With all the support the bluegrass world has received from Tom T. and Dixie Hall this past few years, many have wondered when Tom T. might release a bluegrass project himself. Not only had the songwriting duo contributed dozens of songs for bluegrass artists - and recorded and released a good many bluegrass projects on their Blue Circle label - they also made a generous donation to the International Bluegrass Music Association last year, when they bequeathed the royalties from their publishing company, Good Homegrown Music, to IBMA upon their deaths.

Well, today’s the day for the Tom T. bluegrass project. Blue Circle has released Tom T. Hall sings Miss Dixie & Tom T., a collection of 12 songs they wrote together, sung by Tom T., and featuring a superstar gathering of bluegrass pickers. The concept for the CD began as a Christmas gift from Tom T. to Dixie.  He presented her with a card that read:

“To Miss Dixie. This is good for a c.d. We’ll record in our studio; you choose the songs and the pickers. You produce and I’ll do songs we have written together. Local and Pal will handle (canine) security. We will call the project TOM T. HALL SINGS MISS DIXIE & TOM T. Merry Christmas! Love, T.”

Guest performers include Earl Scruggs, Kristin Benson and Tim White on banjo, Wayne Benson on mandolin, Mike Bub and Ben Isaacs on bass, Tom T., Robert Bowlin and Terry Eldridge on guitar, Glen Duncan on fiddle and Randy Kohrs on resonator guitar. Assisting Tom T. with harmony vocals are Don Rigsby, Sonya Isaacs, Josh Williams and Rebecca Isaacs Bowman.

Radio promos have been sent and July 3 marks the official release date. A couple of audio samples are available on the Blue Circle site, and samples for all the tracks can be found on CD Baby.