JD Crowe
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James Dee "JD" Crowe (born August 27, 1937 in Lexington , Kentucky , † December 24, 2021 ) was an American country musician , banjo player and pioneer of a progressive bluegrass style.
biography
As a teenager, JD Crowe had several opportunities to watch his great idol, the banjo player Earl Scruggs , at concerts up close. Crowe took advantage of these opportunities to perfect his own style of banjo. He played in various local bluegrass groups and made frequent appearances on the radio.
In 1956, the renowned country musician Jimmy Martin happened to hear a live performance on the car radio while driving through Lexington. He was so impressed that he drove to the station and made the young talent an offer to join his backing band, the Sunny Mountain Boys . Crowe agreed and then worked with Martin for six years.
In the late 1960s, Crowe formed the Kentucky Mountain Boys , who played modern bluegrass and released three albums. In 1971 he formed the band New South , which recorded the album JD Crowe and The New South in 1975 . It is considered one of the most important works of the newly created Progressive Bluegrass and was commercially successful above average. Some highly talented young musicians who would later make their own careers were involved: Tony Rice , Ricky Skaggs and Jerry Douglas .
In 1980 he founded the supergroup Bluegrass Album Band with Tony Rice, Bobby Hicks, Doyle Lawson and Todd Phillips , which met at longer intervals to make music. A total of six albums were produced by 1996, numbered from Bluegrass Album, Vol. 1 to Bluegrass Album, Vol. 6. His own band New South continued to exist with a constantly changing line-up. Outstanding members were Dwight McCall , Jimmy Gaudreau , Ron Stewart and Keith Whitley .
In 2001, Crowe became the namesake and main attraction of The JD Crowe Festival , which takes place every year near his native Lexington.
Discography
Albums
- 1968: Bluegrass Holiday (as The Kentucky Mountain Boys)
- 1968: Ramblin 'Boy (as The Kentucky Mountain Boys)
- 1969: The Model Church (as The Kentucky Mountain Boys)
- 1975: JD Crowe and the New South (as JD Crowe and the New South)
- 1978: My Home Ain't in the Hall of Fame (as JD Crowe and the New South)
- 1981: Bluegrass Album (as Bluegrass Album Band)
- 1982: Live in Japan (as JD Crowe and the New South)
- 1982: Bluegrass Album, Vol. 2 (as Bluegrass Album Band)
- 1983: Bluegrass Album, Vol. 3 (as Bluegrass Album Band)
- 1984: Bluegrass Album, Vol. 4 (as Bluegrass Album Band)
- 1986: Straight Ahead (as JD Crowe and the New South)
- 1987: Black Jack (as JD Crowe and the New South)
- 1989: Bluegrass Album, Vol. 5 (as Bluegrass Album Band)
- 1994: Flashback (as JD Crowe and the New South)
- 1996: Bluegrass Album, Vol. 6 (as Bluegrass Album Band)
- 1999: Come On Down to My New World
- 2006: Lefty's Old Guitar
Web links
- JD Crowe and the New South (website) . Archived from the original on February 25, 2007.
- John Lupton: JD Crowe plays "Lefty's Old Guitar" - November 2006 . Country Standard Time.
- JD Crowe Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2016)
- JD Crowe at Discogs
- JD Crowe in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Crowe, JD |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Crowe, James Dee (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American bluegrass musician |
| BIRTH DATE | August 27, 1937 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Lexington , Kentucky |
| DATE OF DEATH | December 24, 2021 |