On September 21, 1995 in Rosine, Kentucky, the US Navy’s Country Current bluegrass group performed for the birthday celebration and plaque dedication ceremony for Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass Music. At that ceremony, as the leader of Country Current, I had a conversation with John Sheldon, the Secretary of the Scottish Bluegrass Association from Penicuik Scotland. As we were talking, John inquired about the possibility of Country Current performing in the United Kingdom but, at that time, the possibility of a performance would not come to fruition.

John spoke face to face with the Father of Bluegrass Music on that day and made a vow that he would do all he could to promote bluegrass music in the United Kingdom. Bill boasted with pride that his music would continue to grow around the globe. Since that ceremony in 1995, John has worked feverishly to fulfill his promise by hosting tours for over 100 USA, Canadian, and European bluegrass bands in the UK.

Upon my retirement from Country Current, I contacted John Sheldon to get the wheels rolling toward getting my new group, Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa to the UK. John arranged a thirteen-day tour, a series of performances ranging from state of the art theaters in Newcastle, England to Moniaive’s first annual bluegrass festival in the south of Scotland. We also did a pair of Music in the Schools performances for 500+ children in grades Kindergarten through 6th grade, which was funded by the International Bluegrass Music Association and the Scottish Bluegrass Association. Our schedule also included group and individual workshops.

Throughout the 13-day tour WT and Appaloosa traveled many miles, performing 18 shows for hundreds of bluegrass enthusiasts as ambassadors of bluegrass music and as US citizens. The tour was highly successful. John continues to fulfill his promise to Bill Monroe with other groups lined up for next year.

I would highly recommend this adventure for any bluegrass group who would like to experience the trip of a life time to see some of the most amazing scenery, landscapes, castles and meet some of the friendliest people anywhere.

Here are a few photos from our trip.

To see more photos and information regarding the tour, visit our web site, or to contact John Sheldon visit www.scottishbluegrass.com.

Taylor is familiar to bluegrass lovers from his 24 years with Country Current, the US Navy Bluegrass Band, headquartered in Washington, DC. Many of those years of service were pulled alongside banjo legend Bill Emerson, who led the band while he was in the Navy.

This new release features 14 new songs of Wayne’s, performed with his band of crack, DC-area musicians. Emory Lester is on mandolin, Kip Martin on bass, Mark Delaney on banjo and Dave Giegerich on resonator guitar. Taylor plays guitar and handles lead vocals.

Now retired from the Navy himself, Taylor is taking the group out on the road in support of the new CD. They have already scheduled trips to the US west coast and to Scotland in 2009.

You can hear audio from each track on Wayne’s web site.

A Canary’s Song, which features 7 songs of Horton’s amidst the 11 tracks, will hit on March 11. In addition to Kenny on guitar and vocals, the CD is anchored by Keith Arneson on banjo, Pat White on fiddle and mandolin, Mike Auldridge on resonator guitar and Jeremy Middleton on bass. Darren Beachley and Courtney Williams add harmony vocals.

Kenny stepped in last year to fill the shoes of Wayne Taylor when he retired from the US Navy, and tells us that it was a circuitous path from his childhood home in southern Missouri to Washington, DC to take the spot with Country Current.

As a boy, he was raised on bluegrass and country music, and spent many hours with one of his dad’s best friends, Bob Brumley, son of Albert E. Brumley. The elder Brumley is among the most prolific writers of country Gospel songs, including the classic I’ll Fly Away.

Horton knew from an early age that music was where he wanted to earn his living, and eventually made the trek to Music City where he found some success.

“I made my way to Nashville where I was a staff writer for publishing houses, one of which was Oh Boy Records, John Prine’s label. They picked me up as a full-time staff writer and I ended up co-writing the song A Soldier’s King with John Barlow Jarvis for Kenny Rogers’ Christmas album entitled The Gift.”

After some time singing demos and background vocals in Nashville, he made the decision to look for more secure income, and joined the Navy as an electronics tech.

“Then when I found out that they had bands that did something other than march as a parade band, I switched over and started fronting Navy Band Horizon in Chicago, IL. I spent 5 years there, then moved to Pearl Harbor, HI for two years and finally to Memphis, TN.

All this while I had my eye on this position and kept an ear to the ground on what Wayne Taylor was doing. The group had such a name, not only in the Navy, but in the bluegrass world that it was hard not to pay attention to them.”

When word went out that Taylor planned to retire, Kenny quickly called for an audition.

“I was nervous because I knew that the spot was and is the brass ring of what I do for the Navy. The guys brought me in with the audition material and tried to make me as comfortable as possible. I realized one thing about nerves during that audition. A person’s nervousness in an audition situation is directly attributed to how badly they want the gig. I was pretty much able to control the nerves, except for my left leg – I couldn’t get it to quit shaking during the whole audition. I looked like a bad Elvis impersonator.

Thankfully I got the call and one month to the day after receiving the phone call telling me I got the spot, I was in rehearsals for three days and then off to the Withlacoochie Bluegrass Festival for my official breaking in. I immediately stepped into the job of fronting the band and I have to say, I was more nervous about pleasing that audience than I was in my audition. Folks had come to expect Wayne to be there, and to fill those shoes took a lot of stuffing and duct tape, but they seemed to enjoy the show. I was very relieved about that one!”

Once he had settled in with his new navy gig, Kenny started looking towards producing a solo bluegrass project – a break from his previous releases, which had more of a country rock feel.

He wanted to include fellow members of Country Current, and enlisted banjoist Arneson, fiddler/mandolinist White, and bass player Middleton as his primary rhythm section. Before the tracking began, Horton made a point of telling everyone that he wasn’t looking for a stressful, perfection-oriented studio experience, and was determined to make the recording sessions fun for all involved.

“I wanted that part to come though on the album. I’m not one that is so concerned about everything being perfectly lined up, spit and polished. I didn’t want that mechanical type of sound. We all wanted the project to be great musically, but not by relying on what the computer could make us sound like. One thing I am most proud of about this album is the fact that when you see us play these songs live, you will understand that what we did in the studio is what we are doing on the stage. It’s real.

One statement that I have made about recording is that it is my belief that it isn’t about perfection. It is about finding or writing the best songs you can that YOU truly believe in, working with the best players you can find that you have FUN with, play those songs and have the most fun you can with it!”

Audio samples from A Canary’s Song, and Kenny’s two previous albums, can be heard on his web site.

Kenny also shared a word about the newest member of Country Current. Joe Friedman will soon join the band, taking the mandolin/vocal spot held until recently by Frank Solivan II.

Bill led the band until his retirement in 1993, at which point that leadership fell to Wayne Taylor who held the spot until he retired in March of this year. Wayne performed through 2008 as a member of Bill’s group, Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie, and has now launched his own band.

Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa includes Emory Lester on mandolin, Dave Giegerich on resonator guitar, Mark Delaney on banjo, Kip Martin on bass, with Wayne on guitar and lead vocals.

They are in the middle of a recording project, which is expected to be completed in January 2009. Three tracks, Bury Me In Dixie, 40 Years and Oh Merrie, can be heard on the band’s web site. Their sound is reminiscent of prominent Washington, DC area bands like The Country Gentlemen and Seldom Scene – though with Wayne’s distinctive voice out front.

You can find their tour schedule – which includes a September trip to Scotland – online.

Wayne Taylor will be stopping by for a chat with Katy Daley at 9:00 a.m. on WAMU’s Bluegrass Country. Taylor spent 20 years performing in the US Navy Band Country Current, and has been a fixture in the DC bluegrass scene just as long. As Brance told us in a post last week, Taylor is recently retired from the Navy, has a new CD, Dear Mom, and will be performing with Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band.

It sounds like he and Katy will have plenty to discuss.

Over at WorldWideBluegrass.com this afternoon at 1:00 p.m., John Sebastian will join Gracie Muldoon for an interview. The former pop star (Loving Spoonful) and successful solo artist has teamed up with David Grisman for a CD of acoustic duets called Satisfied. All the songs were recorded live in the studio, a mix of folk, blues and traditional music. You can read more about the CD in our post from last fall.

Wayne is in Nashville this week at the IBMA leadership class, and says his plans are to get more involved with bluegrass music. And getting more involved he is.

He has a new CD out titled Dear Mom. He just recorded an interview with Kyle Cantrell for XM Radio, which I’m told may air next Tuesday. And he’s found a new musical home.

I am playing with Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band. We’ve played a few gigs and will be hitting the festival circuit this year. Our schedule can be viewed at Myspace.com/waynetaylor.

The guys in Country Current are going to miss Wayne’s presence for sure. I spoke to Frank Solivan II, who plays mandolin and fiddle in the band, and he shared his thoughts on Wayne’s departure from the band.

Wayne Taylor has been and is an inspiration as a musician, boss, and especially as a friend. Personally he has been there for me and my wife Leah from our start with the Navy Band. From helping us move two times and helping me install drywall in my new house to personal dilemmas. I’ve been able to count on his professionalism, honesty, and good natured attitude for almost 5 years without as much as a hiccup.

His retirement ceremony last Friday not only honored his service to our country, but his commitment to family, friends and coworkers. The masses that gathered was proof of this. Many people came to honor him… from childhood friends and his Father’s best friend to local musician, friends and family. The room was charged with emotion and the golf ball in Wayne’s throat was apparent. It was evident that everyone loves Wayne. He received a number of awards, letters of appreciation, and mementos from prominent figures in our military and the President. A number of people got up and honored his accomplishments. The legacy and shoes to fill that he’ll leave behind is immeasurable. I’m sure his fine character will carry him far in the civilian world and his musicianship and vocal ability will impart emotion just as it always has. He’ll be missed and thought of fondly.

~Frank

We wish Wayne all the best in his future endeavors, and we encourage you to take the opportunity to see him this summer at a festival near you.

Taylor’s retirement will leave an opening in the band for a lead vocalist/acoustic guitar player, and auditions are currently being held. The position does double duty, playing and singing in both the bluegrass and country versions of the band. In addition to lead vocals and acoustic guitar, the position is also that of emcee for the band.

Master Chief Musician Wayne Taylor is retiring and will be out soon. We are actively looking for people to audition for Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar… Must have strong, well founded bluegrass and country background. Must send in a cd with current songs, a resume’, and should be comfortable as emcee.

The job starts with a rank of Petty Officer 1st Class and an E6 pay grade. That works out to approximately $50K a year plus 100% medical and dental benefits for the person’s entire family.

There is an age restriction for the job. The Navy specifies that the person must be between the ages of 18 and 34. Navy standard for hight/weight ratio must also be met. Anyone not meeting these standards will not be auditioned. Here is a pdf file of the Navy weight standards for reference.

All auditions are by appointment only. To schedule an audition time, one should contact Master Chief Stuart McLean or Chief Musician Christopher J. Raifsnider at (202)433-2840, or by email at NavyBand.Auditions@navy.mil.