Old News Archive

Bill Monroe Estate Sale and Auction

The same firm that recently handled the sale of Waylon Jenning’s surplus possessions will be conducting an estate sale and auction for the estate of legendary bluegrass founder Bill Monroe . The sale will take place on Saturday, December 22, 2001 at the new Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Items available range from Mr. Monroe’s vintage collection of mandolins to his stageware, as well as personal household treasures.

Georgia Music Hall of Fame

At the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards on Monday night, October 22, at the Georgia World Congress Center, country music star Alan Jackson was inducted into the hall in the performer category. The Mary Tallent ''Pioneer" Award went to Grand Ole Opry star Roy Drusky , while the “Georgy” was awarded posthumously to early country and blues producer Ralph Peer , who died in 1960.

Red, White and Bluegrass

Nashville, Tenn., October 9, 2001 -- Dolly Parton has announced a benefit concert to be held on New Year’s Eve at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. “The Red, White and Bluegrass Concert” will benefit the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund which will provide scholarships to financially needy children and spouses of the victims killed or disabled in the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Dolly added, “I wanted to show my true colors, which are red white and blue, by being a good American and a good Samaritan and doing whatever I could to help the victims of the terrorist tragedy. The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund ÿreflects my belief in education and the efforts we have made with The Dollywood Foundation.

American Roots Music from PBS - The four-part documentary– American Roots Music– from filmmaker Jim Brown will begin airing on PBS stations October 29. Like the recent Ken Burns documentary– Jazz– there will be a companion CD and a book available.

The theme song for the series is a collaboration between legendary bluesman James Cotton and legendary bluegrass banjo picker Earl Scruggs. They are joined by bluegrass greats Ricky Skaggs and Stuart Duncan, and Cajun accordionist Marc Savoy for a cross-genre version of Worried Man Blues.

IBMA Convention-  The International Bluegrass Music Association will hold its annual World of Bluegrass trade show in Louisville October 1-7, with the IBMA Awards show on Oct. 4. The keynote speaker will be T-Bone Burnett– producer of the wildly successful soundtrack O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Private Radio- Noted actor Billy Bob Thornton was a musician before he became an actor. His success in films has given him the opportunity to return to his first passion and record his new album- Private Radio – co-produced and co-written by Marty Stuart. The album will be available September 11 from Lost Highway Records.

You can learn more about Thornton’s musical interests– and hear a sample of his singing– in the new Oxford American Music Issue 2001

Townes Van Zandt Tribute- Poet: A Tribute To Townes Van Zandt— the celebration of the "Late Great Songwriters Work By Friends and Family"- is due Sept. 9. Three years from the passing of one Texas' truest voices, a partnership between Free Falls and Pedernales Records lovingly revives many of Van Zandt's most ardent compositions delivered by the people who knew and loved the quixotic artist.

Produced by Eric Paul and Freddy Fletcher, Poet: A Tribute To Townes Van Zandt features Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, John Prine, Cowboy Junkies, Robert Earl Keen, Nanci Griffith, Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson , Delbert McClinton, newcomer Pat Haynie, Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver , the Flatlanders, Steve Earle,  and John Townes Van Zandt II.

The Last Waltz- Robbie Robertson is working on re-mixing the audio for the rock documentary The Last Waltz in Surround Sound in anticipation of its release as an augmented DVD. The film, considered one of the best rock films ever made, was directed by Martin Scorsese and documents the last concert by The Band.

Clock Without Hands- From Elektra Records: "Clock Without Hands is the title of Carson McCullers' last novel," writes Nanci Griffith in the liner notes to her new album of the same name. Clock Without Hands is the first album of new Nanci Griffith originals since 1997, and in many ways, it's the first "regular" album of new songs since 1994's acclaimed Flyer. After paying tribute to her longtime band, the Blue Moon Orchestra , on '97's Blue Roses From The Moons, revisiting her favorite songwriters on 1998's Other Voices, Too (A Trip Back To Bountiful), and taking a fresh look at her own recorded legacy with the London Symphony Orchestra on 1999's The Dust Bowl Symphony, Nanci is opening a new chapter in her career. Clock Without Hands is a vibrant, elegant collection of new originals and a few well-chosen covers, that tell of stirrings and journeys of the heart and of the spirit. In voice and in attitude, Nanci sounds refreshed, passionate, and, to borrow a word from her own liner notes, awakened.

Earl Scruggs and Friends- MCA Nashville is planning to release an album on August 1 that brings together Earl Scruggs with an interesting list of collaborators. Such as Elton John, Sting, Melissa Etheridge, and Don Henley . And how about an arrangement of Foggy Mountain Breakdown- featuring Earl with Steve Martin, Paul Shaffer, Leon Russell, and Vince Gill ? The project will also include Johnny and Roseanne Cash, Dwight Yoakam, and John Fogerty.

Acony Records- Gillian Welch has launched her own label, and has plans for a new album coming soon. She will also re-release her first two albums under the new label. At this time, she does not expect to sign other artists to the label.

Songwriter Hall of Fame- Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson will be among those inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in ceremonies to be held in New York on June 14.

Avalon Blues- Peter Case has put together a tribute to Mississippi John Hurt called Avalon Blues. It is scheduled to be released on June 12 from Vanguard Records. Artists participating include Geoff Muldaur, Gillian Welch, Chris Smither, Steve Earle, and Lucinda Williams . Proceeds from the sale of the album will benefit the Delta Blues Museum’s Arts and Education program.

Lost Highway- Luke Lewis ( Chairman of Mercury Nashville ) has launched a new label– Lost Highway Records. The new label will be co-owned by Island Def Jam– another member of the Universal family.  With the help of corporate partners such as MCA Nashville’s Tony Brown , Mr. Lewis hopes to find the key to marketing Americana music. Some of the first projects for Lost Highway will include new albums from Lucinda Williams and Ryan Adams (formerly of Whiskeytown), and an all-star tribute to Hank Williams. Robert Earl Keen and Kim Richey  will also join the initial roster at the new label.

SXSW- The annual SXSW music conference will be held in Austin, TX, March  14-18. Americana is well represented. Eminent Records will be showcasing Kate Campbell (new album– Wandering Strange), Rosie Flores, and Eric Taylor (new album– Scuffletown) and others. Lost Highway Records will also debut their artist roster in a showcase.

Vassar’s Back- from OMS Records: “The new Vassar Clements project that was begun in October 2000 is completed. We hope to have it released in May 2001. This is powergrass with friends Bela Fleck (banjo), Sam Bush (mandolin), JD Crowe (banjo) joining in on the accompaniment. John Cowan sings in his incomparable style, Billy Troy brings his unique voice to the fore, and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band members Jeff Hanna and Jim Fadden joined in on a couple of tunes each. Vassar has never sounded better!

500 Shows- Mountain Stage will air its 500th show on May 4. Steve Earle headlines the show, and he is joined by Jesse Winchester, Bruce Cockburn, and the mandolin wizard/UPS driver Johnny Staats. If your local public radio station doesn’t carry Mountain Stage, you can hear it on the webcast from WFUV at 2PM Fridays.

Pure Spunk- Radney Foster and his wife Cyndi Hoelzle have launched a new Americana music site called Pure Spunk. Cyndi has been writing for music industry publications for many years, so she and Radney know who to talk to and what questions to ask. The result is a site with a relatively small quantity of very high quality content.