Music Article Archives
Get In Union: Bessie Jones with the Sea Island Singers: 1959-1966
Get In Union: Bessie Jones with the Sea Island Singers and Others: Alan Lomax Recordings 1959-1966 Tompkins Square By James Calemine Alan Lomax once declared the Golden Isles of Georgia home of the American song. Get In Union: Bessie Jones read more...
Deep Water And Blue Souls: Roger Pinckney's Blow The Man Down
Deep Water And Blue Souls Roger Pinckney's Blow The Man Down By James Calemine "Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely read more...
Rich Robinson's Ceaseless Sight
Rich Robinson's Ceaseless Sight The End Records By James Calemine read more...
Cheyenne Mize: Shades of Blue & Grey
Cheyenne Mize: Shades of Blue & Grey By James Calemine "If I could think of a way to do it right now, I'd head back to Louisville, sit on the porch drinking beer, drive around Cherokee Park for a few nights, and try to sink back read more...
The Bloom of Underhill Rose
By James Calemine "I've been told I've got a restless soul How much dirt do I need to dig through Before I hit the gold I tried to be read more...
Bloodkin's One Long Hustle
By James Calemine CLICK ON LINKS WITH
The James Ponsoldt Interview: From North Georgia Red Clay To the Hills of Hollywood
The James Ponsoldt Interview: From North Georgia Red Clay To the Hills of Hollywood By James Calemine Film maker James Ponsoldt was born in read more...
Stranger In Paradise: The Works of Howard Finster
Stranger In Paradise: The Works of Reverend Howard Finster By James Calemine "For nation will rise read more...
New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music
New Horizons By James Calemine "I'm gonna sail like A ship on the ocean..." --The Georgia Sea island read more...
The Shoals Area Heats Up for the 31st Annual W. C. Handy Music Festival
It's almost that time again when the hills of North Alabama are alive with the sound of music. The 31st annual W. C. Handy Music Festival, which runs July read more...
Luther Dickinson: A Thousand Footprints in the Sand
By James Calemine Luther read more...
Games People Play: Atlanta Songwriter Joe South
Games People Play: Atlanta Songwriter Joe South By James Calemine Joe South's songs remain timeless. To me, he always epitomized the story of a living legend that no one can seem to find. He's out there somewhere, but no one has heard from him read more...
Levon Helm: Across The Great Divide
Levon Helm: Across The Great Divide To me, Levon Helm's voice captured the authentic roots of America's south. Born in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas, Helm grew up on Sonny Boy Williamson, traveled with
The Neal Casal Interview: Sweeten The Distance
The 2012 Neal Casal Interview: Sweeten The Distance By James Calemine Neal Casal stands as a musical journeyman. He just released his 10th solo album titled Sweeten The read more...
Swampland's Top 25 Albums of 2011
As March fades and the first quarter of 2012 comes to a close, Swampland has used this moment to look back on 2011 putting together our list of last year's best music releases from the South. Although we've named 25 records on our Top 25 Albums of 2011, each one serves as read more...
American Roots Music: "The Jefferson County Sound: Alabama's Black Gospel Quartets"
The new documentary film, "The Jefferson County Sound: Alabama's Black Gospel Quartets," (One State Films, Stone Ridge, NY, 2012) is a tribute to and an affectionate preservation of roots music, in particular black gospel a capella quartet music. The read more...
Walking with Zambi: The Colonel Bruce Hampton Interview
Walking with Zambi: The Colonel Bruce Hampton Interview By James Calemine "I do not come to you as a reality. I come to you as read more...
A Georgia Son in the Big Apple: The Brit Whittle Interview
A Georgia Son in the Big Apple The Brit Whittle Interview By James Calemine Acting is a rough trade. Few attain moments on the silver screen. The streets of Hollywood and New York are paved with bones of dead aspirant thespians. Georgia read more...
Through A Crooked Sun: The Rich Robinson Interview
Through A Crooked Sun The Rich Robinson Interview By James Calemine read more...
Michelle Malone Works It Out
Michelle Malone Works It Out By Jerry Grillo Watch Michelle Malone on stage, feel the rhythmic wave wash over the crowd, the tangible electric surge of rock and badass blues and sensual, sweaty soul, and it’s difficult to read more...
The Grayson Capps Interview: The Zen of Grayson Capps
The Zen of Grayson Capps By James Calemine From wonder into wonder existence opens. Lao Tzu Grayson Capps was driving somewhere on Alabama's Gulf Coast when I called him last Thursday. The following day, he began to tour in read more...
Going Up The Country: The Sixth Annual Sautee Jamboree
Going Up the Country: It’s Music for the Little Masses as the Sixth Annual Sautee Jamboree Rocks the Hhillsides By Jerry Grillo “I’m gonna leave this city, got to get away; All this fussing and fighting, read more...
Jimmy Hall: Still Smiling, With Plenty of Horsepower
Jimmy Hall Still Smiling, With Plenty of Horsepower By Jerry Grillo Jimmy Hall might write a book some day, and the whole thing will be about that one song, the one that got read more...
Essence of Light: The Adam Smith Interview
Essence of Light The Adam Smith Interview By James Calemine Born in Macon, Georgia, in 1975, Adam Smith's photography transcends his age. Smith attended college read more...
My Year of Scary Movies: (Part 5): Psycho
My Year Of Scary Movies by Daniel Hutchens Part 5: Psycho (1960) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock Starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh
Making Merry in the Marigny: FMIA Tour of Homes, New Orleans
Visitors to New Orleans who think the city is defined by the French Quarter and the Garden District are in for a delightful surprise when they wander past Esplanade and across Elysian Fields into the fabulous Faubourg Marigny. Popularly known as the
The Secret To A Happy Ending
The Secret To A Happy Ending A Barr Weissmann Documentary (ATO Records) By James Calemine "The secret to a happy read more...
My Year of Scary Movies: (Part 3): Nite Owl Theatre
MY YEAR OF SCARY MOVIES by Daniel Hutchens Part 3: Nite Owl Theatre “Greetings, Good Groovers.” As a kid I would sometimes visit my older sister Sandi in the summertime. She lived in Athens, Ohio, and one of read more...
Mark Neill Interview: The Sheet Iron Roof Chronicles
The Mark Neill Interview Sheet Iron Roof Chronicles Volume 1 By James Calemine Raised in South Georgia, Mark Neill exists as one of this generations pre-imminent producer/sound engineers. He grew up in Hahira, Georgia. He lived on a read more...
My Year of Scary Movies (Part 1): Bats On My Birthday Cake
MY YEAR OF SCARY MOVIES by Daniel Hutchens Part 1: Bats On My Birthday Cake When I turned six years old, my birthday cake was decorated with bats. Not bats of the baseball variety, but bats with wings. As in vampire bats, as in read more...
Everyone Wants To Go to Heaven, But No One Wants To Die: The Marc Ford 'Fuzz Machine' Interview
Marc Ford’s Fuzz Machine Interview (Everyone Wants To Go To Heaven, But No One Wants To Die) By James Calemine
Rock and Roll in the Rocket City: Rocking The Army
by Jane DeNeefe First among Alabama cities to integrate public facilities relatively peacefully, Huntsville could thank musicians and read more...
Rock and Roll in the Rocket City Part 2: Rock and Roll Boomtown
by Jane DeNeefe Last month in
The Riley Watkins Interview
The Riley Watkins Interview By James Calemine Alabama-born, songwriter/guitarist Riley Watkins epitomizes an obscure talent. Watkins wrote songs and performed his own blend of rock, country and blues all over America for decades. Watkins performed in various bands read more...
The Roots of Rock and Roll in the Rocket City by Jane DeNeefe
Huntsville's rock and roll scene got its start in a racially segregated world. Black and white neighborhoods and business districts coexisted side-by-side downtown, with separate record stores, churches and night clubs. When Sun Record tours came through read more...
Sage & Spirit From Widespread Panic’s John Bell…25 Years of Music & Musings...
Sage & Spirit From Widespread Panic’s John Bell…25 Years of Music & Musings (PART ONE) By James read more...
Rock and Roll Mommy
Rock and Roll Mommy by Shannon McNally I didn’t recognize the first signs of being pregnant. I mistook them for extreme road weariness. I was in the studio in Lafayette making a record with Mac Rebennack, (also known as
Young Man With A Horn: Ken Watters, Jazz Trumpeter Extraordinaire
"Ken Watters is one of the finest young trumpet players to come along in a very long while. His is a unique trumpet voice that utilizes the read more...
Widespread Panic's Michael Houser: Eight Years Gone
Michael Houser: The Quiet Genius: Eight Years Gone By James Calemine Eight years ago Widespread Panic’s founding guitarist died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 40. It doesn’t seem like eight years since he’s been read more...
The GRITZ Stone Ground & Southern Compilation Home Page
Welcome to the official information page for the GRITZ Stone Ground and Southern Music Compilation Series. We hope you will enjoy these free downloads, visit the band websites and order their albums. Please be sure to give us your read more...
Bill Kirchen – Twangin’ His Way To The Top
By J.C. Juanis Bill Kirchen, known as the “King of the Dieselbilly” when it comes to playing his trademark Fender Telecaster guitar,
The Heart of Molly Hatchet: An Interview with Bobby Ingram
by Michael Buffalo Smith
The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 24, Jam 4 George 2007, The Lost Pictures
We recently ran across a whole new batch of photos from the 2007 Jam 4 George (McCorkle) in Spartanburg, SC, Visit our original story and photos
Barry Lee Harwood 2010
By Michael Buffalo Smith Editors Note: Be sure to download our FREE GRITZ Sampler CD for June that includes a track from Barry Lee Harwood as well as a track from Mainstream South!
Chuck Glass Interview: The Outlaws
Hank Hart heads up a fan page on Facebook for The Outlaws. He kindly offered us a recent interview he conducted with former Outlaws member Chuck Glass. Bear in mind that this read more...
Promise To Thomas Benefit Rocked
by Dewayne Fields The Promise To Thomas benefit show took place on May 9th in Castle Hayne, N.C. The event benefited Thomas King, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ryan King. Ryan is frontman and singer of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band Tuesday's read more...
True To My Nature: Daniel Hutchens Talks About Songwriting with Widespread Panic
True To My Nature: Daniel Hutchens Talks About Songwriting with Widespread Panic By James Calemine Widespread Panic always promoted the music of Daniel Hutchens and Bloodkin. Over the years they’ve rendered nearly a dozen read more...
Truth And Salvage Company: From the Hills of Carolina To the Hills of California
Truth and Salvage Company: From the Hills of Carolina To The Hills of California By James Calemine The rare collection of songwriters in Truth And Salvage Company originate from Atlanta, New Orleans, Tupelo and Ohio, met in Asheville, North Carolina, read more...
The George Dawes Green Interview: A Storyteller's Storyteller...
The George Dawes Green Interview: A Storyteller's Storyteller... By James Calemine "Necessity is the mother of several other things besides invention."
The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook, Part Twenty-Five; Ronnie Van Zant
RONNIE VAN ZANT FOREVER! A Scrapbook
The Sudy Leavy Interview: Timeless Stories And Relics from the Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation
Sudy Leavy Interview Timeless Stories And Relics from the Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation By James Calemine Sudy Vance Leavy’s book Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation presents a timeless historical glimpse into life on a coastal read more...
"Ain't No City Like New Orleans"--New Orleans Journal Episode One
April in Paris? How about April in one of the most incredible cities in the world--a city rich with history, redolent with aromas of exotic cuisine, and resounding with jazz-- New Orleans, Louisiana. New read more...
GRITZFEST II Photo Retrospective
Photos from GRITZFEST II, The Haiti Relief Concert at Crossroads Music Hall, Huntsville, Alabama; February 26, 2010 Photos by Michael Buffa;o Smith except where noted
Six Degrees of Swampland: Drive-By Truckers
The Six Degrees of Swampland: The Drive By Truckers serves as a compendium of all DBT-related read more...
Soulful Sounds From A Delta Lady: The Shannon McNally Interview
Soulful Sounds From A Delta Lady The Shannon McNally Interview by James Calemine Born in read more...
UA Press Releases Alabama's Civil RIghts Trail: An Illustrated Guide
This amazing 350 page volume, Alabama's Civil Rights Trail: An Illustrated Guide to the Cradle of Freedom, is every person's guide to the last 150 years of the civil read more...
The Wes Freed Interview
The Wes Freed Interview by James Calemine Rock and Roll artwork weaves an interesting tapestry into the patchwork read more...
Luther Dickinson Interview: It's A Family Affair
Luther Dickinson Interview It's A Family Affair by James Calemine The Dickinson Family ranks as one of the most read more...
Athens Georgia's Finest: Patterson Hood's 2010 Guitar Pull
Athens Georgia's Finest: Patterson Hood’s 2010 Guitar Pull By James Calemine A cold wind swirled down the streets of Athens, Georgia, on the evening of February 24. Wednesday night’s Guitar Pull was hosted by read more...
The February 2010 Patterson Hood Interview
Patterson Hood Interview February 2010 By James Calemine On the eve of his annual read more...
The Mary Lindsay Dickinson Interview
The Mary Lindsay Dickinson Interview "Bless your soul Bless your soul When your time has come Youre just dead, not read more...
Six Degrees of Swampland: The Dickinson Family
Jim Dickinson--The High Priest of Memphis Mojo--shines like a beacon of light in the music world. Dickinson’s indelible read more...
Lance Ledbetter Interview: The Divine Grace of Dust To Digital
Lance Ledbetter Interview Dust To Digital’s Divine Grace By James Calemine The story of Dust To Digital is a divine one. In the read more...
Bloodkin Sails with Lynyrd Skynyrd
BLOODKIN SAILS WITH LYNYRD SKYNYRD By Daniel Hutchens Back on January 14,
Swampdawamp's Gig Michaels
by Michael Buffalo Smith One of the absolute hottest and fastest rising Southern Rock bands of today hails from Charlotte, NC and go by the name Swampdawamp. The band are true pros, and have built a huge grass roots following. So huge, as a matter of fact, that their read more...
The Todd Nance Interview Series: Volume 2
Todd Nance Interview Series: Volume 2 December 29, 2009 By James Calemine So, at the end of 2009 read more...
Remembering Capricorn's Frank Fenter: The Push To Get Him Into The Georgia Music Hall of Fame
by Michael Buffalo Smith Frank Fenter is truly an unsung hero of the music world, especially in the world of Southern Rock. Today there is a movement afoot set into motion by Fenter’s step[son Robin to get Fenter into The Georgia Music Hall of Fame. His work read more...
The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 23, The 2010 Simple Man Cruise
January 21-25, 2010 Photos by Tom Bell
Memories of Vic Chesnutt By Daniel Hutchens
LISTENING TO A LOT OF LITTLE: MEMORIES OF VIC CHESNUTT By Daniel Hutchens
James Gurley – Janis Joplin’s Guitarist 1939-2009
By: J.C. Juanis James Gurley, the fiery guitarist from Big Brother & the Holding Company, the band that helped propel singer Janis Joplin to international prominence, passed away at his Palm Desert home on December 20th, 2009.
Bloodkin Gears Up For Christmas, The Shining And A Long Hustle
Bloodkin Gears Up For Christmas, The Shining And A Long Hustle By Daniel Hutchens
The Big House - America's Finest new Rock'n'Roll Museum
by John Charles Griffin Macon Music Ambassador The much anticipated Allman Brothers Band Big House Museum in Macon, read more...
The John Keane Interview
The John Keane Interview By James Calemine John Keane stands as a pillar in the Athens, Georgia, musical community. read more...
The Who Tragedy in Ohio: A First Hand Rememberance
My First Hand Remembrances of the Who Concert Tragedy 30 Years Ago Today By Derek Halsey It is hard to believe that it has been 30 years since the tragedy of The Who concert in Cincinnati on December 3rd, 1979. On that tragic night 11 read more...
Capricorn Records - A Tribute
Swampland's Tribute To Capricorn Records When Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records gave Phil Walden and Frank Fenter the read more...
Lisa Love's Soulful Mission for The Georgia Music Hall of Fame
Lisa Love’s Mission To Preserve The Georgia Music Hall of Fame By James Calemine My old friend
Johnny Mercer: A Georgia Peach of a Songwriter
by Billy C. Farlow Elk River November 2009 Johnny Mercer is not your usual Southern music icon. In the genre of down-home music greats most life stories are all too read more...
November 2009 Chuck Leavell Interview
Mystery And Manners' November 2009 Chuck Leavell Interview
On The Record with The Georgia Theatre's Wilmot Greene
Wilmot Greene Interview 2009 Around 7 am on June 19, 2009, the venerable Athens, Georgia, music hall—The Georgia Theatre—burned down. Theatre owner, Wilmot Greene finds himself in the difficult position of building back the classic music read more...
Chuck Leavell Fall 08 Interview (Part One)
The Chuck Leavell Interview Fall 08 (Part One) "The cultivation of trees is the cultivation of the good, the beautiful and the read more...
The 25 Best Songs: The Atlanta Rhythm Section
The genesis of ARS began with The Candymen, a group that backed up Roy Orbison. Later, some of the members formed The Classics IV and charted with the classic “Spooky.” ARS were all accomplished studio musicians, and when they all came together in their home read more...
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Six Degrees of Swampland
The 2009 Allman Brothers Band Beacon Run in Review
Swampland Reviews The Entire 2009 Beacon Run Be Sure read more...
Devon Allman: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith Devon Allman is bearing his soul at last. After years of running from his heritage, he is happy and healthy and proud to be the son of Southern Rock legend Gregg Allman. It might not read more...
Jerry Wexler and Muscle Shoals Music
by Dick Cooper On the occasion of the first anniversary of the death of Jerry Wexler it becomes more evident to the extent of his contribution to Muscle Shoals Music. He died August 15, 2008 at his home in Sarasota, FL of congestive heart failure.
Billy C Farlow Talks about Jaybird Coleman and the Blues Harp
by guest writer Billy C. Farlow After my rant about harp blowers not getting enough credit in Ted Gioia's fine book
Folk Music Legend Mike Seeger Dies at 75
The New Lost City Ramblers Last Ever Concert at Clifftop 2009 By Derek Halsey It is the night of July 30th, 2009 at the Appalachian String Band Festival, an annual musical gathering also referred to as simply “Clifftop” held read more...
Widespread Panic's Official 2008 Induction Into Georgia Music Hall of Fame
2008 Widespread Panic Induction Into Georgia Music Hall of Fame By James Calemine (Published in the Official 30th Anniversary Georgia Music Hall of Fame 2008 read more...
Lee Bogan: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith Lee Bogan is one of my favorite songwriters. The hard working Nashville based writer, singer and guitarist has worked with everyone from Joe Diffie to Billy Joe Royal to Dr. read more...
Singer/Songwriter Amanda Martin: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith I first met Amanda Martin when we did a gig together at The High Lonesome Saloon in Rome, Georgia. I was immediately read more...
Cody Dickinson Makes A Move
The Cody Dickinson Interview Cody Dickinson’s latest band, The Hill Country Revue, prepare to hit the road behind their new CD
This Country's Rockin'! The Candy Coburn Interview
By Michael Buffalo Smith I met Candy Coburn and her manager in the lobby of the Music Row Best Western in downtown Nashville. The night before I had attended
Walking Through The Fire with Mark Karan
by Sonny Edwards Because live music is what it’s really all about, Jemimah Puddleduck will celebrate the release of Mark Karan’s Walk Through the Fire by playing on David Gans’ Dead to the World show on KPFA on July 1st, 2009, from 8 pm to read more...
The Marshall Tucker Band: Six Degrees of Swampland
Blending their Carolina country roots with r&b and jazz stylings, The Marshall read more...
Macon GABBAFEST Soars to 101 Degrees
Barney Hoskyns' Biography Lowside of the Road: A Life of Tom Waits
Barney Hoskyns’ Biography The Lowside of The Road: A Life of Tom Waits By James Calemine “Take an eye for an read more...
Thunder On The Mountain: Interview with Widespread Panic's Dave Schools
Dave Schools Interview: Thunder On The Mountain By James Calemine "Will power. With strength of will you can do anything. With read more...
Rick Cash of Silver Travis: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith Spartanburg, South Carolina has given us some great music over the years, from jazz great Hank Garland to
Brad "The Animal" Lesley Guest Blog: Baseball & Marshall Tucker
I met Toy Caldwell for the first time at the Walnut Grove Opry House in Spartanburg, SC in the late 70's. Did my first shot/sip of moonshine that night as well - what a shock. I was playing with the Greensboro read more...
The "Widespread Panic Archives" Guide
Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith It's an exciting time to be a Boxmaster. The band has a new double disc CD out called Modbilly and another one ready to roll called Bellflower. They are read more...
The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook
Sometimes, a picture truly is worth a thousand words... Welcome to the GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook. This will be an ongoing, often updated, collection of classic and new Southern Rock photographs, many of which have never before read more...
The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 22, Lynyrd Skynyrd in Concert
Turning Stone Casino, Verona, New York. November 22, 2009
Ean Evans of Lynyrd Skynyrd: A Memorial; Frynds Remember the "Mississippi Kid"
Wayne “Ean” Evans, bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, has died after a hard fought battle with cancer. He was 48. Evans was
The Horace Moore Interview: Gatekeeper of Widespread Panic's Archive
The Horace Moore Interview By James Calemine Gate Keeper of Widespread Panic’s Music Archive
The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 18 Memorials
The following photos feature the final resting places of some true Legends of Southern Rock. The photos come to us courtesy of GRITZ reader Ken Avin. Thank you brother Ken. PART ONE: LYNYRD SKYNYRD
The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 19, Memorials
Memorials, continued. Allman Brothers Band and Marshall Tucker Band. Duane Allman and Berry Oakley read more...
The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 21: The Outlaws
The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 15, 1971, Skynyrd, MTB, EQT
Ronnie Van Zant playing in the park in Jacksonville, 1971.
The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 20, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rossington Collins Band
Mr. Cool, Ronnie Van Zant. Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Dixie Lullaby
An excerpt from DIXIE LULLABY: A Story of Music, Race, and New Beginnings in a New South By Mark Kemp University of Georgia Press
Pete Kowalke of Cowboy: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith Pete Kowalke is one of the founding members of Cowboy, the country rock flavored band who were among the earliest and best of the Southern Rockers to come out read more...
The True Era of Southern Rock 1969-1979
by Michael Buffalo Smith The definitive Southern Rock era began in 1969. In Macon, Georgia. Phil Walden, who had previously been known for his work with r&b acts like read more...
Merlefest 2009 - April 23-26: A Preview, and The Influence of Duane Allman On Newgrass
Gritz interviews James Nash of the Waybacks and New Grass Revival legend John Cowan on being a part of the now infamous Hillside Album Hour ‘Led Zep’ jam at last year’s Merlefest, on what is in store for Merlefest 2009, and how groups like the Allman Brothers read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: Cowboy
Let's Have a Party: Wanda Jackson Still Rocking at 71
by Penne J. Laubenthal When I was young, I did not even know Wanda Jackson by name but there was no mistaking that distinctive voice. She could rock the rafters with
Eric Quincy Tate's Dave Cantonwine: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith Eric Quincy Tate was one of the greatest Southern Rock bands of all time, but they just never got the recognition they so richly deserved. The Texas based band was compared by many to fellow
The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Fourteen
Gregg Allman with The Allman Joys.
The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Twelve
The boys at their finest!
The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Thirteen
Molly Hatchet, 1978
The Top 40 Moments From The Allman Brothers Band's 2009 Beacon Run
The 2009 Beacon Run was one for the books. Never have The Allman Brothers welcomed so many diverse guests onto their stage during a single run. And the results were read more...
The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Eight, Capricorn Days
Frank Fenter, Phil Walden, Dick Wooley and Don Schmitzerly do the Marx Brothers.
The Allman Brothers Band: An Essential Link Through America's Music Generations
by James Calemine “You don’t need no gypsy to tell you why/You can’t let one precious day slip by…” --Gregg read more...
The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Seven
Phil Walden and Frank Fenter lakeside.
The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Eleven
Busted! But Duane kept on smilin!
Mike Mattison: The Gritz Interview
by Derek Halsey As the Derek Trucks Band (DTB) walked out to perform in Cincinnati, Ohio, this past February, there is a chair unexpectedly sitting on the front of the stage. Derek Trucks, the former read more...
The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Six; Capricorn Days
Frank Fenter in his office at Capricorn Records, Macon.
Tom Wynn of Cowboy: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith One of my very favorite bands to come out of the Capricorn Records era was the band called Cowboy, a group that originated a sound that other bands like The Eagles and Poco would later utilize. Scott Boyer, Tommy Talton and the band recorded read more...
Spooner Oldham: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith As a songwriter, Muscle Shoals’ Spooner Oldham wrote or co-wrote (often with Dan Penn) classic songs like “I’m Your Puppet” (James and Bobby Purify); “Cry Like a Baby” (The Box Tops); “A Woman Left read more...
Six Degrees of Swampland: Widespread Panic
The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Nine, Skynyrd, Tucker and more
This series of pictures was sent to us by a reader. They were taken on May 20, 1974 at Santa Monica Civic read more...
It Came from Old Memphis
The Death of Community Activist/Blues Musician Willie King 1943-2009 by Andy Moore In early 2002, I worked a stint at a small, family owned record distributor in Nashville. Nothing too exciting, we had our only sales success with some locally read more...
The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook, Part Three
Lynyrd Skynyrd 1973.
The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook; Part One
Duane Allman having fun backstage.
The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook, Part Two
THE RANTS: Toy Caldwell and George McCorlkle's pre-Toy Factory, pre-Marshall Tucker band. read more...
The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook, Part Five: Cowboy, Capricorn & MTB
The Cowboy House in Cochran, GA. Actually called "The Shedd House" at the time, it was where read more...
The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook, Part Four
Mark Emerick (Commander Cody) jams with Dickey Betts & Great Southern.
Butch Trucks of The Allman Brothers Band: The Gritz Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith There's major excitement in the air surrounding The Allman Brothers Band camp this week. Monday will find them starting out on their read more...
Dennis Linde Memorial Benefit: A Photo Retrospective
PHOTO RETROSPECTIVE "A Night of Burnin' Love" Benefit and Dennis Linde Memorial Nashville, February 9, read more...
My Longstanding Love Affair with Guitar Magazines (by William Tonks)
My Long Standing Love Affair with Guitar Magazines By William Tonks I have been enamored with the guitar since I was about 8 or 9. read more...
The Derek Hess Photo Album: A Swampland Exclusive!
The following collection of phoros come courtesy of Derek Hess. Be sure to read our interview with Derek here.
Rossington Collins Band Drummer Derek Hess: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith February, 2009 Derek Hess is one of the true “unsung heroes” of Southern Rock. He was smack-dab in the middle of the whole Jacksonville scene during the glory days of the seventies, and after the
Mark Kemp: The Gritz Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith I grew up during the turbulent 1960’s and ‘70’s in Spartanburg, South Carolina, waist deep in the music that would become the very soundtrack of my life, while not so secretly dreaming of becoming a rock star. My life was filled read more...
The 25 Best Album Covers of Southern Rock
by Michael Buffalo Smith I am really excited about the recent comeback of vinyl records. I mean, not only is the old analog sound richer and warmer, but the big LP jackets were always a treat in and of themselves, from the liner notes and photos to the inserts. (Our read more...
Billy Powell Memorial: Friends and Family Pay Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd Pianist
The outpouring of love for Billy Powell over the past 24 hours has been unprecedented. It is very obvious that both he and his beloved Lynyrd Skynyrd are absolutely loved and adored read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: Lynyrd Skynyrd
by Michael Buffalo Smith SIX DEGREES OF SWAMPLAND:LYNYRD SKYNYRD (A one page guide for all Swampland articles, interviews, and review about Lynyrd Skynyrd)
The 25 Best Songs: Lynyrd Skynyrd
by Michael Buffalo Smith And now, my choices for the 25 all-time best songs recorded by Lynyrd Skynyrd. 1. Freebird
The Simple Man Cruise 2009: A Photo Retrospective
January 8 -12, 2009 Lynyrd Skynyrd - Marshall Tucker Band - Molly Hatchet - 38 Special - and more... Photos by Tom Bell
The 20 Best Songs: ZZ Top
by Michael Buffalo Smith For nearly 40 years Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard of
Brad Schnabel: All Southern Rock All The Time On Internet Radio Station
by Michael Buffalo Smith The kingpin behind the premier online Southern Rock radio station known as allsouthernrock.com is Brad Schnabel, a die hard Southern Rock fan from Mesquite, Texas. Brad started the All Southern Rock radio station and chat room over five years read more...
Delaney & Bonnie & Friends: Six Degrees of Swampland
Bo Bice: Southern Rock Forever! The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith When Bo Bice won runner up (to Carrie Underwood) in the 2005 American Idol competition, it was just the beginning of a rise to stardom for the Alabama born Southern Rocker. Following his Clive Davis produced debut of 2005, Bo is back with read more...
Bo Bice: Six Degrees of Swampland
"He’s a really nice guy, and I read more...
2008 Marc Ford Interview: In Through the Out Door of the Neptune Blues Club
In Through The Out Door of The Neptune Blues Club
The Jimmy Herring Interview
The Jimmy Herring read more...
Warren Haynes Celebrates 20th Anniversary Of His Christmas Jam
Warren Haynes – Asheville ~ New Orleans ~ New York City Haynes Celebrates 20th Anniversary Of His Christmas Jam By Derek Halsey There was a phenomenon in major league baseball back in the day called “The McCovey read more...
Van Zant Helps Make Timmy and Hannah Benefit a Huge Success
by Darlene Stevens The families of Timmy Mooring and Hannah Roddy would like to thank everyone for their support during their time of need. Timmy, who was burned over 50% of his body in a debris fire at his home on August 9th 2008 and stayed almost three months
The Bruce Burch Interview
The Bruce Burch read more...
2008 Georgia Music Hall of Fame Inductions
2008 Georgia Music Hall of Fame
Jeff Kazee Interview
Jeff Kazee’s Southern Soul
The 25 Best Songs: The Allman Brothers Band
by Michael Buffalo Smith They were the the first, and many consider them the best, band of the Southern Rock era. The fiery slide guitar of Duane Allman, the country meets Django guitar and decidedly country vocals of
Henry Paul On The Outlaws, Blackhawk, and a Lifetime of Great Music
by Michael Buffalo Smith He was a member of the legendary Southern Rock band The Outlaws, He also scored big with his own Henry Paul Band, and as a member of Top 40 country band read more...
Conversations with Alabama Filmmaker Max Shores
by Penne J. Laubenthal Max Shores, a native of Winfield, Alabama, is a thirty-year veteran of documentary production. His documentaries tell compelling stories about life in the southeastern
Funky Donnie Fritts: The GRITZ Interview
by Eric Gebhardt There is a unique blend of southern R&B, soul, and blues that is known the world over. Closely related to the sounds of Stax Records and folks like Rufus Thomas, read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: 38 Special
by Michael Buffalo Smith
Elvin Bishop: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith "Elvin Bisop's sittin' on a bale of hay He ain't good lookin' but he sure can play." - Charlie Daniels
Space Opera - LOST IN SPACE (Chapter 2)
The Epic Saga of Fort Worth's Space Opera CHAPTER TWO: HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PARTY (and later, a problem)... "I'm at the club one evening and three guys show up, and we're talking gawky, zit-faced teenagers... they wanted me to come to Fort read more...
Where Are They Now? Former Marshall Tucker Band Bassist Tim Lawter
by Michael Buffalo Smith Tim Lawter played the bass guitar in The read more...
Charlie Daniels: Six Degrees of Swampland
"Bocephus and
Space Opera - LOST IN SPACE
The Epic Saga of Fort Worth's Space Opera by Frank Gutch A FOREWORD, OF SORTS... I have to laugh when I think of how many people, including those in the music industry, considered Space Opera one of Canada's best rock exports. read more...
Randall Bramblett Interview 2008
by Michael Buffalo Smith Randall Bramblett has a hot new album out this month on New West records, (Now It’s Tomorrow) but this ain’t his first rodeo. Bramblett has been read more...
The 25 Best Songs: The Mashall Tucker Band
by Michael Buffalo Smith I will never forget the first time I heard the music of The Marshall Tucker Band. Not only were they a blend of every kind of music I loved, from blues to country rock to jazz, they were from my home town of Spartanburg, SC. It was an immediate read more...
The 100 Defining Moments in Southern Rock: Part Six (Final Installment)
17. Bonnie Bramlett’s Run On Roseanne (1991) Bonnie (Then called Bonnie Sheridan) shows up as a waitress in a diner and a friend of Roseanne in both the third and read more...
Guest Blog by Dick Cooper: Remembering Jerry Wexler
by Dick Cooper This has been a hard time for me. Jerry Wexler was more than a mentor; he altered the forces of nature and changed the world for me. I was never sure why he read more...
What It Is--Is Swamp Music--Is What It Is
What It Is—Swamp Music—Is What It Is
GRITZ Presents: Buffalo Roaming
BUFFALO ROAMING
Adam MacDougall Interview: The Black Crowes Electric Spanking of Warpaint Babies
Adam MacDougall read more...
The 100 Defining Moments in Southern Rock: Part Five
by Michael Buffalo Smith And we continue.... 28. “Stompin’ Room Only” Released (2003) The “Holy Grail” for Marshall Tucker Band fans, read more...
The 100 Defining Moments in Southern Rock: Part Four
by Michael Buffalo Smith 39. Jammin’ for Danny Joe Brown - (July 18, 1999) An all star concert headed up by Riff West to raise money for
Chuck Leavell: Rolling Stone & Tree Farmer
read more...
Mystery And Manners' Honorary Southern Artists: Volume One
Mystery And Manners' Honorary Southern Artists Overview: Volume One By James Calemine
The 100 Defining Moments in Southern Rock: Part Three
59. “Freebird” The Movie Premiers (1996) Drawn mostly from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1976 show at Knebworth Fair in England. the movie also included footage from a few read more...
Steve Cropper: The Master Song Craftsman and Rhythm King
The Steve Cropper Interview
Wynton and Willie and the Blues
by Penne J. Laubenthal The Marsalis family and Willie Nelson and I go way back. I have been a fan read more...
The 100 Defining Moments in Southern Rock: Part Two
79. Cameron Crowe Puts The Allmans On the Cover of the Rolling Stone (December 6, 1973) Cameron Crowe went on the road with The Allman Brothers at the age of 15, and read more...
The 100 Defining Moments in Southern Rock: Part One
by Michael Buffalo Smith 100. “Pony Boy” Hand bone (1973) Dickey Betts brought country music sensibility into
Charlie Musselwhite: The Master of Smokestack Lightning
Charlie Musselwhite Interview The Master of Smokestack Lightning By James Calemine "I'm ready as anybody could be..."
Filming a Southern Movie in Rome, Georgia with Jimmy Hall and Tommy Talton
by Michael Buffalo Smith Ken Wheeler is betting the farm on a movie. Wheeler, a farmer from the Rome, Georgia area, is putting his money, heart and soul into the read more...
The Bonnie Bramlett Interview 2008
by Michael Buffalo Smith Bonnie Bramlett is the true Queen of Southern Rock. A true soul singer if ever there was one, Bonnie has performed and recorded with the best of the best, not read more...
Bob Dylan's Renaldo & Clara: Asleep In The Tomb
Bob Dylan’s Lost Classic Renaldo & Clara: Asleep In the Tomb By James Calemine "I've been read more...
The Ten Greatest Southern Rock Cities
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Jacksonville, Florida The birthplace of
Tift Merritt: A Poetic Songbird
Tift Merritt A Poetic Songbird By James Calemine "I can't keep quiet Oh, I can't hide I want to shout and read more...
Marshall Tucker: The Next Generation: An Interview with Justin McCorkle
by Michael Buffalo Smith We’ve all heard the old saying, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” No where does that old chestnut hold more true than in the case of Justin McCorkle. Justin was born the only son of
The Greatest Songwriters of The Southern Rock Era
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Dickey read more...
The Greatest Instrumentalists of The Southern Rock Era
INSTRUMENTALISTS (OTHER THAN GUITAR/KEYS/DRUM KIT) by Michael Buffalo Smith
Guest Blog by Molly Hatchet's John Galvin: The Taste of Southern Rock
THE TASTE OF SOUTHERN ROCK by John Galvin of Molly Hatchet I was first read more...
Guest Blog: Henry Paul On Marshall Tucker
by Henry Paul My first recollection of The Marshall Tucker Band was hearing them on the radio and seeing read more...
The Greatest Keyboard Players of The Southern Rock Era
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Chuck Leavell Take one look at the Georgia boy’s
The Majestic and Graceful Music of Amy LaVere
The Majestic and Graceful Music of Amy LaVere The Amy LaVere Interview By James Calemine
The Greatest Bass Players of the Southern Rock Era
1. Tommy Caldwell - According to all of the members of The Marshall Tucker read more...
Great Southern Record Producers
"There are three kinds of record producers. The first kind is the documentarian -- someone like Leonard Chess, who goes into a bar on the South Side of Chicago, sees Muddy Waters with a six-piece combo, then pulls him into the studio the next day and says, read more...
The Greatest Drummers of The Southern Rock Era
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Jakson Spires of Blackfoot In my opinion,
The Gentle Spirit of Jonathan Wilson
A Southern Son Out West By James Calemine “Are you satisfied? Are you occupied? Do you have enough time To read more...
Eddie Hinton Does Porretta--Again!
by Penne J. Laubenthal Eighteen years ago in April of 1991 an Italian named Graziano Uliani, founder of the
Top 25 Songs of The Southern Rock Era
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Freebird - Lynyrd Skynyrd As if there was any doubt read more...
The Greatest Vocalists of The Southern Rock Era
by Michael Buffalo Smith
The Top Ten Guitarists of the Southern Rock Era
The Greatest Guitar Slingers of The Southern Rock Era by Michael Buffalo Smith
GRITZ Southern Rock Lists
SWAMPLAND'S SOUTHERN ROCK LISTS
Capricorn Records Discography 1969 - 1979
CAPRICORN LABEL ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY Number - Title - Artist [Release Date] (Chart) read more...
Gritz Legends of Southern Rock
A handful of bands from the Southern Rock Era have earned the title of "Legend." These are the bands that defined the genre and set the bar for all other bands in their wake. These are the few, the originals, the Legends of Southern read more...
Billy Bob Thornton Talks About The New Boxmasters Album
by Michael Buffalo Smith Billy Bob Thornton is the new Lon Chaney. The new “man of a thousand faces.” And I’m not just talking about his movies. His music has shown read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: ZZ Top
by Michael Buffalo Smith "ZZ Top was the best band in the world at remaining mysterious for so long. That was part of their appeal. You saw these beards, and they didn’t talk as much as they do these days. There was just a real mystery about them for a long read more...
Jim Dickinson's All-Star Music & Film
In Jim Dickinson’s first contribution to Swampland/Mystery And Manners, he wrote an indelible piece on Memphis barbecue. For his second installment Dickinson cites his favorite pianists, films and a desert island music stash. The High Priest of Memphis read more...
New York City Southern Style: Alabama Studio Weekend in the Shoals
by Penne J. Laubenthal Imagine starting off your Saturday morning with the perfect Bloody Mary, garnished in typical southern fashion with pickled okra, and served to you by one of the country’s foremost clothing designers,
Billy Bob Thornton : Six Degrees of Swampland
YOUR GUIDE TO ALL THINGS BILLY BOB AT SWAMPLAND.COM
Widespread Panic: On The Beach
Widespread Panic: On The Beach
Record Stores of the Swampland Footprint
ALABAMA CD Cellar Anniston AL Oz Music Tuscaloosa AL ARKANSAS
Guest Blog by Charlie Daniels; Memories of a Friend
Memories of a Friend by Charlie Daniels I have the greatest respect for talented people who can take nothing and make something out of it. Such is the case of the songwriter. He pulls thoughts out of thin air
Th' Legendary Shack Shakers: "Treulogizing the Gothic South"
A review of “The Tentshow Trilogy”, consisting of “Believe”, “Pandelirium” and “Swampblood” (All on Yep Roc Records) by Frank Gutch
Billy Bob Thornton's Top Ten Southern Rock Albums
by Michael Buffalo Smith In keeping with our ongoing lists of favorite Southern Rock albums, we present the list of actor/musician
The Delaney Bramlett Interviews 2008 (Part Two) Duane, Janis and Eric
The Delaney Bramlett Interviews: Part Two Read Part One Here by Michael Buffalo Smith Tell me about the time Jimi Hendrix played in read more...
Jim Dickinson's Best Memphis Barbecue & Favorite Meals On The Road
When I interviewed the High Priest of Memphis Mojo—Jim Dickinson—I asked him if he’d be interested in submitting his inimitable insight on barbecue, music and movies. Mr. read more...
The Delaney Bramlett Interviews 2008 (Part One)
by Michael Buffalo Smith Delaney Bramlett was born on July 1, 1939, in Pontotoc County, Mississippi. His mother taught him the guitar, and he moved out to Los Angeles in 1959 where he became a read more...
The Top Ten Albums of Southern Rock According to...
On the heels of my own Top Twenty Five Southern Rock albums, we asked a few of our friends to share their own lists of Favorite Southern Rock albums, and we got a few real surprises, but one fact read more...
The Top Ten Albums of Southern Rock
Southern Rock’s Top Ten Welcome to a new feature at GRITZ called Southern Rock’s Top Ten, where we will be asking the stars an journalists associated with the genre, as well as some of today’s country music stars, to share
Merlefest at 21, Doc Watson at 85: Festival Notes
A Great American Music Festival And Its Host At The Crossroads by Derek Halsey "In 1934, Dad made me a little home-made banjo,” remembers Doc Watson, on the historic three-CD album of performances and read more...
Chris Hicks: Walking With The Dinosaurs
by Michael Buffalo Smith Chris Hicks is a force to be reckoned with. A Macon, Georgia native, he grew up in the shadows of giants during the hey day of Capricorn Records, listening to read more...
"Inhale! Inhale! Rock N Roll" by Chris Robinson
INHALE! INHALE! ROCK N ROLL By Chris Robinson Originally Published in New Musical Express July 17, 1993 You pick up the block of read more...
Dixie Fried with The High Priest of Memphis Mojo Jim Dickinson
JIM DICKINSON INTERVIEW DIXIE FRIED WITH THE HIGH PRIEST OF MEMPHIS MOJO By James Calemine "Some people say worried blues read more...
Billy Bob Thornton in Florence, Alabama
by Penne J. Laubenthal Severe weather warnings had been issued for North Alabama when I made my way to Florence for the Friday afternoon session of the 11th Annual George Lindsey Film Festival featuring
Down In The Groove With Widespread Panic's Todd Nance
DOWN IN THE GROOVE WITH WIDESPREAD PANIC’S TODD NANCE “Either brace yourself for elimination/Or your heart must have the courage read more...
Steve Grisham and Ghost Riders
As One Grits to Another... by Michael Buffalo Smith Steve Grisham is a Southern Rock road dog. A man with the Southern Rock running through his very veins. A Florida singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and engineer, Grisham, also known as read more...
Patterson Hood and The Drive By Truckers
by Michael Buffalo Smith Patterson Hood grew up in Florence Alabama, across the Tennessee River from Muscle Shoals. Patterson began writing songs when he was in third grade and began playing guitar in bands at about 14. His father is David Hood of the legendary Muscle read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: Blackfoot
by Michael Buffalo Smith
Big House Benefit a Major Success
Article & Photos by John Charles Griffin The annual Allman Brother's Big House Museum Benefit was a rock'n'roll home run with near-capacity crowd at Macon's Armory Ballroom on Saturday, January 19th despite weather forecasts earlier that day for potential snow with ice read more...
The Galloway & Kelliher Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith I met Mike Galloway and Timmy Kelliher, along with drummer Juan Perex, last November at The Jam 4 George in Spartanburg, SC. My friend Mark Emerick (Commander Cody Band guitarist and a read more...
Luther Dickinson Interview: The Secret Code of Memphis Guitars
Luther Dickinson Interview The Secret Code of Memphis Guitars By James Calemine January 2008 "I'm gonna leave Memphis and spread the read more...
Deryle Perryman and Dangerous Highway, a Film About Eddie Hinton
by Penne J. Laubenthal Dangerous Highway is an amazing documentary about the life and music of the incredibly talented and tragically fated Eddie Hinton, called the "greatest unknown
Toy Story
This Ol' Cowboy Lives On: Remembering Toy Caldwell (1999) by Michael Buffalo Smith When Toy Caldwell graduated from Dorman High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina in the mid-1960's, he knew that he had a steady gig at the read more...
Guest Blog by Dick Cooper: Delbert Needed a Drummer
By Dick Cooper Delbert needed a drummer. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the truth was Delbert read more...
The Sounds of David Barbe
THE SOUNDS OF DAVID BARBE
The Garfeel Ruff Story
by Michael Buffalo Smith From the book Carolina Dreams, 1997. When Rick Godfrey was six years old, he was playing the piano at his Grandmother’s house in Greenville, SC. read more...
Darius Goes West: Twelve Guys and a Dream
Once in a great while, just when you think there is no reason to get up in the morning and that there is no hope for humanity, and that people will just go on killing one another forever, and that tomorrow will be probably be even worse than today, then something happens to turn read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: The Outlaws
by Michael Buffalo Smith
Macon Holiday Jam Was a Major Success
by John Charles Griffin Macon, Georgia's 2007 Holiday Benefit Jam was held on on December 21st at Cox Capitol Theatre. The event was a major success that featured music by Randall Bramblett,
The Appalachian Sounds of Fonotone Records
The Appalachian Sounds of Fonotone Records By James Calemine “I went out in the open field/Black snake bit me on the read more...
Billy C Farlow is Having Too Much Fun
by Penne J. Laubenthal Billy C Farlow, blues musician, song writer, and harmonica player who skyrocketed to fame in the early ‘70s with Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, is a force to be reckoned with read more...
Goodbye, Babylon: A Patchwork Quilt of American Music
GOODBYE, BABYLON A Patchwork Quilt of American Music By James Calemine
Way Down South With John Sayles
Way Down South with John Sayles By James Calemine John Sayles’ films command respect. His latest film, Honeydripper, takes read more...
Bonnie Bramlett Returns with "Beautiful" On Valentine's Day
by Bill Thames Bonnie Bramlett now becomes the third former Capricorn Records artist, along with Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie), and the Capricorn Rhythm Section, to sign with Rockin' Camel Music of Gadsden, AL.
John Carter Cash: Johnny and June's Son Talks About His Parents
by Michael Buffalo Smith John Carter Cash is one busy man. As the only son of country music legends Johnny Cash and
Southern Rock and Irish Music Join Forces On Tour
Ireland's Best Vocal Group to Tour With Southern Rockers The Winters Brothers Band by Michael Buffalo Smith Talk about a fresh idea. Ireland's number one ballad and folk group (and holders of eight gold albums) The Dublin City Ramblers have read more...
A Celebration of The Life & Work of Paul Hemphill
A Celebration of The Life & Work of Paul Hemphill By James Calemine "I was ridin' number nine Headin' south from Caroline
Scott Boyer On Cowboy, The Decoys and a Lifetime of Southern Music
by Michael Buffalo Smith We met up with Scott Boyer at his home in Killen, Alabama, near Muscle Shoals. His puppy dog Rusty was running around playing and having a high old time, while Scott sat behind a keyboard in his home studio to open up about Cowboy, The Decoys read more...
West Virginia Music Hall of Fame To Induct First Ever Honorees
Inaugural Class Of Nominees A Diverse Group by Derek Halsey On November 16th, 2007, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame will induct its first ever class of honorees. Formed in 2005, the Hall of Fame has been building up to these read more...
The 2007 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards Report
by Derek Halsey On October 4th, 2007 the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) held their 18th annual bluegrass music awards show. In a break from past years, when a lot of the same people seemed to win the awards year after year, the read more...
Billy Bob Thornton On Touring, Acting and Southern Rocking
by Michael Buffalo Smith Billy Bob Thornton is one busy cat these days. Besides the recent premier of Mr. read more...
Hughie Thomasson Remembered
The world of Southern Rock lost another champion on September 9, 2007 with the passing of Hughie Thomasson. The founding father of the “Florida guitar army” The Outlaws and a long time member read more...
Tom Coerver: On Louisiana, China Sky and Hurricane Katrina
BACKWATER TALES FROM A GREAT SOUTHERN MUSICIAN by Michael Buffalo Smith Tom Coerver is a musician's musician. A good ol' Louisiana boy who has an inate ability to play just about any musical instrument he can get his hands on, including a
Danny Brooks: Southern By The Grace of God
Canadian by Birth—Southern by the Grace of God by Bill Thames More than anything else, Danny Brooks is spiritual, but Danny Brooks is soul, too, and deep South gospel tinged with haunting blues. And if you listen close enough read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: The Allman Brothers Band
by Michael Buffalo Smith
The Allman and Oakley Fence Fund Seeks to Protect Grave Sites
by Michael Buffalo Smith There has been an ongoing battle in Macon, Georgia for several years now concerning the grave sites of Duane Allman and Berry Oakley at Rose Hill Cemetery. Over the course of the years, the grave sites have attracted thousands of visitors, and while read more...
Chris Cagle: The GRITZ Interview
Country Star Chris Cagle – The Long, Hard Road To Making It In Nashville By Derek Halsey “What’s funny is, every year I’d go, ‘Is this over? Do they even know me? Is it going to read more...
Bragg Jam 2007 in Macon: A Photo Retrospective
Macon's annual Bragg Jam, held on July 28, 2007, was again a stellar success. Bragg Jam always draws a lot of Middle Georgia acts, many who were friends with Brax and Taylor "Tate" Bragg, the brothers the event commemorates. The Bragg brothers were read more...
W.C. Handy Music Festival, Florence, Alabama, July 22-29
“If Beale Street could talk Married men would have to take up their beds and walk…” Beale Street Blues W. C. Handy wrote those words when he was read more...
Tommy Talton and the Cowboy Reunion
by Michael Buffalo Smith One of Capricorn Records' finest bands during the 1970's was Cowboy, an outstanding country-rock band headed up by Tommy Talton and Scott Boyer. During the past few read more...
Memories of George McCorkle
The first time I met George McCorkle, I was bagging groceries at a Community Cash store in Spartanburg, SC. During those days, many of the Marshall Tucker Band and their wives shopped at the store for read more...
The Divine Spark of Sly & The Family Stone
By James Calemine
Marc Ford Interview
Marc Ford’s Southern Harmony by James Calemine May, 2007 “It’s too soon to tell the difference Read that page another day It’s not clear the lines you’re crossing Just read more...
Kirk West
Kirk West Swampland Interview James Calemine @jamescalemine April, 2007 KIRK WEST’S PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORIES Kirk West plays an integral part in The Allman read more...
James Burton
James Burton Swampland Interview Guitar Man: An Original Six-String Journeyman by James Calemine March 2007 Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on August 21, 1939, guitarist-extraordinaire James Burton read more...
Montgomery Gentry
by Michael Buffalo Smith March, 2007 I’ve been fortunate enough to see Montgomery Gentry perform several times, including a handful of impromptu gigs during the annual Angelus benefit down in Tampa, Florida. During the four read more...
Tim Duffy: Music Maker Relief Foundation
Tim Duffy Swampland Interview Music Maker Relief Foundation A Treasure Trove of American Music by James Calemine March, 2007 Music Maker Relief foundation, a non-profit read more...
Ed King's Journal: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ED KING'S JOURNAL: Skynyrd Guitarist's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Blog
Charlie Louvin
CHARLIE LOUVIN INSURED BEYOND THE GRAVE by James Calemine February 2007 The Louvin Brothers legendary songs transcend time. Born Ira (April 21, 1924) and Charlie (July 7, 1927) Loudermilk, the brothers were read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: The Charlie Daniels Band
by Michael Buffalo Smith
Legends of Southern Rock: The Marshall Tucker Band
by Michael Buffalo Smith "I saw Marshall Tucker in Memphis at the Midsouth Coliseum back in - it must have been ‘73 or ‘74. They were the headliners and the other two acts were The Outlaws and The Charlie Daniels Band. Of course read more...
Clay Walker
Clay Walker's Texas Country by Michael Buffalo Smith January 2007 Country star Clay Walker first topped the Billboard country singles chart in 1993 with “What’s It to You” and read more...
John Hammond
by Michael Buffalo Smith January 2007 After three decades, John Hammond proves he's still a vital performer in American music. One of the very few white blues musicians performing at the beginning of the first blues renaissance of the mid-'60s, he found read more...
Vince Gill
VINCE GILL - FINALLY DOING IT HIS WAY “There was no skin involved. I didn’t drop my pants, but they got the message. I flipped them off and the police all gave me a standing O. It was really surreal. It was like a scene from Spinal read more...
GABBAFEST 2006
AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT Article and Photos by Bill Thames November 2006 The Georgia Allman Brothers Band Association read more...
2006 Americana Music Conference and Awards
Road Trip to The 7th Annual Americana Music Conference & Awards by Michael read more...
Joe Diffie
CATCHING UP WITH AN OLD FRIEND by Lee Bogan November, 2006
Kinky Friedman
"I won't be bullied and I can't be bought." PUSHING THE MIDDLE FINGER VOTE AND A NEW CD by Derek Halsey November 2006
Ken Block of Sister Hazel
A Band With A Mission by Sonny Edwards November 2006 Sister Hazel rocks! They Rock Boats, they Rock Slopes, and they are read more...
David Allan Coe 2006
OUTLAW UPDATE: COE TALKS ABOUT REBEL MEETS REBEL and THE COE SHOW by Michael Buffalo Smith The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy himself, David Allan Coe, continues to build on his own mythology with the read more...
1st ANNUAL GIBSON SUMMER JAM
by Barry Barnes September 2006 Gibson Guitar Corporation hosted their 1st Annual Gibson Summer Jam celebrating the opening of its new Gibson Custom factory on Elm Hill Pike in Nashville, Tennessee on July 27-29, read more...
Mama Louise's Most Excellent Birthday Jam
Story & Photos by by Bill Thames September 2006 A pessimist might say, “a good deed never goes unpunished,” but last weekend, in a room full of smiling optimists, Gregg Allman told the crowd that, “one shared read more...
John Cowan
JOHN COWAN: NEWGRASS, OLD GRASS, BORROWED GRASS, BLUEGRASS By Barry Barnes (Edited by Derek Halsey) September 2006 John Cowan is a major player in the world of bluegrass music. From his days with New Grass Revival in read more...
Artimus Pyle 2006
ARTIMUS SPITS HIS VENOM AND RECOILS AN INTERVIEW WITH SKYNYRD ICON ARTIMUS PYLE by Michael Buffalo Smith September, 2006 Legendary Southern rock drummer and recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame read more...
Reflections on Willie Nelson: The Complete Atlantic Sessions
WILLIE NELSON: THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC SESSIONS …A JOURNEY TO THE RESERVOIR OF AMERICAN COUNTRY & SOUL… by James Calemine “If America had one voice, it would be Willie’s…” - Emmylou read more...
Reflections on Gram Parsons: The Complete Reprise Sessions
GRAM PARSONS - THE COMPLETE REPRISE SESSIONS by James Calemine “In my hour of darkness, in my hour of need Oh Lord grant me vision oh Lord grant me speed.” (from Return of the Grievous read more...
Jim Van Cleve
Jim Van Cleve Taking Bluegrass Music In His Own Direction By Derek Halsey July 2006 Still in his 20’s, Jim VanCleve is a young fiddler that is what bluegrass radio show host Wayne Clyburn would read more...
Claire Lynch
ONE NEW DAY AT A TIME Claire Lynch Has Something For Everyone By Sonny Edwards July 2006 To the careful observer, there are all manner of days. No one can count them all, but they include, in part, read more...
Bryan Sutton
BRYAN SUTTON: A Great Guitarist Digs Deep With The Legends By Derek Halsey July 2006 Bryan Sutton’s resume speaks for itself. He came out of a musically inclined family in North Carolina with the intent of becoming a read more...
Mac Arnold
BLUES COMEBACK OF THE YEAR: MAC ARNOLD by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2006 South Carolina bluesman Mac Arnold knows the blues. The one time bass player for Muddy Waters, Arnold has played and sung the read more...
Billy Bob Thornton
The Wit and Wisdom of Actor, Director, Writer, Musician and Southern Rock Fan by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2006 I have been a fan of Billy Bob for years. I vaguely recall his acting in the old Burt Reynolds TV read more...
One County Over: Ralph Stanley Sings the Music of the Carter Family
by Derek Halsey May, 2006 AP, Sara, and Maybelle Carter did not invent country music. The music had been evolving in the Appalachian Mountains for generations before the trio made their fateful trip to Bristol, Tennessee in 1927 to record their read more...
Cowboy Jack Clement
COWBOY JACK CLEMENT CASH, PRIDE, SUN and POLKA by Michael Buffalo Smith May, 2006 Cowboy Jack Clement is a true Nashville legend if ever there was one. From his days working at Sun Studios, to writing hit songs for read more...
Derek Trucks
DEREK TRUCKS The Time of His Life by Derek Halsey May 2006 There are times in a lucky musician’s life when good things happen, one right after another. I use the word ‘lucky’ because there are far more read more...
Luther Dickinson 2006
Luther Dickinson Of The North Mississippi Allstars By Derek Halsey May 2006 The self-described ‘world boogie’ sounds of the North Mississippi Allstars have been flowing out of this trio for ten read more...
Phil Walden Memorial
Phil Was a Capricorn By Michael Buffalo Smith May 2006 Phil Walden, 66, the Capricorn Records founder who launched the careers of Otis Redding and the Allman Brothers Band, died on Sunday, April 23, 2006 after a long read more...
Danielle Howle
A HOOTIE NEW ALBUM : DANIELLE HOWLE ROCKS by Michael Buffalo Smith May 2006 Danielle Howle is an amazing performer. Based in Columbia, South Carolina, she first rose to prominence as a member of the rock band read more...
Immortal Blues - In Memoriam: Chris Whitley
IMMORTAL BLUES - IN MEMORIAM: CHRIS WHITLEY 1960-2005 by James Calemine There’s a dirt floor Underneath here To receive us When changes fail May this shovel Loose your trouble Lay them
Hank Williams III
THE NEXT GENERATION OF A COUNTRY LEGACY by Michael Buffalo Smith April, 2006 Hank Williams the third, better known as "Hank III," embodies a lot of the same restless, wandering spirit, rebel read more...
Marshall Chapman 2006
CALL THE LLAMAS...EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TALL GIRL, BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK by Michael Buffalo Smith April, 2006 During the seven years that GRITZ Magazine has been in cyberspace, read more...
Larry Rice Memorial
LARRY RICE Bluegrass Musician and Dickey Betts Band Alumnus Dies of Cancer by Derek Halsey April 2006 Larry Rice- Bluegrass Musician and Dickey Betts’ Band Alumnus- Dies Of Cancer We at Gritz Magazine have sad news to read more...
The Georgia Sea Island Singers - Preserving Coastal Music Traditions
The Georgia Sea Island Singers Preserving Coastal Music Traditions By James Calemine Spring 2006 After four decades, Frankie and Doug Quimby continue to travel the world as the Georgia Sea Island Singers, read more...
Road Trip to The Annual Angelus Benefit
by Michael Buffalo Smith & Scott Greene Feb. 2, 2006 Buffalo: I look forward to this every year. The annual pilgrimage from Upstate SC down to Tampa, Florida for Charlie Daniels’ three day read more...
Subdudes Return
subdudes embark on new tour with new album By Richard J. Atkins, Ed.D. February 2006 The subdudes, a New Orleans-based act spanning numerous genres (blues, folk, R&B, country, Cajun, read more...
Buddy Miles
MILES OF MUSIC by Michael Buffalo Smith February, 2006 Buddy Miles career spans over 49 years including 70 albums, six World tours, television specials, charity events, TV commercials and music videos. read more...
Marty Stuart Takes Charge of His Music
MARTY STUART TAKES CHARGE OF HIS MUSIC by Derek Halsey February, 2006 Marty Stuart has entered what may be the golden age of his career. He has taken hold of the reins of his musical visions and ideas by starting his own read more...
ZZ Top
ZZ TOP FOREVER by Russell Hall December 2005 ZZ Top’s run of thirty-five years with the same lineup is, in some ways, the rock and roll equivalent of Joe read more...
Lynyrd Skynyrd's Well Deserved Hall of Fame Induction
Would You Still Remember Me? LYNYRD SKYNYRD'S WELL DESERVED HALL OF FAME INDUCTION by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2005 Eight years. Eight long years of read more...
Sonny Landreth
SONNY LANDRETH by Derek Halsey December 2005 Sonny Landreth has honed his slide guitar playing skills for 41 of his 54 years on Earth, and along the read more...
Blackfoot
BLACKFOOT ON THE REUNION By Michael Buffalo Smith December 2005 In one of the best surprises of recent Southern Rock history, the hard rocking, take no prisoners band Blackfoot has reunited read more...
The Jam for Duane: 2005
THE JAM FOR DUANE: 2005 by Mitch Lopate November 2005 Jam For Duane October 27-29 2nd Street Music Hall Gadsden, AL I’m tellin’ ya read more...
Bobby Bare
THE BARE ESSENTIALS: BOBBY BARE IS BACK by Michael Buffalo Smith November 2005 In the late '50s, he moved from Ohio to Los Angeles. Bare's first appearance on record was in 1958, as he recorded his own blues tune "The All read more...
Rodney Moag
Austin's own western swingin', yodel singin', morse-codin', on the roadin', book writin', out-of sightin', college teachin', language speakin', fiddle playin', radio deejayin', pickin' singin', always grinnin', college professor
Delbert McClinton
DELBERT McCLINTON KEEPS IT REAL by Michael Buffalo Smith November 2005 Delbert McClinton’s formative years were spent as a member of The Straitjackets, the house band at a blues/rhythm and blues club on the outskirts of read more...
Michael Doucet (BeauSoleil)
BeauSoleil’s Michael Doucet Talks Of Hurricanes And Louisiana Music by Derek Halsey November 2005 BeauSoleil has been one of the premier bands to come out of Louisiana since its inception in 1975. Hailing from read more...
Shooter Jennings
Ol’ Shooter : Are you ready for the country? Are you ready for him? November 2005 by Michael Buffalo Smith At the age of 25, Shooter Jennings, the only son of legendary country music icon Waylon Jennings read more...
Mighty Field of Vision Internet and Radio Foundation Started
JOHN D. WYKER HEADS UP INTERNET RADIO STATION Decatur man's Internet station called a 'vision' of the future; music includes oldies, demos By Ronnie Thomas/Decatur Daily, Decatur, Al October, 2005 The read more...
John D. Wyker's Cat Tales - Eddie Hinton
AN EDDIE HINTON CAT TALE October, 2005 In The long, hot, stinking summer of 1984 Eddie Hinton caught a Greyhound Bus back into my hardware store, Hammer Swingin' Life...This was Hinton at his worst...No Nothin'...but a mean read more...
Al Kooper
AL KOOPER Black Coffee and Some Lynyrd Skynyrd, Please by Michael Buffalo Smith October, 2005 No introduction is necessary. If you listen to rock and pop music, you know who Al Kooper is. For those of us entangled in the world read more...
Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars)
LUTHER DICKINSON TALKS ABOUT HIS DAD'S MUSICAL LEGACY, ELECTRIC BLUE WATERMELON AND TOURING WITH JOHN HIATT By James Calemine October 2005 Luther Dickinson called me from Texas while the North Mississippi Allstars bus rolled read more...
Jerry Reed
WHEN YOU'RE HOT, YOU'RE HOT An Interview with Country Superstar/Actor Jerry Reed by Michael Buffalo Smith September, 2005 Jerry Reed is a true star. From his string of hit read more...
The Paul Thorn Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith (Originally appeared in GRITZ print magazine issue #11, Summer 2005) Paul Thorn is one of a kind. A good ol’ Southern boy who was raised in Elvis’ home town of Tupelo, Mississippi, Thorn has a mighty voice read more...
Jimmy Martin
Jimmy Martin--Mr. Good N’ Country, the King Of Bluegrass By Derek Halsey June 2005 Jimmy Martin died on May 14, 2005 of bladder cancer at the age of 77. Almost a year before that he was kind enough to have granted us read more...
In Memory of Ray Brand
A TRIBUTE TO RAY BRAND GRITZ Archangel Benefit, May 7, read more...
John D. Wyker's Cat Tales - Dan Penn
A DAN PENN CAT TALE by JD Wyker April, 2005 Conway Twitty's version of "Is A Bluebird Blue" was real important to Dan Penn...or should I say Wallace Pennington..It was the first real money he made as a read more...
Hughie Thomasson
HUGHIE THOMASSON REFORMS THE OUTLAWS by William Turley Spring 2005 THIS PAGE DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF "WILD BILL" TURLEY, ENTERED INTO ETERNAL REST, SEPTEMBER 2005. A TRUE OUTLAWS AND SOUTHER ROCK FAN, AND A HELLUVA read more...
John D. Wyker's Cat Tales - Macon & Capricorn Records
Macon & Capricorn Records Cat Tale The year 1969 was a wild and strange and crazy time for me.When the editor of GRITZ asked me to write a Cat Tale about the time I spent in Macon,Georgia I was honored to be asked and to be able to say read more...
Road Trip to The Angelus, 2004
Roadtrip - Charlie Palooza 2004 by Michael Buffalo Smith My fourth trip to the Annual Charlie Daniels Country Concert and Golf Classic to benefit The Angelus House was the best ever - A road trip under sunny skies, quite a drive from read more...
Rich Robinson (Black Crowes)
AS THE CROWE FLIES RICH ROBINSON ON THE BLACK CROWES AND GOING SOLO By James Calemine This interview was conducted with Rich Robinson four months before the Black Crowes regrouped in February of 2005 to tour for their “All Join read more...
2004 Americana Music Conference
AMERICANA MUSIC CONFERENCE NASHVILLE, TN SEPTEMBER 23-25, 2004 by Michael Buffalo Smith October 2004 The ride up to Nashville was beautiful. The majesty of the Blue Ridge read more...
Tony Joe White
TONY JOE WHITE: THE SWAMP FOX by Michael Buffalo Smith October 2004 Tony Joe White is an American treasure. In 1969, Tony Joe came bursting out of the read more...
JJ Cale
By Derek Halsey October 2004 J.J. Cale is one of the most famous songwriters in history, yet he can walk down the street and not be recognized by anyone. Eric Clapton was asked in an interview not long ago read more...
Americana Late Night
by Derek Halsey October 2004 One of the cool things about the Americana Music Conference is the nighttime jams that happen throughout Nashville during the week. I arrive on Tuesday night and end up read more...
Road Trip To The Mountains
Road Trip to the Mountains The Appalachian String Band Festival Camp Washington Carver - Clifftop, West Virginia July 27- August 2, 2004 by Derek Halsey October read more...
Floyd Miles
By Michael Buffalo Smith October 2004 The pride of Daytona Beach, Florida, Floyd Miles is a world class blues and r&b singer who grew up friends with Duane and Gregg Allman, recorded with everyone from Dickey Betts to Edgar Winter, and now divides read more...
Mudcat: Shake 'Em On Down
MUDCAT: SHAKE ‘EM ON DOWN By James Calemine October 2004 Daniel “Mudcat” Dudeck sits in a wooden chair on the small stage playing Blind Willie McTell’s read more...
Johnny Neel: Mr. Soul
Johnny Neel: Mr. Soul by James Calemine “Smokestack Lightning Shining just like Gold.” Howlin’ Wolf You can’t teach soul. Johnny Neel ranks as one of the country’s most read more...
Drive-By Truckers: Southern (Dis)Comfort
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS Southern (Dis)Comfort: It’s Only Rock and Roll by James Calemine I “People need trouble——a little frustration to sharpen the read more...
Lee Roy Parnell
LEE ROY PARNELL GUITARS, SLIDES AND THE BLUES by Michael RedTail Wolf Nystrom July 2004 I know you're a native Texan, but I don't know what town you were born in. Abilene, Texas and I grew up on a ranch read more...
Duane Allman at FAME Studios: A J.D. Wyker Cat Tale
by John D. Wyker (First appeared in GRITZ Print Issue 7, Summer 2004) This is another Cat Tale about Duane Allman that took place back in the late 1960's at Rick Hall's FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Rick Hall was famous for read more...
The Winters Brothers Stampede Ahead
by Craig Cumberland First appeared in GRITZ Magazine, Issue #7, June, 2004 I didn't come across the Winters Brothers Band until about four years ago - but I tell ya, I love their music. It's inspired to say the least. Unfortunately, they don't have read more...
Sam Bush
SAM BUSH by Derek Halsey June 2004 Gritz Magazine caught up with Sam Bush at Merlefest 2004, back in April. He took a minute to talk about his first studio read more...
Rickey Medlocke
RICKEY MEDLOCKE by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2004 These days Rickey Medlocke is touring the world as one of the “three guitar army” of Lynyrd Skynyrd, read more...
David Allan Coe
THE ORIGINAL OUTLAW: DAVID ALLAN COE by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2004 Let’s face it, David Allan Coe defies categorization. For three decades, Coe has read more...
Marshall Chapman 2004
TALL Y’ALL: MARSHALL CHAPMAN by Michael Buffalo Smith April 2004 Marshall Chapman has created quite a name for herself in Nashville as one of Music read more...
John Townsend
By Michael Buffalo Smith April 2004 This issue, we have located one of the true great voices of rock and roll, John Townsend, who struck gold during the 1970s with the hit “Smoke from a Distant read more...
Capricorn Records
By Russell Hall April 2004 In a business where executives often achieve legendary status, Capricorn Records founder Phil Walden has always been something of an anomaly. Unlike say, Jerry Wexler or Ahmet read more...
The Late Great Townes Van Zandt
A deluge of Townes Van Zandt releases flood the market since his death on January 1, 1997. A bitter legal battles ensues over Van Zandt's prolific song catalogue. Various related projects recently became available such as Norah Jones' Handsome Band: Live 2004, Margaret Brown's read more...
Tony Smotherman
Yngwie, Skynyrd and The Queen of England by Levin Sheridan March, 2004 Tony Smotherman is one of the most outstanding of the new breed of guitar slingers. GRITZ caught up with Tony for this read more...
Johnny Sandlin
Johnny Sandlin Southern Producer, Engineer and Musician by Michael Buffalo Smith Spring 2004 You can find his name in the credits of most any Capricorn read more...
Doug Gray
Searchin’ for a Rainbow Doug Gray of The Marshall Tucker Band by Michael Buffalo Smith March 2004 The Marshall Tucker Band has never stopped rocking since their inception in the early 1970s; there has always read more...
The World Comes Out To Merlefest
THE WORLD COMES OUT TO MERLEFEST By Derek Halsey June 2004 Merlefest Music Festival April 29-May 2, 2004
Charlie Daniels 2003
The Heart & Soul of Charlie Daniels by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2003 For the cover story of our third print issue in 2003 I called on our old friend Charlie Daniels. Having interviewed him read more...
Richard Young (Kentucky Headhunters)
RICHARD YOUNG: THE KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS by Michael Buffalo Smith September 2003 For the second part of our Kentucky Headhunters spotlight, we spoke with read more...
Del McCoury
MAN OF THE YEAR: DEL McCOURY By Derek Halsey September 2003 The story of the rise of the Del McCoury Band is an impressive one. These days they are playing before large crowds of young read more...
Hurt: Remembering Johnny Cash
by Michael Buffalo Smith September 2003 During the last several years of his life Johnny Cash was in severe pain 24 hours a day. For many men it would have meant retiring from the spotlight and into read more...
Bluegrass Rules at the 2003 IBMAs
by Derek Halsey August 2003 The International Bluegrass Music Association’s yearly convention is already a couple of days old when I arrive on Wednesday afternoon on read more...
Freddie Edwards
FREDDIE EDWARDS: THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND by Michael Buffalo Smith August 2003 As one of the two drummers for The Charlie Daniels Band for fourteen years, Fred Edwards was a part of the Southern rock scene during read more...
Remembering June Carter Cash
REMEMBERING JUNE CARTER CASH By Derek Halsey July 2003 On May 18th, 2003, Johnny Cash sat in the pew of the First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee looking as old as he ever has. read more...
Larry "L.J." Junstrom
Larry Junstrom Recalls His Days with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Talks About His Band, .38 Special by Scott Greene July 2003
Greg Martin (Kentucky Headhunters)
by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2003 The Kentucky Headhunters are back and in fine form with their new album Soul, a fun-filled romp through Muscle Shoals influenced soul and Memphis flavored r&b. We caught up read more...
Dale Krantz Rossington
Rossington-Collins, The Rossington Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd by Michael Buffalo Smith Summer 2003 She may be in the background as a backup singer for Skynyrd now, but there was a time when Dale Krantz was the full-throttle lead read more...
Patterson Hood
PATTERSON HOOD of THE DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2003 The Drive-By Truckers are taking the music world by the short hairs, rocking hard and read more...
Gary Rossington
GARY ROSSINGTON - THE HEART OF LYNYRD SKYNYRD by Michael Buffalo Smith June, 2003
Billy Joe Shaver
ODE TO BILLY JOE - AN INTERVIEW WITH BILLY JOE SHAVER by Derek Halsey Spring 2003 Billy Joe Shaver is one of the best and most prolific songwriters that America has ever produced. He is known to a lot of people for being a huge part read more...
Ace Moreland: A Remembrance
Ace Moreland: A Remembrance by Paul Doell February 2003 Ace Moreland’s most recent album (Give It To Get It, released on the King Snake-Icehouse label in 2000) includes a 1998 photo of the lean, lanky read more...
Edwin McCain
by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2002 These days, Edwin McCain is busier than ever, which is somewhat odd considering he just quit the major label Atlantic Records to sign with a small Tennessee indie called read more...
JD Crowe
Bluegrass Legend J.D. Crowe by Derek Halsey December 2002 In 1956, a 15 year old J.D. Crowe came out of Lexington, Kentucky and joined the legendary Jimmy read more...
Tommy Crain
TOMMY CRAIN by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2002 During our first three years on the internet, one question that got asked more often than any other was, read more...
2002 IBMA Bluegrass Awards Roadtrip
IBMA BLUEGRASS AWARDS ROAD TRIP By Derek Halsey December 2002 As I drove into Louisville, Kentucky on this misty October night I reached for the radio dial to see read more...
Tom Dowd
From The Manhattan Project to the Allman Brothers Band An Interview with Tom Dowd by Michael Buffalo Smith Fall 2002 Okay. We know that he has produced some of the greatest records in the read more...
Tom Dowd (Part 2)
The last name on my name list is someone that has become kind of a legend in our Southern rock genre. What can you say about Ronnie Van Zant? Ronnie was a gem. Ronnie was a brilliant writer. We spent most of our time together traveling on the road for a day read more...
Tom Dowd Memorial
TOM DOWD The Legendary Producer Dies on October 27, 2002 By Derek Halsey Last May I was invited to be backstage at the Grand Ole Opry as the guest of the excellent country and western singer, Joni Harms, whom I had interviewed read more...
Road Trip to New Orleans
ROAD TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS THE LEGENDARY JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL Report/Photos By Derek Halsey First Appeared in GRITZ, Print issue #2, Fall 2002 New Orleans is a city being rebuilt these days, as Hurricane read more...
Jupiter Coyote
Deep Inside The Cosmos Factory Jupiter Coyote Jams by Scott Greene Summer 2002 In our neverending quest to bring you the best the music world has to offer, we are always looking for new and fresh acts to read more...
Don Winters
THEY CALL ME SWEET PAPA DON Papa Don Winters' Last Interview by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2002 Don Winters scored a major country hit as songwriter for The Louvin Brothers back in 1955 with “You’re Running read more...
Lucky Oceans (Asleep At The Wheel)
Asleep At The Wheel by Derek Halsey July, 2002 Lucky Oceans, along with Ray Benson and Lerroy Preston, were the founding members of the western swing, roots band called Asleep At The Wheel. In this read more...
Blue Mother Tupelo
Ricky and Micol Davis By Derek Halsey July 2002 Blue Mother Tupelo is a blues/rock/roots band out of Tennessee that has as good a thing going as any southern band out there. There are a lot of read more...
Charlie Hayward (The Charlie Daniels Band)
CHARLIE HAYWARD Playing in The Charlie Daniels Band by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2002 Since 1975, Charlie Hayward has held down the bottom for the Charlie read more...
O Sister Thou Hath Been There All Along - Women in Bluegrass
O SISTER THOU HATH BEEN THERE ALL ALONG Women in Bluegrass Music by Derek Halsey June 2002 In the documentary/concert movie Down From The Mountain the women musicians are just read more...
Peanutt Montgomery
Peanutt & The Possum A Visit with Songwriter/Musician Peanutt Montgomery by Michael Buffalo Smith June, 2002 When we made our way back down to Alabama for the George Lindsey Film & TV Festival, read more...
Dickey Betts 2002
BLUE SKIES AND TOMBSTONE EYES Dickey Betts and The Great Southern Reunion by Michael Buffalo Smith June, 2002
Barry Lee Harwood (Rossington Collins Band)
DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME Barry Lee Harwood On Life After The Rossington Collins Band by Scott Greene May 2002 When the Skynyrd plane went down in the swamps of Mississippi, like so many of you, I thought read more...
Earl Scruggs Family and Friends
Earl Scruggs Family and Friends A WBZI and Cityfolk.org Production Dayton, Ohio April 14,2002 by Derek Halsey The Earl Scruggs Band featuring; Earl Scruggs, banjo and guitar. Gary Scruggs, vocals and read more...
David Holt
David Holt's Folkways and Riverwalk And Working with Doc Watson by Derek Halsey April 2002 David Holt has been a musician, storyteller, and television show host for about thirty years or so. He has put out read more...
Clarence Fountain (Blind Boys of Alabama)
Clarence Fountain Interview Higher Ground by James Calemine Spring 2002 On September 3, 2002, Real World Records released the new Blind Boys of Alabama album titled Higher Ground, featuring read more...
Billy C. Farlow
Still Having "Too Much Fun." by Michael Buffalo Smith March 2002 The former lead vocalist of Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen is still rocking and singing the blues with read more...
Wayne Moss
ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE DOWN IN TENNESSEE ARE DIGGING BAREFOOT JERRY… An Interview with Wayne Moss By Derek Halsey February 2002 Wayne Moss is a musician who has played in the studio with everyone from Nancy Sinatra to Bob read more...
Dickie Harrell (Gene Vincent)
The Drummer from Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps is Alive and Well in Virginia by Michael Buffalo Smith February 2002 The most exciting rock and roller of the 1950's may have been Elvis, but read more...
Warren Haynes 2002
Goin' Off the Deep End with Warren Haynes by Michael Buffalo Smith February 2002 From his massive body of work with Gov’t Mule and The Allman Brothers Band, to his unforgettable jams as a member of Phil read more...
Alan Walden
Skynyrd, The Allmans and Otis Alan Walden's Career in Rock and Soul by Michael Buffalo Smith January 2002 Anyone who has read anything at all about the history of Southern Music is familiar with read more...
John McEuen
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Instrumentalist Recalls The Early Days, Duane Allman, Steve Martin and a Lifetime of Music by Derek Halsey January 2002 John McEuen has been in the music read more...
Best Releases of 2001
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. The Deep End Volume 1 - Gov't Mule What an amazing and unparalleled tribute to the late Allen Woody. Featuring all of his favorite fellow bass players, playing some great music with his band mates Warren Haynes and Matt read more...
Artimus Pyle 2001
Street Survivor: Artimus Pyle on his friend Allen Woody, the new APB album and life in general by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2001 Hi Artimus. I’d like to begin this second read more...
Lee Bogan
The Good Lord, Family and Friends Lee Bogan Knows What it Takes To Make a Country Hit by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2001 From his years as guitarist for country stars Joe read more...
John Hartford Memorial
Where Does an Old Time River Man Go? John Hartford Remembered By Derek Halsey December 2001 In the cool autumn air the sounds of the riverboats were everywhere. There is nothing like the whistle of a ship like the Delta read more...
Leon Russell
STILL PLAYING A SONG FOR YOU Leon Russell On Bangladesh, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, and His Hot New Independent Label by Michael Buffalo Smith November 2001 As I dialed up the number, my mind was still busy filtering the read more...
David Ball
Checking in with Our Amigo, David Ball by Michael Buffalo Smith November 2001 I can remember seeing David Ball, along with Champ Hood and the late Walter Hyatt as Uncle Walt's Band here in Upstate read more...
Celebration of Life Event, 2001
On the Road in Florida Celebrating Life in St. Augustine by Michael Buffalo Smith November 1, 2001 The Celebration of Life memorial Concert and benefit was held on October 20, 2001 read more...
Doc Holliday
What’s Up, Doc? Doc Holliday and Bruce Brookshire’s Southern Spirit by Michael Buffalo Smith October 2001 One of the hardest working bands in the lexicon of Southern Rock was and is Doc read more...
Jeff Carlisi (.38 Special)
The Guitarist Talks About 38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Big People by Scott Greene October 2001 Jeff Carlisi, Architect? Were it not for a recession, he could be designing buildings instead of crafting guitar read more...
Drive-By Truckers: Keep On Truckin'
KEEP ON TRUCKIN' The Drive-By Truckers Contribute to the New Mythology by Dick Cooper October 2001 BELOW: The building where "Southern Rock Opera" was recorded.
Ed King 2001
Ed King: A Second Helping Waking up to The Strawberry Alarm Clock by Michael Buffalo Smith September 2001 Ed King is a walking rock and roll lesson. From his teenage success with The Strawberry Alarm Clock read more...
Red Dog Campbell
The Original Road Dog Red Dog Campbell’s Thirty-Three Years with The Allman Brothers Band by Michael Buffalo Smith August 2001 He’s the most famous “roadie” on the planet, no read more...
Johnny Winter
NOTHIN' BUT THE BLUES Johnny Winter in The 21st Century by Michael Buffalo Smith August 2001 Johnny Winter is a legend. Sure, that title gets tossed around in rock and roll like a Frisbee in the park on Sunday, read more...
Stephen Foster
Music, Muscle Shoals and The Mighty Field of Vision by Mitch Lopate August 2001 Warning, reader! The following story is laden with hair-pin turns, dangerous escapes, party-till-you-drop read more...
Leon Wilkeson Memorial
The Cat in The Hat - Remembering Leon Wilkeson July 27, 2001 "If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me? I must be traveling on now, there's just too many places I've got to see." - RVZ We had been read more...
The Randall Hall Interview
Southern By The Grace of God Randall Hall Stays True to His Southern Rock Roots by Michael Buffalo Smith, July 2001 Lynyrd Skynyrd has showcased some mighty fine musicians over the years, from the original band to the current read more...
The Great Molly Hatchet Give Away, 2001
THE GREAT MOLLY HATCHET GIVEAWAY ROCKS LAS VEGAS by Michael Buffalo Smith, 2001 The First Annual "I Love Molly Hatchet" contest wrapped up in Las Vegas, Nevada June 1-3, 2001, with first place winner read more...
Geoff Hanson
Of Pigs and Panic An Interview with Film Maker Geoff Hanson by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2001 Christopher and Geoff Hanson are turning out to be an excellent pair of movie read more...
John Lee Hooker Memorial
John Lee Hooker (1917-2001) The Man is Gone, But The Boogie Lives On by J.C. Juanis June 21, 2001 The music community lost a great one today, when news of the death of bluesman John Lee Hooker read more...
Dru Lombar
Dru Lombar Recalls Grinderswitch, Joe Dan and Southern Rock of the Seventies by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2001 (prior to the reformation of Grinderswitch, the death of Joe Dan Petty and ultimately the death of read more...
Steve Ripley (The Tractors)
FAST GIRLS AND COUNTRY MUSIC The Steve Ripley/Tractors Interview by Ken Burke June 2001 The 1992 hit "Baby Likes To Rock It" made Steve Ripley and his band The Tractors stars virtually overnight. read more...
Dave Hlubek
Playin’ in The Allstar Band Dave Hlubek Talks About Molly Hatchet, The Southern Rock Allstars and TV by Michael Buffalo Smith May 2001 Dave Hlubek needs no introduction to fans of Southern read more...
Travis Wammack
"SCRATCHY" WAS JUST THE BEGINNING Travis Wammack is Still Rocking May, 2001 by Michael B. Smith We can think of no better introduction to our exclusive interview than the following article from ROLLING read more...
George McCorkle 2001
Checking Back in with George McCorkle Rockin’ Blues on an American Street by Michael Buffalo Smith April 2001 George McCorkle was a founding member of The Marshall Tucker Band and, for the past read more...
Larry Howard
The Southern Rock of Ages Former Grinderswitch guitarist Larry Howard talks about his old band, his friends like The Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker Band and his journey toward a higher calling. by Michael Buffalo read more...
Bloodkin: Cutthroat Blues
Bloodkin Cutthroat Blues by James Calemine The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side.
Johnny Neel
From The Allmans to Gov't Mule, Johnny Neel Rocks The Blues with Style by Michael Buffalo Smith April 2001 Where were you born and raised? read more...
Jay Johnson
You Doesn’t Have To Call Me Johnson! Jay Johnson ponders the state of rock and roll and traces his footsteps from Radio Tokyo to The Rossington Band to The Southern Rock Allstars by Michael Buffalo Smith
Van Zant
BROTHERS IN ARMS Donnie and Johnny Van Zant Talk About Their Brother, Their Parents, and Their Second Collaborative Album By Michael B. Smith March, 2001 Perhaps no other name in Southern Rock conjures up as read more...
Sister Hazel
Snapshot of a Band on the Verge Sister Hazel is Ready for Big Time by Julia Mclaughlin & Scott Greene February, 2001 Sister Hazel, from Gainesville, FL, recently released their third CD, read more...
Paul Hornsby
An Ear for Southern Rock Paul Hornsby On Hourglass, Capricorn Records and A Life in Music by Michael Buffalo Smith January, 2001 Paul Hornsby's name is synonymous with Southern Rock, as both musician and producer. The following read more...
Col. Bruce Hampton
THE DADDY OF US ALL Col. Bruce Hampton (ret) Discusses Everything from Andy Griffith to Slingblade to The Aquarium Rescue Unit , Horse Racing and Zambee by Michael B. Smith January, 2001 Col. Bruce read more...
Bernard Allison
Across the Water, and Back Again An Interview with Bernard Allison by Michael Buffalo Smith January, 2001 Bernard Allison was born the son of a blues legend, the late Luther Allison, and with eight read more...
Best Releases of 2000
My Top CD's of 2000 by Michael Buffalo Smith It's never an easy task to attempt a "Top 40" list. My opinions, like those of everyone else, change with the wind. Still, as a music journalist, I feel compelled at year's end to read more...
Stanley Booth: Can I Get A Witness
Can I Get A Witness The True Adventures of Stanley Booth By James Calemine Winter 2000 Jack Kerouac was a writer. That is, he wrote. Many people who call themselves writers and have their names on books aren’t read more...
Larry Byrom (Steppenwolf)
Looking for Adventure In Whatever Comes Our Way by Mitch Lopate November, 2000 Before becoming one of Nashville's finest session guitarists, Larry Byrom rocked it hard as the axe man for one of rock and roll's read more...
Dickey Betts 2000
BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGINS An Exclusive with Dickey Betts by Michael Buffalo Smith November, 2000 The words, "no introduction is necessary" come immediately to mind as I sit down to write a foreword for the following read more...
Charlie Daniels 2000
Back to Tennessee: Catching Up with Charlie Daniels by Michael Buffalo Smith October 2000 What inspired you to record the songs you recorded for your new album Tailgate Party?
Jimmy Nalls
The Bionic Blues Man Jimmy Nalls Battles Disease and Keeps On Rockin’ by Michael Buffalo Smith Fall 2000 Jimmy Nalls is read more...
Bobby Whitlock
Layla, and Many Other Songs of Love Bobby Whitlock Talks About Derek & The Dominos, Duane Allman, Gram Parsons, Eric Clapton and more... by Mitch Lopate Winter 2000 I see you released a new album on the read more...
Pete Carr
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE ARE ROCK AND ROLL, AND A HOT CARR... An Interview with Muscle Shoals Guitar Legend, Pete Carr by Michael B. Smith /with Roxanne Crutcher May 2000 Pete Carr, recognized as one of the read more...
Charlie Daniels: Renaissance Hillbilly
Renaissance Hillbilly A Look Inside the Mind of Charlie Daniels by Michael Buffalo Smith October 2000 Not unlike the great state of Texas, Charlie Daniels is a little bit Western and a little bit Southern. read more...
Remembering Eddie Hinton
Remembering Eddie Hinton "A Musician's Musician" by Dick Cooper Winter 2000 Eddie Hinton was a jewel. The many facets of his talent shone independently, and the whole was much greater than its parts. read more...
Farther Down The Road with Taj Mahal
Farther Down The Road with Taj Mahal By James Calemine Taj Mahal remains a craftsman of many musical styles. His career reveals a vast scope submerged within traditions of roots music. This year Columbia released four Taj Mahal read more...
Delaney Bramlett
DELANEY, CLAPTON, ALLMAN AND FRIENDS A Conversation with Delaney Bramlett by Mitch Lopate Fall 2000 Be sure to read our read more...
In Memory of Allen Woody
In Memory of Allen Woody October 2, 1956 - August 25, 2000 This is the poem Warren read at the funeral.
Bill Payne (Little Feat)
All That You Dream Touching Base with Bill Payne of Little Feat by Michael B. Smith Summer, 2000 Bill Payne, an original member of the legendary Little Feat, is a musician in every sense of the word, from his read more...
Jerry Carrigan
Bama-Lam! Alabama's Drumming Legend by Allen Smith, July 2000 What do Leon Russell, Delbert McClinton, Ronnie Hawkins, and Willie Nelson have in common? How about Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and John Denver? Other read more...
Greg T. Walker
Greg T. Walker Recalls Blackfoot and Talks About the Here and Now by Scott Greene July 2000 If you were choosing a rhythm section for a Southern Rock Hall of Fame band, Greg T. Walker would be first off read more...
Jimmie Van Zant
COUSIN TO COUSIN Jimmie Van Zant Carries On Ronnie's Tradition with Love and Respect by Scott Greene, June, 2000 When you think of the name Van Zant, the three brothers from the West Side of Jacksonville, Florida read more...
Lonnie Mack
The Guitar Player's Guitar Player Gritz Speaks with Guitar Hero Lonnie Mack by Michael Buffalo Smith (June, 2000) Lonnie Mack is a roadhouse blues-rock legend - modern rock's first true guitar read more...
Jimmy Farrar: Still Alive and Well
by Scott Greene What do you think the "odds" are of someone who struggled and worked hard to make it in the music business and when they finally made it they walked away for what they consider to be the most important thing in life? Well, that's just read more...
Chuck Leavell
POUNDING KEYS & HUGGING TREES A Conversation with Chuck Leavell By Michael B. Smith June 2000 What can you say about Chuck Leavell? He is and has been one of the most sought-after keyboard players in rock and roll, read more...
Ace Moreland
KINGSNAKE HAS AN ACE UP THEIR SLEEVE Ace Moreland Remembers Steve Gaines, Talks About The Blues, Recording with Edgar Winter, and His Friend Derek Trucks by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2000 When read more...
Danny O'Keefe
Saving Our Planet: Danny O'Keefe Speaks up for Conservation and Land Stewardship, Feathered Friends & Tuneful Buddies, and Making Music That Has a Purpose. by Mitch Lopate Summer 2000 Danny read more...
Bonnie Bramlett
Don't You Remember You Told Me You Loved Me Baby? A Conversation with Bonnie Bramlett by Jill McLane Smith Summer 2000 From her work with Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, to her friendships with a who's-who of '60's and read more...
Janis Joplin Remembered
Recollections of Janis Seen Through the Eyes of Big Brother by Sam Andrew Summer 2000 Janis Joplin spent her childhood in Port Arthur, Texas. That town and indeed all of Texas east of Houston is bayou country, read more...
John D. Wyker
Hallucination Verification John Wyker and Mighty Field of Vision by Mitch Lopate 2000 Hallucination verification, John D. "WildCat" Wyker's back on the loose! Actually, it's hard to read more...
Don Barnes
There’s Still Something Special About .38 The Don Barnes Interview by Michael Buffalo Smith February 2000 One of the hardest working bands of the ‘80s and ‘90s, still going strong read more...
In Memory of Lonesome Dave Peverett
A TRIBUTE TO LONESOME DAVE PEVERETT by Roxane Crutcher Monday afternoon, I received the news of Lonesome Dave from the webmaster of Foghat...it was all I could do to hold back my emotions..."Rox, Just in case you haven't read more...
Dick Cooper
On and Off the Road with Dick Cooper by Mitch Lopate 2000 Dick Cooper wears many hats: music museum curator, band road manager, free-lance writer and photographer, motorcycle racer, traveler, martial arts disciple and read more...
Gov't Mule
BAD LITTLE DONKEY Gov’t Mule Conquers the World by Michael Buffalo Smith February 2000 Following in the footsteps of bands like The Grateful read more...
Johnson Family of Muscle Shoals
A Legendary Family by Dick Cooper, January 2000 Muscle Shoals music is hard to label because of its diversity. It is Rock, Pop, R & B, Country, Jazz, Folk, and most genres in between. While many influential people have come to the area and read more...
Jerry LaCroix
Talkin’ Trash with Jerry LaCroix An Interview with the Former Lead Singer of Edgar Winter’s White Trash by Michael Buffalo Smith January 2000 My wife and I were in Port Arthur, Texas on read more...
Laura Joplin (Janis Joplin)
Remembering Janis, with Love An Interview with Her Sister, Laura Joplin by Jill McLane Smith January 2000 Janis Joplin remains a rock and roll icon thirty years after her death. Her albums have gone read more...
Koko Taylor
Praise the Bridge that Carried You Across An Audience with The Queen of the Blues by Michael Buffalo Smith 2000 I understand that Koko is a nickname. How did you come to be called Koko?
Wayne Perkins
THE ULTIMATE ROCK AND ROLL SIDE MAN Wayne Perkins: A Lifetime on Six Strings by Roxane Crutcher December 1999 Wayne, could you give the readers of the interview a brief review of your music read more...
Artimus Pyle 1999
His Tonka Toys Were Real An Exclusive Interview with Artimus Pyle by Michael Buffalo Smith November 1999 He was the second drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd but most fans know him as THE drummer for read more...
Edgar Winter
Winter Wonderland 25 Years After “Frankenstein” and “Free Ride,” Edgar Winter is Still Rockin’ by Michael Buffalo Smith October 1999 From his early, jazz-influenced read more...
Danny Joe Brown
Still Beatin’ the Odds An Exclusive Interview with Danny Joe Brown by Michael Buffalo Smith November 1999 When you talk about Southern Rock legends, one of the names that will always read more...
Ricky Skaggs Returns to His Roots
by Michael Buffalo Smith June, 1999 Ricky Skaggs has finally found his bliss. After years of performing Top 40 Country music, which netted him twelve number one singles and a wall filled with gold and platinum records, eight CMA awards, read more...
Ed King 1999
THE KING OF SOUTHERN ROCK THE ED KING INTERVIEW by Michael Buffalo Smith June 1999 Ed King was one of the original members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and when the group reunited read more...
Chuck Ruff (Edgar Winter Group)
The Edgar Winter Group, Sammy Hagar, and Being a Rock Star by Michael Buffalo Smith Summer 1999 Chuck Ruff may forever be remembered best as the drummer for The Edgar Winter Group, and for his percussion on read more...
Gregg Allman
Midnight Rider An Audience with Gregg Allman by Michael Buffalo Smith Spring 1999 Warren Haynes and Allen Woody had just left The Allman Brothers Band to pursue Gov’t Mule full time, and Jack Pearson read more...
Tony "Smoke" Heatherly
Remembering Toy Caldwell A Conversation with Tony "Smoke" Heatherly by Michael B. Smith March, 1999 Editor's Note: In February, 2000, Blue Hat Records (Charlie Daniels' label) re-released read more...
George McCorkle 1998
Lightning in the Air An Interview with George McCorkle by Michael Buffalo Smith June 1998 There truly was “fire on the mountain and lightning in the air” on June 4, 1998 when I caught up with read more...
Jimmy Hall
JUST AS WET AS EVER WET WILLIE FRONTMAN JIMMY HALL by Michael Buffalo Smith Summer 1998 When the stage is his, Jimmy Hall, the dynamic, Mobile, Alabama -born singer transforms himself into one righteous medium who melds read more...