The term can refer to a father, a husband, commanding officer, the captain of a ship, an elderly man — or some or all of the above. However you slice it, of all who roam bluegrassland, none have inspired such great songs as old men.

PROGRAM PLAYLIST

• Michael Cleveland: “Old Man and His Fiddle” from Let ‘Er Go Boys(Rounder)
• Emerson & Goble: “Old Man and the Kid” from Webco Classics, Vol. 1(Webco)
• Driven: “The Old Man and Me” from You’ll Be Lonely, I’ll Be Gone(self-released)
• John Herrman: “Old Man Can Your Dog Catch a Rabbit/Protect the Innocent” from Banjo Gathering(self-released)
• Bruce Molsky: “Growling Old Man and Grumbling Old Woman” from If It Ain’t Here When I Get Back(Tree Frog Music)
• Tim Bennett: “Never Let the Old Man In” from The Whistler’s Father Recordings(Sandy Beach)
• The Lonesome River Band: “Listen to the Old Man” from Old Country Town(Doobie Shea)
• Horseshoes & Hand Grenades: “Old Man and Me” from Middle Western(self-released)
• Daniel Crabtree: “What the Old Man Told Me” from In the Shadow of His Wings(Codel)
• Samantha Casey & the Bluegrass Jam: “Old Man’s Ride” from Casey’s Fair(Sweet Acoustic Music)
• Bertram Levy: “Old Man and Old Woman/Butcher’s Row” from That Old Gut Feeling(Flying Fish)
• Leon Kiser & the Holston Mountain Boys: “Move Over Old Man” from Holston Mountain Bluegrass(self-released)
• J.E. Mainer & the Mountaineers: “Get Away Old Man” from Old Time Mountain Music and More Old Time Mountain Music(Rural Rhythm)
• The Allegheny Boys with Gene Elders: “The Old Man’s Going Home” from The Allegheny Boys with Gene Elders(Revonah)
• Bill Clifton & Red Rector: “The Old Man’s Story” from Are You From Dixie(Bear Family)
• Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver: “Old Man Winter” from Roundtable(Billy Blue)
• Leftwich & Higginbotham: “Say Old Man” from Say Old Man(County)