Buddy Merriam

Buddy Merriam, a self-described Bill Monroe “friend and disciple” has issued a new CD, “Buddy Merriam-Back Roads Mandolin,” which features 14 of his original tunes.

Merriam, who became well acquainted with Monroe, serves up bluegrass, waltzes, gypsy jazz and some contemporary interpretations of his original style on the CD. It also includes the tune “Baldassari,” Merriam’s personal tribute to the late mandolinist Butch Baldassari, who died earlier this year.

This is his sixth CD on the Lily Pads Records label. In addition, Merriam has published a book of 30 original mandolin tunes and also hosts the weekly Blue Grass Time radio show on WUSB 90.1 FM in Stony Brook, N.Y.

“Buddy sought out and had many encounters will Bill Monroe, studying his music and learning directly from the master,” bluegrass bandleader Greg Cahill writes in the liner notes to the new CD. “These experiences are the essence of the music on this recording …”

Cahill also tells a unique story about Merriam. “Perhaps the turning point in his life,” Cahill writes about Merriam, “came when he was literally struck by lightning the day he met Bill Monroe at the first Berkshire Mountains Bluegrass Festival in 1976.”

Cahill relates that Merriam was hospitalized with burns and a temporary hearing loss. He eventually left the hospital and began pursing his dream of playing bluegrass music.

Merriam, who lives in New York State, is also celebrating the approaching 30th anniversary year in 2010 of his band, Back Roads. He’s performed with the group on the Grand Ole Opry and at several notable festivals in the Northeast, including Grey Fox and Podunk.

The band has also toured Ireland.

In celebration of the new CD, which was released in October, Merriam and Back Roads are performing a special show at the Eastport, N.Y., American Legion on Nov. 20. Merriam says the band will be playing songs off the new CD and will be previewing some new songs that will be added the 2010 set lists.