I had the honor of being audio director for this. "Fire On The Mountain" TNN, 1980's. We had all the Bluegrass "Stars" on the show and they were wonderful, but these guys (I had never heard of them at the time) came out and knocked it out of the park! What a pleasure to work with them, and what total reverence they had for performing PURE Bluegrass Music. Superb musicians and a wonderful memory. Thanks! Buddy Davis
Dudley is great I love him with the Scene I was there at the Birchmere the first time he played with them I talked to for a while that night,before him Was Moondie Klien and he was great with the Scene too!
I talked to Eddie Stubbs Yesterday, and let me tell you he is as nice of a man you would want to meet. I ask him if they would ever be a reunion of the JMB, and he said even though he loved those 18years which ended in '96, probably not. I hated to hear that. But you can still catch him on the Marty Stuart Show every Saturday night on RFDTV. One of the best shows on TV, IMO.
The closest thing to a reunion took place about a year after you posted. In July 2011 Dudley, David, Richard, Marshall, and new fiddler Michael Cleveland did a set at Musicians Against Childhood Cancer near Columbus OH, and the following Labor Day weekend they did a second set at Delaware Valley BG Festival in NJ. No more reunions since then although there are several other bands that have multiple JMB members, such as Seneca Rocks, and occasionally Linda Lay's band. I was at the MACC reunion and it was delightful. Just like old times!
Underwood was so great. It's no wonder that he was the guy asked to play on all those other people's albums, i.e. McCroury Brothers, etc. He had such drive and feeling to his playing that the subsequent JMB banjo player couldn't match (good technician but a robot). His wonderful singing and stage presence are also revealed by this video. He would absolutely ignite an audience! I went to several of their shows and the general concensus was always that they were never as good without Underwood..
I'd have to disagree--strongly--with your assessment of Tom Adams as a "good technician but a robot". I hear a lot of creativity and wit in his playing, and if you ever meet him, you'll see how that flows from his personality. But what the heck--we all see things differently. Richard certainly was great, too, and I think he and Dudley sang some of the best duets in bluegrass--up there with Jimmy Martin and Bill Monroe, Nick Forster and Tim O'Brien, or Tom Rozum and Laurie Lewis.
@Robin18us Did Bill Monroe "have to move on"? How about Don Reno? Lester Flatt? Del McCoury?? How about Jim & Jesse McReynolds??? They were world class musicians! No one has to "move on" - bluegrass is the zenith!
I believe musicians should do what they need to do in order to earn an honest living. If there is money to be made playing music outside the genre you are known for, that's okay with me. It offers the musician an opportunity to broaden the audience.
Great stuff ! Too much "jazzgrass" nowadays. Look at the festival lineups, and you'll know what ones to go to, and what ones to stay away from. Some so-called Bluegrass festivals have a lineup that draws Yahoos, Druggies, and dancers in front of the stage. Traditional RULES............
Are you kidding ?? Colonels were Ok for a jam band. They were all about improvising while these guys actually practiced and had good timing, singing etc.
No one "blows:" a genius like Chris Thile away. Guy is the best mandolin player ever. Just gone on to another level. Happens with every generation. Bela Fleck passes Earl Scruggs. Mark OConnor blows away Kenny Baker. Get a grip.
The world still needs the Johnson Mountain boys!!!!
I had the honor of being audio director for this. "Fire On The Mountain" TNN, 1980's. We had all the Bluegrass "Stars" on the show and they were wonderful, but these guys (I had never heard of them at the time) came out and knocked it out of the park! What a pleasure to work with them, and what total reverence they had for performing PURE Bluegrass Music. Superb musicians and a wonderful memory. Thanks! Buddy Davis
bangwhistle69
what an honor to have took part in this production. World class!
Im pretty sure Eddie Stubbs is the coolest person to ever do anything in the history of man kind.
Loved these guys' 1950s performances in the 1980s-90s.
This sure brings back some memories. . . what a great band!!!
Dudley is great I love him with the Scene I was there at the Birchmere the first time he played with them I talked to for a while that night,before him Was Moondie Klien and he was great with the Scene too!
Taking nothing from the Boys but the bass man is thumpin' the innards outta that bass!
Great band!
That is Larry Robbins, good heart and personable fellow. Loved him and all the Johnson Mountain Boys. Miss their music.
I talked to Eddie Stubbs Yesterday, and let me tell you he is as nice of a man you would want to meet. I ask him if they would ever be a reunion of the JMB, and he said even though he loved those 18years which ended in '96, probably not. I hated to hear that. But you can still catch him on the Marty Stuart Show every Saturday night on RFDTV. One of the best shows on TV, IMO.
The closest thing to a reunion took place about a year after you posted. In July 2011 Dudley, David, Richard, Marshall, and new fiddler Michael Cleveland did a set at Musicians Against Childhood Cancer near Columbus OH, and the following Labor Day weekend they did a second set at Delaware Valley BG Festival in NJ. No more reunions since then although there are several other bands that have multiple JMB members, such as Seneca Rocks, and occasionally Linda Lay's band. I was at the MACC reunion and it was delightful. Just like old times!
Love these songs from JMB's. Dudley Donnell is always good. Liked him with Longview.
I went to see these guys in the 80's, when I was just a spring chickadee. I was in love with all 5 of them!
Underwood was so great. It's no wonder that he was the guy asked to play on all those other people's albums, i.e. McCroury Brothers, etc. He had such drive and feeling to his playing that the subsequent JMB banjo player couldn't match (good technician but a robot). His wonderful singing and stage presence are also revealed by this video. He would absolutely ignite an audience! I went to several of their shows and the general concensus was always that they were never as good without Underwood..
I'd have to disagree--strongly--with your assessment of Tom Adams as a "good technician but a robot". I hear a lot of creativity and wit in his playing, and if you ever meet him, you'll see how that flows from his personality. But what the heck--we all see things differently. Richard certainly was great, too, and I think he and Dudley sang some of the best duets in bluegrass--up there with Jimmy Martin and Bill Monroe, Nick Forster and Tim O'Brien, or Tom Rozum and Laurie Lewis.
i got a time and place. april 12 1994 on a tuesday night the good lord saved my soul
and you can fully understand the truth in this song
That's just good stuff!!!
It's the classic version of the best bluegrass band I ever saw.
Clearly a young David on mandolin.
Beautiful !
This is heaven.
This is also why traditional bluegrass music is better. They blow people like Chris Thile away. JMB = awesome!
awesome job. thanks for posting this
@Lordlako That goes for me to great greetings from the U.K...
@Robin18us Did Bill Monroe "have to move on"? How about Don Reno? Lester Flatt? Del McCoury?? How about Jim & Jesse McReynolds??? They were world class musicians! No one has to "move on" - bluegrass is the zenith!
you can tie it but you can't beat it.
New favorite!
Damn good picking and singing by any standard.
Hey!!! Great playlist you got here!!!
Fire
I believe musicians should do what they need to do in order to earn an honest living. If there is money to be made playing music outside the genre you are known for, that's okay with me. It offers the musician an opportunity to broaden the audience.
@Lordlako This is like a time machine!
Eddie Stubbs is awesome on the bass in this one.
Just to clarify Eddie is singing bass not playing it. Future country hall of fame radio DJ and was announcer on Marty Stuart's TV show on RFD
Eddie Stubbs is a great fiddle player and singer of Gospel but he never performs on the Marty Stuart show..I wonder Why?
Yes he does, you've just missed it, that's all. He's a WHALE of a fiddler, no doubt!
Pretty close!
Great stuff ! Too much "jazzgrass" nowadays. Look at the festival lineups, and you'll know what ones to go to, and what ones to stay away from. Some so-called Bluegrass festivals have a lineup that draws Yahoos, Druggies, and dancers in front of the stage. Traditional RULES............
Hippies -white people dressed like Bob Marley,spinning in circles.
classic
Got any more from that show?
You may be missing the point and certainly you should at the wiki on Thiele. There's a lot more history here than you realize.
is that dudley out front?
Are you kidding ?? Colonels were Ok for a jam band. They were all about improvising while these guys actually practiced and had good timing, singing etc.
Bach didn't feel the need to move on.
No one "blows:" a genius like Chris Thile away. Guy is the best mandolin player ever. Just gone on to another level. Happens with every generation. Bela Fleck passes Earl Scruggs. Mark OConnor blows away Kenny Baker. Get a grip.
Your musical priorities are flawed.
Chris Thiele is a punk !