Fans of both bluegrass, classic country and original country rock should check out California-based Sierra Records and the company’s latest release, “Sixties Transition.”

The CD features “rare studio recordings from the archives of noted L.A. producer and the father of the folk-rock sound, Jim Dickson,” according to Sierra’s Web site.

“Sixties Transition” features cuts by the The Byrds, The Dillards, Gosdin Brothers (yes, that would be Vern “The Voice” Gosdin and his late brother, Rex), Dino Valenti, David Crosby, The Hillmen, Hamilton Camp and others.

These are rare recordings from producer Dickson’s audio archives based on the old Together Records LP, “Early L.A.,” according to John Delgatto, Sierra’s founder and owner.CD highlights include the first, never before released recordings of the Sixties peace anthem, “Get Together” by its composer, singer Dino Valenti (later of Quick Silver Messenger Service); and Hamilton Camp & The Byrds with a newly discovered 1965 studio recording of Dylan’s “The Times They Are A Changin.”

Also included is a rare instrumental recording of “Charisma” by David Crosby and jazz musicians Bud Shank and Joe Pass and never before released bluegrass-rock recordings by the original Dillards, who perform “Each Season Changes You,” “Some Day You’ll Find” and “Don’t You Cry.”

Leon Russell and Glenn Campbell team up on “Jamaica Farewell” and “Stewball” while the Gosdin Brothers cut features “To Ramona.”

Sierra has also restocked what it calls an “extremely limited quantity” of “Gene Parsons — The Kindling Collection,” which features Clarence White. Sierra also has new additions to what it calls its “Collector’s Corner” of country rock and folk rock classics. Those new additions were acquired at auction when the defunct Tower Records inventory was sold.

Delgatto has quite a history with his Sierra Records label. Some of that history plainly shows on the label’s Web site with final sales of audio casettes and vinyl albums.

Sierra Records’ Web site has been in operation for more than three years.

“But it all began in 1969, while I was hosting a regular bluegrass radio show in Los Angeles, I recorded and produced my first record album, a local banjo and fiddle contest, which included such artists as Doug Dillard, Byron Berline, David Lindley and others,” the label founder says on the Web site. “Though only less than a hundred copies were made and sold, it began a long journey that continues today. Yes, the company is approaching it’s 37th anniversary of a dream.”

Delgatto said his dream was originally nourished by encouragement from Doc Watson, Clarence White and Gram Parsons. Since starting the mail order business, his customer list includes several music celebs, including Keith Richards, Stuart Duncan and Jerry Garcia.

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David Grier

Acoustic guitarists from throughout the Midwest are expected to converge on the banks of the Mississippi River March 7-9 for St. Louis Flatpick, a three-day workshop augmented by concerts.Clay Hess and David Grier will lead the workshops and be featured in live performances.

The event will be held at the Crown Plaza Airport Hotel in Bridgeton, Mo., which is in the St. Louis metro area.

Details, including registration information, are available at www.stlflatpick.com. Registration can also be made by sending a check or money order to:

St. Louis Flatpick
P.O. Box 2024
Florissant, MO 63032

Registration prices are $275 for all weekend, $150 for 1 day only (please note which day you want to attend) or $10 for each concert ticket needed. Registrants should take note that two concert tickets are included with each weekend registration, and one ticket included for a single day registration.

Questions can be directed to 314-831-6406.

Clay Hess is recognized as one of the premier flat-pick guitarists in bluegrass music. He was 9 when he first heard live bluegrass at the Lake Snowden Bluegrass Festival in Albany, Ohio. His parents and his older brother played traditional country music, so he originally began learning classic country. Clay credits his older brother as a big influence on his desire to play guitar, though his brother stopped playing around the time Clay started.

His first professional gig came 12years later at Dollywood theme park where he spent the summer performing with the group True Blue. In July of ‘92 Hess left Dollywood to return to Ohio. He was working in construction when Ricky Skaggs called and asked him to fill the guitar slot for Kentucky Thunder.

He spent the next three years performing with Kentucky Thunder. While Hess was part of the band, the International Bluegrass Music Association selected Kentucky Thunder its Instrumental Band of the Year Award for both 1999 and 2000. Hess was also awarded a Grammy for his participation in “Soldier of the Cross” by Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder.

Though hess largely considers himself a bluegrass player, his influences range outside of bluegrass and include players such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Charlie Parker and Leon Rhodes.

A recent milestone in his career has been the creation of the Clay Hess D-18 signature model guitar by CF Martin.

David Grier is one of the most award-winning guitarists in recent memory. For the past several years, he has been voted by the members of the IBMA as Guitar Player of the Year. He has also appeared on two Grammy- winning recordings: “True Life Blues-A Tribute to Bill Monroe” and “The Great Dobro Sessions.” Greer is also included in the book, “1,000 Great Guitarists.” His inspiration to learn guitar came from exposure to Bill Monroe while his father, Lamar Grier, played banjo for the Blue Grass Boys in the middle 1960s.

Grier’s first solo recording “Freewheeling” appeared on Rounder Records, as did his acclaimed 1991 duet project “Climbing the Walls” with mandolinist Mike Compton. His “Lone Soldier” project is listed in Acoustic Guitar Magazine’s “100 Essential Acoustic Guitar Recordings of All Time.” His most recent solo release is “I’ve Got the House to Myself.” His work is also captured on a Homespun video called “Building Powerful Solos.”

In addition to touring solo, Grier also appears as the guitarist for Psychograss, who are currently celebrating a critically acclaimed new album, “Now Hear This”.

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