Larry Stephenson shared this unfortunate story about Bill Harrell, one of the pioneers of bluegrass music. His work with Don Reno & The Tennessee Cutups after the departure of Don’s original partner Red Smiley resulted in some truly classic bluegrass recordings, including I’m Using My Bible For A Roadmap.

After leaving Reno’s group, Bill performed for 10 more years with his own group, Bill Harrell & The Virginians – which included a young Larry Stephenson on mandolin in the early 1980s.

Here’s Larry’s report…

Bill Harrell had a stroke last Friday and has been in the hospital in Annapolis, MD all week. The family found out around the middle of May he has prostate cancer (his PSA was 24) and then they found out this week he has an enlarged heart and fluid on the lungs. To make matters worse it was hard to do many of the tests because of the pins in his body from the car wrecks he’s had. They are going to try and get him home on Friday and it looks like hospice will be called. I have spoke with him twice this week and he’s very weak but he still has that sense of humor. He was talking about going out on a date with one of the nurse’s. Some things never change.

I was just at his home in Davidsonville, MD on May 12 to interview him for the Bluegrass Museum’s video oral history program. I hadn’t been to his home in 26 years. I’m glad I got to spend the day with him….it was a wonderful. I’m also very happy IBMA honored Bill this past year with a Distinguished Achievement Award. Bill and his two son’s Mitch and John were there and Bill has not stopped talking about it.

Let’s all hope that Bill can recover fully from his stroke.

Here’s a clip of he and Don Reno from the Porter Wagoner show back in 1968.

Larry Stephenson is putting the finishing touches on a 20th Anniversary CD with The Larry Stephenson Band, which will be released on Pinecastle Records. Has it really been that long?

The primary tracking started in late October of ‘08 at Ben Surratt’s Rec Room Studio in Nashville, featuring Larry’s touring band at that time. Kyle Perkins is on bass, Kevin Richardson on guitar, Jason Barie on fiddle, Kristen Scott Benson on banjo and Larry on mandolin. Kenny Ingram is now on banjo with LSB, and Mike Feagan on fiddle.

Larry tells us that the overall concept for this album is a new one for him.

“This will be the first CD I’ve recorded with multiple guests. I’ve never recorded an album like this in the twenty some albums I have out and Pinecastle has been wanting me to do this for some time now.

The guests I have are some of my best friends and people I admire and respect in the music business. Dudley Connell, Sonny Osborne, Ronnie Reno, David Parmley, Dale Ann Bradley, Del McCoury, Dailey & Vincent, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs, Aubrey Haynie, Ben Surratt, and Kenny Ingram who has been with me since January.

We recorded new songs and old songs that are favorites of mine that I’ve always wanted to record. All the guests were awesome and I can’t wait for everyone to hear what we have.”

With so many guest artists, scheduling has been tricky getting all the vocals wrapped up – not to mention Larry and his wife Dreama welcoming their first child earlier this Spring! He expects to finish up the last few details in the next couple of weeks, and start mixing shortly thereafter.

“I hope to have the CD on my table by mid-summer but not sure of a release date at this time. The July copy of Prime-Cuts of Bluegrass will feature Give This Message To Your Heart which includes Jamie Dailey and Darren Vincent. That’s the old Louvin Brothers song that the Osborne Brothers also recorded.” (more…)

Larry and Dreama Stephenson welcomed their baby girl to the world last Saturday.

Falon Whysper Sidney Stephenson was born on the morning of April 25, weighing in at 6 lbs, and standing 18” tall.

Hearty congratulations to Larry and Dreama, who had been praying for this day for several years.

Pinecastle Records has put together a DVD compilation from their many hours of live video footage, which they have released as Bluegrass Jamboree.

The 60 minute DVD contains live performances from some of the top names on the label, including The Osborne Brothers, Reno & Smiley, Jim & Jesse, Larry Stephenson, Chubby Wise, Special Consensus and Dale Ann Bradley.

18 songs are presented, among them some of the biggest hits in the history of bluegrass music.

• How Many Biscuits Can You Eat – Coon Creek Girls
• How Many Biscuits Can You Eat – New Coon Creek Girls
• Using My Bible For A Road Map – Don Reno And Red Smiley
• Kentucky Gold – The Reno Brothers
• Lee Highway Blues – Chubby Wise
• Orange Blossom Special – Chubby Wise
• Freight Train – Jim And Jesse McReynolds
• Dixie In The Dawn – Larry Stephenson
• Rain Please Go Away – Larry Stephenson
• You Were Born To Sing – Larry Stephenson
• Country In My Genes – New Coon Creek Girls
• Silver Dew On The Bluegrass Tonight – Special Consensus
• Listening To The Rain – Special Consensus
• Irish Medley – Special Consensus
• Foggy Mountain Rock – Gene Wooten
• One Tear – Terry Eldredge
• Fastest Grass Alive – The Osborne Brothers
• Rocky Top – The Osborne Brothers

The DVD is available for $17.99 from Music Shed, and wherever bluegrass performance DVDs are sold.