The New South
J.D. Crowe and the New South are among the
most influential bluegrass bands of the past three decades, with a
visionary sound that suggests both a rich past and a wide-open future.
From 1975's classic J.D. Crowe and the New South (affectionately
referred to by fans by its catalog number, 0044), to their newest
project, 2006's Lefty's Old Guitar, bandleader/banjo
player/guitarist/vocalist Crowe has lead an array of brilliant
musicians in a mission to continually reinvent and update bluegrass
while simultaneously paying tribute to the legacy of tone, taste, and
timing established by Crowe's musical idols.
Current member: Ricky Wasson - Lead/Harmony Vocals, Guitar
A formidable presence on the bluegrass scene since 1956, J.D. Crowe
first turned heads when the legendary Jimmy Martin hired the young
Kentuckian fresh out of high school. Crowe, who was inspired to pick up
the five-string banjo after hearing Earl Scruggs, stayed with Martin
for five years - learning invaluable lessons in musicianship, band
leading, and harmony singing in the process. His already remarkable
banjo playing - clean, crisp, and always in the pocket no matter what
the tempo - is in evidence on classic Martin tracks like "Hold Whatcha
Got" (1958), "You Don't Know My Mind" (1960), and throughout the
classic 1960 album Good 'n Country. After graduating from Martin's
employ, Crowe formed the Kentucky Mountain Boys with Doyle Lawson, Red
Allen (later replaced by Larry Rice), and Bobby Slone. Their three
albums hinted at the repertoire of The New South, integrating
contemporary non-bluegrass compositions with more traditional material.
On a Kentucky Mountain Boys record, one could find songs by Tom Paxton
and Gram Parsons sharing an album side with cuts written by Flatt &
Scruggs and Jimmy Martin.
Current member: Dwight McCall - Lead/Harmony Vocals, Mandolin
When Lawson departed to join the Country Gentlemen in the early '70s,
the Kentucky Mountain Boys gave way to J.D. Crowe and the New South.
The epochal J.D. Crowe and the New South album, released by Rounder in
1975, is still heralded as the dawning of a new sound in bluegrass
music. The lineup of Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, and Bobby
Sloan made it clear that Crowe was an astute judge of young talent. The
music, at first blush, gave the impression of classic, straight-ahead
bluegrass. Closer listening, however, revealed a wealth of innovation
both in the picking and in the material, which placed bluegrass
standards like "Sally Goodin" next to compositions by Rodney Crowell,
Fats Domino, Gordon Lightfoot, Utah Phillips, Ian Tyson, and Bob Dylan.
The lineups of the New South continued to evolve and change from the
release of 0044 onward. Many great musicians passed through on their
way to start their own bands, including Jimmy Gaudreau, Richard
Bennett, Don Rigsby, and Phil Leadbetter. Among the most notable alumni
was the gifted, ill-fated vocalist Keith Whitley, who introduced a
strong honky-tonk feeling to Crowe's music on the albums Somewhere
Between (reissued by Rounder under Whitley's name as Sad Songs and
Waltzes) and My Home Ain't in the Hall of Fame (released by Rounder in
2002) before going on to mainstream country stardom.
J.D. Crowe briefly flirted with retirement in the mid to late '90s, but
following the release of 1999's Come On Down to My World (Rounder), he
put together the strongest New South lineup since the days of Skaggs
and Rice and resumed touring regularly. Guitarist and vocalist Ricky
Wasson brings a full, rich vocal sound to the band, along with his
abilities as an MC and front man. On mandolin, tenor, and high-lead
vocals is Dwight McCall, whose remarkable singing was featured on Come
On Down to My World. Matt DeSpain joins the group in 2010 playing
resonator guitar as well as contributing to the sound vocally. Also new in 2010
is the addition of Kyle Perkins on upright bass. - From Rounder.com (Some editing by Lowell Jewell)
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