posted 24 June 2000 10:48 AM         

I saw the Osbornes last night at a festival near here. What a great band! Sonny kicked off their version of "America the Beautiful". It took a second to get what song it was, then all the vets in the crowd stood up, hat in hand.

The band was having a good time on stage, ribbing each other, smiles all around.
Different line-up that when I last saw them two years ago, Gene Wooten wasn't playing dobro with them this time. Hot fiddler though. They played into one mic like Del McCoury's band does.

Thanks for the tip on the album. I wonder if it's available on CD or cassette?

posted 24 June 2000 03:25 PM         

Buddy played some great steel on the Osborne Brothers songs and so did Hal Rugg.

One of my good friends played with the Osborne Brothers for a number of years. His name was Dale Sledd from Warsaw, Missouri. Dale is retired now and plays only occasionally with select musicians. I used him on a few sesions of mine, and he is absolutely one of the best rhythm guitar players and harmony singers I ever heard.

He commented a lot on the steel guitarists and other musicians that recorded with the Osborne Brothers over the years. A bunch of great players recorded with them.

Dale enjoyed Buddy and Hal's pickin' and he also commented a lot on Jerry Byrd and his steel playing.

It's interesting that some of the biggest bluegrass musicians used pedal steel and other electrified instruments, and today a lot of bluegrassers criticize and won't use electric instruments. Yet, they will use a sound system. I have always said it's either good music or it's not!

Your right on about the steel playing on those recordings.

posted 24 June 2000 03:28 PM         

Yep, "From Rocky Top to Muddy Bottom" by The Osborne Brothers has been re-released and it is available on CD or cassette now.