Valerie Smith has announced this morning that bass player and vocalist Rebekah Long has joined as the newest member of Liberty Pike.

Rebekah had been performing as a member of The Little Roy & Lizzie Show, along with her twin sister, Lizzie Long, and Little Roy Lewis. She is a recent graduate of Nashville’s School of Audio Engineering, and was featured as a member of the Daughters Of Bluegrass on their Bluegrass Bouquet album.

Long joins Becky Buller and Ernie Evans in Valerie’s band, and as is the custom in Liberty Pike, will do some instrument switching in the stage show.

You can see the Valerie Smith tour schdule on her official web site.

James Roy “Pop” Lewis passed away in 2004. The founder of bluegrass gospel group The Lewis Family, was 98 at the time. He is now being honored in his home town, as the road his family lived on has been renamed as a memorial to his legacy.

Last Monday, a section of State Route 378 in Lincoln County, GA was renamed The James Roy “Pop” Lewis Memorial Highway. It was Pop’s 103rd birthday.

Little Roy Lewis has told reporters that the Lewis family house in Lincolnton, GA will be converted into a museum, which should be opened to the public sometime next year.

Back in January, John posted about a CD in the works from new comer Lizzy Long. The CD was released last week and includes a bonus DVD featuring interviews with all three artists, and discussions about the recording process.

What is interesting about the CD is the involvement of both Earl Scruggs and Little Roy Lewis on the CD of a relatively unknown 23 year old artist. They also appeared on stage with Long at the CD release part last week, held at the Station Inn in Nashville.

Scruggs treated the packed crowd to his legendary talents on the banjo, demonstrated his understated humor by helping 23-year-old Elizabeth remember her words, and contributed harmony vocals to several songs.

Little Roy Lewis, known for his banter and showmanship on guitar, autoharp and banjo, called the night “a dream come true,” and easily proved to the crowd why he is the 7-time GMA/Dove Award-winning front man for The Lewis Family.

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Long also impressed the audience with her fiddle playing and her

memorable vocals and harmonies to bring life to original and classic songs

Lewis, Scruggs, and Long: Lifetimes is on the Vine Records label and should be available now at stores inclined to carry such music.

Photo courtesy of Aaron Crisler for gospelmusicupdate.com

What sort of talent must it take to convince bluegrass legends like Earl Scruggs and Little Roy Lewis to participate in the label debut release for a 23 year old artist?

Or generate praise like this from Mr. Scruggs?

“I have been traveling for many years, but it is seldom that you see such a talented newcomer as Elizabeth Long. She’ll be a household name among bluegrass fans.”

The talented newcomer, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Long, has her first project with Nashville’s Vine Records set for an April 16, 2007 release. The young fiddler and singer actually has four CDs she has released on her own, and they show her at home with both old time fiddle favorites and songs with a country feel.

The official press materials from Vine describe the new CD, Lifetimes – Lewis, Scruggs and Long, in this way:

Listeners can look forward to traditional bluegrass favourites and instrumentals on this release, as well as original compositions written by Long, Haun, and a list of award-winning writers, including Barry Dean, Don Poythress, Joel Lindsey, Wayne Kirkpatrick, and Mac Wiseman.

The CD is produced by Wayne Haun and Kevin Ward, and will be distributed by Crossroads Marketing.

Thanks to our friend Richard Thompson, who first brought this new project to our attention.