Hard to believe it’s been more than a year since the release concert for Picking the Faith. We closed out the show with this song, featuring Brian Keith Wallen onContinue readingJust a Little Talk with Jesus
Farther On
Farther On appears to be a hymn out of the shape note tradition of the Southern singing schools; however, it’s origins are uncertain. Like many hymn texts of its time,Continue readingFarther On
There’ll Be Some Changes Made
Written in 1921, I first heard this song as a parody on Chet Atkins’ and Mark Knopfler’s Neck and Neck album. When it showed up on Ben Hall‘s debut CD, IContinue readingThere’ll Be Some Changes Made
Smile, Darn Ya, Smile
Smile, Darn Ya, Smile is a song out of the Great Depression. It was written in 1931 and used in a cartoon short of the same name. It got itsContinue readingSmile, Darn Ya, Smile
Down in the River to Pray
Down in the River to Pray is an Appalachian tune that gained popularity with the release of Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? in 2000. The song appears in Slave SongsContinue readingDown in the River to Pray
Thumbpicking Jam at Mountain View
It was the third weekend in May, and so I was back at the Ozark Folk Center for Thumbpicking Weekend. … Continue readingThumbpicking Jam at Mountain View
Maggie (with The Champions)
Moving to Oklahoma meant being separated from my friends in Indiana by many, many miles. During the seven years we lived there, I made lots of musical friends, including membersContinue readingMaggie (with The Champions)
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Last fall, a delegation from the Disciples of Christ in the Democratic Republic of Congo visited Indiana. It was my honor on several occasions during their visit to make musicContinue readingWhat a Friend We Have in Jesus
Come We That Love the Lord
Join in a song with sweet accord,And thus surround the throne. That text concludes the first verse of Come We That Love the Lord, a hymn text written by Isaac WattsContinue readingCome We That Love the Lord
Sadie
I first heard this song when I got my copy of Doc and Merle Watson’s Watson Country CD. Well, then our niece and her husband had their second child and decided to name her Sadie Ruth. … Continue readingSadie