Curtis McPeake, Banjo Legend, Passes at 93
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Curtis McPeake, banjo legend, Swift River Music Artist, and Andy’s good friend, duo partner, and pickin’ buddy for 25 years. He was 93. ⇨ Read more
“The Bluegrass Situation” on Curtis McPeake and “Leather Britches” (McPeake & May, “The Good Things”)
…The fact that [Curtis] McPeake has been named a recipient of one of 2018’s Distinguished Achievement Awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association should come as no surprise. But, McPeake will not be accepting the award from retirement: Earlier this year [McPeake] and his collaborator, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Andy May, released a full-length album, The Good Things (Outweigh the Bad). On its final track, “Leather Britches,” you can hear that same timelessness in McPeake’s duet with Nashville stalwart fiddler Aubrey Haynie. They kick the tune with fiddle and banjo only, showcasing that classic pre-bluegrass format, Haynie fiddling fantastically far and wide while McPeake holds it all together with his three-finger roll, seventy years in the making. ⇨ Read more
Curtis McPeake honored by IBMA with Distinguished Achievement Award
“Curtis McPeake: In recognition of his lifetime of contributions to bluegrass as one of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys, a stand-in for Earl Scruggs at Flatt & Scruggs shows, as a member of the Opry’s staff band, and as a Nashville session player, among his many accomplishments.” — IBMA ⇨ Read more
Bluegrass Unlimited on McPeake & May – “The Good Things”
Together, McPeake and May have collaborated to present their versions of songs and arrangements they both love, … recorded … just two months before McPeake’s 90th birthday. (Well done fellows!) Aubrey Haynie adds fiddle work and Tim Dishman is on bass and harmony vocals. As the CD jacket indicates: “Heckuva good time!”
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KBUT Music Director’s Pick: McPeake & May, “The Good Things”
“Legendary musicianship on traditional favorites.” ⇨ Read more
Bob Piekiel on McPeake & May, “The Good Things”
The CD is done entirely with a four-piece band–Curtis on banjo, Andy May on guitar & vocals, Aubrey Haynie on fiddle, and Tim Dishman on bass. The result is a performance with lots of refreshing “breathing space” in each song, with each instrument tastefully placed in the context of the whole selection…. It’s one of those albums you can listen to over and over and hear something a little different each time. Old or young, veteran or novice, all will enjoy this treasure.
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Curtis McPeake: Banjo Newsletter Cover Story
Curtis McPeake is on the cover of the May issue of Banjo Newsletter and the feature story is a lovely in-depth interview of Curtis conducted by Robert Piekiel. You can watch the interview on YouTube.
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Marc Pruett on McPeake & May, “The Good Things (Outweigh the Bad)”
…Through his recordings and many personal appearances with The Nashville Brass, Lester Flatt, and other top acts, Curtis carved a revered place for himself in the history of the music we love… Congratulations Curtis! You are making your banjo-buddies proud once again!
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“Woman in the Wings” – 8 weeks in Top 10 on the Roots Music Report Americana Country Song Chart
Americana and Country Music radio stations across the nation are continuing to play Room for Roots as we head into 2017. “Woman in the Wings” spent 2 weeks at #2 and 8 weeks in the top 10 on Roots Music Report’s Americana Country Song Chart and reached #16 on their overall Country Song Chart. Another original song, “Life’s a Gig,” reached #24 on the IndieWorld Country Chart. ⇨ Read more
Photos: “Room for Roots” Release Party at the Station Inn
Gary McMahan: “Room for Roots” by Andy May
I love [Room for Roots]! Well written. Well sung. Solid heartfelt songs. Well played and well produced! ⇨ Read more
David Sokol, WRSI: “Room for Roots” by Andy May
There are plenty of fine songs on 2016’s “Room for Roots,” and “Haggard and the Queen” feels like a natural for our Sokol Heroes radio show on WRSI, focusing on artists with roots and connections to Western MA. It’s catchy, heartfelt, and tells an engaging true story…. ⇨ Read more
Jamsphere: “Room for Roots” by Andy May
I’ve been waiting a long time for this album, it was worth the wait. …[T]here are few other songwriters who get small town and real American life than Andy May. “Room for Roots” is one of his best examples of that skill. …You can feel the salt of life in his songs. The album has the great acoustic simplicity for most of the songs that just lets Andy’s soul shine through.
Andy seems to write of only real life; if not life lived by himself, then life that is carefully observed and empathized with until a true story emerges. ⇨ Read more
Andy seems to write of only real life; if not life lived by himself, then life that is carefully observed and empathized with until a true story emerges. ⇨ Read more
Band Camp Diaries: “Room for Roots” by Andy May
Room For Roots immediately strikes for Andy’s gripping vocal performances: his voice sounds wise and seasoned, yet youthful and energetic, creating a beautiful dualism. I immediately feel like I am sitting in a room listening to the amazing stories of an old friend who jut came back to town after traveling the world and collecting incredible tales of people, places, songs and ideas – and he tells the stories so well you almost feel as if you were there. ⇨ Read more