Rattlesnake Fangs, Fiddles & Folklore

People have always had a strange fascination with rattlesnakes. As one of America’s most poisonous snakes, they are both feared and hated, and yet their rattles are prized for their mythical and magical properties.

 While doing research for this article, … Read More

Cowboys in Bluegrass Music?

As a kid, I desperately wanted to be a cowboy. I dreamed of owning a horse, riding the range, and doing what cowboys did. And why wouldn’t I? Every night I slept under a cowboy blanket and my lunch box … Read More

Bonaparte’s Retreat

Unlike most old-time fiddle tunes that are commonly played for dances, “Bonaparte’s Retreat” is a showpiece made just for listening. It is normally played at a slow march tempo that suggests an army in retreat. One tale about the origin … Read More

When You See Those Flying Saucers

While perusing the local newspaper recently, an article caught my eye, big time. The headline read “Extraterrestrial Ground Zero.” Whoa Nelly! I had to read about this. It turns out that the town of Capilla Del Monte in Argentina (population … Read More

Fox On The Run

The Country Gentlemen  In the early 1970s “Fox on the Run” was among the most requested bluegrass songs. Along with “Rocky Top,” a bluegrass band could scarcely play a show without fans yelling for “Rocky Top” or “Fox on the … Read More

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