http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=258Mountain 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 Galyeanandamp;rsquo;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, andamp;ldquo;You canandamp;rsquo;t deny a good blood line. You can hear the musical influence of Cullen Galyean, through his son Mickey. He pulls from his fatherandamp;rsquo;s repertoire with the opener, Black Mountain Special. Mickeyandamp;rsquo;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, Preachinandamp;rsquo; Prayinandamp;rsquo; Singinandamp;rsquo;. Greg Jones shows that any of the members can take the lead vocal duties at any time with his original, Weatherandamp;rsquo;s Got To Change, and Brad Hiatt does a great job taking the lead on Only One Youandamp;rsquo;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!andamp;rdquo; Rich in Tradition came to be in the spring of 2006.andamp;nbsp; 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, andquot;Rich in Traditionandquot; 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 andamp;amp; vocals; andamp;amp; Tim Martin on fiddle.From Pine Hall, NC, Jay Adamsandamp;rsquo; first influences in bluegrass music were Flatt andamp;amp; Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Reno andamp;amp; Smiley, and all the pioneers of the music. Mickey Galyean was born in Low Gap, N.C. on the N.C. and VA border.andamp;nbsp; Mickey started playing music when he was thirteen-years old.andamp;nbsp; 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.andamp;nbsp; 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.andamp;nbsp; Growing up with a family of musicians and singers made it a lot easier to get the pickinandamp;rsquo; 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.andamp;nbsp; Karl Cooler says, andamp;ldquo;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 canandamp;rsquo;t wait to get it out to bluegrass fans. If you donandamp;rsquo;t know this group now, you will very soon. andamp;ldquo; FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACTKarl S. CoolerMountain Roads Recordings3192 Hwy 421, Bristol, TNandamp;nbsp; 37620(423) 878-4269andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; or (423) 217-3668 celladmin@mountainroadsrecordings.com BAND CONTACT INFORMATIONMickey Galyean8604 West Pine St.Low Gap, NCandamp;nbsp; 27024(336) 325-8823galyean@surry.netwww.richintraditionbluegrass.comwww.myspace.com/richintraditionbluegrasshttp://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=257Mountain Roads Recordings of Bristol, TN announced today that they have signed the VW Boys to a recording contract. The VW Boys' show is a unique blend of talent consisting of music, magic and comedy, a complete variety show. Audiences of all ages enjoy the VW Boys show; the VW Boys perform a wide range of shows from Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN to openings for comedic greats such as Jerry Clower and Don Knotts. The group is composed of: Tim White from Blountville, TN who many of you know as the host of the popular Public Television Series, Song Of The Mountains, originating in Marion, VA and the syndicated radio show, The Tim White Bluegrass Show. Tim has been a bluegrass musician for over thirty-years and is a fine banjo player and an excellent song-writer. Dave Vaught is from Bristol, TN and has been a professional entertainer for seventeen years. Dave has made five televisionandamp;nbsp; appearances including HBO and Show Time. While Dave is well known for his skills as a magician, he is also a fine guitar player with five albums to his credit. Dave's musical career includes stints with Ronnie Millsap, Gary Morris, Sylvia, Jerry Reed, and Charlie Pride. Dave contributes much to the group with his skills as lead guitar player, harmony singer, comedian, and magician. The newest member of the group is, andquot;Fat Albertandquot; Blackburn from Marion, Virginia. Albert was a founding member of the popular band, andquot;Fescueandquot; which has been in existence since 1970. He is a natural fit for the VW Boys, he loves a good joke and is a fabulous musician, singer and entertainer. andamp;nbsp;The VW Boys blend several different aspects of entertainment in their show. As banjo picker and singer Tim White says, andquot; We entertain folks for an hour or so and help them forget their problems for a little whileandquot;. A good portion of the VW Boys show is audience participation and the VW Boys have a way of going beyond the edge of the stage to really get an audience involved in the show. The VW Boys came together when musician Tim White and magician Dave Vaught worked together on a few shows. Dave would do a magic show and Tim's band would follow Dave's show with a Bluegrass concert and this worked very well. Both immediately came up with the idea to combine the two shows and the VW Boys was formed. The VW Boys show fits any situation from conventions, fairs, festivals, clubs and private parties. The show is good clean humor and music; the VW Boys pride themselves on keeping a very professional show in front of every audience. As Dave Vaught says, andquot;The VW Boys have over 75 years of combined experience in showmanship between the three of us.andquot; Music, Magic and Comedy, a great combination.Karl Cooler of Mountain Roads Recordings said that, andquot;The music business is rapidly changing and we are always searching for ways to broaden the appeal of bluegrass and old-time music. The VW Boys represent one significant way we can achieve this goal and we're extremely proud to have them join our family of artists. Many times people come to their shows expecting to be entertained by the magic and comedy and leave with a new appreciation for bluegrass music. These guys are great entertainers along with being great pickers and singers. I'd say we have the best of four worlds with the VW Boys...pickers, singers, magicians and comedians. Don't think that they don't put out great bluegrass music just because they joke around. Their new CD with us is expected to be released in the early spring of 2011.andquot; VW Boys have performed at:The Smithsonian Folklife Festival - Washington DCDollywood - Pigeon Forge, TNKennedy Center - Washington DCGroundhog Festival - Punxatawney, PA75th Anniversary Celebration of the Bristol Sessions 2002 - Tri-Cities, TNDairy Festival - Elsie, MIDoc Watson Days - Sugar Grove, NCLonesome River Band Festival - Spirit of the Sewanee, FLBass Mountain Park - Burlington, NCMayberry Days - Mount Airy, NCBoyd's Bears new facility grand opening - Gettysburg, PAParamount Center for the Arts - Bristol TN-VACapital Theatre - Greeneville, TNInternational Bluegrass Music Association - IBMA - Louisville, KYThomasville Cultural Arts Center - Thomasville, GACarter Family Fold - Hiltons, VASmithsonian to the Mountain Tour - 2004Broom Festival - Arcola, ILMayberry Comes to Cocoa - Cocoa Beach, FLPBS andquot;Song of the Mountainsandquot; show from the Lincoln Theatre in Marion, VAFord Theatre at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee Tom T. Hall Concert Series August 2005 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:VW BoysTim WhiteP.O. Box 750Blountville, TN 37617423-323-7829423-383-7829 CELLtimwhitemusic@charter.netwww.vwboys.comMountain Roads RecordingsKarl Cooler3192 Hwy 421Bristol, TNandamp;nbsp; 37620(423) 878-4269(423) 217-3668 celladmin@mountainroadsrecordings.comwww.mountainroadsrecordings.comhttp://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=259Mountain Roads Recordings, a bluegrass and old-time music record label based in Bristol, TN, announced the release of two music videos to compliment their newest CD, Black Mountain Special, by Rich In Tradition. Karl Cooler of Mountain Roads Recordings said, andquot;Many of our artists are not well-known on the national and international levels and these music videos are a way to let a whole new fan base experience the energy and music that they have to offer and to get to know the band members. We hope that the videos will be a toll to help them obatin bookings outside this region where they are knownandquot;. The first of the videos is approximately ten minutes long and features band members introducing their music and themselves with the second being a pure music video of the title track of their new release Black Mountain Special. Check out the videos on this page andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=486Rich In Tradition's first release on the Mountain Roads Recordings label entitled, Black Mountain Special, debuts on the September Bluegrass Music Profiles Charts. The title cut entered the Top 30 Hot Singles Chart at #22 and the album lept onto the Top 10 National Bluegrass CD's Chart at #4 among such greats as Lonesome River Band, The Grascals and Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice. The Top 30 Hot Singles is based on songs receiving the most national airplay from BMP reporting radio stations This is a national chart and is updated monthly and posted online at: http://bluegrassmusicprofiles.com/bmp-top-30 (Get a pdf copy of the chart) Black Mountain Special's strong showing on the Top 10 National Bluegrass CD's Chart is reflective of the great selection of songs on this album and the strong airplay all of the songs have been receiving throughout the world. We at MRR and the Band have been receiving tremendous comments related to this album such as: andquot;Just wanted to let you know this album is GREAT!!andamp;nbsp; Tempted to just play the whole album on the show.andamp;nbsp; Also...you have done the perfect!! back cover.andamp;nbsp; All tracks numbered...named...track times...and info about whether it's andquot;instrumentalandquot; or andquot;gospelandquot;.andamp;nbsp; GREAT!! Many thanks.andamp;nbsp; Every record label and musician should follow your example!!! Darwin Davidson, andquot;Bronzewoundandquot; Bluegrass Many others have written to say that they consider this album to be the best release of the 2010 year, bar none! With Rich In Tradition being new to the national bluegrass scene, MRR has posted two videos of the group on our website and also on the MRR You Tube Channel to introduce you to this group. In the first video, we introduce you to this hard-working group of musicians and the second is a video of the group performing the title cut, Black Mountain Special. Check out the videos at Rich In Tradition's page on the MRR website: {CCM:BASE_URL}/index.php/artists1/rich-in-tradition/ If you like traditional bluegrass music, we know you'll love RICH IN TRADITION andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=490Meet the Snyder Family Band and get to know this amazing family. Two videos released today by Mountain Roads Recordings feature the Snyders. The first gives you an introduction to them and the music they play. The second is a traditional music video of one of their favorites, Little Bluebird,andamp;nbsp; from their latest release, Comin On Strong.http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=517Mark Rose, bass player with Jim Lloyd and the Skyliners, passed away on Friday October 29th while attending the Black Pot Festival in Lafayette Louisiana. Mark Rose has developed his style of bass playing with many area old time bands. First inspired by Janice Birchfield of the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers, he took up the wash-tub bass. He honed his skills on the upright bass by playing with the Konnarock Critters and Nick and Chester McMillan and has been influenced by such great bass players as Al Firth, Tim Yates, Bill Sluys, Bob Bloomingdale, and of course Jason Sypher. Born and raised in Lexington, KY, Mark has lived in Mouth of Wilson for 32 years. He works at home in an old log cabin with his wife Lenora, who he met at the Galax fiddler's convention in 1977.andamp;nbsp; http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=523Drake Walsh of the Elkville String Band passed away this morning at his home in Miller's Creek, NC. He was 79 years old. Drake Walsh started playing banjo when he was about six or seven years old, and he has been playing traditional mountain music ever since then. The son of 1920s RCA and Columbia recording artist, Dock Walsh, Drake always loved the traditional music he heard when he was growing up. He would even risk sneaking out his father's banjo to practice, in spite of his parents' fears that he would break the precious instrument. Dock Walsh was a well-known and respected musician whose music is included on the North Carolina Banjo Collection album produced by Bob Carlin to honor the amazing banjo playing traditions of the state. He played with many local musicians, and Drake was a beneficiary of these sessions. Watauga County's Ora Watson, a North Carolina Folk Heritage Award recipient, remembers playing with Dock. Rick Ward, also of Watauga County, remembers his grandfather, the great banjoist Tab Ward, talking about playing with Dock Walsh. Through his military service during the Korean War, Drake met other traditional string musicians from Tennessee, Texas, and New York. The group needed a fiddler, so Drake began to focus more on the fiddle. Drake has continued playing music throughout his life, and today, he plays mostly fiddle and mandolin. His band, The Elkville Stringband, has been the house band for the Tom Dooley Legend performances in Wilkes County. They also perform for restaurants, festivals, radio programs, and shows in the area. Other members of the group include Herb Key, Bill Williams, Jim Lloyd, and Nicole Vidrine. For forty-five years, Drake made his living working for BP oil. Now that he is retired he has more time for music and performs regularly at venues all around the region. While the fiddle and mandolin are his primary instruments, he also plays harmonica and the pre-bluegrass three-finger banjo style that his father used to play. andamp;nbsp;http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=555The Snyder Family Band's debut CD on the Mountain Roads Recording label has been selected as #21 on WNCW Radio's Top 50 Bluegrass CD's of 2010 list. The Snyder Family Band has long been a favorite in their native North Carolina, but their musical careers have been boosted this year by the release of their tremendously popular CD, Comin' On Strong. They have been favorites at major festivals all over the country and were a featured Showcase Act at the 2010 International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass in Nashville Tennessee. andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=554 Rich In Tradition's Black Mountain Special joins a prestigious list ofandamp;nbsp; twenty-five bluegrass albums released in 2010 to be selected as one of the 25 Mighty Fine Bluegrass Recordings from 2010 by Amy Orlomoski of WHUS 91.7 FM.WHUS Radio is the noncommercial college and community radio station at the University of Connecticut. Amy hosts the andquot;Bluegrass Cafeandquot; on alternating weeks with Jim Beaver. A native of eastern CT, Amy previously hosted andquot;Simply Bluegrassandquot; at WECS at Eastern CT State University before joining the staff at WHUS in the Spring of 2000. Since November 1998, she has been the Librarian and Director of the Andover Public Library, where, among other things, she finds it her andquot;dutyandquot; to try to introduce Bluegrass music to the library's patrons whenever she can. North Carolina native Jim Beaver was reared with a record player, a stack of 78s and vinyl that included Tchaikovsky and Buddy Holly, an old tube TV with Arthur Smith and The Crackerjacks on every morning, cotton and wheat fields at his maternal grandmother's farm, and Southern Railway locomotives passing his paternal grandmother's house. The first major change in Jim's life was when a Bell 47G helicopter flew over as he was waiting for a train to pass; the second was meeting his future wife, Marti; and the third was hearing Doc and Merle Watson perform live. Though he works in advanced aircraft propulsion, Jim delights in bringing bluegrass and early recorded American roots music to the airwaves -- sometimes with Marti -- and picking the five-string banjo when he has time. Each week at the andquot;Bluegrass Cafe,andquot; we serve up all kinds of great Bluegrass music, from traditional to contemporary and beyond. In addition, we'll keep you up to date with what's happening in live Bluegrass music in southern New England, interview some of your favorite Bluegrass personalities and performers, and maybe even give away a CD or two. For more than a quarter of a century, Bluegrass music has been on the airwaves at WHUS, and we're happy to keep that tradition rolling along....join us! andamp;nbsp;http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=563Mountain Roads Recordings of Bristol, TN announced today that the VW Boys first release on their label entitled andamp;ldquo;RetroActiveandamp;rdquo; is set for March 22, 2011. This CD features 15 songs from the 50andamp;rsquo;s, 60andamp;lsquo;s and 70andamp;rsquo;s performed in bluegrass style by this talented group and supports both MRR and the VW Boysandamp;rsquo; goal of bringing bluegrass to a wider audience. This album will be the first by the VW Boys featuring lead vocals by andamp;ldquo;Fat Albertandamp;rdquo; Blackburn who performed many years with the bluegrass band, Fescue. Joining the VW Boys on this album are the unique talents of Lou Reid on mandolin and fiddle; Phil Leadbetter and LeRoy McNees (andamp;ldquo;LeRoy Mackandamp;rdquo;) on resophonic guitar. Many of you will remember LeRoy Mack who , as part of The Country Boys, was featured on the Andy Griffith Show. The VW Boys have a special tie to Mayberry and have performed many times for Mayberry Days and on the Mayberry Cruise. The music of this period has always been very special to them and in this album they have been able to offer a bluegrass version of pop and country songs from that era along with some bluegrass favorites. Selections for the album include songs that many of you will instantly remember along with some with the VW Boysandamp;rsquo; usual dose of humor in the mix: andamp;nbsp; andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Amie andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; All I Have To Do Is Dream andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; I Feel Fine andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Ugly Girls Blues andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Fire On The Mountain andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Earlandamp;rsquo;s Breakdown andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Wagon Wheel andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Death Came Creeping In My Room andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Hot Rod Lincoln andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Keep On The Sunny Side andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Brown Mountain Light andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Rag Mop andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Battle Of New Orleans andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; You Wonandamp;rsquo;t Ever Forget Me andamp;middot;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; The Rooster Song andamp;nbsp; The VW Boys are composed of: Tim White from Blountville, TN who many of you know as the host of the popular Public Television Series, Song of The Mountains, originating in Marion, VA and the syndicated radio program, The Tim White Bluegrass Show. Tim has been a bluegrass musician for over thirty-years and is a fine banjo player and an excellent songwriter. Timandamp;rsquo;s interest of recognizing, preserving and perpetuating the historic music of the area led to recruitment of others of a like-mind and an organizing of the Appalachian Cultural Music Association (www.appalachianculturalmusic.org). Tim is immediate past president of the ACMA and uses his many talents as artist, businessman, musician and radio announcer to further the aims of the ACMA. The ACMA helps to support the Mountain Music Museum (www.mountainmusicmuseum.org), which Tim helped establish in 1999. The museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the music which was born in the Southern Appalachians. andamp;nbsp;When you visit Bristol, andamp;ldquo;The Birthplace of Country Musicandamp;rdquo;, look for the famous mural on State Street, created and painted by Tim White. Dave Vaught is from Bristol, TN and has been a professional entertainer for seventeen years. Dave has made five television appearances including HBO and Show Time. While Dave is well known for his skills as a magician, he is also a fine guitar player with five albums to his credit. Dave's musical career includes stints with Ronnie Millsap, Gary Morris, Sylvia, Jerry Reed, and Charlie Pride. Dave contributes much to the group with his skills as lead guitar player, harmony singer, comedian, and magician. The newest member of the group is, andquot;Fat Albertandquot; Blackburn from Marion, Virginia. Albert was a founding member of the popular band, andquot;Fescueandquot; which has been in existence since 1970. He is a natural fit for the VW Boys; he loves a good joke and is a fabulous musician, singer and entertainer. The VW Boys blend several different aspects of entertainment in their show. As banjo picker and singer Tim White says, andquot; We entertain folks for an hour or so and help them forget their problems for a little while.andquot; A good portion of the VW Boys show is audience participation and the VW Boys have a way of going beyond the edge of the stage to really get an audience involved in the show. The VW Boys came together when musician Tim White and magician Dave Vaught worked together on a few shows. Dave would do a magic show and Tim's band would follow Dave's show with a Bluegrass concert and this worked very well. Both immediately came up with the idea to combine the two shows and the VW Boys was formed. The VW Boys show fits any situation from conventions, fairs, festivals, clubs and private parties. The show is good clean humor and music; the VW Boys pride themselves on keeping a very professional show in front of every audience. As Dave Vaught says, andquot;The VW Boys have over 75 years of combined experience in showmanship between the three of us.andquot; Music, Magic and Comedy, a great combination. VW Boys have performed at: The Smithsonian Folklife Festival - Washington DC Dollywood - Pigeon Forge, TN Kennedy Center - Washington DC Groundhog Festival - Punxatawney, PA 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Bristol Sessions 2002 - Tri-Cities, TN Dairy Festival - Elsie, MI The Barter Theater, andamp;ldquo;The Theater of Virginiaandamp;rdquo;, Abingdon, VA Doc Watson Days - Sugar Grove, NC Lonesome River Band Festival - Spirit of the Sewanee, FL Bass Mountain Park - Burlington, NC Mayberry Days - Mount Airy, NC Boyd's Bears new facility grand opening - Gettysburg, PA Paramount Center for the Arts - Bristol TN-VA Capital Theatre - Greeneville, TN International Bluegrass Music Association - IBMA - Louisville, KY Thomasville Cultural Arts Center - Thomasville, GA Carter Family Fold - Hiltons, VA Smithsonian to the Mountain Tour - 2004 Broom Festival - Arcola, IL Mayberry Comes to Cocoa - Cocoa Beach, FL PBS andquot;Song of the Mountainsandquot; show from the Lincoln Theatre in Marion, VA Ford Theatre at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee, Tom T. Hallandamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Concert Series August 2005 RetroActive will be available from the VW Boys website, www.vwboys.com, and from Mountain Roads Recordings at www.mountainroadsrecordings.com, on March 22, 2011. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: VW Boys Tim White P.O. Box 750 Blountville, TN 37617 423-323-7829 423-383-7829 CELL timwhitemusic@charter.net www.vwboys.com Mountain Roads Recordings Karl Cooler 3192 Hwy 421 Bristol, TNandamp;nbsp; 37620 (423) 878-4269 (423) 217-3668 cell admin@mountainroadsrecordings.com www.mountainroadsrecordings.com andamp;nbsp;http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=590The VW Boys will celebrate the release of their first recording, Retroactive, on the Mountain Roads Recordings label at the Pickinandamp;rsquo; Porch in Bristol, Tennessee (at the Bristol Mall) on Thursday March 24, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. The VW Boys will kick off the regular Thursday night show with selections from their new CD. Performing later in the show will be Bryan Osborne. You wonandamp;rsquo;t want to miss a show like this! Retroactive was released electronically through AirPlay Direct to radio personalities around the world in late February and has been receiving tremendous airplay in the short time it has been in their hands. These markets include but are not limited to Canada, Australia, Brazil, Italy, France, Ireland, England, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The official CD release date is March 22nd and will be available through the VW Boys and Mountain Roads Recordings websites. Retroactive features songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s played bluegrass style by Tim White (banjo), Dave Vaught (guitar) and Albert Blackburn (bass). Songs like andamp;ldquo;All I Have to Do is Dreamandamp;rdquo; (The Everly Brothers), andamp;ldquo;Fire on the Mountainandamp;rdquo; (The Marshall Tucker Band) and andamp;ldquo;Amieandamp;rdquo; (Pure Prairie League) will especially appeal to Baby-boomers and everyone who loves music from that era. There are also fun songs like andamp;ldquo;Rag Mopandamp;rdquo;, andamp;ldquo;The Ugly Girl Bluesandamp;rdquo; and andamp;ldquo;The Rooster Songandamp;rdquo; that will leave a smile on your face long after the last notes have sounded. The trio combines wonderful harmonies and solid musicianship with elements of magic and a large helping of jokes that all come together to create a fun and hilarious variety show. It is obvious to all who have attended their shows that this is a group of men who clearly enjoy each otherandamp;rsquo;s company, who know how to entertain and who respect the bluegrass music that we all love. Come join us for a great evening of celebration of the heritage of our music and great music. The best partandamp;hellip; ITandamp;rsquo;S ALL FREE and you get cake and refreshments, too! FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Mountain Roads Recordings Karl S. Cooler 3192 Hwy 421andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Bristol, TNandamp;nbsp; 37620 (423) 878-4269 or (423) 217-3668 admin@mountainroadsrecordings.com VW Boys Tim White P.O. Box 750 Blountville, TN 37617 423-323-7829 423-383-7829 CELL timwhitemusic@charter.net www.vwboys.com andamp;nbsp;http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=640Mountain Roads Recordings is excited to announce that Bristol's Sessions 27 downtown music store honoring the 1927 Bristol Sessions and all the great music that has followed will be carrying our music as part of their committment to featuring local and regional artists. Sessions 27 opened at 505 State Street in Bristol recently and specializes in new and used vinyl and CD's including: Rhythm and Roots artists; bluegrass, country, classic rock, jazz, blues, celtic and much, much more.andamp;nbsp; Owners Con and Nancy Sauls have created a terrific environment for the sale and enjoyment of music. The store is comfortable, features a Pickin' Stage for local musicians to jam and showcase talent and a sitting area to enjoy a beverage and the musical atmosphere. They also have a practice space for rehearsals and lessons. Samantha Pasco is the manager of the store and posseses a wealth of information on all music the store carries. She plays samples of the music on a regular schedule for the patrons and also has videos being featured on the store's big screen. If you haven't stopped by yet, you're missing out on a great musical experience. If they don't have what you're looking for, just ask... they'll get it for you. Mountain Roads Recordings is proud to have our products offered at Sessions 27. You'll see many of our artists on their Pickin' Stage.http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=682The Snyder Family Band and Mountain Roads Recordings are proud to announce that Zeb Snyder has been chosen as the SC State Guitar Champion at this year's RenoFest held in Harstville, SC. First prize was a beautful hand-crafted Gerald Anderson D-18 guitar. Zeb is featured prominently in the Snyder Family Band's latest CD on the MRR label entitled 'Comin' On Strong'. The CD features music by the Snyder Family band and includes 15 year old Zeb on guitar, banjo and vocals; twelve year old Samantha on fiddle and vocals, father, Bud, on bass; and joined for three part harmonies by mother, Laine. The Snyders have been turning the bluegrass world on it's ear for the past couple of years and although it doesn't seem possible, get better every day. andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=681Mountain Roads Recordings is extremely excited to announce that they will begin sponsoring 'Let's Talk NC' on 1490 WLOE andamp;amp; 1420 WMYN, broadcasting from Mayodan, NC today, March 31, 2011. Let's Talk NC is a popular show aired Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11;30 am and re-broadcast at 6:00pm on th same days. The program features North Carolina products, people, places, interviews, calendar of events and give-aways. Your host, Mike Moore is a strong supporter of bluegrass music and has been a long-time supporter of Mountain Roads Recordings artists, many who live in their northwest North Carolina and Southwest , Virginia broadcast area. Karl Cooler of Mountain Roads Recordings says, andquot;My record label offers the very best in old time and bluegrass music and we feel as though our partnership with Mike Moore and his station is a natural fit.andamp;nbsp; His listeners and ours are the same and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship. Whatever we need to do to support him we'll do and I know we can count on him to do the same.andquot; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=685Bluegrass fiddler Jordan Blevins from Marion, Virginia joins the great traditional bluegrass band, Rich In Tradition. Jordon, just as the rest of the group, comes from a musical family with a rich heritage in bluegrass music. His father has played the guitar since age 13 and he also has two uncles who play mandolin. Starting with the upright bassandamp;nbsp;at the Monday night jamsandamp;nbsp;at Carson Cooper's music store on Main Street in Marion, Jordon learned as much as he could from some pretty good pickers who were anxious to teach a young eager kid some tricks. He joined his father's band, the Virginia Mountain Boys, at ageandamp;nbsp;15. When he turned 18, he became interested in the fiddle and shortly after was faced withandamp;nbsp;the choiceandamp;nbsp;ofandamp;nbsp;trying out for the Virginia Tech baseball team or playing fiddle withandamp;nbsp;the popular band, Fescue. His love of musicandamp;nbsp;steered him to Fescue and he has never looked back, continuing to hone his skills on the fiddle. Rounding out the roster for Rich In Tradition, Jordon saya that he already feels at home with this group. He says, andquot;I'm very pleased to be a part of Rich In Tradition and look forward to a long and successful musical career with them. They are a great bunch of guys and greatandamp;nbsp;musiciansandquot;. http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=735 TOP 66 INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS CHART TO LAUNCH JUNE 1 on THEALTERNATEROOT.COM Youandamp;rsquo;re Invited to be a participating broadcaster/ station! Bluegrass Broadcasters are invited to join! Bluegrass music has a new, weekly bluegrass album radio airplay chart, and weandamp;rsquo;d like to invite all bluegrass radio personalities to participate by creating a free account and entering your weekly play list.andamp;nbsp; Hereandamp;rsquo;s the link: http://www.thealternateroot.com/?option=com_bluegrassandamp;amp;task=chart.andamp;nbsp; In addition to helping the overall bluegrass music industry grow by your participation, this will also be a great way for you to advertise your radio station (terrestrial, satellite or internet streaming) to 80,000 visitors to the site each week! Please go to the link above, look at the left margin and click on andamp;ldquo;REPORTERSandamp;rdquo; to become part of the team that determines chart placement for the andamp;ldquo;Top 66 International Bluegrass Chart.andamp;rdquo;andamp;nbsp; Then click andamp;ldquo;create an accountandamp;rdquo; to enter some basic info about your show and your radio station, and follow the prompts to enter your playlist for the week. DJs are limited to posting eight spins per broadcast hour at present, each week. This chart is for andamp;ldquo;newandamp;rdquo; albums, released during the past 12 months.andamp;nbsp; If the album youandamp;rsquo;re looking for is not in the field already, you may enter it as a DJ.andamp;nbsp; Record labels may also mail info on new albums to nu-blu@nu-blu.com.andamp;nbsp; DJs are asked to log in their play lists by 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays, and the chart will be updated weekly at 4 p.m. Eastern on the same afternoon. Weandamp;rsquo;re starting with an ALBUMS CHART, but plans are in the works for a future charts for SINGLES.andamp;nbsp; Weandamp;rsquo;re also interested in a BLUEGRASS CLASSICS chart, which will include andamp;ldquo;deep catalogandamp;rdquo; songs and new music. After releasing an independent album last year with his band, Nu-Blu and having a difficult time discovering where it was actually being played, IBMA member Daniel Routhandamp;nbsp; (http://www.nu-blu.com/) started work on an internet-based weekly chart, with free participation and sharing of data generated. The chart will be funded by online ads at www.thealternateroot.com; there are 15 available ad spots every week.andamp;nbsp; Sammy Passamano at Rural Rhythm Records has also been instrumentalandamp;nbsp; in launching the chart. For advertising info, email nu-blu@nu-blu.com. New DJ and station requests will be screened and approved by the chart administrator before they go live. A volunteer panel of label reps and artists will assist the administrator in reviewing requests to join the DJ/ Stations list.andamp;nbsp; Only DJs are permitted to enter playlists. The TOP 66 is not intended to duplicate or compete with existing monthly bluegrass airplay charts and surveys.andamp;nbsp; It will offer a new source of information based on weekly spins of bluegrass albums. Data generated by the new chart will include number of spins by album for THIS WEEK, LAST WEEK, and TWO WEEKS AGO. Weandamp;rsquo;ll also be able to find out the number of stations and spins (including specific station and program info) for individual albums.andamp;nbsp; In addition to helping to provide an easily accessible, accurate record of how many times and where new bluegrass albums are being played, the Top 66 International Bluegrass Chart will also generate useful information for bands and labels. Itandamp;rsquo;s a win: win situation for everyone, and we hope youandamp;rsquo;ll join us! For more info: email Daniel Routh at nu-blu@nu-blu.com. .http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=736The Snyder Family Band will be in Bristol on Saturday June 11th, 2011 for a photo shoot for their upcoming CD on Mountain Roads Recordings entitled andquot;Stagesandquot;. The shoot will take place at various locations throughout both Bristols. While in Bristol, they will visit Sessions 27 Music Store on State Street and perform a one-set show from 2:30 until 3:30pm. They will be available to sign copies of their current CD, andquot;Comin' On Strongandquot;. andamp;nbsp;A portion of their photo shoot will take place at Sessions 27.andamp;nbsp; The Snyder Family Band showcases the talents of 15 year-old Zeb Snyder, on guitar, and his sister, 12 year-old Samantha, on fiddle. Their father, Bud, backs them up on upright bass. Their extraordinary musicianship and their depth of feeling for the music they play have taken them to stages everywhere from the Wayne C. Henderson Festival in VA to the Cook Shack in Union Grove, NC , the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree in Nashville and MerleFest. They have were selected as an official showcase band for the 2010 World of Bluegrass in Nashville in October. Thanks to Sessions 27 for providing an excellent and intimate venue to showcase up and coming artists. We hope to see you there on Saturday. andamp;nbsp; http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=757The 76th Edition of the Galax Old Fiddlers Convention concluded its week-long event by announcing the winners in traditional fashion in the wee hours of Sunday morning, August 14th, 2011.andamp;nbsp;In this year's list of winners were Mountain Roads Recordings artists' Zeb Snyder (age 15) who captured 1st Place in the Adult Guitar Division and sister Samantha (age 13) who was the winner of the Adult Bluegrass Fiddle Divsion.andamp;nbsp; Both Samantha and Zeb are members of the Snyder Family Band from Lexington, NC. Zeb, the current 2011 SC Guitar Champion, continues to rack up the accolades wherever he performs. Samantha was determined to capture this year's top prize after finishing in 2nd place last year to her fiddle teacher. Both Snyders have captured top honors in festivals and fiddlers convention throughout the region. The Snyder Family Band is made up of Samantha and Zeb along with father, Bud on upright bass, mother Laine with harmony vocals and they are sometimes joined on stage by five-year-old Owen on vocals and guitar. The Snyders have become a bluegrass music sensation over the past several years and are favorites at festivals and venues around the country. As this year's competition results indicate, don't think of this young group as a youth band. They can hold their own with the best bluegrass musicians and vocalists peforming today. The Snyder Family Band is set to release their second album entitled, andquot;Stagesandquot; on the Mountain Roads Recordings record label on October 25th, 2011. This album follows their first release on the MRR label, andquot;Comin' On Strongandquot;. The Snyder Family Band really is coming on strong!. Look for them at a festival or show near you. Vist the: Snyder Family Band Website See all this year's winners: 2011 Galax Winnershttp://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=763Open Your Mind To A Whole New Musical Experience and Soundandamp;hellip; Whether youandamp;rsquo;re a fan of bluegrass or old-time music, 29 artists from both sides of the aisle have come together to create a truly unique recording that combines these two musical genres and their bold styles. The Appalachian Highlands region of Northeast Tennessee, Northwestern North Carolina, Southwestern Virginia and Eastern Kentucky is home to the origins of both bluegrass and old-time string band music.andamp;nbsp; This music has been enjoyed for generations in kitchens and back porches, school auditoriums and music festivals and venues. Many times bluegrass and old-time artists can be heard jamming off stage at festivals before or after shows or even late into the night after the crowds have gone home. Amazing sounds are created when these styles are blended together as their heritage intended and rarely heard by the fans. Close Kin brings these sounds to the fans. andamp;nbsp;Close Kin, produced by award winning songwriter/singer Johnny Williams, features superb arrangements and vocal and instrumental combinations of 16 songs performed by such great artists as: Adam andamp;amp; Tina Steffeyandamp;nbsp; (The Boxcars andamp;amp; The Grayson Highlands String Band)Johnny andamp;amp; Jeanette Williamsandamp;nbsp; (The Jeanette Williams Band)Scott andamp;amp; Mark Freeman andamp;nbsp;(Pathway, Skeeter andamp;amp; The Skidmarks)Mickey Galyean, Greg Jones, Jay Adams, Brad Hiatt andamp;amp; Jordon Blevinsandamp;nbsp; (Rich In Tradition)Bud, Zeb, Samantha andamp;amp; Laine Snyderandamp;nbsp; (The Snyder Family Band)Dale Morris andamp;amp; Jerry Correll andamp;nbsp;(Wolfe Bros String Band)Edwin Lacy andamp;nbsp;(Skeeter and the Skidmarks)Eddie Bond andamp;nbsp;(The New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters)Jim Lloyd andamp;amp; Trevor McKenzie andamp;nbsp;(Jim Lloyd and the Skyliners)Brian Grimm andamp;nbsp;(The Konnarock Kritters)Trish Kilby Fore andamp;nbsp;(Fox Creek Ramblers)Tiffany Hurtandamp;nbsp; (Wheeler)Tim White, Dave Vaught andamp;amp;andamp;ldquo;Fat Albertandamp;rdquo; Blackburnandamp;nbsp; (The VW Boys)Wesley Easter andamp;nbsp;(Eastwood Studio)Rebecca Jones andamp;nbsp;(Travis Frye andamp;amp; Blue Mountain) The official release date for Close Kin has been set for Tuesday November 15, 2011 but we expect to release this project electronically through AirPlay Direct and have advance copies available for radio and media in mid-September. Copies will be available for sale at this time from the Mountain Roads Recordingsandamp;rsquo; web store (mountainroadsrecordings.com) and from the projectandamp;rsquo;s participating artists. Karl Cooler of Mountain Roads Recordings says, andamp;ldquo;This is a project that Johnny Williams and I have wanted to do for many years and we felt that we finally had the perfect combination of artists to make up the recording. It was especially important to us to pick songs that were both familiar and not overly recorded and team up the artists into combinations that are unlike anything out there today.andamp;nbsp; We stressed that we wanted them to bring their unique styles to each and every song. These styles coupled with Johnnyandamp;rsquo;s arrangements are captivatingandamp;rdquo;.andamp;nbsp; As with other Mountain Roads Recordingsandamp;rsquo; projects a video for the project is in final production stages and will also be available. Johnny Williams, producer of the project adds, andamp;ldquo; For many years Iandamp;rsquo;ve wanted to do a project like this and Karl and Gail at Mountain Roads Recordings have made this possible. Itandamp;rsquo;s great to combine the bluegrass and old-time music and I think we have some of the greatest pickers in the region on it. All music lovers, regardless of their favorite genre, will find something in the project to their liking and Iandamp;rsquo;ll be surprised if it doesnandamp;rsquo;t get an awful lot of airplayandamp;rdquo;. Song Listings: 1.andamp;nbsp; Chilly Winds andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Johnny Williams - Vocals Adam Steffey - andamp;nbsp;Mandolin Tina Steffey - Clawhammer Banjo Mickey Galyean - Guitar Scott Freeman - Bluegrass Fiddle Eddie Bond - Old Time Fiddle Wesley Easter - Bluegrass Banjo Brad Hiatt - Bass andamp;nbsp; 2.andamp;nbsp; Little Bird of Heaven Jeanette Williams - Vocals Adam Steffey - andamp;nbsp;Mandolin Tina Steffey - Clawhammer Banjo Samantha Snyder - Bluegrass Fiddle Zeb Snyder - Guitar Scott Freeman - Harmony Vocals Bud Snyder - Bass 3.andamp;nbsp; Tennessee Grey Eagle andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Zeb Snyder - Guitar Scott Freeman - andamp;nbsp;Mandolin Edwin Lacy - ClawhammerBanjo Brian Grimm - Old Time Fiddle Mark Freeman Bluegrass Banjo Bud Snyder - Bass 4.andamp;nbsp; Always A Day Too Late Tiffany Hurt - Lead Vocals Jeanette Williams - Harmony Vocals Scott Freeman - Harmony Vocals Adam Steffey - andamp;nbsp;Mandolin Tina Steffey - Clawhammer Banjo Mickey Galyean - Guitar Jordon Blevins - Bluegrass Fiddle Brian Grimm - Old Time Fiddle Jay Adams - Bluegrass Banjo Bud Snyder - Bass andamp;nbsp; 5.andamp;nbsp; Rattlinandamp;rsquo; Bones Adam Steffey - andamp;nbsp;Mandolin andamp;amp; Lead Vocals Johnny Williams - Harmony Vocals Tina Steffey - Clawhammer Banjo Zeb Snyder - Guitar Samantha Snyder - Bluegrass Fiddle Brad Hiatt - Bass 6.andamp;nbsp; Old Horse and Buggy Jerry Correll - Old Time Fiddle Samantha Snyder - Bluegrass Fiddle Dale Morris - Clawhammer Banjo Tim White - Bluegrass Banjo Dave Vaught - Guitar Greg Jones - andamp;nbsp;Mandolin Fat Albert Blackburn - Bass 7.andamp;nbsp; With Tears In My Eyes Samantha Snyder - Bluegrass Fiddle andamp;amp; Lead Vocals Scott Freeman - andamp;nbsp;Mandolin andamp;amp; Harmony Vocals Laine Snyder - Harmony Vocals Zeb Snyder - Guitar Edwin Lacy - Clawhammer Banjo Bud Snyder - Bass andamp;nbsp; 8.andamp;nbsp; Sugar Hill andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Eddie Bond - Old Time Fiddle andamp;amp; Vocals Scott Freeman - Bluegrass Fiddle Adam Steffey - andamp;nbsp;Mandolin Tina Steffey - Clawhammer Banjo Jay Adams - Bluegrass Banjo Zeb Snyder - Guitar Brad Hiatt - Bass andamp;nbsp; 9.andamp;nbsp; Wise County Trevor McKenzie - Guitar andamp;amp; Vocals Scott Freeman - Bluegrass Fiddle Jim Lloyd - Clawhammer Banjo Brad Hiatt - Bass andamp;nbsp; 10. Bound For To Leave Jeanette Williams- Vocals Zeb Snyder - Guitar Samantha Snyder - Bluegrass Fiddle Wesley Easter - Bluegrass Banjo Edwin Lacy - Clawhammer Banjo Bud Snyder - Bass andamp;nbsp; 11. Soldiers Joy Dale Morris - Clawhammer Banjo Tim White - Bluegrass Banjo Jerry Correll - Old Time Fiddle Scott Freeman - Bluegrass Fiddle Dave Vaught - Guitar Greg Jones - andamp;nbsp;Mandolin Fat Albert Blackburn - Bass andamp;nbsp; 12. Seven Cent Cotton, Forty Cent Meat Mickey Galyean - Vocals Johnny Williams - Guitar Scott Freeman - Bluegrass Fiddle andamp;amp; Mandolin Trish Fore - Clawhammer Banjo Mark Freeman - Bluegrass Banjo Brad Hiatt - Bass andamp;nbsp; 13. Come All You Coal Miners andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; Jeanette Williams - Vocals Zeb Snyder - Guitar Scott Freeman - andamp;nbsp;Mandolin Samantha Snyder - Bluegrass Fiddle Brian Grimm - Old Time Fiddle Edwin Lacy - Clawhammer Banjo Bud Snyder - Bass andamp;nbsp; 14. Walk Along John To Kansas Fat Albert Blackburn - Bass andamp;amp; Lead Vocals Tim White - Bluegrass Banjo andamp;amp; Harmony Vocals Dave Vaught - Guitar andamp;amp; Harmony Vocals Jerry Correll - Old Time Fiddle Dale Morris - Clawhammer Banjo 15. Say Darlinandamp;rsquo; Say Johnny Williams - Vocal Duet Rebecca Jones - Vocal Duet Tim White - Bluegrass Banjo Dale Morris - Clawhammer Banjo Greg Jones - Mandolin Dave Vaught - Guitar Jerry Correll - Old Time Fiddle Fat Albert Blackburn - Bass 16. Holly Ding Jerry Correll - Old Time Fiddle Scott Freeman - Bluegrass Fiddle Greg Jones -Mandolin Mickey Galyean - Guitar Jim Lloyd - Clawhammer Banjo Brad Hiatt - Bass andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT Karl S. Cooler Mountain Roads Recordings 3192 Hwy 421, Bristol, TNandamp;nbsp; 37620 (423) 878-4269andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; or (423) 217-3668 cell admin@mountainroadsrecordings.com karl@mountainroadsrecordings.com Johnny Williams Grass Tank Music 656 Loomfixer Lake Rd.andamp;nbsp; Danville, VAandamp;nbsp; 24541 (434) 489-8080 cell grasstank@mindspring.comhttp://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=765Mountain Roads Recordings of Bristol, TN announced today that the Snyder Family Bandandamp;rsquo;s second release on their label, titled Stages, is set for October 18, 2011. We expect the Snyders to have pre-release copies available for sale at shows and on their website as early as September 10th. Stages, the title track for this project was written by 12-year-old Samantha. The song reflects not only on her experiences during her musical career but also the comfort and joy that music has provided to the Snyder Family. It is a reflection on the Stages they have performed on, the friends they have met along the way and the Stages that they hope to cross during their musical journey. Samantha sings lead on this song and is accompanied by her brother, Zeb (16), on guitar and father Bud, on upright bass. This project, the Snyder Familyandamp;rsquo;s third release, showcases the tremendous musical, vocal and songwriting abilities of this amazing family. It features five original songs by Samantha and Zeb and a variety of songs from numerous sources and genres: Original Untitled by Wyatt Rice; An old-time fiddle favorite, Angelina Baker; Wrenandamp;rsquo;s Waltz by Glen Alexander, Samanthaandamp;rsquo;s fiddle teacher; Daddyandamp;rsquo;s Gone, a crowd favorite at shows written by Bill Hallock And a bonus track, The Glendy Burke, a Stephen Foster favorite, featuring 5 year-old Owen Snyder. Owen is currently following Samanthaandamp;rsquo;s and Zebandamp;rsquo;s path by studying classical guitar in the Suzuki method. He now sometimes joins the band on stage and is anxious to become a regular as they cross the Stages of their future. Samantha recently won the prestigious bluegrass fiddle competition in the adult division at the 76th Galax Old Fiddlerandamp;rsquo;s Convention and Zeb, who is the current 2011 SC Guitar Champion, took first place in the adult Guitar category. Both gave amazing performances and were the hands-down crowd favorites. Zeb Snyder said, andamp;ldquo;I am excited about the amount of original material we were able to include on this project and I like the direction that our music is taking as we continue to develop our unique sound as a band.andamp;rdquo; Zebandamp;rsquo;s and Samanthaandamp;rsquo;s mother, Laine, adds exceptional family harmonies and on a bonus track they are joined by five year-old Owen. Their extraordinary musicianship and their depth of feeling for the music they play have taken them to stages everywhere from the Wayne C. Henderson Festival in VA to the Cook Shack in Union Grove, NC, the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree in Nashville and MerleFest. They were selected as an official showcase band for the 2010 World of Bluegrass in Nashville. The Snyder Family Band has performed at: IBMA Official Showcase Band - World of Bluegrass 2010Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree with Dailey andamp;amp; VincentSong of the Mountains on PBSWayne C. Henderson FestivalBluegrass First ClassMerleFestThe Rex TheaterOld Rock SchoolhouseTop of Georgia Bluegrass JamboreeBluegrass On The WaccamawLilandamp;rsquo; Johns Mountain Music FestivalCharlotte Folk SocietyRed, White andamp;amp; Bluegrass FestivalCentral Virginia Bluegrass FestivalThe Cook ShackSugar Grove Music Fest Stages will be available from the Snyder Family Bandandamp;rsquo;s website, http://www.snyderfamilyband.com, and from; Mountain Roads Recordings at http://www.mountainroadsrecordings.com, on September 10, 2011. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: The Snyder Family BandBud Snyder4935 US Hwy 64Lexington, NCandamp;nbsp; 27295(336) 787-4808bud@snyderfamilyband.comhttp://www.snyderfamilyband.com Mountain Roads RecordingsKarl Cooler3192 Hwy 421Bristol, TNandamp;nbsp; 37620(423) 878-4269(423) 217-3668 celladmin@mountainroadsrecordings.comwww.mountainroadsrecordings.com andamp;nbsp;http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=785 Mountain Roads Recordings artists, Whitetop Mountain Band, The Snyder Family Band, Johnny andamp;amp; Jeanette Williams, and The South Carolina Broadcasters are scheduled to perform at this weekend's 2011 Rythm andamp;amp; Roots Reunion in Bristol, TN/VA. Whitetop Mountain Band and The Snyder Family Band will perform Saturday; The South Carolina Broadcasters appear on Friday and Saturday; and Johnny andamp;amp; Jeanette Williams will be peforming on Sunday. andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; See the complete schedule at: www.bristolrythm.comandamp;nbsp; The weather's gonna be great, come join us for a great fun-filled weekend of music. http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=787Mountain Roads Recordings announced today that they have signed on to become a sponsor of the Tim White Bluegrass Show. The Tim White Bluegrass Show is a 2 Hour Syndicated Radio Program featuring the best in Bluegrass, Old Time and Comedy direct to you from the OFFICIAL Birthplace of Country Music Region, Bristol Virginia/Tennessee. The program is available to affiliate stations throughout the US. If your local station isn't carrying the show, please call them and tell them to visit our site and sign up. Tim White left Roanoke, Virginia in 1974 and settled in east Tennessee, where he pursued his careers of artist, sign painter and banjo picker. Though the artist was there from the start and the sign painter was a logical career outgrowth, the banjo picker was learned later in life. As he said one time, andquot;It's amazing what one can learn when they don't watch TV.andquot; Tim's interest in the musical heritage of the region, a region which stretched from Roanoke to Knoxville and cut a broad swath into neighboring states, led to his painting a mural on State Street in Bristol in 1986. This mural depicts the principal characters of the historic Bristol Sessions, which took place in Bristol, TN-VA in the summer of 1927. Victor Recording Company talent scout and record producer Ralph Peer, who had recorded Ernest and Hattie Stoneman of Galax, VA for several years, came to the region to find new talent for his records. At this two week session, he was able to record for the first time the Carter Family from nearby Maces Spring, Virginia and Jimmie Rodgers. From this recording event grew commercial country music as we know it today. The influences of A.P., Sara, and Maybelle Carter and Jimmie Rodgers are acknowledged by a wide variety of musicians worldwide. The Birthplace of Country Music Mural became a local landmark and tourist draw that identified Bristol to the state, the country and the world. It became a site for regular summertime Tuesday night pickin' sessions, where musicians could come and play their traditional and contemporary music, much as has been done on front porches and around store pot bellied stoves for the last two centuries. Tim is also the host of the PBS television concert series, Song of the Mountains. www.songofthemountains.org This popular program has been featured on over 180 PBS affiliates across America featuring bluegrass, old time, Celtic, gospel and Americana music. Song of the Mountains reaches over 21 million households and 52 million people annually across the nation. If your PBS affiliate does not carry Song of the Mountains please contact them to request the show. Information for requesting the program is on the website along with program schedule and merchandise information. Tim's musicianship gained a following and he has fronted several bands over the past two decades, including Troublesome Hollow, The Beagles, and currently the VW Boys. The VW Boys perform music, magic and comedy. www.vwboys.com Timandamp;rsquo;s interest of recognizing, preserving and perpetuating the historic music of the area led to recruitment of others of a like mind and an organizing of the Appalachian Cultural Music Association. www.appalachianculturalmusic.org Tim currently serves as ACMA president and uses his many talents as artist, businessman, musician and radio announcer to further the aims of the ACMA. He has organized concerts and contributed his time and efforts to promote the music and the message. The ACMA helps to support the Mountain Music Museum, which Tim helped found, in 1999. The museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the music which was born in the Southern Appalachians. As a public figure, artist, musician and radio announcer, Tim White has unselfishly contributed time, effort and energy to support and promote the music and the musicians of the region. Tim has been in radio since 1990. He has a syndicated radio program featuring bluegrass music, old time music and comedy which airs in the U.S. and streams on the internet via many of his affiliates. He has one of the most popular Bluegrass radio programs in the Birthplace of Country Music Region andquot;The Bluegrass Showandquot; on WAXM (FM 93.5). He is on every Saturday from 9 am 'till 12 pm. He has a full slate of sponsors who support his program. To quote Tim, he says, andquot;I'm truly a blessed manandquot;. Karl Cooler of Mountain Roads Recordings says, andquot; Tim White is one of the hardest working people in bluegrass and old-time music today. We were proud to be associated with him as a member of the VW Boys and especially proud that we can extend our support to him through his syndicated radio show. Our sponsorship is another way that we can work together as a professional family and support each other and our artistsandquot;.http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=822Bluegrass Today features the latest Snyder Family Band's CD, Stages. Bluegrass Today is the first online destination within the bluegrass music world to combine extensive news coverage with the most useful aspects of the social media revolution. Read Jim Gabehart's review of this great CD: Stages Review Read more about Bluegrass Today and check out their website. It really is the place to go for your up-to-the-minutes bluegrass news: Bluegrass Today http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=821 Jerome Clark has posted a fantastic review of the Close Kin project on the Rambles.net site. Rambles.net is your best source on the web for reviews of Folk, Roots and Traditional music. Read his review at: http://www.rambles.net/va_kin11.html andamp;nbsp; andquot;Brilliantly imagined and movingly executed, Close Kin is a disc to which I have returned on many occasions since my initial listening. It has yet to wear out its welcome. Let us say it isn't the sort of thing you hear every day. Or every week or every month or every year.andquot; andquot;very few recordings have sought actually to fuse old-time and bluegrass styles. Close Kin does it with dazzling success.andquot; andquot;I could go on to rave about some of my other favorites (andquot;Walk Along John to Kansas,andquot; andquot;Bound for to Leave,andquot; andquot;Seven Cent Cotton, Forty Cent Meatandquot; and more), but I'll simply encourage you to find out for yourself. I will tell you, however, that Close Kin is a masterpiece.andquot; Jerome Clark, Rambles.net http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=838Freeman andamp;amp; Williams, a new fresh sound from award-winning veteran performers, Jeanette Williams, Johnny Williams and Scott Freeman. This trio comes together with an arsenal of talent... all are accomplished musicians, vocalists and songwriters and bring these talents together to create magical sounds that move from old-time straight through bluegrass to old-time country music. Each artist brings tremendous talent to the table but when combined, the result is incredible. The group has completed their first recording for Mountain Roads Recordings, a self-titled release, Freeman andamp;amp; Williams, that is expected to be released on February 7,andamp;nbsp;2012. This album will showcase the group with original creations along with some well-known favorites and some not so well known classics. Jeanette Williams, vocalist, bass player and award-winning songwriter, began her singing career in 1989, with a local country band performing at amateur recreations of the Grand Ole Opry. Since that time, she has been the recipient of a number of awards including the 2009 SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year Award in the traditional category, named the Virginia Folk Music Associationandamp;rsquo;s State Champion Female Vocalist, PICABO Entertainer of the Year (4 times), and PICABO Female Vocalist (4 times). She has garnered no less than 8 nominations for SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year and is a 2005 graduate of IBMA Leadership Bluegrass. Jeanette and Johnny have been fortunate to tour most of the USA, Canada and five foreign countries taking acoustic music around the world. Jeanette has been featured in both Bluegrass Unlimited, Bluegrass Now magazines to name a few. She has recorded more than 10 projects, including the critically acclaimed 1999 Doobie Shea Records release, andamp;ldquo;Cherry Blossoms in the Springtimeandamp;rdquo;, which spent 9 months on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Survey Album Chart. Her latest solo project andamp;ldquo;Thank You For Caringandamp;rdquo; rated high on the National charts also. She isandamp;nbsp; featured on the Daughters of Bluegrass, andquot;Back To The Wellandamp;rdquo; album that earned group the prestigious IBMA Recorded Event of the Year Award in 2006 and on the group's 2008 album, andquot;Bluegrass Bouquet.andquot; Notable guest on Jeanetteandamp;rsquo;s CDandamp;rsquo;s include George Jones, Tony Rice and Tim Stafford. She has also appeared as guest on concerts with Alison Krause and Ralph Stanley! Johnny Williams, a 2006 graduate of IBMA Leadership Bluegrass, plays guitar, shares vocal and emcee duties, and writes most of the bandandamp;rsquo;s original material. An award winning singer and songwriter, he has been named Virginia State Champion Male Vocalist, PICABO Male Vocalist (twice), and PICABO Songwriter of the Year. He was the bluegrass division winner of the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest in 1998 andamp;amp; 1999. He penned three of the four songs that JWB recorded for andamp;ldquo;Bell Witch, The Movieandamp;rdquo; soundtrack. Ramblerandamp;rsquo;s Choice, New Classic Grass, Larry Stephenson, Special Consensus, and Mark Newton have also recorded his songs. He has co-written with notable writers, such as Tom T. Hall and Dixie Hall. His 2009 solo release on Mountain Roads Recordings, Last Day of Galax, includes nine original compositions. He was featured in Bluegrass Now Magazine in the July 2004 andamp;ldquo;State of the Unionandamp;rdquo; column. Johnny was President of the Dan River Region Bluegrass Association for 5 years, and produces many local music events. Johnny has been included on vocal workshops with John Hartford, Gillian Welch, Jim Lauderdale, Louisa Branscomb and Guy Clark. He currently produces and records with bands in varied genres of music but primarily bluegrass. Scott Freeman - Mandolin, Fiddle andamp;amp; Vocals. He plays, arranges and writes songs, which have been recorded by some of the top touring bands in acoustic music. He has recorded three solo projects, andamp;ldquo;Southern Souvenirsandamp;rdquo;, andamp;ldquo;Friends For The Journeyandamp;rdquo;, and andamp;ldquo;Carolina Welcomes Youandamp;rdquo;, each showcasing his varied musical tastes. Scott spends his time now teaching fiddle and mandolin. He also tours and conducts workshops for the NCTA and folk festivals. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Karl S. Cooler Mountain Roads Recordings 3192 Hwy 421, Bristol, TNandamp;nbsp; 37620 karl@mountainroadsrecordings.com (423) 878-4269 Johnny Williams 656 Loomfixer Lake Rd. Danville, VAandamp;nbsp; 24541 grasstank@mindspring.com (434) 489-8080 http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=839Mountain Roads Recordings is extremely excited to announce the highly acclaimed recorded project, Close Kin, A Reunion of Bluegrass andamp;amp; Old-Time Music, will be featured in a live performance by the artists for a television taping of the highly popular PBS Television Series, Song of the Mountains. Taping of the show will be 7:00 pm March 3, 2012 at the historic Lincoln Theater in Marion, Virginia. Along with the performance of the Close Kin project, guests will also be able to enjoy the music of Rodney Dillard, from the original Dillard Family (The Darlings from the Andy Griffith show) and Blue Ridge Tradition. andamp;nbsp; Whether youandamp;rsquo;re a fan of bluegrass or old-time music, 29 artists from both sides of the aisle have come together to create a truly unique recording that combines these two musical genres and their bold styles. The Appalachian Highlands region of Northeast Tennessee, Northwestern North Carolina, Southwestern Virginia and Eastern Kentucky is home to the origins of both bluegrass and old-time string band music.andamp;nbsp; This music has been enjoyed for generations in kitchens and back porches, school auditoriums and music festivals and venues. Many times bluegrass and old-time artists can be heard jamming off stage at festivals before or after shows or even late into the night after the crowds have gone home. Amazing sounds are created when these styles are blended together as their heritage intended and rarely heard by the fans. Close Kin brings these sounds to the fans. andamp;nbsp; Close Kin, produced by award winning songwriter/singer Johnny Williams, features superb arrangements and vocal and instrumental combinations of 16 songs performed by such great artists as: Adam andamp;amp; Tina Steffeyandamp;nbsp; (The Boxcars andamp;amp; The Grayson Highlands String Band)Johnny andamp;amp; Jeanette Williamsandamp;nbsp; (The Jeanette Williams Band)Scott andamp;amp; Mark Freeman andamp;nbsp;(Pathway)Mickey Galyean, Greg Jones, Jay Adams, Brad Hiatt andamp;amp; Jordon Blevinsandamp;nbsp; (Rich In Tradition)Bud, Zeb, Samantha andamp;amp; Laine Snyderandamp;nbsp; (The Snyder Family Band)Dale Morris andamp;amp; Jerry Correll andamp;nbsp;(Wolfe Bros String Band)Edwin Lacy andamp;nbsp;(Skeeter and the Skidmarks)Eddie Bond andamp;nbsp;(The New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters)Jim Lloyd andamp;amp; Trevor McKenzie andamp;nbsp;(Jim Lloyd and the Skyliners)Brian Grimm andamp;nbsp;(The Konnarock Kritters)Trish Kilby Fore andamp;nbsp;(Fox Creek Ramblers)Tiffany (Hurt) Loweryandamp;nbsp; (Wheeler)Tim White, Dave Vaught andamp;amp;andamp;ldquo;Fat Albertandamp;rdquo; Blackburnandamp;nbsp; (The VW Boys)Wesley Easter andamp;nbsp;(Eastwood Studio)Rebecca Jones andamp;nbsp;(Travis Frye andamp;amp; Blue Mountain) Jerome Clark, in reviewing the album for Rambles.net says; andamp;nbsp;andamp;rdquo;Brilliantly imagined and movingly executed, Close Kin is a disc to which I have returned on many occasions since my initial listening. It has yet to wear out its welcome. Let us say it isnandamp;rsquo;t the sort of thing you hear every day, or every week or every month or every year.andamp;nbsp; What results is something like the best of everything: the best of the old and the new, the best of the historically preserved and the personally innovative, the best of a tradition worth revering and renewing.andamp;rdquo; Karl Cooler of Mountain Roads Recordings says, andamp;ldquo;We think that Song of the Mountains is a perfect venue to showcase the Close Kin project and we know that the fans will be amazed with the talent assembled for this presentationandamp;rdquo;. A video introduction to the project is available and can be viewed on the Mountain Roads Recordingsandamp;rsquo; YouTube channel at: Close Kin, The Video or on the Mountain Roads Recordings home page at: http://www.mountainroadsrecordings.com. Please consider joining us for an evening of great music and entertainment.andamp;nbsp; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Karl S. Cooler Mountain Roads Recordings 3192 Hwy 421, Bristol, TNandamp;nbsp; 37620 karl@mountainroadsrecordings.com (423) 878-4269 Tim White Song of the Mountains timwhitemusic@charter.net www.songofthemountains.org (423) 383-7829 Johnny Williams 656 Loomfixer Lake Rd. Danville, VAandamp;nbsp; 24541 grasstank@mindspring.com (434) 489-8080 http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=845 Song of the Mountains, the highly popular PBS televison series that features artists and music from the Appalachian Region needs your support to stay alive. The show which began taping of its eighth season last Saturday night, January 14th, 2012 needs your support more than ever if the show is to continue. Just as everyone has been affected by the downturn in the economy, so has the arts and in particular, Song of the Mountains. The show reaches approximately 146 million people annually and, much to my surprise, is not allowed to have on-air fundraisers as many of you have been accustomed to seeing on PBS channels. Corporate support has pulled back as companies that support the arts are forced into survival mode and SOTM is turning to its fans to help bridge the gap. All of Mountain Roads Recordings artists have been featured on this show and we ask you to help support this valuable asset for our music and keep it on the air. No donation is too small. Consider helping before you look for the show one night only to find that not enough people came through to keep it on the air. Tim White, Executive Coordinator and Host, is appealing to viewers and supporters through a letter that was posted on various bluegrass news sources and circulated to listeners. Please consider sending a donation. We have and ask to to join us. Karl andamp;amp; Gail Cooler, Mountain Roads Recordings Tim White writes..... andquot;Bluegrass andamp;amp; Americana Music Friends, We are stillandamp;nbsp;struggling tremendouslyandamp;nbsp;to keep Song of the Mountains funded and on the air on public television. I am disappointed in the response to our pleas presented to our fan base up to this point for help with donations. Everywhere I go people tell me how much they look forward to seeing SOTM on television each week. When I tell them we need financial support and even aandamp;nbsp;small donationandamp;nbsp;will add up to help if enough fans in bluegrass and old time music will step up and help us then this would be our salvation to our funding problems. Our potential reach across America in 146 million people per year.andamp;nbsp;We have a quality bluegrass and Americana program that serves our fan base like no otherandamp;hellip;.ever. I know our bluegrass fans and family love our show, but if they continue to sit on their hands and do nothing, we have no choice but to end production. I have made phone calls, produced a video which is at our Facebook page and Song of the Mountains website homepageandamp;nbsp;www.songofthemountains.organdamp;nbsp;and put our pleas for donations on my radio shows but our bluegrass family and friends are not responding very much. I donandamp;rsquo;t want them to sit idly by and let this show andamp;ldquo;pass awayandamp;rdquo; and then realize they could have made a difference (after itandamp;nbsp;is too late). I love our musicandamp;hellip;we have a fantastic television show that showcases our beloved music like it should be presented. I spend endless hours every week working to make it better. I know that our bluegrass and Americana fans truly enjoy Song of the Mountains but I do not know how to stress ourandamp;nbsp;sense of urgencyandamp;nbsp;to you. Without funding our show will end, and endandamp;nbsp;soon.andamp;nbsp;We receive no money from PBS.andamp;nbsp;We depend entirely on generous support from our fans and underwriters. In this economy corporate dollars are not there for underwriting like it was just a few years ago so we must turn to our fans and supporters of our music. With that saidandamp;hellip;IT IS NOT TOO LATE! But people must react now. I hope you will. Thanks so much for your concern and willingness to help. If you have any ideas or ways to get word out for us it will be most appreciated. We must act now. Please donandamp;rsquo;t wait! Pass this along to all of your bluegrass, old time music and Americana fans. Donations can be sent to: Song of the Mountains 117 East Main Street Marion, Virginia 24354 Donations are easily accepted at our website. On our homepage look at the upper right-hand corner for the andamp;ldquo;Free Giftandamp;rdquo; banner.andamp;nbsp;www.songofthemountains.org Thanks, Tim White Executive Coordinator andamp;amp; Host Song of the Mountainsandquot; http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=848Join Johnny andamp;amp; Jeanette Williams and Scott Freeman as they celebrate the release of their latest CD, Freeman andamp;amp; Williams at Heartwood in Abingdon Virginia on February 11th, 2012. Festivites and show will start at 6:00pm and will continue until 9:00 pm. Heartwood is home to The Crooked Road and is quickly becoming the home for great crafts and music of the Appalachian Region. More details will be coming soon, but plan to join us for this exciting event. Seating is limited, so contact Heartwood for further details and for tickets. http://heartwoodvirginia.org andamp;nbsp;Call (276) 492-2400 for more information Freeman andamp;amp; Williams, a new fresh sound from award-winning veteran performers, Jeanette Williams, Johnny Williams and Scott Freeman. This trio comes together with an arsenal of talent... all are accomplished musicians, vocalists and songwriters and bring these talents together to create magical sounds that move from old-time straight through bluegrass to old-time country music. Each artist brings tremendous talent to the table but when combined, the result is incredible. The group has completed their first recording for Mountain Roads Recordings, a self-titled release, Freeman andamp;amp; Williams, that is expected to be released on February 7th, 2012. This album will showcase the group with original creations along with some well-known favorites and some not so well known classics. Jeanette Williams, vocalist, bass player and award-winning songwriter, began her singing career in 1989, with a local country band performing at amateur recreations of the Grand Ole Opry. Since that time, she has been the recipient of a number of awards including the 2009 SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year Award in the traditional category, named the Virginia Folk Music Associationandamp;rsquo;s State Champion Female Vocalist, PICABO Entertainer of the Year (4 times), and PICABO Female Vocalist (4 times). She has garnered no less than 8 nominations for SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year and is a 2005 graduate of IBMA Leadership Bluegrass. Jeanette and Johnny have been fortunate to tour most of the USA, Canada and five foreign countries taking acoustic music around the world. Jeanette has been featured in both Bluegrass Unlimited, Bluegrass Now magazines to name a few. She has recorded more than 10 projects, including the critically acclaimed 1999 Doobie Shea Records release, andamp;ldquo;Cherry Blossoms in the Springtimeandamp;rdquo;, which spent 9 months on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Survey Album Chart. Her latest solo project andamp;ldquo;Thank You For Caringandamp;rdquo; rated high on the National charts also. She isandamp;nbsp; featured on the Daughters of Bluegrass, andquot;Back To The Wellandamp;rdquo; album that earned group the prestigious IBMA Recorded Event of the Year Award in 2006 and on the group's 2008 album, andquot;Bluegrass Bouquet.andquot; Notable guest on Jeanetteandamp;rsquo;s CDandamp;rsquo;s include George Jones, Tony Rice and Tim Stafford. She has also appeared as guest on concerts with Alison Krause and Ralph Stanley! Johnny Williams, a 2006 graduate of IBMA Leadership Bluegrass, plays guitar, shares vocal and emcee duties, and writes most of the bandandamp;rsquo;s original material. An award winning singer and songwriter, he has been named Virginia State Champion Male Vocalist, PICABO Male Vocalist (twice), and PICABO Songwriter of the Year. He was the bluegrass division winner of the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest in 1998 andamp;amp; 1999. He penned three of the four songs that JWB recorded for andamp;ldquo;Bell Witch, The Movieandamp;rdquo; soundtrack. Ramblerandamp;rsquo;s Choice, New Classic Grass, Larry Stephenson, Special Consensus, and Mark Newton have also recorded his songs. He has co-written with notable writers, such as Tom T. Hall and Dixie Hall. His 2009 solo release on Mountain Roads Recordings, Last Day of Galax, includes nine original compositions. He was featured in Bluegrass Now Magazine in the July 2004 andamp;ldquo;State of the Unionandamp;rdquo; column. Johnny was President of the Dan River Region Bluegrass Association for 5 years, and produces many local music events. Johnny has been included on vocal workshops with John Hartford, Gillian Welch, Jim Lauderdale, Louisa Branscomb and Guy Clark. He currently produces and records with bands in varied genres of music but primarily bluegrass. Scott Freeman - Mandolin, Fiddle andamp;amp; Vocals. He plays, arranges and writes songs, which have been recorded by some of the top touring bands in acoustic music. He has recorded three solo projects, andamp;ldquo;Southern Souvenirsandamp;rdquo;, andamp;ldquo;Friends For The Journeyandamp;rdquo;, and andamp;ldquo;Carolina Welcomes Youandamp;rdquo;, each showcasing his varied musical tastes. Scott spends his time now teaching fiddle and mandolin. He also tours and conducts workshops for the NCTA and folk festivals. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Karl S. Cooler Mountain Roads Recordings 3192 Hwy 421, Bristol, TNandamp;nbsp; 37620 karl@mountainroadsrecordings.com (423) 878-4269 Johnny Williams 656 Loomfixer Lake Rd. Danville, VAandamp;nbsp; 24541 grasstank@mindspring.com (434) 489-8080 http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=853 Jeanette Williams was selected as the 2012 SPBGMA traditional Female Vocalist of the Year at its annual convention and awards celebration at the Music City Sheraton in Nashville. SPBGMA, the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America concluded its annual four day convention Sunday night with a highly popular awards show and recognized the best and brightest stars in the bluegrass industry in twenty-three categories: Bluegrass Promoter of the YearBluegrass Radio Station of the YearBluegrass DJ of the YearBluegrass Songwriter of the YearBluegrass Album of the YearBass Fiddle Performer of the YearDobro Performer of the YearGuitar Performer of the YearMandolin Performer of the YearBanjo Performer of the YearFiddle Performer of the YearFemale Vocalist of the Year (contemporary)Female Vocalist of the Year (traditional)Male Vocalist of the Year (contemporary)Male Vocalist of the Year (traditional)andamp;nbsp;Gospel group of the Year (contemporary)Gospel Group of the Year (traditional)Vocal Group of the YearInstrumental Group of the YearBluegrass Band of the YearSong of the YearEntertaining Group of the YearEntertainer of the Yearandamp;nbsp; Jeanette Williams, vocalist, bass player and award-winning songwriter, began her singing career in 1989, with a local country band performing at amateur recreations of the Grand Ole Opry. Since that time, she has been the recipient of a number of awards including the 2009 SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year Award in the traditional category, named the Virginia Folk Music Associationandamp;rsquo;s State Champion Female Vocalist, PICABO Entertainer of the Year (4 times), and PICABO Female Vocalist (4 times). She has garnered no less than 8 nominations for SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year and is a 2005 graduate of IBMA Leadership Bluegrass. Jeanette and Johnny have been fortunate to tour most of the USA, Canada and five foreign countries taking acoustic music around the world. Jeanette has been featured in both Bluegrass Unlimited, Bluegrass Now magazines to name a few. She has recorded more than 10 projects, including the critically acclaimed 1999 Doobie Shea Records release, andamp;ldquo;Cherry Blossoms in the Springtimeandamp;rdquo;, which spent 9 months on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Survey Album Chart. Her latest solo project andamp;ldquo;Thank You For Caringandamp;rdquo; rated high on the National charts also. She isandamp;nbsp;featured on the Daughters of Bluegrass, andquot;Back To The Wellandamp;rdquo; album that earned group the prestigious IBMA Recorded Event of the Year Award in 2006 and on the group's 2008 album, andquot;Bluegrass Bouquet.andquot; Notable guest on Jeanetteandamp;rsquo;s CDandamp;rsquo;s include George Jones, Tony Rice and Tim Stafford. She has also appeared as guest on concerts with Alison Krause and Ralph Stanley! Jeanette's latest musical project,andamp;nbsp;Freeman andamp;amp; Williams, on the Mountain Roads Recordings label is set for public release on February 7th, 2012. Pre-release of the CD to radio personalities has enjoyed a tremendous reception and airplay. Jeanette is joined on this project by husband Johnny Williams and close friend Scott Freeman. This trio comes together with an arsenal of talent... all are accomplished musicians, vocalists and songwriters and bring these talents together to create magical sounds that move from old-time straight through to old-time country music. Each artist brings tremendous talent to the table but when combined, the result is incredible.andamp;nbsp;http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=857February 7, 2012 Freeman andamp;amp; Williams, a new fresh sound from award-winning veteran performers, Jeanette Williams, Johnny Williams and Scott Freeman. This trio comes together with an arsenal of talent... all are accomplished musicians, vocalists and songwriters and bring these talents together to create magical sounds that move from old-time straight through bluegrass to old-time country music. Each artist brings tremendous talent to the table but when combined, the result is incredible. The group has completed their first recording for Mountain Roads Recordings, a self-titled release, Freeman andamp;amp; Williams, that hits the stores today, February 7th, 2012. This album will showcase the group with original creations along with some well-known favorites and some not so well known classics. Come join the CD Release Party on Saturday February 11, 2012 beginning at 6pm at Heartwood in Abingdon, Virginia. Heartwood, home of The Crooked Road, presents a perfect place to feature this great group and the music they make. Come see Johnny andamp;amp; Scott as they join Jeanette, who was selected this past weekend as the 2012 Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year at the annual convention and awards show for the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA, pronounced spig-mah). Jeanette Williams, vocalist, bass player and award-winning songwriter, began her singing career in 1989, with a local country band performing at amateur recreations of the Grand Ole Opry. Since that time, she has been the recipient of a number of awards including holding the title of current 2012 SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year Award in the traditional category, a title she also held in 2009, she was named the Virginia Folk Music Associationandamp;rsquo;s State Champion Female Vocalist, PICABO Entertainer of the Year (4 times), and PICABO Female Vocalist (4 times). She has garnered no less than 8 nominations for SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year and is a 2005 graduate of IBMA Leadership Bluegrass. Jeanette and Johnny have been fortunate to tour most of the USA, Canada and five foreign countries taking acoustic music around the world. Jeanette has been featured in both Bluegrass Unlimited, Bluegrass Now magazines to name a few. She has recorded more than 10 projects, including the critically acclaimed 1999 Doobie Shea Records release, andamp;ldquo;Cherry Blossoms in the Springtimeandamp;rdquo;, which spent 9 months on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Survey Album Chart. Her latest solo project andamp;ldquo;Thank You For Caringandamp;rdquo; rated high on the National charts also. She isandamp;nbsp; featured on the Daughters of Bluegrass, andquot;Back To The Wellandamp;rdquo; album that earned group the prestigious IBMA Recorded Event of the Year Award in 2006 and on the group's 2008 album, andquot;Bluegrass Bouquet.andquot; Notable guest on Jeanetteandamp;rsquo;s CDandamp;rsquo;s include George Jones, Tony Rice and Tim Stafford. She has also appeared as guest on concerts with Alison Krause and Ralph Stanley! Jeanette Williams2012 SPBGMA Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year Johnny Williams, a 2006 graduate of IBMA Leadership Bluegrass, plays guitar, shares vocal and emcee duties, and writes most of the bandandamp;rsquo;s original material. An award winning singer and songwriter, he has been named Virginia State Champion Male Vocalist, PICABO Male Vocalist (twice), and PICABO Songwriter of the Year. He was the bluegrass division winner of the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest in 1998 andamp;amp; 1999. He penned three of the four songs that JWB recorded for andamp;ldquo;Bell Witch, The Movieandamp;rdquo; soundtrack. Ramblerandamp;rsquo;s Choice, New Classic Grass, Larry Stephenson, Special Consensus, and Mark Newton have also recorded his songs. He has co-written with notable writers, such as Tom T. Hall and Dixie Hall. His 2009 solo release on Mountain Roads Recordings, Last Day of Galax, includes nine original compositions. He was featured in Bluegrass Now Magazine in the July 2004 andamp;ldquo;State of the Unionandamp;rdquo; column. Johnny was President of the Dan River Region Bluegrass Association for 5 years, and produces many local music events. Johnny has been included on vocal workshops with John Hartford, Gillian Welch, Jim Lauderdale, Louisa Branscomb and Guy Clark. He currently produces and records with bands in varied genres of music but primarily bluegrass. Scott Freeman - Mandolin, Fiddle andamp;amp; Vocals. He plays, arranges and writes songs, which have been recorded by some of the top touring bands in acoustic music. He has recorded three solo projects, andamp;ldquo;Southern Souvenirsandamp;rdquo;, andamp;ldquo;Friends For The Journeyandamp;rdquo;, and andamp;ldquo;Carolina Welcomes Youandamp;rdquo;, each showcasing his varied musical tastes. Scott spends his time now teaching fiddle and mandolin. He also tours and conducts workshops for the NCTA and folk festivals. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Karl S. Cooler Mountain Roads Recordings 3192 Hwy 421, Bristol, TNandamp;nbsp; 37620 karl@mountainroadsrecordings.com (423) 878-4269 Johnny Williams 656 Loomfixer Lake Rd. Danville, VAandamp;nbsp; 24541 grasstank@mindspring.com (434) 489-8080 http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=878Mountain Roads Recordings is extremely excited to announce that the highly acclaimed recorded project, Close Kin, A Reunion of Bluegrass andamp;amp; Old-Time Music, will be on the road beginning April 18th, 2012 for four nights featuring live performances by the artists who created this one-of-a-kind musical collaboration. The Spring Tour will be featured in the following locations: Wednesday April 18th ETSU Culp Auditorium andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; Johnson City, Tennessee Thursday April 19th The White Horse andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;Black Mountain, North Carolina Fridayandamp;nbsp; April 20th Ashe Civic Center andamp;nbsp; West Jefferson, North Carolina Saturday, April 21st The Rex Theater andamp;nbsp; Galax, Virginia Whether youandamp;rsquo;re a fan of bluegrass or old-time music, 29 artists from both sides of the aisle have come together to create a truly unique recording that combines these two musical genres and their bold styles. The Appalachian Highlands region of Northeast Tennessee, Northwestern North Carolina, Southwestern Virginia and Eastern Kentucky is home to the origins of both bluegrass and old-time string band music.andamp;nbsp; This music has been enjoyed for generations in kitchens and back porches, school auditoriums and music festivals and venues. Many times bluegrass and old-time artists can be heard jamming off stage at festivals before or after shows or even late into the night after the crowds have gone home. Amazing sounds are created when these styles are blended together as their heritage intended and rarely heard by the fans. Close Kin brings these sounds to the fans. Close Kin, produced by award winning songwriter/singer Johnny Williams, features superb arrangements and vocal and instrumental combinations of 16 songs performed by such great artists as: Adam andamp;amp; Tina Steffeyandamp;nbsp; (The Boxcars andamp;amp; The Grayson Highlands String Band)Johnny andamp;amp; Jeanette Williamsandamp;nbsp; (Freeman andamp;amp; Williams; The Jeanette Williams Band)Scott andamp;amp; Mark Freemanandamp;nbsp; (Freeman andamp;amp; Williams, Siamese Cousins, Pathway)Mickey Galyean, Brad Hiatt andamp;amp; Jordon Blevinsandamp;nbsp; (Mickey Galyean andamp;amp; Cullenandamp;rsquo;s Bridge)Greg Jones andamp;amp; Jay Adamsandamp;nbsp; (Rich In Tradition)Bud, Zeb, Samantha andamp;amp; Laine Snyderandamp;nbsp; (The Snyder Family Band)Dale Morris andamp;amp; Jerry Correllandamp;nbsp; (Wolfe Bros String Band)Edwin Lacyandamp;nbsp; (Skeeter and the Skidmarks; Siamese Cousins)Eddie Bondandamp;nbsp; (The New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters)Jim Lloyd andamp;amp; Trevor McKenzieandamp;nbsp; (Jim Lloyd and the Skyliners)Brian Grimmandamp;nbsp; (The Konnarock Kritters)Trish Kilby Foreandamp;nbsp; (Fox Creek Ramblers)Tiffany (Hurt) Loweryandamp;nbsp; (Wheeler)Tim White, Dave Vaught andamp;amp;andamp;ldquo;Fat Albertandamp;rdquo; Blackburnandamp;nbsp; (The VW Boys)Wesley Easterandamp;nbsp; (Eastwood Studio)Rebecca Jonesandamp;nbsp; (Travis Frye andamp;amp; Blue Mountain)andamp;nbsp; Jerome Clark, in reviewing the album for Rambles.net says; andamp;rdquo;Brilliantly imagined and movingly executed, Close Kin is a disc to which I have returned on many occasions since my initial listening. It has yet to wear out its welcome. Let us say it isnandamp;rsquo;t the sort of thing you hear every day, or every week or every month or every year. What results is something like the best of everything: the best of the old and the new, the best of the historically preserved and the personally innovative, the best of a tradition worth revering and renewing.andamp;rdquo; Karl Cooler of Mountain Roads Recordings says, andamp;ldquo;The first live performance of this project was on March 3rd for a taping of the popular Public Television Series, Song of the Mountains. The show was a tremendous success, playing to a sold-out crowd, and we canandamp;rsquo;t wait to get out on the road with more live performances. We know that the fans will be amazed with the talent assembled for this presentationandamp;rdquo;. A video introduction to the project is available and can be viewed on the Mountain Roads Recordingsandamp;rsquo; YouTube channel at: Close Kin, The Video or on the Mountain Roads Recordings home page at: http://www.mountainroadsrecordings.com. Please consider joining us at one of these great venues for an evening of great music and entertainment. 4/18andamp;nbsp; ETSU Culp Auditorium andamp;nbsp; Johnson City, TNandamp;nbsp; 7:30pm Admission $10 Students $8 All tickets sold at the door andamp;nbsp; 4/19andamp;nbsp; The White Horseandamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;Black Mountain , NC andamp;nbsp;7:30pm Admission $10 andamp;nbsp;for more info or advance reservations: (828) 669-0816 andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;www.whitehorseblackmountain.com andamp;nbsp; or whitehorseblackmountain@gmail.com andamp;nbsp; 4/20andamp;nbsp; Ashe Civic Centerandamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;West Jefferson, NC andamp;nbsp;7:30pm Admission $10 All tickets sold at the door ashecivic.comandamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; 4/21andamp;nbsp; The Rex Theaterandamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;Galax, VA andamp;nbsp;7:30pm Admission $10 All tickets sold at the door rextheatergalax.comandamp;nbsp; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Johnny Williams 656 Loomfixer Lake Rd. Danville, VAandamp;nbsp; 24541 grasstank@mindspring.com (434) 489-8080 Karl S. Cooler Mountain Roads Recordings 3192 Hwy 421, Bristol, TNandamp;nbsp; 37620 karl@mountainroadsrecordings.com (423) 878-4269http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=913Mountain Roads Recordings of Bristol, TN announced today that they have selected Susi Lawsonandamp;nbsp;as the official photographer for the record label. Susi is an award-winning freelance photographer,andamp;nbsp;artist, digital artist, instructor, and magazine writer and creator of Susi Lawson Fine Artandamp;nbsp;Photography in Wytheville, Virginia. Karl Cooler of Mountain Roads Recordings says, andamp;ldquo;Mountain Roads Recordings has beenandamp;nbsp;searching for a photographer for some time now who can connect with the musicians and music ofandamp;nbsp;the Appalachian region and provide a strong visual tie to the power and emotion of the music weandamp;nbsp;produce. Susiandamp;rsquo;s passion for the music of the Appalachians, her respect for the artists and her skills,andamp;nbsp;not only as a photographer but as an artist will complete the circle from the conception of aandamp;nbsp;musical project all the way through to being able to convey visually what the music is all about andandamp;nbsp;we could not be happier with this relationship.andamp;rdquo; Susi has already captured compelling photographs, videos and slideshows of many of Mountainandamp;nbsp;Roads Recordingsandamp;rsquo; artists that can be viewed on her website at: Susilawson.comor view her many photo albums at her Face book page:andamp;nbsp;Facebook.com/Susi Lawson Susiandamp;rsquo;s album, Appalachian Music and the people, and places who play it, provides a taste ofandamp;nbsp;what is to come from this amazing photographer and artist:Appalachian Music and the people, and places, who play it Susiandamp;rsquo;s Bio: I have been an artist all of my life; I honestly cannot remember when I was not drawing, coloring,andamp;nbsp;painting or taking pictures. I do believe I was born with this passion to create and enjoy visual artandamp;nbsp;in all mediums. I also love writing and music, but it seems visual art is where my brain works best!andamp;nbsp;The main influence, for my art, was really the era of my childhood. I loved looking at magazinesandamp;nbsp;and there were many wonderful illustrations in them in those days. Look and Life magazines andandamp;nbsp;even playboy (Vargas) featured beautiful drawings. I adored Norman Rockwell and have beenandamp;nbsp;very honored to hear people say some of digital work is reminiscent of his work. Photography hasandamp;nbsp;always been in my life, as it is with everyone; I mean every family takes pictures on vacation andandamp;nbsp;holidays right? But for me, I always found cameras fascinating. I wanted to hold them and try andandamp;nbsp;figure out how the different settings affected the outcome of the image. You could always find meandamp;nbsp;behind the camera. My father had a Kodak andamp;lsquo;Hawkeyeandamp;rsquo; Brownie camera and I still recall cradling theweighty little black box and just feeling so special to hold this bit of 'magic' in my hands. The firstandamp;nbsp;camera I remember asking for and receiving was a 'Swinger' Polaroid which took wonderful Bandamp;amp;Wandamp;nbsp;close ups; I used that camera for 10 years or more until they stopped selling the film for it.andamp;nbsp;My first SLR camera was given to me by my big brother, who I greatly admired, so this was a veryandamp;nbsp;special gift. He had come home with it from serving in Viet Nam and I still recall the amazing slidesandamp;nbsp;he took with it. I asked him one day if I could hold it and he placed it in my hands and said, andquot;Youandamp;nbsp;can have it.andquot; What a joyful moment that was! I used that camera into my early 30's and took manyandamp;nbsp;slides and Bandamp;amp;W photos, which were my favorite mediums. I learned to use a dark room, but neverandamp;nbsp;really liked working with the chemicals and the high cost of it all. Hard to believe now that eachandamp;nbsp;rolls was limited to 36 images. I found that the most frustrating element of shooting with film wasthis limitation, which was really an obstacle to exploring and experimenting because one had to beandamp;nbsp;so very careful with each and every click of the shutter. So to me, that is what digital is, it is sheerandamp;nbsp;freedom. Not only are we free to shoot as many images as we want, but having control over theandamp;nbsp;'developing' is just the perfect nirvana for an artist! Being able to combine traditional arts withandamp;nbsp;photography was, and is, just such an exciting and interesting medium. So, of course, I went nutsandamp;nbsp;with it and have been taking digital pictures and editing them on the computer since 1999. It feltandamp;nbsp;great to be a part of the new frontier of digital art and photography. My digital art took my daughter and me to Rome in 2007 when I won the Grand Prize in theandamp;nbsp;National Association of Photoshop Professionals. (NAPP) This was a pivotal point for me as itandamp;nbsp;helped me to feel I was on the right track with the direction I was pursuing. I have won severalandamp;nbsp;other notable awards with WPPI (Print Awards) and Kodak (Grand Prize 2009 Book Award). I nowandamp;nbsp;write for andquot;AfterCaptureandquot;, andquot;Digital Photographerandquot; and andquot;Photoshop Creativeandquot; Magazines. I also haveandamp;nbsp;created 4 DVD video packages and have taught countless photographers my photography editingandamp;nbsp;techniques. I am now teaching work shops; Please see my shop page to sign up for the workshopandamp;nbsp;or to purchase my training DVDs. I am currently working on a tribute to Appalachian Musicians inandamp;nbsp;my area and hope to put this project into a book in the future. We must ask ourselves, as artists, do we live in the world that has been created, or do weandamp;nbsp;create the world we live in?andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; Susi Lawson FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACTKarl S. CoolerMountain Roads Recordings3192 Hwy 421, Bristol, TN 37620karl@mountainroadsrecordings.com(423) 878-4269 Susi Lawson365 E. Fulton StreetWytheville, VA 24382susi7lawson@gmail.com(276) 223-1474http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=915 Mountain Roads Recordings is extremely excited to announce that the highly acclaimed recorded project, Close Kin, A Reunion of Bluegrass andamp;amp; Old-Time Music, will be on the road beginning April 18th, 2012 for four nights featuring live performances by the artists who created this one-of-a-kind musical collaboration. The Spring Tour will be featured in the following locations: Wednesday April 18th ETSU Culp Auditorium andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; Johnson City, Tennessee Thursday April 19th The White Horse andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;Black Mountain, North Carolina Fridayandamp;nbsp; April 20th Ashe Civic Center andamp;nbsp; West Jefferson, North Carolina Saturday, April 21st The Rex Theater andamp;nbsp; Galax, Virginia Whether youandamp;rsquo;re a fan of bluegrass or old-time music, 29 artists from both sides of the aisle have come together to create a truly unique recording that combines these two musical genres and their bold styles. The Appalachian Highlands region of Northeast Tennessee, Northwestern North Carolina, Southwestern Virginia and Eastern Kentucky is home to the origins of both bluegrass and old-time string band music.andamp;nbsp; This music has been enjoyed for generations in kitchens and back porches, school auditoriums and music festivals and venues. Many times bluegrass and old-time artists can be heard jamming off stage at festivals before or after shows or even late into the night after the crowds have gone home. Amazing sounds are created when these styles are blended together as their heritage intended and rarely heard by the fans. Close Kin brings these sounds to the fans. Close Kin, produced by award winning songwriter/singer Johnny Williams, features superb arrangements and vocal and instrumental combinations of 16 songs performed by such great artists as: Adam andamp;amp; Tina Steffeyandamp;nbsp; (The Boxcars andamp;amp; The Grayson Highlands String Band)Johnny andamp;amp; Jeanette Williamsandamp;nbsp; (Freeman andamp;amp; Williams; The Jeanette Williams Band)Scott andamp;amp; Mark Freemanandamp;nbsp; (Freeman andamp;amp; Williams, Siamese Cousins, Pathway)Mickey Galyean, Brad Hiatt andamp;amp; Jordon Blevinsandamp;nbsp; (Mickey Galyean andamp;amp; Cullenandamp;rsquo;s Bridge)Greg Jones andamp;amp; Jay Adamsandamp;nbsp; (Rich In Tradition)Bud, Zeb, Samantha andamp;amp; Laine Snyderandamp;nbsp; (The Snyder Family Band)Dale Morris andamp;amp; Jerry Correllandamp;nbsp; (Wolfe Bros String Band)Edwin Lacyandamp;nbsp; (Skeeter and the Skidmarks; Siamese Cousins)Eddie Bondandamp;nbsp; (The New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters)Jim Lloyd andamp;amp; Trevor McKenzieandamp;nbsp; (Jim Lloyd and the Skyliners)Brian Grimmandamp;nbsp; (The Konnarock Kritters)Trish Kilby Foreandamp;nbsp; (Fox Creek Ramblers)Tiffany (Hurt) Loweryandamp;nbsp; (Wheeler)Tim White, Dave Vaught andamp;amp;andamp;ldquo;Fat Albertandamp;rdquo; Blackburnandamp;nbsp; (The VW Boys)Wesley Easterandamp;nbsp; (Eastwood Studio)Rebecca Jonesandamp;nbsp; (Travis Frye andamp;amp; Blue Mountain)andamp;nbsp; Jerome Clark, in reviewing the album for Rambles.net says; andamp;rdquo;Brilliantly imagined and movingly executed, Close Kin is a disc to which I have returned on many occasions since my initial listening. It has yet to wear out its welcome. Let us say it isnandamp;rsquo;t the sort of thing you hear every day, or every week or every month or every year. What results is something like the best of everything: the best of the old and the new, the best of the historically preserved and the personally innovative, the best of a tradition worth revering and renewing.andamp;rdquo; Karl Cooler of Mountain Roads Recordings says, andamp;ldquo;The first live performance of this project was on March 3rd for a taping of the popular Public Television Series, Song of the Mountains. The show was a tremendous success, playing to a sold-out crowd, and we canandamp;rsquo;t wait to get out on the road with more live performances. We know that the fans will be amazed with the talent assembled for this presentationandamp;rdquo;. A video introduction to the project is available and can be viewed on the Mountain Roads Recordingsandamp;rsquo; YouTube channel at: Close Kin, The Video or on the Mountain Roads Recordings home page at: http://www.mountainroadsrecordings.com. Please consider joining us at one of these great venues for an evening of great music and entertainment. 4/18andamp;nbsp; ETSU Culp Auditorium andamp;nbsp; Johnson City, TNandamp;nbsp; 7:30pm Admission $10 Students $8 All tickets sold at the door andamp;nbsp; 4/19andamp;nbsp; The White Horseandamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;Black Mountain , NC andamp;nbsp;7:30pm Admission $10 andamp;nbsp;for more info or advance reservations: (828) 669-0816 andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;www.whitehorseblackmountain.com andamp;nbsp; or whitehorseblackmountain@gmail.com andamp;nbsp; 4/20andamp;nbsp; Ashe Civic Centerandamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;West Jefferson, NC andamp;nbsp;7:30pm Admission $10 All tickets sold at the door ashecivic.comandamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp; 4/21andamp;nbsp; The Rex Theaterandamp;nbsp; andamp;nbsp;Galax, VA andamp;nbsp;7:30pm Admission $10 All tickets sold at the door rextheatergalax.comandamp;nbsp; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Johnny Williams 656 Loomfixer Lake Rd. Danville, VAandamp;nbsp; 24541 grasstank@mindspring.com (434) 489-8080 Karl S. Cooler Mountain Roads Recordings 3192 Hwy 421, Bristol, TNandamp;nbsp; 37620 karl@mountainroadsrecordings.com (423) 878-4269 http://mountainroadsrecordings.com/index.php?cID=918andamp;nbsp; Song of the Mountains concert and art unveiling by renowned pencil artist Willard Gayheart. Song of the Mountains invites everyone to come and support the award winning concert series that is seen across America on PBS affiliates. This concert and pre-show art unveiling will be a fundraiser for the Song of the Mountains concert series in Marion, Virginia. Renowned pencil artists Willard Gayheart from Galax, Virginia was commissioned to create a pencil drawing capturing the andquot;characterandquot; of Song of the Mountains and has done so with his wonderful talents. At 5:00 pm the artist will be on hand at the Appalachian Spirit Gallery located on Main Street in Marion, Virginia to unveil his andquot;Song of the Mountains-Lincoln Theatreandquot; work of art. Limited edition, signed and numbered prints will be available and for sale to the public. There will also be 25 artist proofs available. Mr. Gayheart will be on hand to meet and greet and personalize prints which are purchased. At 7:00 pm the event will move to the Lincoln Theatre where the Song of the Mountains fundraising concert will begin. Many musicians are donating their time and talents to help raise much needed funding for the Song of the Mountains series. Bands scheduled to appear are the New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters, Skeeter andamp;amp; the Skidmarks (Willard Gayheart's Band), Fire in the Kitchen (Appalachian Celtic), the VW Boys, Paula Dallenback andamp;amp; Fox River and many more to be announced. All proceeds to benefit Song of the Mountains. Song of the Mountains/Lincoln Theatre is a non-profit organization. Tickets are $15 general admission. For tickets and informationandamp;nbsp;www.songofthemountains.organdamp;nbsp;or call 276-783-6093. andamp;nbsp;