Did anyone see the grammy awards last night? I know...lots of rap and weird stuff to wade through, but the "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack won for best album, "Man of Constant Sorrow" by Dan Tyminski won for best collaboration, etc. All together 4 grammies. I have been a fan of bluegrass for several years and managed to see Alison Kraus and Union Station in concert twice. Dan Tyminski also performs in Union Station. There is absolutely no sweeter music on earth. If there is any country in you at all, you will be touched by their music. If you don't have the "Oh Brother" CD, get it. American roots music defined. I grew up on classic rock and enjoy most country music, but there is nothing better than good bluegrass. It's just too bad that it can't get more airtime. Lots of people were shocked that a bluegrass album could win the big one. Not me.

-- SteveD(TX) (smdann@swbell.net), February 28, 2002

Answers

I like that soundtrack also. I should buy it myself. I like to have all kinds of music in my life. Today on my Cd player I put "Top hits of 1981, the Highway Men (with Johnny Cash et.al.) and Peter, Paul and Mary. Then I hit Random and I never knew which one was coming up! I like to mix 3 completely different kinds of music and do this.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), February 28, 2002.

I didn't watch the awards, but I love the "Oh Brother" CD - I bought it for my husband for xmas. Also, we love Alison Krauss & have seen her once in concert - what a concert! She is quite a fiddle player & her band is great too...I know some of them have done stuff out on their own, too. I'm glad this kind of music finally got a little more recognition - there is no comparison, if you ask me!

-- heather (h.m.metheny@att.net), February 28, 2002.

I caught a few minutes of the award show. I usually dont watch but They were saying the awards would not be based on sales but on "quality". I did catch the performance of Man of Constant Sorrow, was interesting to see Allison Kraus and Emilu Harris on backgrounds. BTW. I am listening to Allison Kraus's "NEw Favorites" CD right now. I think the movie may single handedly bring bluegrass back into the mainstream. That would be great. We have a couple of local farmers who have blue grass festivals on their farms. A couple of bucks and you bring a tent for a night of music. Allen Jackson's 9/11 song was also inspiring.

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), February 28, 2002.

If you want to listen to some bluegrass/folk music and have a high speed connection check out http://www.starchart.com/AV/Fulltime/fulltime.html

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), February 28, 2002.

Didn't see the show, but I love that soundtrack-it really sticks in your head, I catch myself humming it throught the day. I also love the U2 album-I loved them when I was younger, but then they put out some not so good albums, but this last one was really good.

-- Kelly (homearts2002@yahoo.com), February 28, 2002.

Steve we didn't watch the grammies----but you say Bluegrass & my ears pick up--- I play washboard with a bluegrass--group----- Have you heard of the Winfield Bluegrass Festival (or Walnut Valley Blugrass Festival)in Kansas???????? Most Bluegrass die hards have & come each year---- www.wvfest.com will get you there to check out the site---I hope you enjoy---- Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), February 28, 2002.

Oh, Sonda, a friend of ours gave us tickets to a concert in OKC last weekend. A guy you probably know, his name is Tommy Emmanuel. I had never heard of him before, but he is amazing! I didn't know you could make such sounds come out of a guitar! We came home with a flyer for the Winfield Festival they were passing around. I don't know if Lance is planning on trying to go or not, but I might have to check his schedule for that weekend....

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), February 28, 2002.

Nope, don't watch those shows, but did hear about it on the news this morning and I was delighted. We rented that movie last year and I liked it so well that we bought a copy so I can watch it over and over. I wish I could remember now which song it was, the one the folks were singing at the political rally when the "hero" met up with his girls..anyway, my father and I used to sing that song roaming the roads of Bowlegs Oklahoma in the early 50s..I hadn't heard it for eons! My DH is six foot five with a long (very long) and fairly wild beard..he wears overalls and a flannel shirt while working around the "farm', as well as his felt slouch hat..one day last year when the movie came out, he was walking through the feed store when two teen-aged girls got a glimpse of him..they both hollered "It's one of the Soggy Bottom Boys!" He liked it.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), February 28, 2002.

Hi Steve, love that soundtrack too. We listen alot to Patty Loveless and she has a new album called Mountain Soul, which has the song "Soul of constant sorrow". She and her husband wrote this original song which was altered a few words for the movie. The whole album is really good. She's the daughter of a coal miner and grew up around the same area where I was born in eastern Ky. Alot of the songs on her album remind me of the songs my uncles used to sing at family gettogethers. I'm glad to finally see recognition being given to the style of old Appalachian songs which were a big part of our peoples lives. Hoorah!

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), March 01, 2002.

We, too, like the O Brother soundtrack. There is also a cd called O Sister, Woman's bluegrass that is really good too. Allison Krauss is on that along with the Cox family. I think Amazon.com has it. I got mine for Christmas, so I'm not sure where it was purchased from. Sugar Hill Records and Rounder Records have many bluegrass artists.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), March 01, 2002.

Christine-in Okla------we wanted to go to the fest in Okla but just couldn't get away------Oh--yes Tommy Emmanuel-------amazeing isn't he????????? If you can go to Winfield ----you ought to go if you like that----we have missed very few years in the 30 some years now!!! It has really grown----but we go to see old friends & pick at the campsites--let alone the festival!!! We just don't miss it unless we just can't possible go--- Also the Santa Fe Trails festival in K.C. is growing & is also good!!! I think you can link to the info--on it from www.wvfest.com-- -as this minute I'm brain dead--what Santa Fe Trails web page is--- Great bluegrass!!!!!

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), March 01, 2002.