Compass Records Group is excited to announce the purchase of Tayberry Music, an internet and mail order business specializing in hard to find Celtic and folk CDs, DVDs, sheet music and books. Founded in 1987 by Margaret Tice and her son Frank Tice, Tayberry Music has sourced thousands of copies of eclectic Celtic music and English folk music to a discerning audience for over 20 years, and at one time was the main source of CDs for listeners of NPR’s “Thistle & Shamrock”.

Tayberry Music founder Margaret Tice said about the sale, “I was very pleased when Garry contacted me because we had been looking for someone to take on this business. I know that it’s time for me to pass it on and I can’t think of a better home for Tayberry other than Compass Records. And I’ve told my customers that this is a happy arrangement for us and we expect the people at Compass will serve them well.”

Compass co-founder Garry West comments: “Celtic music is a highly specialized, niche genre, with a dedicated but discerning upper-demographic customer base. Tayberry has served these customers extremely well for many years and this acquisition gives us a fantastic additional outlet through which to reach the consumer. This is a tailor-made fit for us given our presence in the Celtic music genre.”

Compass Records Group, co-founded by Garry West and Alison Brown and including Compass Records and Green Linnet, has the largest catalog of front line Celtic music in the world. After purchasing the physical distribution rights of the Green Linnet Records catalog in 2006, the Compass Records Group is now home to many of the biggest names in Celtic music including Lúnasa, Solas, Martin Hayes, Liz Carroll and John Doyle.

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Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will be featured guests on NPR’s World Café Live on November 22nd, between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM ET.

National Public Radio’s World Cafe with host David Dye can be heard on nearly 200 stations nationwide. Fans can find their local station by going to the website: http://worldcafe.org, or they can listen online to the WXPN/Philadelphia stream Monday to Friday 2pm to 4pm Eastern Standard Time by going to: http://xpn.org/listen_live/listen.php.

Later in the day of the broadcast, the audio will be available on the National Public Radio website:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4724307

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The Whites

Friday October 26
The Whites - 8:30-9:00
Del McCoury Band - 8:30-9:00

Saturday October 27
The Whites - 6:30-7:00 & 9:30-10:00
Vince Gill - 7:00-8:00 & 10:30-11:00
Del McCoury Band - 7:00-8:00 & 10:00-10:30
Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press - 10:30-11:00

Tuesday October 30
Del McCoury Band - 8:00 – 8:30

The Grand Ole Opry is broadcast live on WSM 650 AM radio, online at www.WSMonline.com and on XM Satellite Radio (XM 11). All listed times are central time.

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Jim Lauderdale - The Bluegrass Diaries

Several years ago my father-in-law, Easy Carroll, played me a video he was excited about and wanted me to watch. Easy, a World War II vet, has a passion for all kinds of music, but still the thought occurred to me: “What am I getting myself into?”

So we settled into his basement den and, being the dutiful son-in-law, I watched “Cotton Patch Gospel” with him. This turned out to be no laborious task at all. My attention was drawn to a young man who played several parts in the film and was also one of its primary musicians. I checked the credits and discovered it was a guy by the name of Jim Lauderdale.

I decided to chase after some of his solo material. I found several CDs in the local pawn shops and record shops and discovered the incredible talent this man possesses. I also discovered he had written several hits out of Nashville, including some of the big ones done by George Strait.

Forward to the present, in my hands I proudly hold the 16th Jim Lauderdale CD I currently possess, “The Bluegrass Diaries“. No longer do I scrounge the pawn shops for his stuff because I rush out and buy it immediately. This new CD is in no way a disappointment, just like every CD he puts outs.

Jim Lauderdale

In a recent conversation with Lauderdale at a festival in Bean Blossom, Ind., he told me he had this CD coming out, as well as another one or two. Another upcoming CD is a co-effort with Robert Hunter, the Grateful Dead lyricist, as they have teamed up before on the CD, “Headed For the Hills.”

Back to “The Bluegrass Diaries.” This is some fine musicianship under the guidance of Randy Kohrs on production duties. Kohrs has captured a great sound on this disc and also contributed some great dobro licks while he was at it.

As on any Jim Lauderdale disc, the highlight for me is the depth of songwriting abilities he displays. There is no shortage on this disc either. He teams up on a couple songs with Melba Montgomery, who is George Jones’ and Charlie Louvin’s old duet partner. Lauderdale also teams up with J.D. Souther for a couple of songs. Souther teamed up with writing credits on several of the Eagles’ biggest hits. On one of the songs from this disc, “Ain’t No Way To Run,” Montgomery, Souther and Lauderdale all put their heads together and wrote a classic.

This CD fits right alongside the two discs that Lauderdale did with Ralph Stanley. It would be difficult to find any better bluegrass than this being made these days.

Cia Cherryholmes contributes a great vocal backup on the song, “I Wanted To Believe.” It’s nice seeing her spread her wings on other projects besides the music with her family.

One of my favorite cuts is “One Blue Mule.” All the musicians involved absolutely let loose and tear this up. This is a barn burner!

“Can We Find Forgiveness,” is one of those ballads that showcases the depth of Lauderdale’s songwriting prowess. He is definitely capable of putting a tear in your eye if you allow his songs to touch you that deeply.

I am here to proclaim, there are absolutely no, bad Jim Lauderdale CDs. This one is no exception.

It would be great to see him do more of this kind of material and to see it performed live. He promised the audience this past summer to come back to Bean Blossom and bring his bluegrass band. I, for one, cannot wait.

If you like bluegrass and don’t know about Lauderdale, do yourself a favor and pick “The Bluegrass Diaries” up. After that, I’m sure you’ll be scouring the record shops looking for his older stuff.

By Rickey Lamb

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Porter Wagoner

The Tennessee State Museum will play host to the Americana Music Festival’s opening party, Wednesday October 31st from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Presented by The Americana Music Association and Great American Country (GAC), this free, family-friendly event is open to the public and will feature a special musical salute to Porter Wagoner with performances by Jim Lauderdale, Buddy Miller, Rodney Crowell, and some very special guests and friends of the Wagonmaster himself.

Known for his showmanship, rhinestone suits and silver pompadour, Wagoner’s extraordinary career spans five decades. The multiple Grammy winner recently celebrated his 50th year with the Grand Ole Opry and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. As the host of the syndicated television show The Porter Wagoner Show, he introduced the world to Dolly Parton. After racking up 81 charted records, the 80-year-old Wagoner recently released “Wagonmaster,” produced by Marty Stuart. The “Thin Man From West Plains” proves he is still a relevant force in American music by seamlessly bridging the generations while still staying true to his country heritage.

“It’s that legacy we want to honor as we open our 8th Annual Festival and Conference,” says AMA Executive Director Jed Hilly. “I can’t think of a better place to recognize Porter than the Tennessee State’s Museum’s breathtaking exhibit, “Sparkle and Twang,” Marty Stuart’s American Music Odyssey. It’s a visual history lesson on the legacy of folk, country, rock, gospel and Americana music, of which Porter is such a big a part of.”

Buddy Miller

It’s also the organization’s way of inviting Nashville to the party to learn more about Americana Music. The event will assemble some of the city’s finest artist/songwriters and musicians on the Museum stage. The jam is hosted by Jim Lauderdale and will feature Buddy Miller, Rodney Crowell, and other surprise guests. “We hope people will come to the museum and bring their kids with them-in costumes, of course,” says Hilly. “This is an event for all ages, and being Halloween, anything goes.”

Great American Country is a co-sponsor of the party. Also presenting the event is the Nashville Film Festival, Billy Block, Nashville Songwriters Association International and Nashville Lifestyles. Guests will have the opportunity to talk to representatives from these organizations and learn more about them as well.

Slated for Wednesday, October 31, through Saturday, November 3, the Eighth Annual Americana Festival and Conference will offer daily seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Nashville Convention Center. Each evening brings stacked Americana showcases to key venues throughout Nashville. One ticket to the November 1st Americana Honors and Awards show held at the Ryman Auditorium is included in each conference registration packet. The general public may now also purchase tickets for the ceremony through the Ryman and Ticketmaster outlets for $35 each. $30 wristbands granting admission to all evening showcases are also available to non-members of the Association. To learn more about becoming a member of the Americana Music Association, access detailed conference schedules and buy tickets, please visit www.americanamusic.org.

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