David Parmley started playing bluegrass professionally when he was a 17 year old, when he joined his father, banjoist Don Parmley in the Bluegrass Cardinals. He has been leading Continental Divide since 1994 when his father retired. This new combination became an instant success claiming IBMA’s coveted Emerging Artist of the Year award in 1995 and through the years their albums have been constantly well received.

With Parmley on their latest release, Church House Hymns, playing mandolin and singing tenor, is Randy Graham, who has long experience with The Bluegrass Cardinals, being with them from the beginning in 1975 through to the end of 1978, so the duo are ideal together [and their harmony singing here proves it]. He resumed his association with Parmley in 2000 and has only recently left the band to pursue his own booking and management company.

The third prime participant on this CD is Dale Perry, another long-time member of the Bluegrass Cardinals, plays banjo and Scruggs-style finger picked lead guitar and adds vocals. He joined Continental Divide in 2003.

Rounding out proceedings vocally is Jimmy Cameron, while Kyle Perkins plays the bass and the irrepressible Ron Stewart guests on fiddle on several of the 12 tracks.

Most of the songs on this CD were chosen by their fans and they have given Parmley and company some excellent material to work with. Originally from the old hymnals, these songs have become standards in the bluegrass Gospel genre.

Starting off with In The Gloryland Way the mood is set for what follows; assured lead vocals, excellent harmonies and solid instrumental support.

There are three songs that feature excellent finger-picked guitar - Father Along, Won’t It Be Wonderful There and You Can Feel It In Your Soul, a good, strong vocal quartet. The first has some fine understated backing.

In contrast there is the mid-tempo I’ve Got A Home In That Rock, and the up-tempo songs Are You Washed In The Blood, with its banjo kick-off, and the great quartet singing on A Soul Winner For Jesus, also praiseworthy for the fiddle kick-off. (more…)

Randy Graham, who recently gave up his position playing mandolin and singing tenor with David Parmley & Continental Divide, has launched an entertainment agency, the Graham Talent Group.

He will be handling a roster that includes David Parmley & Continental Divide, Blue Moon Rising, Jimmy Bowen & Santa Fe, Audie Blaylock & Redline, Heather Berry, and David Davis & the Warrior River Boys

Randy has had a long career in music, recording and touring with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Bluegrass Cardinals, Baucom, Bibey, Graham and Haley, and Continental Divide. He has also worked extensively in commercial radio which has honed his skills in marketing and promotion.

After leaving David Parmley, Randy seemed to have disappeared, leaving many folks wondering whether Randy was getting out of music altogether. Not so…

“I began discussions about leaving the band in June of ‘07, when promotional effort for Church House Hymns was in full swing. Spending long hours in the office attending to business, promotion and booking matters the first part of the week and then performing duties the second half was not working out to my satisfaction. Obviously, one cannot keep the instrumental chops up while on the phone or computer, and vice versa. Each function was being performed at the peril of the other, and neither up to my personal standards.

Something had to go. Since I enjoy the business end of the music business as much as performing, I chose the former over the latter.”

Randy is working on a new web site for Graham Talent Group which should be operational by the end of this month. Until then, people can contact him through MySpace, or by email.

This past April, we told you about a special celebration in Monticello, KY honoring Don Parmley, founder of The Bluegrass Cardinals. He performed on banjo with the Cardinals for years along with his son, David Parmley. Other members of the band over the years include Don Rigsby, Randy Graham, Jimmy Haley and Herschel Sizemore.

On July 28, Wayne County, KY continued the honorifics by unveiling a commemorative highway sign which reads “Welcome to Wayne County (KY) • Home of Don Parmley • Founding member of the Bluegrass Cardinals.”

Don is retired now, but occasionally appears in Bluegrass Cardinals reunion shows with fellow founding members David Parmley and Randy Graham.

Congratulations Don - you’re immortal!

We got a note from Randy Graham, mandolinist and tenor singer with David Parmley and Continental Divide, about an event scheduled this weekend to celebrate the life and musical career of Don Parmley.

Here’s Randy’s note:

I want to take a moment to tell everyone about a special event coming to the Aspire Center in Monticello, KY, next Saturday, April 14th. “A Day with Don Parmley,” will honor Don and his many achievements and contributions in bluegrass music.

As many of you know, Don was the studio banjo player for the Beverly Hillbillies TV show for most of it’s run on CBS, and a co-founder of the Bluegrass Cardinals who toured worldwide from the mid-seventies until he retired in the mid-nineties. Under Don’s leadership, the Bluegrass Cardinals served as a learning ground and springboard for the careers for many bluegrass artists touring today. Included among these are: Don’s son, David Parmley, Dale Perry, Mike Hartgrove, Larry Stephenson, Norman Wright, and myself, to name but a few. Don’s professional resume also includes collaborative efforts with: legendary country vocalist, Vern Gosdin, Chris Hillman, of the Byrds, and multiple Grammy nominated guitarist, Billy Strange.

Festivities began at noon and run until 7:00 PM. On hand to entertain are: Sage Knoll and New Harvest, plus appearances by David Parmley & Continental Divide and a rare performance by the three original Bluegrass Cardinals: Don and David Parmley & myself. The Aspire Center is located at: 225 Highway 1275 N Monticello, KY… Phone: (606) 340-9362. You can Google a map from your door to the Aspire Center in Monticello, KY.

Looking for another reason to come?? NO ADMISSION CHARGE… THE EVENT IS ABSOLUTELY FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

We’ve looked forward to this event a long time. Hope to see you there!!

Church House Hymns, from David Parmley & Continental Divide, is due for a March 25 release on their private label, DP&CD Records. It is a collection of familiar Gospel songs, including ones that have been most requested by fans over the years.

Their intention was to select timeless hymns that many bluegrass fans may have grown up singing in church. Included are such classics as Farther Along, Are You Washed In The Blood (of the Lamb), I’m In The Gloryland Way, Will You Meet Me Over Yonder and Over In the Gloryland.

They have also chosen to feature a re-recording of There Is A Fountain, the groundbreaking a capella song which The Bluegrass Cardinals sang on their first record back in 1975. Ron Stewart guests on fiddle for several tracks on Church House Hymns, and regular banjo picker Dale Perry adds Scruggs-style finger picked guitar as well.

Mandolinist and tenor singer Randy Graham passed along some background on the striking cover shot.

“It’s a church we played in Norway a couple of years back. You can’t see it in the shot, but about 100 yards from the front door, the water in the fjord is 1,200 feet deep, so clear you can see as far as light will penetrate.”

Randy also shared a touching personal reminiscence of fellow former Bluegrass Cardinal, Steve Stephenson.

“As you may recall, Steve added his bass vocal on the original cut of There Is A Fountain. We have known him since the late 60’s. David and I called Steve’s wife, Judy, from the studio Sunday evening, to check up on Steve’s ongoing battle with cancer and arrange a visit with him before festival season got into full swing. Steve was unable to talk on the phone, having received a chemo treatment during the week and was dealing with flu-like symptoms. We passed our bests wishes to Steve via Judy.

Long story short, Steve passed away early the following morning, just hours after we finished up There Is A Fountain. He was a dear friend… we were/are deeply saddened at his passing.”

Church House Hymns will be available from the band at any of their live shows, and from their official web site as soon as it is released on March 25.