Dave Higgs

It’s a name that’s been around since the middle ages, meaning worthy of love and often symbolizing steadfast friendship and loyalty. Surfacing in the U.S. around 1880, this common variant of the name Amanda made the Top 10 in baby names 6 times, hitting its peak in 1969 and was 2nd only to Jennifer as […]

Latin in origin, meaning “worthy of love” or “deserving to be loved,” the name first appeared in 1212 in a birth record from Warwickshire, England, but it wasn’t until the 17th century that the name hit its stride, thanks to its use by poets and playwrights. Its heyday in the U.S. was between 1976 and […]

Few things in life conquer the coronavirus blues faster than the appearance of new bluegrass CD’s and we’ll unleashing a torrent of them from the likes of the Dillards, Jerry Salley, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, Alecia Nugent, the Wildmans, Lindley Creek and Tacie and the Sunshine Band.

We’ll be catapulting back to 1980 when, in September of that year: The rock group Yes performs its last concert; the television shows “Taxi” and “Lou Grant” win Emmy awards; John Lennon & Yoko Ono sign with Geffen Records; and Butch Robins, Tony Rice, Peter Rowan and the Roustabouts unleash some serious high, blue and […]

It’s the natural number following fourteen and preceding sixteen; the atomic number of phosphorus; number of minutes in a quarter of football; the drinking age in Ethiopia; the name of a Taylor Swift song; the number of promises in the Book of Matthew; and the subject matter of some superlative bluegrass songs. Grandpa Jones; Sutton, […]

Although they originated in China, willows have become an important part of BluegrassLand’s landscape and lore. In some places, the tree is considered to be sinister, capable of uprooting itself and stalking travelers. Willow branches are placed above doors to keep evil spirits and witches away. It’s bad luck to burn willow wood. Striking children […]

They’re iconic tall deciduous trees with a spread of graceful arching branches that sway in the wind. They have mystical, magical and mythic powers that mesmerize all of BluegrassLand where they often symbolize grief, sorrow and mourning. With those attributes, it’s no wonder they’re probably the genre’s most sung about tree. Together with Mac Wiseman, […]

It’s a phrase that’s larger than life—a state of being that encapsulates all that’s good, righteous and real in BluegrassLand. It’s about enjoying an unsophisticated, simple, wholesome and usually rural existence. With the salt-of-the-earth help of Gary Brewer, Norman Blake, Robin & LInda Williams and Buck White, we’ll be celebrating down home girls, down home […]

We’ll jaunting back to 1980 when, in August of that year: Hurricane Allen hits Brownsville, TX; George Brett raises his batting average to .401; Jimmy Carter & Walter Mondale receive the Democratic nomination; a two month old Australian girl named Azaria Chamberlain disappears giving rise to the biggest murder trial in Australian history; and the […]

It’s that nasty reddish to yellowish-brown flaky coating of iron oxide that appears on iron or steel by oxidation caused by moisture. It’s a condition that runs rampant in BluegrassLand, conjuring up images of faded glory, neglect, decay and utter ruin. It oozes lonesomeness and despair which makes it tailor-made for bluegrassical applications. With the […]