THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 18, 1996 TAG: 9601170101
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: COURTLAND LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
MEMBERS OF the Lonesome River Band could equally divide their 1995 awards.
Ronnie Bowman was selected Male Vocalist of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association; Sammy Shelor, Banjo Player of the Year.
``Cold Virginia Night'' was named Album of the Year. The song itself became Song of the Year, reached No. 1 and has been on the top-30 bluegrass chart for a year.
You can come to understand what all the favorable fuss is about when the band headlines Southampton Academy's third annual Bluegrass and Barbecue, Saturday.
Proceeds go to the private school, which has more than 250 students through the 12th grade. The Parent-Teacher Organization is sponsoring the band.
``We play traditional grass instrumentation with country-oriented vocals,'' Sammy Shelor said in a phone interview from his Meadows of Dan home. ``We're teetering on the fence between traditional and more modern sounds.''
He said, ``We cover the whole range. Our goal is to create younger fans. We want to bring as many young people into bluegrass as possible. We're succeeding, somewhat. Many people say they never liked bluegrass till they heard us.''
Shelor said the band performs a lot of original material. ``Ronnie is a great songwriter,'' he said. ``Plus, we have a lot of people who write for us.''
He said the group works about 100 dates a year, appearing in about 42 states. In 1995, tours included England, Japan and Canada.
Shelor, a banjoist who was inspired by his picking-and-grinning grandfather, said he started to play when he was 5 years old. He's opened 75 times for Reba McEntire.
Mandolinist Don Rigsby worked with Vern Gosdin; Ronnie Bowman co-wrote some of the songs on Dan Seals' last album. Kenny Smith, the lead guitar player, came to Lonesome after working with Claire Lynch and the Front Porch String Band.
The Lonesome River Band was organized in 1982. No original member remains, but Shelor and Bowman have been part of the scene since 1990.
Patrick County, home territory for Shelor and guitarist Kenny Smith, is its base of operations. Bowman pops over from Rocky Mount, and Rigsby makes the trip from Kentucky.
``We've performed in a lot of country music festivals,'' Shelor said. The band has opened for Shenandoah and Emmylou Harris and is working with her this year.
Saturday, though, the focus is on The Lonesome River Band. Guest performers are Rickie Simpkins, a member of The Tony Rice Unit; and Mo Canada, a 15-year-old guitarist from Franklin. He recently cut an album featuring Simpkins and Rice. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
The Lonesome River Band will perform at Southampton Academy in
Courtland on Jan. 27.
by CNB