Dean Osborne discussed the Bluegrass and Traditional Music Program saying that he had to develop the curriculum and then get it approved by the state before the program could be offered. There was a lot of pre-work and now the on-going work to develop and improve the program.

The school recently posted this article about Bobby joining the faculty:

A man who is a legend in the world of acoustic music has been named as the newest faculty member for the Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music (KSBTM) based in his hometown of Hyden. The music school is part of Hazard Community & Technical College.

Bobby Osborne is a nationally renowned vocalist, and a master mandolin stylist. As a 50-year member of the Osborne Brothers, he became the first bluegrass artist to perform on a college campus as well as the first to sing at the White House. A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1964, Bobby was also the first to record what would later become the Tennessee state song and the most recorded song in bluegrass history, “Rocky Top.” The Osborne Brothers remain the only act to have recorded official state songs for two states--the aforementioned Rocky Top for Tennessee and “Kentucky” for the commonwealth. Osborne has released numerous recordings since the 1950s. He was named to the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1994 and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2005, Bobby became a solo artist launching his band, “The Rocky Top X-Press.” Most recently, a 2007 Grammy nomination adds one more reason fans and critics the world over consider him the greatest bluegrass singer in history. His latest release on Rounder Records is entitled “Bluegrass Melodies.” When not serving up a helping of bluegrass talent, Bobby has also served his country. As a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Bobby was wounded in action during the Korean War and received the Purple Heart.

Bobby Osborne will join school director and cousin Dean Osborne and other faculty members Curtis Burch and J.P. Mathes as teachers for students enrolled at the school. Students will benefit from his mandolin teaching, his knowledge of the music industry, songwriting and publishing, promotion, as well as music history. The faculty will travel to HCTC Road Shows at area schools. Reaching out to younger people interested in music is important to Bobby Osborne. “I see more people coming back to bluegrass. I truly understand a new generation of music brings on new ideas, but we will teach the basics. So many new bands have gotten off the basics. My brother (Sonny Osborne) and I learned the basics and we developed our own style. We never got away from the basic way.”

Hazard Community and Technical College president Dr. Allen Goben noted, “It is our pleasure to welcome Bobby to our College. We were already fortunate to have the talent and passion for both music and teaching with director Dean Osborne and faculty members Curtis Burch and J.P. Mathes. Adding the talent, experience, interpersonal skills, and music industry connections of Bobby Osborne makes our College the place to be in learning bluegrass and traditional music. Our students will have the opportunity to learn from living legends.”

The new music school is exciting to Bobby Osborne, because he is branching out in a new direction. But he is enjoying the nostalgia because he is now teaching in the same building where his father, Robert Osborne, taught when the then-new 1938 WPA-built high school opened. Dean Osborne has a similar feeling because his grandfather Golden Osborne was a Leslie County teacher.

Director Dean Osborne, excited about what Bobby Osborne brings to the music school, commented. “It is amazing to watch the career of an icon like Bobby Osborne come full circle to share his life experience with students at HCTC’s Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music in his home county… and in the building where his father taught. His experience will mean a great deal to the program.” Bobby Osborne added that even though he has lived in other areas, his roots are in Leslie County. He is hoping more students will enroll in the Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music stating, “The facilities are fine, everything is in order, it’s just a great school.”

For more information about HCTC’s Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music, call 800-246-7521, ext. 73630.

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