The mailing to journalists of the Donna Ulisse CD Walk This Mountain Down (Hadley Music Group) is imminent. Promo mailings for this album “should be in another week or so,” according to Kathy Anderson of the Hadley Music Group.

Donna has been working on Walk This Mountain Down for the past year, writing and recording the album with her producer Keith Sewell. She collaborated with fellow writers Rick Stanley, her husband, regular co-writer and cousin to Ralph, along with Marc Rossi, Dennis K. Duff and Richard Leigh, as well as writing two on her own. Once again there are many stories around the songs and, as always, there are a couple of gospel songs included.

Helping out in the recording studio were Keith Sewell, on acoustic guitar; Rob Ickes, on resonator guitar; Andy Leftwich, on mandolin and fiddle; Scott Vestal, on banjo; and Byron House, on upright bass, rightly described as the cream of the crop.

Several of Ulisse’s friends – Claire Lynch, Jerry Salley, Curtis Wright, Keith Sewell, Wendy Buckner Sewell and Rick Stanley – are featured singing harmony.

One of the tracks, the song Poor Mountain Boy, a Ulisse-Stanley composition, is included on the latest Prime Cuts of Bluegrass compilation CD, just released to bluegrass radio.

Walk This Mountain Down will be sent to radio stations in January of 2009 just prior to general release on February 10.

Donna and her band, lovingly dubbed The Poor Mountain Boys after the afore-mentioned song, but known individually as Robin Roller (banjo), Scott Neubert (resonator guitar, guitar and harmony vocals), Rick Stanley (guitar and vocal harmony), Bobby King (upright bass) and Matt Raum (mandolin), played an official showcase set at the recent IBMA WoB Convention.

For additional information about Donna Ulisse visit www.DonnaUlisse.com.

There are two special bluegrass radio shows on Friday morning (10/24) that will be streamed live online. Unfortunately, their air times coincide, so you’ll have to choose your own best option.

First up at 10:15 a.m., Jeanette Williams will join Carol Beaugard on WFDU to talk about her new CD, Thank You For Caring, and her participation in the third release from the Daughters Of Bluegrass, Bluegrass Bouquet, a celebration of female bluegrass artists and musicians. Music from these recordings will be featured as well.

Then at 11:00 a.m., Carol will welcome the ear-shattering instrumental duo Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile into the WFDU studio. The two have been out in support of their CD, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile, a CD/DVD combo project of mandolin/bass duets, ahead of their final show at Carnegie Hall next week.

Carol is a huge Thile fan so she’s sure to talk about his meteoric career at length, in addition to his current work with Meyer. Expect lots of music early in the show and in the 11:00 hour from the Meyer/Thile album, plus Nickel Creek, the Punch Brothers and Chris’ various solo CDs.

Her show, Lonesome Pine RFD, is broadcast from 9:00 a.m. to noon (EDT) on 89.1 FM in the NYC area, and streamed live online at WFDU.fm.

Also at 11:00 a.m., there will be live music over at WAMU’s Bluegrass Country.

Claire Lynch will be in the studio with host Lee Michael Demsey to spread the word about her show at The Birchmere Friday night. Guitarist Jim Hurst and bass player Mark Schatz will accompany Claire for an impromptu set in WAMU’s Studio 3. They will also talk about what The Claire Lynch Band is up to for the rest of 2008 and beyond, and whatever else Lee Michael might come up with.

You can catch their 24/7 online bluegrass feed at www.bluegrasscountry.org.

All in all, a good morning to tune in online.

Speaking of Claire Lynch…

She will be joining Carol Beaugard on Lonesome Pine RFD this morning (6/13) at 11:00 a.m. to talk about all things Claire.

The show airs on WFDU-FM 89.1 FM in the New York city metropolitan area, and over on the Internet via live streaming.

We posted back in April about Claire Lynch’s fan contest to win an iPod Shuffle pre-loaded with Claire’s six Rounder releases.

The premise of the contest was simple, but far from easy – tell your life story in only six words.

A winner has been chosen, Corrina Logston from Red Bud, IL, who impressed Claire with the way her entry could either be taken seriously, or tongue-in-cheek.

Action, adventure, romance – my Hollywood life.

Congratulations to Corrina, who is herself a talented young bluegrass musician.

Claire said that there were so many entries that caught her fancy that she found that she had to choose six honorable mentions as well.

Maintain yard. Never been to prison.
Jack Tolan, Rex, GA

An amateur ‘ologist of many subjects.
Jimmy Wells, Cullman, AL

Irish poet self-published with refrigerator magnets.
Shannon Sanford, Seymour, CT

In my life, I love dogs.
Hannah Menson, (age 9), Roswell, GA

Sunrise tea / sunset song / simple pleasures.
Ramona Ault, Vista, CA

Congrats to all the winners, and kudos to Claire for coming up with such creative promotions!