New Grass Revival
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Louisville , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Number of employees | 8 (members over time) |
New Grass Revival was a pioneering American progressive bluegrass ensemble established in 1971, comprising members such as Sam Bush, Courtney Johnson, Ebo Walker, Curtis Burch, Butch Robins, John Cowan, Béla Fleck, and Pat Flynn. Their active years spanned until 1989, during which they produced over twenty albums and six singles. The group’s most successful single, "Callin' Baton Rouge", peaked at No. 37 on the U.S. country charts in 1989 and was later covered by Garth Brooks, reaching the Top 5 in country music.
In 2020, New Grass Revival earned induction into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
Origin
New Grass Revival emerged from the Bluegrass Alliance, a band that included Bush (vocals, fiddle, guitar, mandolin) and Johnson (banjo, vocals) around 1970. The Alliance’s lineup also featured bassist Ebo Walker and fiddler Lonnie Peerce. Curtis Burch (dobro, guitar, vocals) joined prior to Peerce's exit in 1972. Afterward, the remaining members rebranded themselves as New Grass Revival and launched their first album, The Arrival of the New Grass Revival, under Starday Records in the same year.
Departure from traditional bluegrass
New Grass Revival distinguished themselves from conventional bluegrass norms through their long hairstyles and casual clothing, performing a wide variety of songs that crossed genre boundaries. Their repertoire included covers of Jerry Lee Lewis ("Great Balls of Fire"), the Beatles ("Get Back"; "I'm Down"), and Bob Marley ("One Love/People Get Ready"), along with protest anthems like "One Tin Soldier". This approach sparked controversy among purists who believed it strayed from the ideals set by Bill Monroe.[1] Curtis Burch clarified that their intent was not to show disrespect but to broaden the genre's sonic palette using traditional instruments.[2] In 1979, they supported and opened for Leon Russell.[3]
Initial lineup (1972–1981)
After their debut release, Ebo Walker departed and was succeeded by Butch Robins from July 1973 to November 1974, followed by John Cowan, originally from Evansville, Indiana.[4] This consistent lineup throughout the 1970s recorded with Flying Fish Records.[4] Rather than performing classic bluegrass tunes, New Grass Revival fused elements from rock and roll, jazz, and blues into their music.[3] Although some traditional bluegrass fans rejected their style, they cultivated a loyal following.
Second lineup (1981–1989)
Johnson and Burch exited in 1981 due to exhaustion from touring.[4] Bush and Cowan continued with the addition of virtuoso banjoist Béla Fleck and guitarist/vocalist Pat Flynn.[4] Fleck brought acclaimed instrumental pieces such as "Metric Lips" and "Seven by Seven," while Flynn contributed powerful vocals alongside distinctive guitar work.
The group signed with Sugar Hill Records in 1984, releasing On the Boulevard featuring this refreshed lineup.[3] By 1986, they transitioned to EMI Records, issuing their breakthrough self-titled album.[4] Modest chart success followed with singles like "What You Do to Me" and "Ain't That Peculiar"; Fleck's "Seven by Seven" earned a Grammy nod for Best Country Instrumental.[4] Hold to a Dream (1987) generated hits including "Unconditional Love" and "Can't Stop Now."[4] Their 1989 release Friday Night in America sustained commercial momentum with "Callin' Baton Rouge" reaching the Top 40 and "You Plant Your Fields" climbing to number 58.[4] Despite this peak in popularity, Bush decided to dissolve the band following this album,[4] subsequently forming The Sam Bush Band; meanwhile, Fleck embarked on a successful solo career.
Post-breakup activities
In 1993, Bush, Cowan, Fleck, and Flynn came together once again to support Garth Brooks on the track "Callin' Baton Rouge". Banjo player Courtney Johnson passed away in 1996 at the age of 56 due to lung cancer. To assist his surviving spouse, Bush, Fleck, Cowan, and Burch reunited for a benefit concert held on September 24, 1996, at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. This event featured prominent artists such as John Hartford, Hot Rize, Tim O'Brien, Vassar Clements, Del McCoury Band, Ricky Skaggs, Pete Rowan, and Jerry Douglas.
In 1997, Brooks invited Flynn, Bush, Cowan, and Fleck to perform "Do What You Gotta Do" on the television show Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Since that appearance, Flynn has collaborated with Cowan and Fleck but not with Bush; meanwhile, Bush has frequently worked alongside Cowan and Fleck. Additionally, Bush and Cowan have performed in conjunction with Burch.
In April 2007, the quartet of Bush, Fleck, Cowan, and Flynn reunited for the Merlefest 20th Anniversary Jam, delivering a rendition of Townes Van Zandt's "White Freight Liner"—marking their first performance together in ten years. Later, in August 2009, Bush, Cowan, and Burch participated with their respective bands at the first International Newgrass Festival held in Oakland, Kentucky.
Personnel
- Band Members
- Curtis Burch — guitar and vocals
- Sam Bush — mandolin, fiddle, guitar, vocals
- Courtney Johnson — banjo, guitar, vocals
- Ebo Walker — bass and vocals
- Butch Robins — bass
- John Cowan — bass and vocals
- Béla Fleck — banjo, guitar, vocals
- Pat Flynn — guitar and vocals
External links
- American bluegrass music groups
- Musical groups established in 1971
- Musical groups disestablished in 1989
- Musical groups from Louisville, Kentucky
- Bluegrass musicians from Kentucky
- 1971 establishments in Kentucky
- Country music groups from Kentucky
- Flying Fish Records artists
- Progressive bluegrass music groups
- Sugar Hill Records artists
- Stony Plain Records artists
- Capitol Records artists
- Paradise Records artists
- Rounder Records artists
- Starday Records artists