Playing Music vs Almost Anything Else

A dear friend of mine, an accomplished musician, recently told me they didn’t seem to enjoy playing music anymore. This gave me considerable pause for thought. I don’t think this feeling had to do with any specific physical ailment. I have known quite a few musicians...

Valentine’s Day

It’s Valentine’s Day, what shall we play? Probably not the only bluegrass tune I know of that actually has the word valentine in the lyrics: You can send me pretty flowers, you can sen me valentines Send me letters every day but it won’t pay Leap to my desire, nothing...

Sympathy Valley Boys

(Editor’s Note: here’s one of Cliff’s ftom a while back.  One of by most prized possessions is a an autographed Sympathy Valley Boys fly swatter) I opened the cupboard this morning, and the first thing I saw was my sympathy valley boys coffee cup, right there on the...

By the Numbers

It is interesting to think of just how old some of the music is that crept into the bluegrass genre from long ago. Bluegrass songs often tell a story. That might be a murder (most likely by a guy named Willie) but it might be something quite different. In the middle...

Foibles, Bon Mots, and Thoughts

Rest in Peace Tony Rice. You will be missed.“It’s never to late to be what you might have been.”  George EliotWhen life is sweet say thank you and celebrate. When life is bitter, say thank you and grow.”  Shauna Niewuist“The bad news is that time flies. The...