XM Radio recently broke the news that Larry Cordle had signed with Lonesome Day Records. The label will release his new album, Took Down and Put Up, later this summer.

I was able to talk with Larry via email about the new CD and the deal with Lonesome Day Records. He tells me this is the first of two CDs covered by the deal.

Randall & I had talked early on (right after the cd was finished late last fall) about the possibility of working together…….I had other offers to consider at the time & was still toying around with the idea of putting the cd out by myself…….after listening to the other offers that were extended me & deciding against them I called Randall to see if he was still interested in what I had recorded & what I had in mind going forward …….we have been friends for about 6 or 7 years & we were (thankfully) able to put together a 2 record deal.

The first single to be release off the new CD will be a tune penned by Chris Stuart, The First Train Robbery. This is one of 5 songs on the CD not written or co-written by Cordle himself. The other 9 cuts have come directly from Cordle’s pen over the last 30 years.

These songs from my catalog include songs from my early writing days as in “The Hero of the Creek”, (about a lifelong friend of mine from Eastern Kentucky who sadly passed away on Nov 1, 2006 before he got to hear the record of my tribute to him) which was written in 1979 or 1980. Other songs from the not too distant past, such as, “Song For Keith”, “Rough Around The Edges”, “67 Chevy Malibu”, “B.Y.O.B.” were written in the mid to late 90’s, to just really, really new stuff like “Hole In The Ground”, “Old Cheater’s Blues”, “I’m A Lie”, etc……which were written over the last 12 to 18 months.

Larry Cordle is a legendary songwriter having penned a string of #1 country hits starting with “Highway 40 Blues” and with no end in sight. This CD will be a chance to hear more of his great songs sung by himself and backed by a stellar bluegrass band.

It looks like Cordle’s MySpace page includes two songs from the new CD, so click on over for a listen.

Cordle was excited about this CD saying it is the band’s first release in over 4 years and he’s eager for fans to hear it.

We are excited to bring this new cd to our fans who have never wavered in their support and who have incessantly e-mailed & constantly asked me when we were gonna get them some new music from the band…… I know I speak for the entire band when I say how proud we are of the CD. We feel like it’s our finest work to date and to all of those who have steadfastedly supported us, we would like to say thanks, God bless & hopefully we’ll see you at a live show somewhere this summer.

This Tuesday and Wednesday nights will see quite a gathering of bluegrass talent at Nashville’s legendary Station Inn, assembled to benefit the Autism Society of Middle Tennessee. Their goal is to help raise awareness of this serious neurological condition, as well as donations for the work of the ASMT.

April 10 will feature performances by The Grascals, Ronnie Bowman & Friends, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Steel Drivers, The Roland White Band, and Chris Jones & The Nightdrivers. The following night will see Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, Jerry Salley & Breakin’ New Ground, The Mark Newton Band, Cordle, Salley and Carl Jackson, The Mashville Brigade and a special surprise appearance by one of bluegrass music’s top acts on stage at The Station Inn.

This benefit was organized by two Nashville veterans, both of whose lives have been touched by youngsters with autism. Journalist and musician Jon Weisberger (who also serves on the IBMA Board) has a son with the disorder, and singer/songwriter Jerry Salley has a neice who suffers from autism.

April is promoted as Autism Awareness Month, and Nashville has long hosted a similar benefit each April at The Bluebird Cafe. Weisberger and Salley approached The Station Inn about hosting a bluegrass event as a benefit, and it was the club that suggested that they take two nights.

Admission is based on a $20 suggested donation, and the shows will begin each night at 8:00 p.m. (CDT).

Readers outside of Nashville can contribute to the Autism Society of Middle Tennessee online.

Earlier this month we told you about a concert series being produced by the Kentucky Department of Parks and America’s Bluegrass Inc. At the time we mentioned that the Cradle of Bluegrass Music Trail concert series would feature a number of native Kentuckians. One of those who will be performing at every show is bluegrass great Larry Cordle.

I had the opportunity to speak with Larry yesterday and asked for his thoughts about the concert series. Here is what he shared with me.

Speaking about the relationship between bluegrass music and Kentucky.

Bluegrass music is the sound of Kentucky to me…….from the high lonesome mountains to the rolling horse farms & the endless river towns I feel that it belongs to Kentucky…..and I am so proud to be from Kentucky.

On Monroe, bluegrass, and Kentucky…

He [Bill Monroe] is undoubtedly the ‘reason’ for Bluegrass music in it’s strictest sense & was a wonderful mentor to me. His music reflected all the things I mentioned above & incorporated much of the heavy Scotch Irish drony sounds with Blues & country……I think Kentuckians are always cognizant of Mr. Monroe’s stamp on music history……….He was proud to be a Kentuckian & everyone I know who plays this music, thinks he is the reason that Bluegrass music exists.

About his own involvement with the Cradle of Bluegrass Music Trail.

I am absolutely speechless that I was asked to be part of this series……..what great musicians that comprise this group……….that I could somehow be fortunate enough to be asked to be a part of this is the utmost honor for me………..I hope I can somehow live up to being asked to participate in these shows with so many ‘great’ Kentucky musicians that I admire so much.

Thanks so much to Larry for taking the time to share with us. If you have the chance I would encourage you to make an effort to attend one of these shows and hear some great bluegrass music while enjoying the wonderful Kentucky state parks at the same time.

The state of Kentucky Department of Parks is teaming up with America’s Bluegrass Inc. to promote both bluegrass music and the state parks. A series of four concerts are to be held at three of the state parks this spring/summer in what is being called the Cradle of Bluegrass Music Trail.

The series features Kentucky natives who are bluegrass musicians including: Don Rigsby, Larry Cordle, Bobby Osborne, Kenny Bishop, Melvin Goins, the Grascals and, of course, J.D. Crowe and the New South.

The series begins April 7th at the Rough River Dan State Park near Leitchfield, continues April 21st at the Frankfort Convention Center (this show is headlined by Earl Scruggs), then on to Jenny Wiley State Resort Park on April 28, and concludes May 19 at the General Butler State Resort Park.

The genesis of the idea can be traced back to Charles Lewis, president of America’s Bluegrass Inc. Lewis hosts a bluegrass show on WSAZ-TV in Huntington, WV and on KET2, Kentucky Public Television. He approached the park department with the idea of a single concert.

J.T. Miller, commissioner of Kentucky State Parks, tells us what the purpose is of holding this concert series.

From our standpoint, it is to build excitement for and occupancy of our state parks, as well as promoting Bluegrass music in Kentucky. Charles Lewis proposed a “big name” event at the 5,000-seat Frankfort Convention Center to build public awareness of the “Trail.”

Lewis was responsible was choosing the talent for the concert series, but following his Grammy nomination, Miller suggested they add kenny Bishop to the lineup.

All concerts start at 1pm local time and will feature a combination of secular and gospel bluegrass music. Lodging packages are offered at the three state park shows and include the concert, a night’s lodging, meals, and a chance to meet the artists.

The state park concert tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. The convention center show tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets can be ordered by visiting the Kentucky State Park website.

J.T. Miller tells me that they may consider a similar event in the fall.

If successful, we’d like to do this in the fall at even more parks. Kentucky is truly the “Cradle” of Bluegrass, so it is natural that we would want to be a part of this.