Cybergrass Bluegrass Music News: Curly Seckler and Tennessee Mafia Jug Band tape Song of the Mountains

BMNN wrote: on Apr. 25, 2009:

Marion, VA -- Bluegrass music legend Curly Seckler along with regular Grand Ole Opry performers, the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band will headline the next Song of the Mountains concert in Marion, Virginia at the Lincoln Theatre on May 16th. Also on the show that evening will be the bands Constant Change, and Jett’s Creek. Comedy relief will be provided by Arizona native Gary Crain who impersonates dozens of popular performers past and present and will provide some musical humor as well.

Bluegrass legend Curly Seckler began his career in music in 1935, performing with his brothers on WSTP radio in Salisbury, NC. In 1939 he hit the big time, when Charlie Monroe recruited him to sing harmony in his new band after the breakup of the Monroe Brothers. Curly worked several stints with Charlie Monroe early in his career. He also teamed with various other bluegrass pioneers, including Jim and Jesse McReynolds, Mac Wiseman, The Sauceman Brothers, and The Stanley Brothers. In 1949 Curly joined Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs' Foggy Mountain Boys, as tenor singer and mandolinist. Except for a couple of brief absences, he remained with Flatt & Scruggs until 1962. During that time he recorded well over 100 songs with them, including many of their best known and most popular hits ("Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms," "Salty Dog Blues," I'll Stay Around," "I'll Go Stepping Too," "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke," etc.). Curly Seckler is regarded as one of the best tenor singers ever in bluegrass, and in 2004 he was inducted into the IBMA Hall of Honor

The Tennessee Mafia Jug Band have shamelessly stolen a feature of the old Roy Acuff Show -- a bit known as "Pap & the Jug Band". There's only so many graveyard numbers or raunchy love songs that even the most rabid country audience can sit through without some kind of relief. This frolicking fivesome brightens up the stage with rib-tickling old time tunes. Even better, they have an utter lack of self-consciousness (and some might say any sense of decorum). The Tennessee Mafia Jug Band not only know the music, they wear the costumes, tell corny jokes and even do slapstick gags that throw a cable-TV-numbed audience into hysterics. Grown women have lost control of internal organs when the Jug Band entertains ... tears a' runnin' down both legs!!

Gary Crain has entertained audiences for many years with his many impersonations of famous entertainers like, Gomer Pyle, Walter Brennan, Ross Perot, Flip Wilson, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne and others. Gary has performed on cruise ships, clubs, concerts, churches and has even appeared in movies. He loves to make people laugh, and he does!

The bluegrass band Constant Change was formed in January of 2002. The members were hand picked from all across North Carolina, and although some are young in age, each brings with them a wealth of experience and talent to the band with many members able to play multiple instruments, and all of them doing some singing in the band. They came together with a common goal; a desire and commitment to settle for nothing less than the very best in bluegrass sound and musicianship. Their music spans from the hard-driving sounds of traditional bluegrass, to the most simple and smooth sounds of bluegrass gospel and ballads.

The traditional bluegrass tunes, tight family harmony and incredible original material by Jett's Creek will definitely add a fresh perspective to what you have heard before. The group has now hit the national scene thanks in part to their brand new CD, "Supposed to Be." The album has already hit the bluegrass charts and earned rave reviews including the Bluegrass Journal calling it a "powerful take-off."

Song of the Mountains features bluegrass, old time, Celtic and Americana Music and is currently airing on over 170 PBS outlets across the United States. Reserved seating tickets for the concert at the Lincoln Theatre on Saturday, May 16th are $20. Tickets may be purchased at the Lincoln Theatre Box Office in Marion, VA or online at www.SongOfTheMountains.org. The concert begins at 7:00 pm. For information or tickets by phone call 276-783-6093.

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