Gerald Evans, popular bluegrass singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has been diagnosed with cancer. He has recently begun chemotherapy treatment, but his cancer has already reached stage 4, where the disease has spread widely through the body.

Evans was part of the Traditional Grass in the 1990s, along with Joe Mullins and Paul “Moon” Mullins, and had worked also with Dave Evans. He currently fronts his own group, Gerald Evans & Paradise.

Friends and fans who would like to send along words of encouragement can do so at the following address:

Among the recent releases about which we have become aware is Rambler’s Call from Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers.

This independent release features the talents of recognized banjo great Joe Mullins, Adam McIntosh on guitar and vocals, Evan McGregor, fiddler and vocals, Mike Terry, mandolin player and vocals, and bass player, Tim Kidd. Matt DeSpain guests on resonator guitar.

After three years of performing and recording together the band has developed a classic bluegrass blend and assembled a diverse set of old and new songs that fit together very well. Examples of this include The Old Rocking Chair written by Mullins’ former band mate, Gerald Evans Jr., and a grassy treatment of Marty Stuart’s Farmer’s Blues with Mullins’ high lead vocals.

The band dedicated the new CD project in memory of Joe’s dad, DJ and fiddle player Paul "Moon" Mullins, who passed away in 2008. A few of the rare tunes on the album that were featured on his radio show many times include Old Blue Tomorrow, an obscure album cut from an old George Jones release Boston Jail and Another Day, Another Dollar.

Other highlights include the title track written by Aubrey Holt and featuring McIntosh doing lead vocals, as he does on four songs altogether; Don’t You Want Go Home, an a cappella gospel song, on which Terry sings lead.

McGregor served as engineer and co-producer, with Mullins.

Mullins owns a network of Ohio radio stations; WBZI AM1500, WKFI AM1090 and WEDI AM1130. Most weekdays he is on the air from 2 until 5 p.m. featuring Bluegrass and Old-Time Gospel music on all three stations and webcasting at www.myclassiccountry.com.

You may purchase your copy of the CD at the Classic Country Connection in Xenia or at the Radio Ramblers upcoming concerts.

Joe Mullins has enjoyed a very active career in bluegrass for over 25 years, beginning while still at high school when playing with his father, the highly esteemed Paul ‘Moon’ Mullins, in the Traditional Grass, then in the stellar band Longview. Since the turn of the century, he has worked on a couple of award-winning projects and in the process been honoured for his banjo playing. In between he has worked on various Ohio radio stations promoting bluegrass as a DJ. Presently, Mullins owns and operates a network of three south-west Ohio radio stations, playing classic country, bluegrass and Gospel music.

With The Radio Ramblers – Adam McIntosh, once of The Dry Branch Fire Squad (guitar and vocals), Evan McGregor, who previously has had experience playing with the Wildwood Valley Boys and The James King Band, on fiddle and vocals, Mike Terry (mandolin and vocals) and Tim Kidd (bass and drums) – Mullins is effectively combining both jobs, having a band whose primary purpose is performing at Classic Country Radio promotions. Like Topsy, demand to hear the Radio Ramblers grew and grew and they released this CD.

As mentioned earlier, Mullins grew up on traditional bluegrass and Tuned In presents more of the same, beginning with a novel recording of an intro to a bluegrass radio show after the listener has tuned in. It’s a simple, brief, but effective way to capture audience attention.

What follows is a balanced mix of four secular and four sacred songs and two instrumentals. In the first category is My Blue Eyed Darlin’, not to be confused with the popular Monroe song of that title, a song about a lost love, Each Minute Seems A Million Years, with a neat bluesy fiddle ending, Poet With Wings, from that illustrious song writing team of Pete Goble and Leroy Drumm, and Carter Stanley’s Baby Girl.

The four Gospel tracks are Jeff Tolbert’s song of praise, I Owe It All To Thee, the sterling a cappella effort, Deeper Than The Stain, When I’ve Traveled My Last Mile, which is very reminiscent of the Boys From Indiana best work, and Brand New Man, penned by McIntosh and the only original offering in this set.

The lead vocals are strong and sure and the various blends of harmony singing are well arranged and pleasing to the ear.

Mullins displays award-winning banjo-picking on the standard Bending The Strings, while East Tennessee Blues displays some fine instrumental teamwork topped off by a great guitar break.

Tuned In is good, solid traditional bluegrass with a touch of class in the right places.

Footnote:

Joe Mullins can be heard spinning discs on the Ohio airwaves each weekday from 2pm to 5pm at AM 1500 WBZI Xenia, AM 1090 WKPI Wilmington and AM 1130 WEDI Eaton and live on line at www.myclassiccountry.com.