New South (band)

Last updated
New South
JDCroweandtheNewSouth.jpg
The New South performing with J. D. Crowe on August 8, 2008.
Background information
Origin Kentucky, United States
Genres Bluegrass
Years active 1973 present
Labels Rounder, Starday
Members Rickey Wasson
Dwight McCall
John Bowman
Steve Thomas
Past members Doyle Lawson
Tony Rice
Larry Rice
Bobby Slone
Ricky Skaggs
Jerry Douglas
Keith Whitley
Jimmy Gaudreau
Mike Gregory
Steve Bryant
Tony King
Phil Leadbetter
Richard Bennett
Robert Hale
Randy Hayes
Paul Adkins
Darrell Webb
Curt Chapman
Barry Crabtree
Harold Nixon
Ron Stewart
Scott Risner

The New South is a bluegrass band formed in 1971 [1] by banjo player J. D. Crowe. Their first two albums, Bluegrass Evolution and the eponymous record known by the album number, "Rounder 0044", established them as a dominant force in bluegrass, though the two albums are wildly different.

Contents

Band members

The New South have recorded and toured with a variety of different lineups. One of the most notable lineup changes came in 2002 when the entire band quit out of desire for a more active performing schedule, forming the band Wildfire. Crowe quickly found replacements (rehiring mandolinist/vocalist Dwight McCall and guitarist/ vocalist Rickey Wasson who had both been members previously) and the New South has continued a moderate performance schedule.

Current and past members include: J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson, Tony Rice, Larry Rice, Bobby Slone, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Keith Whitley, Jimmy Gaudreau, Mike Gregory, Steve Bryant, Paul Adkins, Tony King, Phil Leadbetter, Richard Bennett, Don Rigsby, Robert Hale, Darrell Webb, Curt Chapman, Dwight McCall, Rickey Wasson, Wayne Fields, Harold Nixon, Randy Hayes, and Ron Stewart.

Key recordings

The Kentucky Mountain Boys

J.D. Crowe formed the prototype for the New South, the Kentucky Mountain Boys, around 1964. [2] Members of the line-up included Red Allen, Larry Rice, Bobby Slone, and Doyle Lawson. The group recorded three albums on Lemco Records: Bluegrass Holiday, Ramblin' Boy, and a gospel album, The Model Church. Lawson left the group in 1971 to join the Country Gentlemen, and was replaced by Larry Rice's younger brother, Tony Rice, a guitar prodigy and student of Clarence White.

Bluegrass Evolution

The first album recorded as the "New South" was Bluegrass Evolution. This album seems to have been influenced by the Osborne Brothers and by more mainstream country music; it incorporates drums, pedal steel and electric instruments to a far greater degree than most bluegrass bands of the period.

J.D. Crowe & The New South ("Rounder 0044")

After Bluegrass Evolution, Larry Rice left the band. A young Ricky Skaggs replaced him, and Jerry Douglas also joined the group for this 1975 eponymously titled album, more commonly known by its Rounder Records catalogue number ("Rounder 0044"). Stylistically, this album marked a sharp turn from Bluegrass Evolution, while still experimenting with pedal steel, percussion and a piano on the tracks "You Are What I Am" and "Cryin' Holy", the majority of the album featured songs played with traditional bluegrass instrumentation (although on the slower numbers, Skaggs doubled his fiddle with a viola) by up-and-coming singer songwriters such as Gordon Lightfoot, Utah Phillips and Rodney Crowell, as well as incorporating more traditional songs such as "Old Home Place", "Some Old Day", and "Sally Goodin". This one album changed the nature and direction of bluegrass music to an extent that everything after it has to be viewed in light of this album, and today this album is considered a landmark in bluegrass music without which no collection is complete.

The Keith Whitley Years

Not long after Rounder 0044's release, Tony Rice departed the band to join David Grisman's band. Skaggs and Douglas soon followed suit, forming their own band, Boone Creek. After experimenting with a few lineups, Crowe hired bassist Steve Bryant, mandolinist Jimmy Gadreau, as well as former Ralph Stanley guitarist Keith Whitley. This band produced three albums: My Home Ain't In the Hall of Fame, Live in Japan, and Somewhere Between. All three of these albums saw the band returning toward the sound of the Bluegrass Evolution album, incorporating more country elements, with Crowe even playing electric guitar more than banjo on "Somewhere Between".

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Rice</span> American bluegrass musician (1951–2020)

David Anthony Rice was an American bluegrass guitarist. He was an influential acoustic guitar player in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and acoustic jazz. He was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. D. Crowe</span> American musician and band leader (1937–2021)

James Dee Crowe was an American banjo player and bluegrass band leader. He first became known during his four-year stint with Jimmy Martin in the 1950s. Crowe led the bluegrass group New South from 1971 until his death in 2021.

James David Van Cleve is an American fiddle player, songwriter, session musician, and producer. He is a founding member of the popular band Mountain Heart, and a Grammy winning session musician and Grammy nominated solo artist.

Todd Phillips is an American double bassist. He has appeared on a number of acoustic instrumental and bluegrass recordings made since the mid-1970s. A two-time Grammy Award winner and founding member of the original David Grisman Quintet, Phillips has made a career of performing and recording with acoustic music artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doyle Lawson</span> American bluegrass and gospel musician

Doyle Wayne Lawson is an American traditional bluegrass and Southern gospel musician. He is best known as a mandolin player, vocalist, producer, and leader of the 6-man group Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Lawson was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Skaggs</span> American musician, producer, and composer

Rickie Lee Skaggs, known professionally as Ricky Skaggs, is an American neotraditional country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, mandocaster, and banjo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herb Pedersen</span> American musician, guitarist, banjo player, songwriter

Herbert Joseph Pedersen is an American musician, guitarist, banjo player, singer-songwriter, and actor who has played a variety of musical styles over the past fifty years including country, bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, folk, folk rock, country rock, and has worked with numerous musicians in many different bands.

<i>J. D. Crowe & The New South</i> 1975 studio album by J. D. Crowe

J. D. Crowe & The New South is an album by American banjo player J. D. Crowe and The New South, released in 1975. It was reissued on CD in 1992.

<i>The Bluegrass Album</i> 1981 studio album by Bluegrass Album Band

The Bluegrass Album is the debut album by bluegrass supergroup, Bluegrass Album Band, released in 1981. It's a collection of bluegrass standards by Lester Flatt, Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley and others. Ultimately, four volumes were released, recorded between 1980 and 1985.

<i>Bluegrass Album, Vol. 5 – Sweet Sunny South</i> 1989 studio album by Bluegrass Album Band

Bluegrass Album, Vol. 5 - —Sweet Sunny South is a fifth album by bluegrass supergroup, Bluegrass Album Band, released in 1989. Violinist Vassar Clements is on this album replacing Bobby Hicks, and bass duties are taken over by Mark Schatz (instead of Todd Philips, who otherwise plays on all Bluegrass Album Band albums.

<i>Bluegrass Album, Vol. 6 – Bluegrass Instrumentals</i> 1996 studio album by Bluegrass Album Band

Bluegrass Album, Vol. 6 – Bluegrass Instrumentals is the sixth and final album by bluegrass supergroup, Bluegrass Album Band, released in 1996. Violinist Bobby Hicks and bassist Todd Philips reunite with the group, while Vassar Clements remains in the lineup for this ultimate recording to produce a fantastic double-fiddle sound together with Hicks.

<i>Guitar</i> (Tony Rice album) 1973 studio album by Tony Rice

Guitar is the first album by American guitarist Tony Rice, released in 1973. At first, this album was issued by Red Clay Records, Japanese bluegrass album label, entitled "got me a martin guitar" in 1973.

This article presents the discography of influential guitar player and vocalist Tony Rice.

Louis Reid Pyrtle is an American bluegrass singer and musician, bandleader of The Seldom Scene.

James Arnott “Jimmy” Gaudreau is a singer and mandolinist playing traditional and progressive bluegrass music. He is best known for his solo albums, and his work with The Country Gentlemen, Tony Rice, and J. D. Crowe.

Donald Glen Rigsby is an American mandolinist, fiddler, guitarist, vocalist, and producer in the bluegrass tradition. He is known for his solo career, and for his work with the Lonesome River Band and Longview.

Ron Stewart is an American multi-instrumentalist in the bluegrass tradition. He plays fiddle, guitar, banjo, and mandolin, and has won the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award for Fiddle Player of the Year in 2000 and Banjo Player of the Year in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Rice (musician)</span> Musical artist

Larry Prentis Rice was an American mandolinist, singer, songwriter, and band leader in the bluegrass tradition. He is known for his solo albums and for his unique syncopated mandolin picking style.

Wyatt Rice is an American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He is best known for his solo albums and his work in his brother's group the Tony Rice Unit.

Joe Mullins is an American banjo player, vocalist, band leader, and radio broadcaster. He plays bluegrass and gospel music.

References

  1. Kentucky Encyclopedia, p. 243
  2. Kentucky Encyclopedia, p.243