In the early 1990s, the Gillis Brothers, Larry and John, fronted a band which created quite a stir in the bluegrass music community. Their music was not really bluegrass, nor was it “old time.â€
The best way I could describe it would be to call it “Southern Appalachian Mountain Music,†along the lines of what Carter and Ralph Stanley did. As a matter of fact, I heard more than a few people comment that the Gillis Brothers were “more Stanley Brothers than the Stanley Brothers.†I’m not sure about that, but I can attest to the fact that their band could get an audience excited to a level which I have rarely witnessed with other acoustic string bands - bluegrass, old time or mountain music.
The makeup of the band had so many strong elements, all rolled into one structure: Larry’s unique banjo style and strong cross-picking on the guitar (John Shuffler style), John’s great rhythm and lead guitar playing, both John’s and Larry’s lead singing and their powerful brother duet harmony, Owen Saunders’ lonesome and understated fiddling, and Andy Dye’s solid bass
playing holding everything together.
This compilation consists of 19 of the 42 cuts appearing on the three Gillis Brothers albums released by Hay Holler in 1992-1993. All three albums are still in print, in CD format only, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future
Kerry Hay
Hay Holler Records
June 2004.
Check out the artist's website:
http://hayholler.com
Track List:
1. Down By The River
2. Peace Bells In Glory
3. A Lonesome Night
4. Wake The Town
5. Wild Turkey
6. Keeper Of The Door
7. Ice Cold Stone
8. Sunshine In The Shadows
9. Ohoopee
10. Single Girl
11. The Lonesome Traveler
12. The Memory Of Your Smile
13. The Angels Are Singing (In Heaven Tonight)
14. Rock Bottom
15. Nobody Came
16. Life Beyond Death
17. Harbor Of Love
18. Mother's Last Years
19. The Promise
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
The best way I could describe it would be to call it “Southern Appalachian Mountain Music,†along the lines of what Carter and Ralph Stanley did. As a matter of fact, I heard more than a few people comment that the Gillis Brothers were “more Stanley Brothers than the Stanley Brothers.†I’m not sure about that, but I can attest to the fact that their band could get an audience excited to a level which I have rarely witnessed with other acoustic string bands - bluegrass, old time or mountain music.
The makeup of the band had so many strong elements, all rolled into one structure: Larry’s unique banjo style and strong cross-picking on the guitar (John Shuffler style), John’s great rhythm and lead guitar playing, both John’s and Larry’s lead singing and their powerful brother duet harmony, Owen Saunders’ lonesome and understated fiddling, and Andy Dye’s solid bass
playing holding everything together.
This compilation consists of 19 of the 42 cuts appearing on the three Gillis Brothers albums released by Hay Holler in 1992-1993. All three albums are still in print, in CD format only, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future
Kerry Hay
Hay Holler Records
June 2004.
Check out the artist's website:
http://hayholler.com
Track List:
1. Down By The River
2. Peace Bells In Glory
3. A Lonesome Night
4. Wake The Town
5. Wild Turkey
6. Keeper Of The Door
7. Ice Cold Stone
8. Sunshine In The Shadows
9. Ohoopee
10. Single Girl
11. The Lonesome Traveler
12. The Memory Of Your Smile
13. The Angels Are Singing (In Heaven Tonight)
14. Rock Bottom
15. Nobody Came
16. Life Beyond Death
17. Harbor Of Love
18. Mother's Last Years
19. The Promise
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- COUNTRY: Bluegrass
- COUNTRY: Country Folk
- SOLO INSTRUMENTAL