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" Laugh it up Olivia!!"
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"Turpentine” This album from the band Foxfire Bluegrass is one to die for! Foxfire Bluegrass is currently made up of siblings Stephanie Haisman on mandolin/vocals, Brian Haisman on guitar/vocals, Kevin Haisman on banjo/vocals, and Timothy Haisman on acoustic bass/vocals along with family friend Lucas Caudill on fiddle/vocals. They are based in Bloomfield, New Mexico. Foxfire’s constant drive and energy is one that is rare to find, especially on recording. Along with their bluegrass harmonies and distinctive sound, their love for what they do sets them apart. On Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” sibling harmonies give this song the punch it needs. The single instrumental on the album “Rebecca” shows that not only can they sing, they can play. “Wings of Love” uses whole family harmonies to give this song a distinctive sound found nowhere else on the record. “Shady Grove”, gives Foxfire Bluegrass the chance to show soulful treatment of a traditional tune along with the more contemporary songs on the album. Although Foxfire Bluegrass is one of the most professional and hardworking young bluegrass bands around, they still have the ability to get any crowd clapping. They have the sincerity and charm to please a fine arts audience but yet they still have the ability to please a high energy college or middle school crowd. I should know because I had the honor of sitting in with them at my school, Darlington in Rome, GA. They had every rap-loving kid there clapping and dancing along. This is one band you have to see in order to truly appreciate! Check out there website at www.foxfirebluegrass.com for bookings or just general info!
Jerry Douglas Jerry Douglas plays a resophonic guitar that is more commonly known as the dobro. A dobro is the least common bluegrass instrument. It generally uses lots of slides, hammers-ons and banjo-like rolls. On slow songs he tends to play lots of chordal movements. He is known as the Jimi Hendrix and Charlie Parker of acoustic music. In 1970 Jerry became highly recognized by other musicians. Jerry was born in 1955 in Warren, Ohio. He stayed at home till he was 16, but in the meantime he had a lot happen. When he was 12 he got his first dobro. Fortunately he had other musicians to play with and get better with. Over time, Jerry got good enough to play in bars with his dad’s band, the West Virginia Travelers. When Jerry turned 16 he was invited to go on tour with the Country Gentleman in 1973. Jerry first fell in love with the dobro in 1963. His father, John Douglas, had taken Jerry to a Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs concert. Uncle Josh Graves and Brother Oswald Kirby were playing the dobro. He fell in love with the melodic sound of it and committed himself to the instrument. As soon as he woke up every morning, he would hear Flatt and Scruggs on the record player. Even though no one knew what the dobro was he still wanted to play it. He learned the fundamentals on an old guitar on which the strings had been raised. He played it with a metal bar with which he created the sliding effect. Playing the dobro came easy to Jerry. He did not have to sit down and practice for hours every day. He went out and played football and did everything else that he wanted to do. He just played his music with ease. Jerry has overcome many obstacles in his life. The biggest obstacle was getting to where he is now. It just takes practice and determination. He has appreciated all of his nine grammies, numerous grammy acknowledgements, and endless specialized awards. He mainly plays, though, because he loves to. Jerry’s greatest accomplishments, all, have been amazing. He has played on over 1,500 different albums and has played with thousands of artists. He has played on Celtic cd’s, rock’n’roll cd’s, jazz cd’s, and many, many other variations. Each recording that he has been on has had its own little spice to it. Jerry has two daughters, one son, and a wonderful wife. His daughters names are Nola, (the older one), and Olivia, (the younger one). His son is Patrick and his wife is Jill. They all support Jerry in his musical career, and they do every thing they can do to help him. Jerry loves his music, and here are some of his own words about it. “I have put together a real band. I’m going to make this different enough so that it will be identified with me and my music. I want to focus on the distinctive sound of my instrument. That slidey sound that has become my signature style.” “I don’t think there is anything in the world that could make me as happy. It is my way of therapy and my way of making money. It’s more important to me as an emotional therapy than it is a job. When I’m really, really tired or when I have worked too much it feels like a job. The rest of the time, though, it’s a friend to me. It is a teacher of all things about life in general.” Jerry started his professional career when he was 16. He started when he went on tour with the Country Gentleman. Jerry started playing the dobro because he loved how it sounded when Uncle Josh Graves played it. Jerry listened to bluegrass all his life and played with his dad’s band until he went on tour. I picked him because he is an amazingly talented man. He is a great man with an amazing love for his family and his music. I also picked him because I personally know him and he is a great guy. I also play the dobro. I love to have loquacious conversations with him. - by Olivia |