the Millers have a positive outlook on the future. Menno shared that he would love to see the Miller Family band continue with his children’s children if that’s what they desire to do. For the present, the Millers are excited about getting better as a band and about the possibilities of doing small tours.

The Miller Family band has also started working on an album this summer. However, the release date for the album has yet to be determined. While they are working on the album, the family band plans to continue to share videos and the dates and locations of where they will be playing on the Miller Family Facebook page and YouTube Channel.

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Dixie Jubilee

by Shelby Campbell 40

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By definition, “jubilee” means celebration. In the Bible, a trumpet was blown to signify the “year of jubilee.”

Everything about the word embodies faith, happiness and celebration – much like the band of young musicians named after it.

Reigning from a small town in Georgia surrounded by southern gospel and bluegrass music, Candace Buggay is a natural musician on both the piano and bass.

She passed this God-given musical talent on to her six children. Judah, Johanna and Georgia, the oldest of the six children, join Candace. together, they make up Dixie Jubilee.

While considering themselves southern gospel and bluegrass musicians, Dixie Jubilee has a distinct hint of Celtic and classical harp sounds.

Judah, the oldest of the Buggay children, showed an early interest in music after meeting family-friend and banjo-player, Norm Farnum (The Farnum Family band).

At eight years old, Judah began taking banjo lessons. Soon after, his sister Johanna began taking mandolin lessons while Georgia decided to learn the harp.

Jonah and Johanna got into bluegrass music by attending jam sessions, and soon after, Candace decided to take up the upright bass – making them a bluegrass family band.

As the children grew older, the band did as well – leading to the creation and performance of their own music instead of playing cover songs. Candace’s husband, Kenny, began writing gospel songs that they put to music.

Today, Dixie Jubilee has a very Celtic-inspired bluegrass sound, drawing from the Buggay family’s musical background, as well as the historical background of folk, bluegrass, and hymn music. Their desire is to stir their listeners, blessing them and reminding them of the heritage behind the music.

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FESTIVAL GUIDE The band’s most recent album, Legacy, tells a true story through original songs that lead listeners through history. This album is Dixie’s Jubilee’s legacy, and they are proud to share it with all who will listen.

Dixie Jubilee received their first taste of recognition this year with an award at the 2018 SPBGMA International Band Championship.

This comes after years of praise as members of the young bluegrass musician group, Tomorrow’s Bluegrass Stars.

“Dixie Jubilee is absolutely one of the very best and most exciting bands in the Tomorrow’s Bluegrass Stars family! Every host-promoter of every bluegrass festival in the country would do well by having Dixie Jubilee perform at their festival,” said John Colburn, former CEEO of TBS. The Dixie Jubilee kids heard about TBS from a friend who was a part of the organization. They instantly fell in love with the group, which allowed them to meet other young bluegrass musicians and play events such as Bluegrass on the Plains in Auburn, Alabama and A Bluegrass Christmas in Raleigh, North Carolina – festivals they would not have gotten to play otherwise.

The Bluegrass Standard team got a chance to chat with these TBS members about their musical background, favorite songs, and goals for Dixie Jubilee’s future.

The Bluegrass Standard: How did your mom’s musical past influence you at a young age to pursue bluegrass music?

Dixie Jubilee: Our Mama grew up in small town as a preacher’s daughter in a Pentecostal Church. Bass is actually her secondary instrument. She is an amazing pianist! She was influenced by Southern Gospel Music, the Redback hymn book, and, of course, bluegrass. Her Papa and Grandma listened to a lot of bluegrass music when she was with them. This led her to love real music that was sung from the heart, and that played a part in how she influenced and encouraged us.

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TBS: What is your favorite part of this experience of playing bluegrass music together?

DJ: We’re probably spoiled having each other to play and learn with, so being able to share what we do at home with others is so amazing.

But we especially love the traveling, seeing new places, and meeting new people - it’s over the top!

TBS: What is your goal in how you want your music to touch people?

DJ: We want to give our audience an entertaining musical experience, but, above all, we wish to connect them with the truth of Jesus Christ. Hopefully the audience will be uplifted and encouraged to dig a little deeper into the scriptures.

TBS: What are your favorite songs to perform?

DJ: “Jacoboo” is by far one of the most fun songs we do! It was written for our brother, Jacob, on his 12th birthday. He’s 17 now and it learning to run the sound for us and has been known to mute us on his song!

TBS: What are your dreams for Dixie Jubilee?

DJ: We truly want to be able to share music and our message with anybody that we can, and to share in a beautiful and uplifting way. And, of course, it would be amazing to one day have the opportunity to play on the Grand Old Opry!

TBS: How does your faith drive your music?

DJ: We feel compelled to share the message of Jesus in a real and uplifting way.

Playing music to us is one of the most fun and fulfilling things to do, but singing about Jesus makes it even all the more worthwhile.

TBS: What’s next for Dixie Jubilee?

DJ: We’ve been in the studio in the last few weeks and hope to have a new album available in the upcoming months!

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Enjoy more of the Buggay family's unique story and music on the Dixie Jubilee website: “I own two Grundy banjos and have probably played a dozen more. These banjos have consistently the best low-end and mid tones, punch and volume of any brand I’ve played.”

dixiejubilee.org

LONNIE HOPPERS MISSOURI USA BANJO PLAYER WITH BILL MONROE’S BLUEGRASS BOYS

“My Grundy banjo is very special to me. It has incredible tone and has been so reliable over the last nine years.”

HAMISH DAVIDSON THE DAVIDSON BROTHERS, VICTORIA AUSTRALIA

John Colburn & Maggie

Preserving Bluegrass One Youngster At A Time!

Check out the world-class Grundy banjos at: grundybanjos.com “For musicians, an instrument is their musical voice. Serious beginners and professionals have the same preferences… they want a great sound, ease of playing and an instrument that will suit them personally.”

LAURENCE GRUNDY MASTER LUTHIER

Tomorrow’s Bluegrass Stars continues to support the awareness of its many talented young members, and the preservation of yesterday’s bluegrass music for tomorrow.

Click here to visit the TBS website

Wissmann Family Band Keeps it Together It’s always taken a bit of coordination for the Wissmann Family Band to rehearse, travel and perform. Then again, the Wissmann family has thirteen children and twelve grandchildren from parents and Loren and Gloria Wissmann, although all of them are not in the band at the same time. Patriarch and bandleader Loren says the challenges of keeping a family band’s organized, as well as motivated, all comes from the tight bonds developed over the course of their childhood in Nebraska.

“We have been greatly blessed in that we have been able to homeschool all of our children over the years,” Loren explained. “Through that, they have grown up studying together, working together, playing games together and thus, have grown up literally becoming each other’s best friend. So, when we started doing music together, those relationships translated over into a solid foundation to build the band upon.

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Now, as the children have gotten older, there have been other activities to work around, but because of those relationships, music has remained a high priority.

Although the Wissmann Family has been performing music now for eighteen years, the performing members have interchanged and moved in and out over those years. A brood this big has helped them maintain a longevity in performing music, yet they find themselves in a continual state of change, which no doubt keeps the experience fresh, yet rooted.

“The older children that we started performing with in the year 2000 have all now gotten married and have their own lives to live,” Loren said. “The children that we are presently performing with were, in the beginning stages, the “little ones” that we would bring up on the platform to perform the little kids’ songs. Because of that, we now have within our immediate family three banjo players, five guitar players, two mandolin players along with five fiddlers, and three bass players. When we get the whole family together today, it’s kind of a hodgepodge of who is going to play what.

We are very grateful for the opportunities that have come our way over the years, through the venue of music.”

When their children were small, the John Marshall Family’s classical vocals and instrumentals really established the taste for their bluegrass palate. But as the

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family began playing, that palate expanded.

“As we were getting started in the music, we expanded our listening to groups like Doyle Lawson, Ricky Skaggs & Rhonda Vincent plus others,” Loren said. “In the earlier years we put a lot of focus on our instrumentation quality, but as time has passed, we’ve realized the importance of vocals needing just as much attention and practice. Sibling harmonies when refined with practice give a very unique, tight sound that is hard to replicate outside of the family.”

Their newest CD, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, still delivers divine messages and the teachings of Jesus, staying true to their souls, with each chapter of their musical lives unfolding.

“I would say that our latest CD is more of the same message that is simply told in different ways,” Loren explained. “For my wife and I, our faith has made us who we are today. Jesus has changed our lives in a very positive way, not only in the here and now, but also our eternal destiny. Therefore, when we started doing music as a family, it was very natural for us to sing about what was important to us. The songs that we write or pick out to do have a specific message that we believe in. Most all the songs we do are spiritual in nature, and we want our listeners to consider the spiritual nature of their own lives.

“One of the exciting aspects we have found in doing music together, is that we have the opportunity to share our values with others.”

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by Susan Marquez Robby Lynn has fond memories of the Christmases of his youth...

“I remember my first bicycle, my first turntable, and even my first love,” he says of past Christmas memories in his home town of Vidor, Texas. “That’s near Beaumont,” he explains, “where a multitude of singers and songwriters come from. That little area of southeast Texas is a hub of music history.”

Lynn is continuing that history through his Sunday’s Kind of Country syndicated radio program which is heard in 41 radio markets and 60 TV markets around the country. The three-hour program began in 1995 and expanded to a one-hour television show in 2007. Billed as “positive programming in a negative world,” the show has over a decade-long track record of generating top ratings.

The show is hosted by Lynn, who has been named the Personality of the Year four times by the CCMA/ICMA. But hosting a nationally-syndicated Christian-music program wasn’t something Lynn aspired to when he was growing up. “I developed a love of music in the seventh grade,” he recalls. “Funny how you can’t remember what had for breakfast, but you can remember key moments in your life.” One of those moments for Lynn was when his seventh grade teacher, Mr. Struthers, brought in a copy of Willie Nelson’s Red Headed Stranger album. “It was 1977, and the album had been out for a couple of years. My teacher played one song after another, explaining that each song laid the groundwork for the next song. It was the first trilogy LP and I was both enamored and amazed. After that, I started listening to the radio more often.”

Lynn was on his high school football team, but also did a lot of theatre-based activities. He was cast in his high school’s production of The Elephant Man, which went all the way to the state competition. That helped him get a theatre-scholarship 48

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at Lamar University in Beaumont. “That only lasted a year before I had to go to work.” Lynn worked as a pipe-fitter apprentice for three years, and while he made good money, he knew that’s not what he was meant to do. He went back to college in Dallas, where he worked in a restaurant. “A guy who played music at the restaurant was also the program director of a local radio station. He offered me an overnight job and I took it.”

That was in 1983, and Lynn spent the next few years learning all he could about the radio business and about music. In 1995, the station ran a Sunday morning show called Sunday in the Country. “Unfortunately, the guy who did the show didn’t live up to the station’s standards and so he was fired. Sometimes, people see something in you that you don’t see in yourself. I was offered the job. My dad said that maybe someone else was trying to tell me something as well.”

The name of the show was changed to Christian Country Sundays and ran from 6am to 8am each Sunday morning. “I had also started selling radio ads at the time during the week. I asked the station owner who we owed the most money to. I knew from dubbing radio commercials and looking at the logs that sometimes there were errors and the station would have to run a ‘make-good’ spot for a client. I asked that all those spots be run in my show. From car dealers to oil changes, I would talk up the businesses whose ads ran on my show, and within four months businesses called the station wanting to advertise during my show so I would talk about their businesses too.”

At the height of the show, in 1998, the radio business was changing. Locally owned stations were being sold out to corporate entities such as iHeartRadio and Cumulus Media. “I had worked for iHeartRadio for 12 years and Cumulus for 10 years and starting wondering why I was working for someone else.

I had evolved into Christian Country or Southern Gospel or whatever you want to call it and it was working for me. I always had a God pilot-light in my heart. It just began burning a lot brighter.

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“I didn’t know how Jesus was working on me, but God shows up!”

Lynn thought about the kind of show he wanted to do. “You meet people who have an agenda and feel they have to smack people up against the head with a religious 2 x 4. I don’t need anyone to tell me that I’m a sinner, I already know that. I let the music I play teach that point. We touch people with the music we play.”

The Sundays Kind of Country show is produced at Lynn’s studio in Nashville, where he moved in June 2015. “We have an acoustic stage in our studio where we do a Facebook Live broadcast. We now have performers who come into the studio for interviews and to perform. We also review music occasionally. There has been a huge growth spurt in the last 18 months, and we are continuing to grow with more sponsors and more markets coming on board.”

The best part of his job, Lynn says, is that it doesn’t feel like work.

“I love what I do, and feel blessed to do it every day. We get to use music to advance the kingdom of God. We’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing.”

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 Fiddler’s Porch 

The Erwins

by Emerald Butler The idea that Southern Gospel music is dying out has been rumored and feared by listeners and critics across the country. From an outside perspective, Southern Gospel music may look like a genre only for the white-haired folks of the south.

However, this idea has been proven to be false by multiple artists, groups, and fans of the younger generation. One of these trailblazing young groups is the Erwins.

For as long as they can remember, the Edgewood, Texas-based siblings have been traveling across the country singing and ministering to people of all ages and backgrounds. The four siblings are Keith, Kody, Kris, and Katie. Their age range spreads from 25, with Keith being the oldest, to 18 with Katie being the youngest.

They began their travel with their father evangelist Dennis Erwin. “This is all I’ve known,” Kris Erwin shared about growing up in his father’s ministry. “It would almost be weird if we didn’t do it,” his sister Katie added. Their parents Dennis and Tiffany Erwin have been in full-time ministry for 44 years.

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Though traveling is something they’ve always done, the siblings shared that they have got their fill of fast food meals, and the struggle of sharing a single mirror.

Kris admitted that he is a bit of a homebody, so being away from home has been a challenge at times. The Erwin family started out traveling the country in a little van and trailer. “In the past few years,” Katie shared, “God has given us a bus to travel in which has made it a lot easier.” However, on July 29, 2017, the bus crashed with all of the family on board.

“Our father was driving the bus,” Kris began, “when the front passenger side tire explodes going 75 miles per hour on the highway. Dad loses control of the bus, and he hits a guardrail three times; goes down a twenty-foot ditch and through a tree line there on the side of the highway. The bus was completely totaled as you can imagine, but we all walked off that bus without a single scratch, mark, or bruise.”

The family sees the bus wreck as a reminder that if God can take care of people in the big things he can definitely take care of them in the daily small things. “Not a lot of people go through bus wrecks,” Katie shared, “but that speaks for anything that people are going through.” The Erwins replaced their bus in March of this year, but in between transitions a man from Kentucky let the family borrow his bus that was sitting in his driveway. “That was a huge blessing,” Katie said.

The Erwins are keeping the wheels turning with about 284 days of touring throughout the year. Their dad still drives the bus and preaches at some of the events. Katie now has two sisters in law who also travel with the family at times, and one of them even runs sound. Kody and his wife just had a baby girl last year, so they are trying to slow things down just a little bit.

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Currently, the Erwins are on the Resurrection of Faith Tour with Joseph Habedank, and there is talk of a possible Christmas album in the future. They just released a new album titled “Watch & See”, which beautifully displays their unique take and revival of Southern Gospel.

“I think it’s important to show the younger people that you are never too young or the older people that you’re never too old to follow God's call on your life,” Katie said.

The siblings have often heard people say that Southern Gospel music is dying, but they just don’t believe it. They see people of all ages being impacted by this music, and they said that they hope to see more people their age continue to embrace it.

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 Fiddler’s Porch 

by Emerald Butler Sometimes the purest gospel music can be as rusty as the cross-piercing nails that it sings of. A few notes may be wrong, or a couple of words may be forgotten. Still, the music doesn’t have to be perfect or professional; it just has to be true. That is the goal that bluegrass gospel group Rocky Flatts has set for themselves as they share their music and message.

Rocky Flatts started out as just a couple of friends getting together to jam back in 2007. With no intention of performing out on a regular basis, the group of friends was discovered by some locals who then asked them to play at a local church revival.

The group hails from the small-town Madisonville, Tennessee area. Growing up in the backyard of the Smoky Mountains provided the young men with a rich gospel music heritage. Several of the band members grew up as sons of pastors, and they all grew up around the music in church.

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After playing that first revival, the group continued to get requests to come to play at churches, community events, and holiday services. Out of all of these requests, Rocky Flatts was formed.

Among their multiple local performances, the group decided to start recording.

In 2011 Rocky Flatts recorded their first album “In the Beginning”. Dustin Atkins, the group’s dobro player, looks back to this first experience with mixed emotions.

“It’s funny,” Atkins began, “it’s still out there. I don’t like to sell it now because you go back to listen to it and you think ‘oh my goodness! Did we really record that?’”

To this date, Rocky Flatts has recorded three albums. These recordings have been made with the help and engineering work of folks like Steve Gulley, and Randall Hamilton (father of Emmi Sunshine). “We got so much better from that first album to the second album. Each one is very humbling,” Atkins shared. The band was able to capitalize on their niche of a couple different and unique vocal arrangements in these first albums.

This year the group has been in a bit of a transition stage. A few of the original members have left the band, so it has been a process to fill in some of the spaces.

The current members of the band are Dustin Atkins on Dobro, Jeff Amburn on Bass, Jason Miller on banjo, and Mike White on guitar. A few years ago, the band would play about 52 dates a year. Though it was a good experience for the musicians, it was also a little too much. All of the members have families and day jobs. A couple of them are even bank CEOs. The men love playing music and sharing the gospel, but they don’t seek to pursue music as a career. However, there are several other professional musicians from the area that Rocky Flatts members have either gone to school with, performed with, or jammed with at some time or the other.

This list includes names like Keith Garrett of The Boxcars, Justin Moses, and Emi Sunshine.

The members of Rocky Flatts may say that they’re not professionals and don’t seek to be, but that doesn’t stop them from doing what they love.

“I like to play with people, and for people,” Atkins shared for himself and the group.

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Atkins also shared that the group is overdue for a new album, and he hopes to record another one in the near future. In the meantime, the band still intends on playing as much as the community would like them to.

Rocky Flatts hopes that those who see them find that they are “humble and genuine in presenting God’s word through song.” Atkins said, “it’s never been about putting on a show or…what we can do. I’m a firm believer that if we go somewhere we are there for a purpose.” Perhaps the band isn’t professional or perfect in their playing, but it’s that purpose that keeps their gospel music pure.

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by Susan Marquez When it comes to Christmas, there’s no denying it is Janna Long’s favorite holiday. “She and our three girls start decorating the day after

Thanksgiving,” laughs Greg Long. “Our house is decorated for Christmas from top to bottom. They are crazy about the season! Our 14-year-old daughter loves listening to Christmas music.”

It should come as no surprise that of the 14 albums that Janna and Greg’s vocal group, Avalon, has recorded, that Joy: A Christmas Collection is Janna’s favorite.

The album was released in 2000 and it’s clear that Avalon wanted to do something different. It begins with the electronically-influenced Joy to the World, and each song promises to put anyone in the Christmas spirit. “I have to admit, it’s one of my favorites, too,” says Greg.

Avalon was founded in 1996. Through the years, the group has been nominated for a GRAMMY three times. “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride,” Greg says. But the group did win the American Music Award in 2003 for Favorite Artist Contemporary Inspiration. They’ve also won numerous Dove awards over the years and multiple Recording Industry Association of America-certified gold records. They’ve sold over four million LPs and released 22 number one Christian hits. In other words, Avalon is doing something right.

It has been ten years since Avalon has released a record, but fans don’t have to wait much longer. The group has just signed a new deal with Red Street Records, the new Christian label started by Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatt. “We are working on a new album right now,” Greg says. “It will even have a few Christmas songs that we’ll release as singles.” The group will record the new album in Nashville.

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who lives in Nashville and Dani Rocca, who lives in Syracuse, New York.

Greg says that Nashville is one of the group’s common denominators.

“It’s where we all met. I really think it was a God thing.” Dani is the newest member of the group, and the upcoming album will be her first with Avalon. “Dani was the worship leader in our church and we asked her to join the group. She’s a great addition.”

While Avalon used to tour 30 to 40 cities each spring and fall, their touring schedule has slowed down in recent years. “We have three daughters, and we are very involved in our church in Houston,” explains Greg. “We’ll tour some to promote our upcoming album, but our commitment to the church only allows us about ten weekends a year. We love being part of a local church, so we just have to work around that.”

When they do tour, the Longs often bring their girls with them. “Last weekend we played in Dallas and Shreveport, and our mothers brought the girls to meet up with us. They like being on the tour bus, and hanging out in hotels.”

Music is something that comes naturally to all the members of Avalon.

“I grew up in South Dakota, the son of a preacher,” says Greg. “I began singing in church before I could barely talk. My mother was really cool mom because she played the guitar!

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dressed up in full cowboy suits. Janna’s dad was a pastor in Baltimore, so she also grew up singing in church. All of us were raised in the church, including Jody, who grew up in Florida, and Dani, who grew up in Virginia Beach.

Each member of the group is excited to be singing about their faith and what and who they believe in. “We sing Christian music because we love it. It’s about Jesus Christ, our savior,” says Greg. “We don’t do it for the money. Christian music just doesn’t perform as well as some other musical genres. But we don’t mind. We’ve all been grateful to have been able to support our families with our music.”

Greg says that one of their favorite things to do through the years has been presenting Christmas shows. “We won’t be doing one this year because of commitments with our church. But in the past, we’ve done some wonderful Christmas shows and at the end, we sing Light a Candle, then we bring out a big birthday cake with candles in it and have everyone in the audience join us in singing Happy Birthday to Jesus. It’s always a special moment and the audiences really love it.”

This Christmas, it’s probably a sure thing that the Long family will be celebrating with a birthday cake for Jesus in the Avalon tradition.

Check out the Avalon website: avalonlive.org

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The Old-time Comfort Kitchen of Hoyt Tidwell

by Kara Martinez Bachman There’s nothing pretentious going on when Hoyt Tidwell cooks from his kitchen in Tennessee. No fancy-pants French words. No haute cuisine. No exotic ingredients, or trendy culinary fusions. There’s just a country gentleman in overalls, crafting comfort food and getting his hands dusty with flour.

“My cooking attire is my bib Liberty overalls,” he said, explaining his old-fashioned look has become a trademark.

The cooking goes down in a little town 90 miles due south of Nashville, not far from the Alabama line. There’s not much to do there, and cooking is a good way to pass the time. Boy oh boy, does Hoyt find a great way to pass the time, and people watch while he does it.

It all started when he uploaded a video of himself doing nothing but cooking dumplings. It was posted to Facebook, where he said a year ago, he had “half a dozen followers.” Today, there are well over 260,000 followers. He said 4.8 million people have now “seen my mug on Facebook.” Since then, he’s added more videos and there are now over 60 recipes online.

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How did this all happen? Well, it was because of a special child Hoyt cared about.

She’d been battling cancer. She'd referred to him as Pappy. “She’d lost her hair,” he said, remembering her fondly. “The cancer finally got the best of her at age 16.”

It had always been important to him to support the grieving by bringing food to a funeral. “I walked in with this pot of dumplings,” he said. “There were five or six women there. They said, ‘your wife made a pot of dumplings?’ and I said, ‘you’re looking at the wife.’”

They were impressed that he was the cook instead of his wife, Suzy. They asked for the recipe. He got a lot of attention for that dish.

“We decided to make a home video of me cooking chicken and dumplings in my kitchen,” he said. “I learned it from my uncle’s girlfriend. It was an old, old recipe from her ancestors,” he said.

His tips are really make-it-or-break it when it comes to making one of the most beloved dishes of any country kitchen.

“You gotta roll them real thin,” he advised. “Real thin is the key to the dumpling.”

He said if the dough is too thick, dumplings will drop to the bottom of the pot and stick to each other. “But if they’re light,” he explained, “they’ll come up to the top.”

Another tip: “Don’t stir, just give them a good shake so they’ll separate during the boiling,” he advised. When Hoyt makes big batches for events and visiting with people, he uses a pizza cutter. It’s much easier than cutting the dough with a knife.

In terms of flavor, Hoyt thinks his lard makes a huge difference in the taste. “I render my own lard,” he said.

“I get my fat from the Amish.”

He says these things with a genuine country charm that’s uncommon today. Most people have moved on from doing things with their own hands, so might have a hard time understanding the pride in something as everyday as dumplings.

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Most old-time ways have fallen by the wayside. Yearnings for the traditional kitchen must be strong, however, because people flock to Hoyt’s Facebook page.

Since the video took off a year ago, he’s added products to his website, including T-shirts, hats, and cooking utensils. The most successful is the cookbook he released in May, Hoyt’s Kitchen: Favorite Recipes from Hoyt and Family.

“We’ve sent several cookbooks across the waters... to Australia, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom... they go everywhere,” said his wife, Suzy, about how interest in traditional comfort food recognizes no national borders.

How does Suzy feel, though, about letting Hoyt take all the credit as family cook? “I am tickled to death,” she said. “I was never a good cook... I don’t like to cook.”

During the holidays, it must be a treat to kick back and watch as your man makes Christmas dinner. This year will be no exception. “It’s usually his turkey, and his good dressing, and his good mashed potatoes,” Suzy said, dreamily rattling off a list of things they’ll enjoy during the holidays.

The lesson Hoyt strives to teach – his goal, if he had one besides just wanting to make some dang good food – is a useful lesson for the holiday season.

“My main focus is to get the young generation back to the table. Back to the kitchen,” Hoyt told us. “Don’t come to the table with your cell phone.

Instead, let’s talk about family.”

Hoyt's famous plings! m u D h it w n e k Chic

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e u c e b r a B e : h s T n f a i o c s i s e i u r o m m d r n u a Me o B T s s A a S r U g e e u h l t B d n the a m o r f A d.cz) ndard n a b IBM cue Sta arbe rass o

w.b lueg ar and t w B w ( e ecue nks to Th C this ye locations b r a up B blic. Tha aleigh N her t o r o , also l G s a s s R u r a s e p r n a i v e luegr Czech R at IBMA sic” in se nal blueg as well.

B e re Th ope, The e to play rass mu y traditio sh tunes a e W lueg s purel y Ca f Eur were abl b n o f n t o y r h hea ne, we style grass pla ongs - Jo n a i e z s e p Maga The Euro BBQ blu country “ a. nd show h Carolin Czech a in rt in No n songs ow their

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man o R , cals o v , r cal, a o t i v u , s g lik - uble bas d n a H avel Subr – do P : are e r . i e a r o i j w J s n , r t , bu er mbe d vocals inov - ba c i e l b m u play Rep Band onicas an xey Chud o h j c e n e u a z c ree be rm eb Ale eC h r a t , h h a t h n c T i i B t , l l The from echs, bu h Repub obro - mando d d n k a k e e Cz he Czec : “b r e a Zajic Kristufe h t s rd es as member ved to T a v l u e d s bass o E r r e u u m h o o t e that ndship duce ational. F Russia (h t o c r t a f n e We i ly intern cow o the ternet fri rass s t o s k M u tr than ed an in lueg am e also mes from B c e n co xiste stablish her of Th t his dre A. e o t Alex go)”. in r, e e b ublis old abou in the US u a m p S a s i c r d r i a n J A ye i) t e, ra r US i u e and J ( c e c B e h u e t e b tion d g r u r a o o a r c t r o e e B e r p r, op ou .G nd arb The t of the ba , promote rnacastle y with B to the co a r er pla ed playe e manag e: Keith B ions – to and agre in s th ss this r o with rd Magaz ral discu d's demo f y life uitar ve da an e m b s f e r o Stan e h t –g d ft n a o k with í t e l h e d t d e i c n e h e n t a n K e i to liste ith to ". Pavel H st exper d e a K h o ful t with him to his fir Keith e band. e t a r th l be g iendship oup adds l i with w I e gr ds: " or the fr u d c a e e b f r g Geor unity and of the Ba r rt oppo and singe USA: e r playe ing in th rm the n i perfo l a estiv rass F A M g he IB The Blue ed t t a USA med at lugg p e n h t u r ur in we perfo ed some tandard o t r play ass S of ou , where r e s g y e W a u .

Bl ce. igh es 4d s n e e t l a e s h i a c r T d R e au the fi arolina, red show tand for h t t n f e o s C t sp so "We l of North e's spon ade show e interes in a th tr Capit rd Magaz t on the sed with da lea righ p s y e r Stan c e rman e were v o f r e p ine. W z a g Ma THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

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rican e m nal A in the o i t i d ongs y g tra s n i e y a ns pl sang som omebod a e p Euro imes we re was s and how r a e e h et o m t o d, th in Europe ting g s e n , i l t m a s r tere ass erfo estiv teres r f n p n i g i A e e y l n u M w l a in B certa oms of I very time ion with b c. Always s a "It w in Ballro ubli ell. E he situat p ith a w e w R s s a c h t r i mus anguage d about the Czec duce nally it o r p l e t h to some me perso ring Czec s interes ic come f o t us wa teres ears. For . Hea oys n s i s i who egrass m e gy h th ot m t Rize b ll t u n i n l i b w d m l d o d u Ho di wi re . co nc g o i s n I n n u o i S i h o f e s U c i s and h w gigs in how, wh me or se at none o ity of discu d e s he s of Fa thing th possibil ur plea rs for ne t l l f e r a o e H e e We w cific offe xperienc luegrass w is som urse, the yed by o jo e B co pe ho few s o a great ch at the wards S MA is, of - most en A g IB ee als was kaggs' sp ole IBMA er of the d jammin : S ow pt wh "At an n a : s r h t d e c c r y Ricky ting the a eet la wo nt ate p r m o e c a s o y h j l o p t c l n i p ba persona rs of live h rget. A se ew mus give him u o r n f ill fo ass G ns, or to all corne r g ever shment o ey, so I w e u Bl icia i x s l e e u b from l u a A c s t m , e d r b es w n playe e Bar meet ne new frie h o j T n – ba nov rtunity to ms, I met i d u ey Ch the oppo ds. On ja x e l A frien had I g n A i k IBM twor e n l socia

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ads o l g min m was a J A .

A M S B the U t IBMA. I acebook f o d a F er en ed jams ty of my h t o the njoy eet plen e m y o l l r ell." f a m r w n o o s o t s ade an sa er ly l g m p p a a a I e J t n ! o w y d MA , from ve energ me pers ideos an B I ard d l d e r n h o i r t v a t w i t o r f the afte egrass S some a pos ortunity s y e h r t a i a d like d u l l w p p u o B e p u o r w e o o p r y t br: "T from Th . Here I w pared fo grea hom we u a Š í o als ith w r - Jiř rnacastle ide there e has pre ulture e w g s n i d nd s th Ba cellent gu ogram h ory and c ed frien i a e r K e . y t , join s pla ngton DC al and ex derful pr t the his n s n a A b won re abou d Peggy The ncoln ashi r person i e L W h r t o o o n t u a or seum a trip ne was o y much f w much m s, Curtis u M i t e r z o n c e Maga k Keith v hy we kn ith's pare and Spa r the n ir w e o a A f K s i , h . r l t t o o w a t t to …. th States no the Capi nce!

Sena ur visit d . s n r a us, erie sit M sored o ate ited isiting of i p v n x e U o t e le nity spon e US Sen all u r of Th hat trip. V orgettab t o r t o a of t Th pp en nf n o S n n u i o . o i d s s t e s n r a u M ffic ten ra by. . t r o o s al w a ' a i r n r h e e e o t o an h yde-Smi s in h tracted th offices n ns Mem h g c n u o a had s i: Cindy H several s song at yees from Europe o s l the We a ississipp e played t Sorrow r emplo w o h r M W nstan also othe and hea o state hington.

C f as and an o o see t e to W g. The M e office cam h d n t i n f d a l o i g rs Bu mbe ed workin e m the stopp music. y e h So t uegrass bl play

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bus e h t ck on hian a b t up go e Appalac tell you o r g ecue ina, in th ayer, will b r a he B th Carol onica pl T , C on, D arta, Nor nd harm t g n i ates ee.

Wash rm in Sp e dobro a t S g n d i t e it rfo th isi ess n , e v n U k p r n e e e e o t c Af Zaji ed th shville, T limb the ded t t i n a s e a i h v ave d Na rted to c t in and ains. Rom y: h n I a , t s s t e n nt cer sta oa e n C h o m t g c i s u Mou hat journ instr y the We y to Rale rd to our the Keith t l t a u c i o s u ab ainl r journe k forwa m f m ed in nds feel l o s e r a v u o e a w mak s. But it hen o egan to lo rn”. We tr grass ba buses a w s g A " time ful feelin nd we b “was bo can Blue eet such l a r e uti eri sa sic sev a n u m i e dly m ed for us a A r b m t a e n a s h s h u s r t It wa chian Mo e bluegra eel how ours. You , who ca tories of in s la nn th gs df rt Appa a where and coul s on thei , Peggy A e evenin ttlesnake a s re er se Th oss r r the a astle’s bu h big bu h's moth e meals. c a ing d uc ac eit Barn hey use s ank to K home-ma and runn eek t h r r t t e C n a g e e i e y d r wh udd e. A b paring g hunting M p clear e o r h s e T u t a r E t u p in ets a st set, it w our, urtis abo us. s t r 3 u on o father C amazed layed er the fir p e ly 's n. W t us aft w o Keith ippi simp t mall e to mee s iss l s s u i f i M eaut ence cam b a rta is the audi a p S " hen W . e f Ca

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ass r g e u l ive b r as l “ d w an lecture o n k g was o n i e h i g x w i g ople good clo eak in D g and e p e th ry ybr e e a enin . v r v D a s . e a y c l i e u w s mu from derf at th s. There e n h s v t o i e l y w l r m diate l waitres ce on ou ! It was a grass co public e m tifu s im dan as great blue zech Re hen e h t for u The beau d her to mC t! W she gw ere a o n h e r i e . f t c r ” w i s s g n v a , live e in er da t the are s. She wa was also eek Cafe w h d d n n a ice a to play a bluegras years. It well dy Cr made a o d h u c e d tM 20 ad es a goo e very gl who lov arta for playing a orning, w ter Banks m u s er Sp an we w t with a f living in band wa The next - to the O st). e ." a en ch oa We m o has be t our Cze to come h Carolin Ocean c ory: t s t d h c s a r i i a t ells h and w nd out th nd she h ate of No the Atlan t ) p u st ta ou n e gro s and I am ks u she f believe i cross the anteo (o c e a M ot Barb trument uter Ban e h t did n m Sparta estival to r of l ins uty of O F e a o sand c r y i f d a s e l n p u h p a a t l e tri s m n on ace oli er eb l ss I k d h h p l a t n T r a s o a . g k (m lins and d nature make a w tival take he Blue e f ů ť to riš Fes ndo and wil y K a d t n in t um. i n d a m n r a e f l u c a g t s o I Edu aker r of fishin he oppor luegrass and the o photo alb m a t "I am reat love not miss r Banks B arbecue rn of our o fB d te ag also d me. I di . The Ou photos o be the ad st e ill ul amaz cean coa ! Beautif ubrova w nly once.

S o on eo of th ely locati by Anna m in OBX r ov de in a l ound ma d to perfo gr se back re suppo e We w

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e n. Sh o i t c ), rea was s ’ r e ganiz Audience ere r o n mai cial w d day. e e t p h x t S ( e n m lan s o ci's w I s c i o s s R h s o s elia ge Bl s Bluegra ps at ond m c n A e a r s y he db dO BX’ t e n grou the O y s a l a a e a l e w h n p l t o o p e i r o re so ssibility t stant Sor hear from ost tradit . He mad e w "We s the po e m aviation Con sting to h f t O f o n f u e gave great! Ma was inter were one big fan o ass r g e ly It t we avel, is a k. e Blu se a h simp d again. h T t d t P w ou a r, an fac H H re e d y e u y e t n t a h e l t a a t i fe ss B ne's Coff fans r guitar p ents to K a l r a g v e i rrai Blu par o Fest tival. Ou e s L i u h c n nd es arbe k place i B e the f h Keith a h too fT how t o r t i c u e w e o c trip t exp f our man 18 USA T r o o n f r d e di photos o r Ralph st pe azine 20 a W l " : e r ag eo ny ye "Th c a a i M l R p m d rass y r s o g a n s S e o d a ! u T l n b e " , Sta and uld b example ally love b r NC. B o e s c n s r e a in Ga luegr ee Hous here (for le who re B Q r (BB ine's Coff rformed for peop wo sets. b u S Jiri ed t Lorra s who pe we play y l a l u f p i t t beau ss heroe ld us tha y well. We to er gra Blue ), clearly joyed it v n ley Stan And we e c. musi

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their ught y b d esse them bo r p m ere i . A lot of w e dw blic n u a p e k ch R brea e z e C h t grass the ing e r n i u u l c d i The B Tour. It fans ass mus py! d h t n i a et w USA stle the g uegr ery hap l 8 a m f b c 1 o e a 0 e v n w 2 "W vie Bar ing our min of th ade us o t w h c s t e i e n o e r t r m inte ank K r sponso e found a forward nd it h a t o D king like t again fo which w our C o d o l l u e o e r n we w azine onc erience i SA. We a , y l l Fina rd Mag exp in the U e l b ta e da Stan unforget nd cultur a an usic was m s ras ho blueg 2019! w , n n n i de yA back e-ma Pegg

om er, h h t t o a 's m ring gre r Curtis h t i e e s in pa h oK e t t e r k a u f p a o , nk y our tour of Keith's s rattlesn a h t ros c ries A big or us on a o t g s f nin ing d n n e u r e r v a c and us! he e r T e . s e l gd ed n z mea i a t n m t hu imply a u o b a is p p i s s Missi

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December Festivals & Events Dates

Event

Location

Dec 1

Honeymoon Island Bluegrass Festival

Dunedin, FL

Dec 4

Jersey City Bluegrass Jam

Jersey City, NJ

Dec 5-8

Bluegrass Christmas in the Smokies

Pigeon Forge, TN

Dec 7-11

Strings & Sol

Cancun, Mexico

Dec 13-24

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar

Austin, TX

For the complete list with links to full info, check out our Events tab at TheBluegrassStandard.com!

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January Festivals & Events Dates

Event

Location

Jan 3-5

Jekyll Island New Year's Bluegrass Festival

Jekyll Island, GA

Jan 11-12

County Bluegrass Winter Festival

Presque Isle, MN

Jan 11-12

Perrysburg Bluegrass Festival

Perrysburg, OH

Jan 11-12

SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards

Jefferson City, MO

Jan 12-17

Bluegrass and Blue Water Cruise

Charleston, SC

Jan 14-18

Danny Stewart's Caribbean Cruise

Port Canaveral, FL

Jan 15-20

YeeHaw Music Fest

Okeechobee, FL

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Suits, Boots & Bluegrass

fan photos

Suits, Boots & Bluegrass

fan photos

SPRING BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL at Sertoma Youth Ranch

The

85 Meyers Road Brooksville, Florida An Evans Media Source Event www.evansmediasource.com

- MC Jo Odom - BALSAM RANGE - NOTHIN FANCY - THE GRASCALS - DON RIGSBY - DONNA ULISSE - LARRY STEPENSON - LARRY EFAW’s Bluegrass Mountaineers - DARRELL WEBB TICKET PRICES Reserve Seating Available Advanced 4-Days $65.00 (ends March 1st, 2018) 4 Day Gate $75.00 - REBEKAH LONG Wed. free with ticket - Thurs. $25.00 - Fri. $30.00 - Sat. $30.00 - Sun. Free with ticket Youth 10-15 years Weekend $15.00 (Or $5 per day) 9 years & under free - BRAD HUDSON CAMPING Hook ups (water & electric) $25.00 nightly - Dry camping $13.00 nightly - LES SEARS in the Spotlight Make Checks payable to: Evans Media Source 6143 Sabre Drive Jacksonville, FL 32244 Tickets & Camping (904) 886886-8378 - email eanddmedia@gmail.com - JAN LADD Gospel Sing “Florida’s Adventure Coast” is a registered trademark of Hernando County, Florida

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________

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tell them you saw it in The Bluegrass Standard!

from the Publisher's desk

As our second year draws to a close, I want to personally thank our hard-working staff: Richelle, Shelby, Kara, Stephen, Susan, Emerald, James, and all of the guest writers, photographers and reporters that bring in the stories you want to hear, every month.

I also want to wish every one of our readers a safe and happy Holiday Season, and the very best in the New Year!

Next Month...

Special Focus Issue: “The Women of Bluegrass” Valerie Smith Alison Brown Alecia Nugent Dixie Chicks Claire Lynch ...and many more that are shaping the future of bluegrass!

Keith Barnacastle — Publisher

! e u l Iss

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