Ernie Thacker was a beloved figure in the bluegrass world who left an indelible mark on the genre with his soulful voice, passionate delivery, and exceptional songwriting skills. Ernie grew up in Northern Ohio, steeped in the rich traditions of bluegrass music. His influences came from legends like Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, and Jimmy Martin. […]

Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith was an American old-time fiddler born on April 10, 1898, and significantly impacted the music world. He discovered his passion for the fiddle early, influenced by fellow fiddlers Grady Stringer and Walter Warden, while being raised on a farm near Bold Springs, Tennessee. Let’s take a closer look at the life of […]

J. D. Crowe, whose full name was James Dee Crowe, was a renowned American banjo player and bluegrass band leader who significantly impacted the genre by blending tradition with innovation. During the 1950s, Crowe gained prominence during his four-year collaboration with Jimmy Martin. The legendary Earl Scruggs influenced his banjo playing style, and he mastered […]

The Orange Blossom Special was a deluxe passenger train that inspired the tune by the same name. Ervin T. Rouse wrote and copyrighted the song in 1938, and Ervin and Gordon Rouse recorded it first in 1939.   There has been a bit of controversy as to the original composer of the instrumental.  Robert Russell […]