Randy Waller & The Country Gentlemen will have a new CD early next year. Entitled Keeper Of The Flame, it is expected to be released in January ‘06 on Lendel Records.

As most of our readers will recall, Randy is the son of the legendary Charlie Waller. Charlie was a giant in the bluegrass world, and the long time leader of The Country Gentlemen from the band’s inception almost 50 years ago, until his passing earlier in 2005. Randy, a uniquely talented singer and guitarist in his own right, has assumed his father’s role and is maintaining The Country Gentlemen as a legacy to Charlie’s music.

Speaking of the title of the new project, Randy had this to say:

I chose the name Keeper of the Flame for this new project because it seemed to say it all. When my father gave me the old guitar at Christmas 2002 it was like the passing of the torch, so to speak. So now I am to carry on his work and continue the Country Gentlemen and I will, to the best of my ability.

The CD will feature both new material, and a number of classic Gentlemen numbers, resurrected and re-recorded with the new band: Dave Kirk, Gary Creed and Mark DeLaney. Guests on Keeper Of The Flame include Mike Aldridge, Rickie Simpkins, Chris Sexton and Heather Berry.

Audio samples from the new CD are available on Randy’s web site.