A Bluegrass Boys Reunion…Songs, Stories and Breakdowns!

The classic bluegrass of Bill Monroe is the primary focus of this band of musicians. Bob Black, Tom Ewing and Mark Hembree, all tenured and historical contributors to the vision of Bill Monroe, bring you back to the origins of bluegrass music. This night Paul Kienitz and Brian Ray will support them.

Blue Grass Boys Reunion showcases all the finest elements of this exciting and driving music. Through the classic songs with that “high, lonesome sound”, personal stories and anecdotes from those who knew and played with Mr. Monroe, along with his distinctive instrumentals, they convey the emotive music the Father of Bluegrass created.

This is the real deal, friends and neighbors, bluegrass from its roots performed by musicians who know and love it.

“a hero of the 5-string banjo”
~ Bluegrass Unlimited

Bob Black (IA) has bluegrass roots going straight back to Bill Monroe, “The Father of Bluegrass Music”. Bob toured and recorded with the late great musical master during the 70’s. Copper Creek, Rebel, and Green Valley recording artist Bob Black has performed with Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, Marty Stuart, John Hartford, Ralph Stanley, Rhonda Vincent, The Whites, Frank Wakefield, and many others. Bob has recorded with Norman Blake, Greg Brown, Kenny Baker, Bill Monroe, John Hartford, Bo Ramsey, Sam Bush, and more (over 30 albums in all). He has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry many times. A true “Master of the 5-String Banjo”.
Visit Bob’s website at www.banjoy.com for the full story.

“. . . poised to leave a real mark on the music.”
~ Eric Savage, Bluegrass Unlimited

Tom Ewing (KY) played and recorded with Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys in the 1970s prior to joining Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in 1986. From then until Monroe’s passing in 1996, Tom recorded several albums with him, including the Grammy award-winning Southern Flavor. He has also written extensively for Bluegrass Unlimited magazine and, in 2000, compiled and edited The Bill Monroe Reader for the University of Illinois Press. He is currently writing a Bill Monroe biography.
…recorded on Bill Monroe’s classic instrumental album “Master of Bluegrass”
~ www.allmusic.com

Mark Hembree (WI), bassist and vocalist, played with Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys from 1979-84 and is heard on Monroe’s classic instrumental album Master of Bluegrass. Hembree was a founding member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band (later stars of the soundtrack for the movie O Brother Where Art Thou) and recorded with Peter Rowan (on the Grammy-nominated New Moon Rising), David Grisman, Stuart Duncan, and many others, including the all-star album band Dreadful Snakes, produced by Jerry Douglas and Bela Fleck.