'Kentucky Treasure' Crowe Returns to Roots for Shows
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- , (859) 257-1754, x229
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 25, 2008) – The University of Kentucky John Jacob Niles Center
for American Music and the Lexington Public Library
present influential bluegrass musician and celebrated banjo player J.D. Crowe in the final concerts of the first
"Bluegrass in the Bluegrass" concert series.
The "Bluegrass in the Bluegrass" concert series presents six sets of free public concerts in downtown Lexington and on the UK campus. The concerts featuring Crowe will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Lexington Public Library – Central Library, and at noon Friday, Dec. 5, in the Niles Gallery of UK's Lucille C. Little Fine Arts Library and Learning Center. Both concerts are free and open to the public.
The intimate shows featuring Crowe are a perfect way to end this year's new bluegrass concert series. "When you think of "Bluegrass IN the Bluegrass"....you think of J.D. Crowe who IS "Bluegrass in the Bluegrass," says Ron Pen, director of the Niles Center for American Music. "His innovative style, graced with clarity and nuanced tone, set the standard for bluegrass banjo performance."
Born and raised in Kentucky’s Bluegrass region, J.D. Crowe picked up the banjo when he was 13 years old after being inspired by a Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs performance on the Kentucky Barn Dance.
Crowe worked his way through several bands during the 1960s, developing a distinctive instrumental style that melded country, bluegrass, rock and blues. His unique sound attracted many new musicians to bluegrass, while still maintaining the interest of traditionalists. However, Crowe didn't receive national exposure until the early '70s when he formed the band The New South.
When they released their debut album, "J.D. Crowe & the New South," in 1975 on Rounder Records, the band's music caused an instant sensation and marked a genuine turning point in the sound of the genre. The group, considered one of the most influential bluegrass bands of the last three decades, would go on to win a Grammy in 1983 for the Best Country Instrumental Performance. Over the years, the New South would boast line-ups of several noted bluegrass musicians and vocalists including Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Bobby Sloan, Jimmy Gaudreau, Richard Bennett, Don Rigsby, Phil Leadbetter and Keith Whitley.
More recently, J.D. Crowe and the New South earned a 2008 Grammy nomination for Bluegrass Album of the Year for "Lefty's Old Guitar." The current band consists of Crowe on banjo and vocals; Dwight McCall on mandolin and vocals; Rickey Wasson on guitar and vocals; Steve Thomas on fiddle; and John Bowman on bass. Hear J.D. Crowe perform with The New South at the 2008 Old Settlers Music Festival in Austin, Texas.
A legendary banjo player, Crowe is part of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Hall of Honor and is a recipient of IBMA’s Banjo Player of the Year award in 1994 and 2004. Today, he is acknowledged by the industry as one of bluegrass music’s most talented and influential artists.
The "Bluegrass in the Bluegrass" concert series is made possible through the support of LexArts and the Foundation for Bluegrass Music of the IBMA.
For more information on the J.D. Crowe concerts presented as part of "Bluegrass in the Bluegrass," visit the Niles Center Web site or contact Ron Pen, director of the Niles Center, by phone at (859) 257-8183 or via e-mail. Kelli Dean, program coordinator for the Lexington Public Library, is also available to provide additional information by phone at (859) 231-5549 or via e-mail.
The "Bluegrass in the Bluegrass" concert series presents six sets of free public concerts in downtown Lexington and on the UK campus. The concerts featuring Crowe will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Lexington Public Library – Central Library, and at noon Friday, Dec. 5, in the Niles Gallery of UK's Lucille C. Little Fine Arts Library and Learning Center. Both concerts are free and open to the public.
The intimate shows featuring Crowe are a perfect way to end this year's new bluegrass concert series. "When you think of "Bluegrass IN the Bluegrass"....you think of J.D. Crowe who IS "Bluegrass in the Bluegrass," says Ron Pen, director of the Niles Center for American Music. "His innovative style, graced with clarity and nuanced tone, set the standard for bluegrass banjo performance."
Born and raised in Kentucky’s Bluegrass region, J.D. Crowe picked up the banjo when he was 13 years old after being inspired by a Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs performance on the Kentucky Barn Dance.
Crowe worked his way through several bands during the 1960s, developing a distinctive instrumental style that melded country, bluegrass, rock and blues. His unique sound attracted many new musicians to bluegrass, while still maintaining the interest of traditionalists. However, Crowe didn't receive national exposure until the early '70s when he formed the band The New South.
When they released their debut album, "J.D. Crowe & the New South," in 1975 on Rounder Records, the band's music caused an instant sensation and marked a genuine turning point in the sound of the genre. The group, considered one of the most influential bluegrass bands of the last three decades, would go on to win a Grammy in 1983 for the Best Country Instrumental Performance. Over the years, the New South would boast line-ups of several noted bluegrass musicians and vocalists including Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Bobby Sloan, Jimmy Gaudreau, Richard Bennett, Don Rigsby, Phil Leadbetter and Keith Whitley.
More recently, J.D. Crowe and the New South earned a 2008 Grammy nomination for Bluegrass Album of the Year for "Lefty's Old Guitar." The current band consists of Crowe on banjo and vocals; Dwight McCall on mandolin and vocals; Rickey Wasson on guitar and vocals; Steve Thomas on fiddle; and John Bowman on bass. Hear J.D. Crowe perform with The New South at the 2008 Old Settlers Music Festival in Austin, Texas.
A legendary banjo player, Crowe is part of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Hall of Honor and is a recipient of IBMA’s Banjo Player of the Year award in 1994 and 2004. Today, he is acknowledged by the industry as one of bluegrass music’s most talented and influential artists.
The "Bluegrass in the Bluegrass" concert series is made possible through the support of LexArts and the Foundation for Bluegrass Music of the IBMA.
For more information on the J.D. Crowe concerts presented as part of "Bluegrass in the Bluegrass," visit the Niles Center Web site or contact Ron Pen, director of the Niles Center, by phone at (859) 257-8183 or via e-mail. Kelli Dean, program coordinator for the Lexington Public Library, is also available to provide additional information by phone at (859) 231-5549 or via e-mail.