20th Annual First Night Raleigh Highlights Traditional Music

Nov. 4, 2010 - PRLog -- Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass perform powerful, unadorned, traditional bluegrass music borne of the vibrant old time southern fiddle bands, as well as the lonesome moans of the backwoods mountain blues. Members of this band are carrying forward their families' music traditions for future generations to enjoy. Danny and his brother Michael, the band's bass player, are Bob Paisley's sons. Bob grew up in Ashe County, N.C. and he formed and fronted the Southern Grass. Even at a young age, Danny and Michael were part of the band, as were T.J. and Bobby Lundy, sons of Ted Lundy. Before the Southern Grass, Ted and Bob co-fronted the Southern Mountain Boys. The band is: Danny Paisley (lead vocals and guitar), T.J. Lundy (fiddle), Bobby Lundy (banjo), Michael Paisley (bass), and Donny Eldreth, Jr. (mandolin). They'll perform four sets on the Traditional Stage as part of First Night Raleigh's 20th Anniversary.

The Southern Grass is a band deeply rooted in tradition. It was formed and fronted first by Bob Paisley, whose principal joy in life was making this music. His mother played guitar, his father clawhammer banjo, and an uncle (Wiley Paisley) and cousin were members of the North Carolina Ridge Runners. In nearby Galax, Virginia, Ted Lundy was likewise immersed in traditional music. Ted and Bob went on to front one of the most respected traditional bluegrass bands in the nation - the Southern Mountain Boys. The descendants of these remarkable men are among the core of musicians whose music you will hear as you ring in 2011!

Danny Paisley was born in Landenberg, Pennsylvania. His father's family moved there from North Carolina seeking employment and an opportunity for a better life. Danny and his brother Michael inherited their love of and talent for this music honestly, and today they are the torchbearers for the traditional bluegrass they loved growing up. Both T. J. and Bobby Lundy mirrored Danny's experience growing up, listening to and playing with their father, one of the great banjo players in bluegrass history.

After Bob Paisley joined the Southern Mountain Boys as lead singer in 1960, his and Ted's sons, still young children, formed their own band, calling themselves the Bluegrass Buddies. That bunch of eager learners foretold the impressive collaboration that was to follow. In 1975 Danny, T. J., and Bobby joined the Southern Mountain Boys alongside their fathers.

In 1979, Bob Paisley left the Southern Mountain Boys to form his own band, the Southern Grass. Danny played guitar and shared lead vocals with his dad. His brother Michael joined on bass. June of 1980 marked Ted Lundy's tragic passing and, in time, both T.J. and Bobby found their way to the Southern Grass. Musical family ties continued to hold, as Don Eldreth Jr. later joined the Southern Grass. His father, acclaimed mandolinist Don Eldreth Sr., had performed for many years with Ted and Bob. The Southern Grass performed nationwide and throughout Canada and Europe, and recorded several albums and CDs for the Brandywine and Strictly Country labels.

Bob Paisley died November 29, 2004. It was obviously a difficult time for Danny, personally and professionally. His father had influenced his life and music and was the man he stood next to on stage for 32 years. After careful thought, Danny and the entire band decided to continue the Paisley and Lundy tradition by not only continuing to perform but by expanding their touring and recording frontiers. As their music and performances proudly reflect, it is proving to be a great way to honor and preserve the memory and music of their families.

As his father did before him, when Danny looks for material, he looks first to the past. Songwriters and performers of classic country music and bluegrass leap out at you on The Room Over Mine, the band's first album on Rounder Records. For example, Marty Robbins ("End of a Long Lonely Day"), Porter Wagoner ("I Thought I Heard You Call My Name" - a song which Bob performed for years as well), Little Jimmy Dickens ("Another Bridge"), and Gene Watson ("Raisin' Cane") are all represented on this album. They also incorporated many Southern Grass and Southern Mountain Boys standards, like "The Room Over Mine" and "Mountain Sally Ann," in addition to the archaic sounding "The Drowning Sailor," which comes from Stan Keach of Maine. This wonderful collection is topped off by a great Chris Stuart song, which, although newly written, could be 70 years old - "Don't Throw Mama's Flowers Away," which won the band an IBMA award in 2009 for Song of the Year.

First Night festivities begin at 2 p.m. with the Children's Celebration, followed by the People's Procession down Fayetteville Street. Evening performances of music, dance, comedy, interactive activities and more are scheduled in two dozen venues throughout downtown Raleigh. The night will wrap up with a countdown to midnight featuring Donna the Buffalo, a band that performers with a foundation in traditional mountain music that incorporates elements of Cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country. Ring in the new year with a night of activities and entertainment suitable for all ages! First Night Raleigh buttons go on sale on Dec. 1. For complete information about First Night, visit http://www.firstnightraleigh.com.

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PineCone—the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music, is a private, nonprofit, charitable membership organization dedicated to preserving, presenting and promoting traditional music, dance and other folk performing arts.