When I was in college at South Plains College studying bluegrass music, a new record would often create a stir among the students. One of those records was Wyatt Rice’s Santa Cruz. That album introduced me to the soulful singing of Junior Sisk. He quickly became one of my favorite singers and I began looking for other recordings that featured him. Soon after Santa Cruz, I soon discovered Rambler’s Choice. This was Junior’s own band and the recording, Sounds of the Mountains was great. Great songs and great singing. But after just one album, the band was no more.

Several years later when I moved to Virginia I began to meet, and even work with, some of the men I had looked to as heros of my bluegrass world. I met Junior when he was singing with Alan Bibey, Terry Baucom and Blueridge. Pleasantly, I discovered that not only was Junior one of my favorite singers, he became one of my favorite people as well. As genuine as anyone I ever met, Junior doesn’t put on airs at all. He is who he is, unapologetically, and that’s a good thing, because he’s good people.

When Blueridge disbanded so Bibey could join Grasstowne, I hoped Junior would quickly find a musical home so I could continue to enjoy his singing and songwriting. He seemed to drop off the radar though. Here in Southwest Virginia though, if you knew the right people you heard rumors that Junior was quietly putting something of his own together. Soon the whispers said Rambler’s Choice was back.

The rumors are no longer whispered in secret, it’s common knowledge now. Rambler’s Choice will release their first Rebel Records CD on June 24, 2008. The CD is titled Blue Side of the Blue Ridge . It includes both traditional and original material in twelve tracks.

I had a chance to visit with Junior the other day and ask him about the reformation of the band. I asked him how he came to put the band back together rather than just looking for a gig in an existing band.

Well after the breakup of BlueRidge, I just about decided to wait and go with another band already established, but I like to do the old stuff nobody does anymore and the new stuff done the traditional way. And with joining another band it meant learning another collection of songs that might not be my style. (more…)

When BlueRidge split in early 2007, Alan Bibey and Jason Davis became part of the newly formed Grasstowne, and Alan Johnson joined Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Junior Sisk, their soulful lead singer, reassembled his old group, and they have been in the studio over the winter completing a new album.

Just today, it has been announced that Junior Sisk & Ramblers’ Choice have signed with Rebel Records. The Ferrum, VA based band consists of Sisk on guitar & lead vocals, Tim Massey on bass, Darrell Wilkerson on banjo, Chris Harris on mandolin, and Billy Hawks on fiddle.

Both band and label are excited by the pairing. Says Sisk…

“I’ve always wanted to record for Rebel. Now I feel like I’ve found a home.”

The straight-ahead, traditional bluegrass favored by the band is a perfect fit for Rebel who specializes in just that. Mark Freeman of Rebel says…

“Junior is a strong singer with a solid band and we’re looking forward to working with them.”

The upcoming album, produced by Ronnie Bowman and tentatively titled Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge, is scheduled for a mid-summer release.