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Name: Monroe Crossing
Group: Monroe Crossing
Date: Tuesday June 12th, 2007
Time: 12:00pm EDT
Website: www.monroecrossing.com
Interviewer: Uncle Billy Dunbar
Description:
Monroe Crossing is "the Midwest's Premier Bluegrass and Gospel Quintet."
Named in honor of Bill Monroe, "The Father of Bluegrass," Monroe
Crossing plays an upbeat blend of classic and traditional bluegrass,
bluegrass gospel and heartfelt originals. Audiences can sing along to
the music of Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, Flatt & Scruggs, the
Osborne Brothers, and Jimmy Martin, performed in fresh, creative
arrangements by the band. Monroe Crossing also "crosses" over to new
songs and styles as well, as evidenced by their original treatments of
songs like the doo-wop hit "My Girl" and Etta James' "At Last" (both can
be heard on their 2005 CD, "Somebody Like You").
"Working close" around a single mic in a style reminiscent of old-time
radio shows, Monroe Crossing's world-class musicianship and choreography
wins over audiences wherever they go. One of the group's visual
trademarks are the 1940's vintage ties worn by the four men in honor of
the decade in which bluegrass music--a uniquely American musical
genre--was born. Always a crowd pleaser, Monroe Crossing is known both
for its dynamic stage show and for the warmth it shares on
stage--interacting with one another & the audience, and always honoring
requests after intermission.
A 2007 MN Music Hall of Fame inductee, Monroe Crossing won awards for
Female Vocalist, Guitar, Mandolin and Banjo from the Minnesota Bluegrass
& Old-Time Music Association at their 25th Anniversary Awards Banquet.
Our CD "The Green Mossy Ground" won Bluegrass Album of the Year from the
Minnesota Music Academy (MMA), and we are the ONLY Bluegrass Band EVER
nominated as MMA Artist of the Year.
At the 2006 International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) World of
Bluegrass convention, we were selected as the California Bluegrass
Association's Emerging Artist of the Year, and Monroe Crossing was one
of 10 IBMA Showcase Bands in 2007. In addition, Lisa Fuglie was featured
in the IBMA's Songwriter's Showcase, and banjoist Benji Flaming
performed on the IBMA's Master's Workshop Stage.
2007 also saw the release of the band's eighth CD, "Live From Silver
Dollar City," and the World Premiere of "The World Beloved-A Bluegrass
Mass" with Monroe Crossing and the renowned choral ensemble
VocalEssence, under the direction of Philip Brunelle. Wildly popular,
the work, written by Carol Barnett, has since been published, and the CD
was released in November 2007 on the Clarion label.
Known as "one of the hardest working bands in bluegrass music," Monroe
Crossing's style of bluegrass & gospel music appeals to all ages and all
walks of life. In the past few years, bluegrass has experienced a major
resurgence, and Monroe Crossing is at the forefront of this new wave of
popularity. The quintet plays at 125-plus venues each year, to include
The Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield WI, Branson's Silver Dollar City,
Bell Buckle's Bluegrass Cruise, and the legendary Ozark Folk Center in
Mountain View, AR.
Monroe Crossing is Mark Anderson-bass, Art Blackburn-guitar, Lisa
Fuglie-fiddle, Matt Thompson-mandolin, and Benji Flaming-banjo. Although
each member comes from a unique musical background, they combine their
talents to entertain with a style that leaves audiences asking for more.
From Minneapolis, the band most recent addition is Benji Flaming on
banjo. As an original member of Monroe Crossing, he engineered and
played on their critically-acclaimed debut CD, "Across The Blue
Mountains." A multi-instrumentalist, his recent solo release finds him
playing banjo, guitar, dobro, and bass. He was featured at the
International Bluegrass Music Association's annual FanFest, and has made
multiple appearances on their "Masters Workshop" stage.
A Wisconsinite, Mark Anderson handles the bass duties, runs the sound
equipment, and manages the band's website. With his musical background
found, oddly enough, in punk rock, Mark adds a totally unique, bouncy
energy you simply can't resist and definitely can't find anywhere else.
But don't let his stage antics fool you, he is one of the finest bass
players in bluegrass music!
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Art Blackburn does all the booking
& publicity, and contributes musically with his innovative rhythm & lead
guitar playing, and his strong lead and harmony vocals. Art has been a
fixture on the Minnesota bluegrass scene for over 30 years, charming
audiences all the while. He is always the best dressed member on stage
and owns-by far-the most extensive collection of vintage ties in the band.
Lisa Fuglie, fiddle player and lead singer extraordinaire, adds an
international element to the group. It was as a young girl in Nigeria,
Africa that she discovered bluegrass music on an old 78 rpm record.
Eventually, she made her way back to Minnesota, where her family
originated. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist, singer and
songwriter, Lisa plays just about anything with strings and brings
audiences to their feet with her gorgeous and powerful voice.
From Mankato, Minnesota on mandolin, and one of the best emcees in
bluegrass today, Matt Thompson never fails to set the audience at ease
with his comfortable, warm style. When he's not talking, he is wowing
crowds with his amazing instrumental virtuosity. He is largely
responsible for the band's original song arrangements, and he sings the
tricky baritone parts in the 3-part harmonies. A lifelong lover of
bluegrass music, Matt brings not only his world-class musical talents to
the band, but his extensive historical knowledge of bluegrass as well.
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