|
|
| INTERVIEWS ARCHIVES RESCHEDULED |
 |
Name: Bobby Osborne
Group: Bobby Osborne & Rocky Top Express
Date: Friday January 5th, 2007
Time: 12:00pm EST
Website: www.bobbyosborne.com
Interviewer: Gracie Muldoon
Description:
Bobby Osborne was born December 7, 1931 in Leslie County, Kentucky.
Beginning professionally while in his teens, Bobby joined The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, based in Beckley, West Virginia in 1950. He became a member of a small and elite group – now called the ‘first generation’ that created and shaped the genre of music that we now call bluegrass.
In 1951 he recorded four songs with Jimmy Martin, released on two singles by King Records of Cincinnati, they were the first bluegrass recordings for the now-defunct label.
Discharged from the Marine Corps in November 1953, he and his younger brother, banjo master Sonny Osborne, formed a partnership that was to endure for 51 years.
In 1959, MGM released one of country music’s early LP’s in the 12” format, Country Pickin’ And Hillside Singin’ by The Osborne Brothers and Ed Allen. This monumentally important collection introduced the innovative high lead harmony concept in trio vocals. The soaring quality of Bobby Osborne’s voice, along with the innumerable innovations the Osborne Brothers have been responsible for, make the group one of the most imitated and influential acts in the history of bluegrass.
They pioneered the “high-lead” vocal arrangement, which placed the melody in the highest voice and the tenor and baritone parts below it (as opposed to the tenor on top and the baritone below) that was immediately emulated by other groups and is predominant in bluegrass today.
On July 31, 1964, Bobby and Sonny, The Osborne Brothers, became members of The Grand Ole Opry. The brothers recorded a string of country chart recordings that include Georgia Pineywoods, Midnight Flyer, Tennessee Hound Dog, Up This Hill And Down and their signature songs, Rocky Top and Ruby. Released on Christmas Day 1967, Rocky Top became a Tennessee state song on February 15, 1982. Their recording of Kentucky resulted in its becoming a official song of that state on March 17, 1992. The Osborne Brothers were the first bluegrass band to perform on a college campus (1960), and the first to play a concert at the White House (1973).
During one of bluegrass music’s preeminent careers that includes the CMA’s Vocal Group Of THE Year Award in 1971 and ten consecutive years as recipient of Music City News’ Bluegrass Band Of The Year Award, The Osborne Brothers in the years 1976 – 2004 recorded for three prominent independent record companies, CMH, Sugar Hill and Pinecastle. The duo was inducted in the MONROE BLUEGRASS HALL OF FAME and was accorded bluegrass music’s most prestigious recognition as the 1994 inductee to the IBMA HALL OF FAME.
In October 2004, Sonny entered retirement. The mandolin master continues with the same backup musicians as BOBBY OSBORNE & THE ROCKY TOP X-PRESS.
Bobby Osborne has had a profound and widely felt impact on bluegrass as a vocalist, mandolinist, and bandleader for over five decades. His is truly one of the greatest, most distinctive voices in the history of the music.
Bobby Osborne continues to be on the cutting edge of the now enormously popular bluegrass music form. His instantly recognizable, quality high lead and tenor voice and inventive mandolin stylings remain unsurpassed.
|
|
|
|
|
