Perhaps you've seen us on “Song of the Mountains” a PBS affiliated acoustic music show performed at the Lincoln Theater in Marion, VA and broadcast all over these United States. Perhaps you've caught some of our music at the Music Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Virginia, North Carolina border. If you have, you know that what's most important to us is telling great stories through songs. This new project has allowed us to collect and share a whole group of those stories with the emphasis on finding sweet peace in these beautiful mountains.
In Wayne Taylor's “Lonesome Pines” the story is about leaving these peaceful mountains only to long to return. “Sing Me Back Home” is one of the songs we were able to share on “Song of the Mountains”. We've learned that it is a true story of Merle Haggard when he was in prison and was asked to sing a man back home who was on his way to his execution. We added the snippet of a gospel song at the end, speculating on what Merle might have sung.
“Man Can't Live on Bread Alone” is such a powerful song! It's a message we love singing to whomever will listen. “He Walked All the Way Home” tells the story of a soldier traveling 175 miles from Appomattox to his coastal home in Virginia. What a sad time that was.
“Mountain Song” is just fun! It sort of tells our story of going up to the mountains to find a little peace. “Someday” is a strong gospel song of faith in life after death and the prayers for our loved ones. “Stony Creek” is a mandolin song of Jesse McReynolds that's fun to play on the dobro and has the added bonus of Jody King's outstanding banjo breaks.
Hazel Dicken's wrote “Mamma's Hand” a moving story of leaving home to make one's fortune in the wide world.
Our son CJ wrote 'Ringing off the Hills”. It's based on his memories of being brought to bluegrass festivals by us during our bluegrass band days. It's heart warming to know he still remembers those times as special.
“Mary Did You Know” is such a powerful song. We've enjoyed sharing it over the years and are happy to share it one more time on this CD.
We've long been fans of the Country Gentlemen and “Catfish John” is one of our favorite story songs. It still touches us.
We end with “He Whispers Sweet Peace to Me”. It's such a strong gospel song. We hope it brings peace to those who hear it.
For this project, Bill is playing a OOOO short scale Brazilian guitar he made and Maggie is playing that same sweet sapele dobro Bill made for her years ago. Bill also plays a carved bass he put together and Jody plays a banjo he made.
We were wonderfully blessed to have Jody King be our engineer, producer and all around encourager during this project which was recorded at his After 5 Studio in Cana, VA.