Authentic Kentucky bluegrass takes center stage as two local groups, Louisville, Ky.-based Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers and Lexington, Ky.-based Dean Osborne and Eastbound, debut on Jubilee.
One of the finest groups to emerge on the local music scene, Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers exemplify the new generation of artists who have a deep respect for the roots of bluegrass and old time mountain music, yet aren't afraid to put a unique stamp on their sound. Backing Louisville, Ky.-native Brewer are bassist Wade Butler, of Owensboro Ky., fiddler Charles Duffey and banjo player Blake Hopper, both of Tennessee.
Cousin to bluegrass legends The Osborne Brothers, Dean Osborne packs a bluegrass punch of his own. Osborne and Eastbound specialize in traditional bluegrass and bluegrass gospel, the focus of their album, Roads of Faith (March 2000). Eastbound includes lead guitarist Ronnie Merrill, of Ohio; husband-and-wife musicians Rob and Dedria Morgan, of Booneville, Ky.; and singer Kelly Caldwell, of Somerset, Ky.
Both groups' performances were taped in the summer of 2000 at the Osborne Brothers Hometown Festival in Hyden, Ky., an annual bluegrass festival sponsored by Dean Osborne.
Jubilee is a KET production, produced by H. Russell Farmer. Nancy Carpenter is executive producer. The program is closed-captioned for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
