Carrie Hassler is without a doubt one of the most exciting female vocalists to hit bluegrass in a long time! On her new release "CHHR2" Carrie and her band, "Hard Rain" tackle the emotional song "Stranger In His Mind". Carrie sings her heart out and the band gives it 110%!!!! Alzheimer's has affected so many people, in fact, there are few people around that have not been touched by Alzheimer's or Dementia. This heartfelt song shows the courage of a wife honoring their wedding vows in way that you'd better have a box of tissues handy before you hit the "play" button for this song. A great artist and a great song come together to make magic on this one. THANKS to Carrie and Sam at Rural Rhythm Records for recording this powerful song!!!
WHAT CAN I SAY!!!! I am honored to have the opening cut on Larry Sparks new album recorded on McCoury Music. It is the first artist signed by McCoury Music and am thrilled that Larry chose to record the song "The Old Coal Mine" on this project. Winner of Male Vocalist of the Year in 2005 Larry is in GREAT form singing this soulful minin' tune. A duet with Del McCoury on tenor and also JD Crowe on the banjo what is not to like about this one. Thanks Larry for recording this tune. To have some of my bluegrass heroes be a part of recording my songs .....well....I'm walking on air. GREAT cut by a group of "legends" in the industry!!!!
Grasstowne is a new supergroup featuring Steve Gulley, Alan Bibey and Phil Leadbetter. Also in the band are brass knuckle banjoman Jason Davis and rock solid bassman Jamey Booher. Grasstowne cut Brink's song "Devil's Road" and absolutely CRUSHED IT!! It is about as bluegrass as you wanna get and if this ain't bluegrass I'll eat a CD!!!! The debut project from this great band should be released in June 07 and we can't wait for the world to hear the sound of this new band. WOW!!! Thanks for trusting in Brinksongs for a tune on this new project. Best of luck boys!!!
Brink's gospel song "When You're Looking Up" has been recorded by the band Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road. Jerry Butler does a fine job on the lead and features some great 4 part harmony. Won't be able to keep your toe from tapping on this one. This CD is the latest release from Lorraine and her great band on Tom T and Dixie Hall's record label, Blue Circle Records. Thanks Lorraine and great job!
Dwight McCall is best know for being the mandolin player and tenor/lead singer with JD Crowe & the New South. But Dwight is also the newest solo artist on Rural Rhythm Records. Dwight deserves to be out there as one of the great voices of today's bluegrass scene. His new release for Rural Rhythm Records, "Never Say Never Again" is to be released on April 27th. Dwight has recorded a total of 6 Brinksongs for this CD. Three from his own pen, 2 from the pen of Mike Evans (Logan's Crossroad & My Heart Loves You More)and 1 from Brink Brinkman (West Virginia Ground). Thanks Dwight for all your great music and we all wish you the best of luck on this new project. It is great and we hope this will be a break out CD so you will no longer be the best kept secret in bluegrass music. Dwight deserves the spotlight :)
Taking the Crooked Road Home is a project put out by the Virginia Folklife Program. This album pairs two GREAT musicians, Linda Lay and Sammy Shelor. Sammy's banjo is unmistakable and after 5 notes you know it is Sammy. Linda's voice could melt the polar icecap. Put them together on 2 songs written by Mike Evans and you have magic. Sammy and Linda recorded Mike's true tale of murder in WV called "Dead Man's Hollow" along with a wonderful gospel tune that Mike wrote for his Grandmother, the touching "A Resting Place". Thank you Sammy and Linda for a wonderful job and for trusting Brinksongs for a couple of your songs on this project :)
Brinksongs is honored to have Dwight McCall as one of its writers. Dwight wrote a great song for the new JD Crowe & The New South project "Lefty's Old Guitar". This album is destined to become a classic and we are so excited to be a part of it. Dwight's song "I Only Wish You Knew" fits JD's country/bluegrass style to a T and no wonder he wanted to include it on this fine album. Thanks Dwight for writing such a great song and thanks JD for continuing to put out GREAT music. JD Crowe is truly a legend in the industry and we love the fact that you are still making great music and hope you do so for many years to come!!
"Prisoner of the Highway" has been recorded by Don Rigsby & Midnight Call and is included on their new project from Rebel Records called "Hillbilly Heartache. Penned by Mike Evans and Brink Brinkman this is as straight forward a bluegrass tune as it gets and Don sure does it up right!! Good friend Dale Vanderpool does a stellar job on keeping the banjo drivin' throughout the tune and what can you say about the voice of Don Rigsby - CRYSTAL CLEAR AND POWERFUL! Thanks Don for a great recording of our song :)
Pine Mountain Railroad recorded the Brinksong "Beyond the Rain" on their latest release from Traktone Records. The song done beautifully by the band included guest appearances by Sonya and Ben Isaacs, Stuart Duncan, Matt Despain and Larry Atamanuik. Expertly produced by Missy Raines the song has already be touted as a possible "award winner". It reached the #1 spot on the Powergrass Gospel Charts in April of this year, dropped to #2 in May but returned to the #1 spot in June. As of July it is still hanging in there at the #2 position. The song debuted at #42 in the Southern Gospel Top 50. The song is now up for several awards and it is in the balloting for:
1. IBMA Song of the Year - 2006
2. IBMA Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year - 2006
3. Included on "Heartache & Hope" which is in the balloting for IBMA Album of the Year - 2006.
WAY TO GO Kipper, Bill, Jerry, Cody and Matt!!!! in other words PINE MOUNTAIN RAILROAD and THANKS!!!!
Lou Reid & Carolina recorded 3 Brinksongs on the new release from Lonesome Day Records. What a GREAT job by a bluegrass Legend!!!! Thanks Lou & Christy and the rest of Carolina. Songs were: My Dying Day written by Mike Evans, Tennessee Backroads by Brink Brinkman and also Before Your First Tear Hits the Ground by Brink Brinkman and Dan Cook. We sure appreciate the confidence in our original songs :)
Before Your First Tear Hits The Ground Also recorded by the Common Ground Band on their self titled CD project.
My Dying Day
Tennessee Backroads
Wildfire recorded the song penned by Brink Brinkman & Darrell Webb called "THEIR FATHER'S LAND" This is a powerful story song brought to life by the band Wildfire and driven home by the great lead singing of Darrell Webb. A MUST hear!!
Sharon Graeff recorded her latest project with the help of the fine band "Lost Highway". Sharon does a fine rendition of Brink's touching song and tribute to the troops "With Love From Normandy". Sharon has won the midwest SPBGMA Female Traditional Vocalist of the Year award several times. Thanks Sharon for a fine rendition of a song dear to our hearts.
Sharon also recorded Mike Evans fine song "Twin Mountain Lovers". The band is in fine form on this arrangement of this story song. We wish you the best of luck with this new recording Sharon and keep up the great work :)
Over the past few months, an "All-Star" lineup of some of West Virginia and Kentucky's best musicians and vocalists, joined by special guests, have been in the studio to record what could be this year's most exciting project in Bluegrass music. The project evolved from a group of talented friends in several different bands who routinely get together during down time, to jam or make special show appearances as a band. The release includes the great Ernie Thacker singing the song penned by Mike Evans and Brink Brinkman "Danville Prison Grave". Many of you know about Ernie's terrible accident. This project has been dedicated to Ernie Thacker! You can check out this project at: http://www.unionridgebluegrass.net/step_into_the_blue.htm
Release Date: 9/20/05
The Legend of Jonas Willingham recorded by the LONESOME RIVER BAND on their Head On Into Heartache CD.
THANKS SAMMY!!
Recorded by Don Rigsby on the "Empty Old Mailbox" project for Sugar Hill Records
Recorded by The Booher Family Band on their "In The Mountains" project.
Also recorded by the band Twenty-Three from Michigan.
Recorded by the Kansas band "Pastense" www.pastense.org
Also recorded by James & Angela McKinney Band.
Recorded by The Kruger Brothers on their new "Carolina Scrapbook Volume II"
Recorded by Dwight McCall on "Kentucky Peace of Mind" project for Lavenir Records
Kaymoor Mine and My Caroline In Carolina both recorded by The Ryan Holladay Band on Skaggs Family Records
My Caroline In Caroline recorded by Freewheelin' and released on Prime Cuts of Bluegrass went to #1 on the Highway 107 Country Charts in the Netherlands. CONGRATS to Freewheelin!!
A fine recording by The Vanderpool Brothers! They do a great job on Brink's song Kaymoor Mine. Give it a listen and I dare you to try and NOT tap your foot.
I've Traveled Down This Lonesome Road Before recorded by The Kenny and Amanda Smith Band on Rebel Records. Check out this great recording on their new CD "House Down The Block".
I Can't Bear the Thought of Losing You recorded by The Larry Stephenson Band on Pinecastle Records.
Alone In The Still Of The Night
Recorded by Valerie Smith on the "For The Long Haul" CD - Golden Ring Entertainment
I Beg You Little Darlin' Not to Cry by Darrell Webb's solo project for Lonesome Day Records
Also included on Darrell's project is the song Twin Mountain Lovers written by Mike Evans
Hobo's Lament by The Boohers on their release titled "Grandma's Songs"
Try & Catch The Wind
Recorded by The Twin Springs Bluegrass Band on "It Takes A Little Rain" project.
Kathy Boyd is the leader of the Oregon band Phoenix Rising. She is also very involved in issued for the elderly such as Alzheimers and dementia. Brink wrote a song last year and sent it to Kathy called "She's A Stranger In His Mind". The band has included the song on their latest release "Burning Down the House". Check out this regional band if you have a chance.
Rain Don't Fall
Recorded by Terry Watters on his "Mr Watters" project.
Powerful Lonesome
Recorded by Tony Ansems on his Mr. Bluegrass project.
Throughout 2007 look for more releases from Brinksongs with releases from artists such as Nu Blu, Dwight McCall, Bottomline Bluegrass, Darrell Webb, Ronnie Stewart, Sammy Shelor & Linda Lay among others!