The 1980s were a big decade for bluegrass. It was the decade when a good portion of today’s bluegrass juggernauts—Alison Krauss and Bela Fleck for example—cut their teeth. Some of the genre’s best-ever performers, like the Nashville Bluegrass Band and Hot Rize, recorded some of their seminal records during this period. Although I still think that the 1990s were bluegrass’s best decade (don’t worry, we’ll get there), the ‘80s were sure a great time to be a bluegrass fan, whether you liked the new stuff or the old stuff. Enjoy this playlist of the best of 1980s bluegrass!

David Chernack
David Chernack is a fiddler, mandolinist, and guitarist from Hyde Park, NY. Trained as a classical violist, David found out about bluegrass music through the Strawberry Hill Fiddlers program and despite his best efforts has been unable to kick the habit. He picked up mandolin and guitar in college in Boston, where he studied environmental science and music. After moving to Denver and performing and touring with several Coloradan bands, he's back in the Hudson Valley. Aside from bluegrass, David also enjoys birdwatching and wrenching on cars.

Latest posts from David Chernack
- Bluegrass 2023 – A David Chernack Playlist - December 7, 2023
- BoozeGrass – A David Chernack Playlist - November 23, 2023
- Bluegrass Songs About Bluegrass – A Playlist - November 9, 2023