Mountain Roads Recordings announces the release of Black Mountain Special by Rich In Tradition from the Galax, Virginia - Mt Airy, North Carolina area. This hard-driving traditional bluegrass project has been delivered to radio personalities, media outlets and distributors for an official release date of July 27, 2010 and has also been released in electronic format through AirPlay Direct to radio stations around the world.

The title song from this CD, Black Mountain Special, is an original by lead singer Mickey Galyean’s father Cullen. It is a powerful song and sets the tone for the entire project that features several train songs. Also included in the mix of bluegrass and gospel music are a solo, a duet, and two and three part harmonies that showcase the tremendous talent of this group.

Junior Sisk, in the liner notes says, “You can’t deny a good blood line. You can hear the musical influence of Cullen Galyean, through his son Mickey. He pulls from his father’s repertoire with the opener, Black Mountain Special. Mickey’s singing has a bit of a James King flavor, but a definite style of his own. Also, in my opinion, they have one of the best traditional fiddlers in the business today, Tim Martin, who shows off his vocal abilities and Earl Scruggs style finger picking guitar on the classic song, Preachin’ Prayin’ Singin’. Greg Jones shows that any of the members can take the lead vocal duties at any time with his original, Weather’s Got To Change, and Brad Hiatt does a great job taking the lead on Only One You’re Calling Baby. Jay Adams rounds out the group with some good, solid banjo. This CD is a really nice mix of secular and gospel music. For those (like me) who enjoy good traditional bluegrass, you will most definitely like this CD!”

Rich in Tradition came to be in the spring of 2006.  A product of one of the most fertile grounds of traditional bluegrass, gospel and old-time music in the world; the Mt. Airy - Galax areas of Northwest North Carolina and Southwest Virginia, these guys cut their musical teeth playing with some of the music's best that the area had to offer. Rich in Tradition combines a century of rich bluegrass and gospel music experience to make available some of the best picking and singing around.
From pure gospel, to traditional and contemporary bluegrass, to their own original songs, "Rich in Tradition" covers the bases with precision picking, great harmonies and a professional presentation. Band members include: Jay Adams on banjo and vocals; Mickey Galyean, guitar and vocals; Brad Hiatt, acoustic bass and vocals; Greg Jones, mandolin & vocals; & Tim Martin on fiddle.
From Pine Hall, NC, Jay Adams’ first influences in bluegrass music were Flatt & Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Reno & Smiley, and all the pioneers of the music. Mickey Galyean was born in Low Gap, N.C. on the N.C. and VA border.  Mickey started playing music when he was thirteen-years old.  His father and well-known bluegrass musician, Cullen Galyean, gave Mickey an old Gibson F-4 mandolin, and Mickey switched to bluegrass from rock and has never looked back. Brad Hiatt from Ararat, VA began playing the banjo at the age nine.  At ten-years old, he was fortunate enough to play on stage with Grandpa Jones. Greg Jones was born in the heart of the bluegrass and old time haven, Mt. Airy, N.C.  Growing up with a family of musicians and singers made it a lot easier to get the pickin’ bug so at fifteen he picked up the mandolin. Tim Martin makes his home in Collinsville, VA. Tim took up with his true love, the fiddle, at the age of fifteen and he was ready to devote all of his time to the fiddle. 
Karl Cooler says, “Rich In Tradition members are a versatile group with members able to play many instruments and perform a variety of vocal parts and their sound is unique and readily identifiable. Whether they are performing old standards or original songs, their audiences are always wanting more. We are so happy that we have them on-board with us and their first release is a tremendous project and we can’t wait to get it out to bluegrass fans. If you don’t know this group now, you will very soon. “

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT
Karl S. Cooler
Mountain Roads Recordings
3192 Hwy 421, Bristol, TN  37620
(423) 878-4269    or (423) 217-3668 cell
admin@mountainroadsrecordings.com

BAND CONTACT INFORMATION
Mickey Galyean
8604 West Pine St.
Low Gap, NC  27024
(336) 325-8823
galyean@surry.net
www.richintraditionbluegrass.com
www.myspace.com/richintraditionbluegrass