Mitch Jayne of The Dillards, 1930-2010
Mitch Jayne, bass player and front man for the influential bluegrass band The Dillards, passed away Aug. 2 after being diagnosed with cancer recently.
Although The Dillards toured and recorded for decades, helping to expose the world to the music of the Ozarks, they are best known for their recurring appearances on CBS-TV’s “The Andy Griffith Show,” in which they played The Darling Boys, a family of mountain musicians. The Dillards were inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame last year.
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Bluegrass Album by the Late Sen.. Robert C. Byrd to be Reissued
Although he was best known as the longest-serving member of the United States Senate, Robert C. Byrd, who died Monday at 92, also was an old-time and bluegrass fiddler. On July 27, Virginia-based County Records plans to reissue a bluegrass album recorded by Byrd, who represented West Virginia for more than half a century in the Senate and also served as the chamber’s majority leader for 11 years.
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Sonicbids Acquires ArtistData
Sonicbids, the website designed to help artists leverage the power of the Internet to manage their electronic press kits (EPKs) and find and book gigs, has acquired ArtistData, an online publishing platform that more than 25,000 musicians use to update and manage their gig-related information across the Web.
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Pete Seeger-Signed Banjo to be Auctioned Online in June
A one-of-a-kind Deering banjo that has been signed and played by Pete Seeger will be auctioned off this month to benefit the Emergency Relief Fund of American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 1000, the traveling musicians union.
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Folk Alliance International Seeks War & Political Songs for CD
Modern war and political songs are being sought for inclusion on a special compilation CD release to benefit Folk Alliance International (FAI), as well as to create a fund to provide acoustic instruments for returning soldiers who were injured in combat.
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2010 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners Named
Six songwriters have been named as winners in the 2010 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. Kate Klim (Boston, MA), Kim Richardson (Mountain Home, AR), Andy Gullahorn (Nashville, TN), Dan Colehour (Nashville, TN), Jon Brooks (King City, ON, Canada) and Michael Troy (Fall River, MA) were selected by a panel of judges from among 32 finalists who performed two songs each during the New Folk Concerts on May 29 and 30 as part of the Kerrville Folk Festival that continues through June 13 at the Quiet Valley Ranch in the Texas Hill Country.
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Future of Music Coalition Presents D.C. Policy Day and Musicplus: Skill Building for Musicians Seminar in May
The Future of Music Coalition's third annual D.C. Policy Day is set for May 25, while the national nonprofit education, research and advocacy organization also co-presents a six-hour seminar entitled "Musicplus: Skill Building for Musicians" in Oakland, California on May 16. Both events are free and will be webcast.
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Concord Music Group Acquires Rounder Records
Rounder Records, a leading American roots music label that is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, has been acquired by the Concord Music Group. The Massachusetts-based independent label has released more than 3,000 albums in such genres as bluegrass, Americana, Cajun & Zydeco, folk, singer-songwriter and children’s music.
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Judges Deal Blow to “Net Neutrality” and Independent Artists
In an action that may have serious implications for independent musicians and labels, a federal appeals court ruled last week that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) lacks the authority to enforce “net neutrality.” That’s the guiding principle that preserves a free and open Internet – intended to afford users equal access to all websites, more choices and access to information.
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Winners Named in 52nd Annual Grammy Awards
Many of the winners in the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy -- including those in the recently renamed and expanded American Roots Music field -- were announced online prior to televised ceremonies on January 31 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
[To view the full article and see the list of winners, click here.]
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