Bluegrass pioneer Bill Harrell died this week at his home in Davidisonville, Md. He had suffered a stroke on June 12 and had returned home after spending a week in the hospital.

Funeral services will be held Monday in Davidsonville. Condolences can be sent to 938 St. George Barber Road, Davidisonville, MD 21035.

Harrell had been a major figure in bluegrass for almost five decades. Like the Country Gentlemen, Buzz Busby, the Bluegrass Champs and Benny & Vallie Cain, he contributed greatly to the growth of bluegrass in the Washington, D.C. area….

Davey Johnson, well known in bluegrass circles in central Illinois and central Florida, died today (Thursday, April 2) in Florida, where he spent the winter months with his wife Dorothy.

Johnson, retired from Caterpillar, Inc., in Peoria, spent a bulk of his retirement years pursuing one of his favorite, lifelong passions: Bluegrass music.

Johnson performed for several years with Bluegrass Purrferred, the Stone County Ramblers and several other Illinois groups….