The influences, reminiscences and performances of a "living legend" of bluegrass music are explored in A Kentucky Treasure: The J.D. Crowe Story, a new profile of the Lexington native, airing Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET1 and Sunday, Nov. 9 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET2.
The 90-minute program includes numerous interviews with musicians who have worked with Crowe over the years, including members of the 1975 incarnation of his band, The New South, which featured Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas and Bobby Slone. This was "arguably the best bluegrass band in history," says producer H. Russell Farmer, a Kentucky independent filmmaker who for 30 years produced music programming for KET.
The program also include s footage of a rare 1975 performance of Crowe and his band in the KET studios "with the pompadour hair and the shiny shirts that became an underground treasure," says Farmer.
Crowe talks about his life and music, including insightful comments regarding his relationship with and influence upon a country superstar, the late Keith Whitley.
The program also includes interviews with other luminaries in the world of bluegrass music, including crossover star Alison Krauss. "One of the good things about producing a program about a living legend is that most of the folks who helped him attain that title are still around," Farmer notes. "Unfortunately I did not interview Jimmy Martin before he passed away, [but] I do interview some of Jimmy's other banjo players: the ones who heard Martin -- who gave J.D. his start -- tell them to 'play it like J.D. did.'"
A Kentucky Treasure: The J.D. Crowe Story is produced and directed by Farmer.
