James Dee Crowe (August 27, 1937December 24, 2021) was an American

banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and in modern forms is usually made of plastic, where early membranes were made of animal skin. ...

player and bluegrass band leader. He first became known during his four-year stint with

Jimmy Martin James Henry Martin (August 10, 1927 – May 14, 2005) was an American bluegrass singer and musician, known as the "King of Bluegrass". Early years Martin was born in Sneedville, Tennessee, United States, and was raised in the hard farming l ...

in the 1950s. Crowe led the bluegrass group

New South New South, New South Democracy or New South Creed is a slogan in the history of the American South first used after the American Civil War. Reformers used it to call for a modernization of society and attitudes, to integrate more fully with th ...

from 1971 until his death in 2021.

Life and career

James Dee Crowe was born on August 27, 1937, in

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city coterminous with and the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the city's population was 322,570, making it the List of ...

. He began playing the banjo early on and was offered a job with

's Sunny Mountain Boys, a backup group in 1954. Before starting in Martin's band, Crowe played with Pee Wee Lambert and Curly Parker. Crowe recorded with Martin between 1956 and 1960. In 1961, he formed the Kentucky Mountain Boys, principally performing in the Lexington region. In 1971, Crowe changed the band's name to

The New South New South, New South Democracy or New South Creed is a slogan in the history of the American South first used after the American Civil War. Reformers used it to call for a modernization of society and attitudes, to integrate more fully with the ...

. As of 1975, the New South began to add

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

and

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

influences to its bluegrass repertoire, as well as

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...

and

folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk horror ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Fo ...

elements drawn from the work of

Gram Parsons Ingram Cecil Connor III (November 5, 1946 – September 19, 1973), known professionally as Gram Parsons, was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist. He recorded with the International Submarine Band, the Byrds, and the Flying Bu ...

and

Gordon Lightfoot Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. (November 17, 1938 – May 1, 2023) was a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved worldwide success and helped define the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s. Widely considered one of Canada's greatest songwriters, ...

, respectively. Crowe stopped releasing new records between the late 1980s and 1992, when he founded a new band. Kentucky Educational Television in 2008 aired a biography of James Dee Crowe, ''A Kentucky Treasure: The James Dee Crowe Story'', produced by H. Russell Farmer. Crowe received the Bluegrass Star Award, presented by the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation of Dallas, Texas, on October 15, 2011. The award is bestowed upon bluegrass artists who do an exemplary job of advancing traditional bluegrass music and bringing it to new audiences while preserving its character and heritage. He died from pneumonia on December 24, 2021, in

Nicholasville, Kentucky Nicholasville is a home rule city in and the county seat of Jessamine County, Kentucky, Jessamine County, Kentucky. The population was 31,490 during the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, making Nicholasville the 10th-largest settlemen ...

, at the age of 84.

Discography

At first: J.D. Crowe with Jimmy Martin & the Sunny Mountain Boys

J.D. Crowe has recorded 42 studio tracks with Jimmy Martin from late 1956 to August 1960, then in September 1963 and November 1966. A part of these corresponding works has been released in the following LPs (among others):Chris McGlone discography on Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science
/ref> *1960: ''Good 'N Country'' (Decca DL7-4016 : tracks: A1-B1, B3-B6, with Paul William: Mandolin, except A5) *1964: ''Widowmaker''Widowmaker Decca DL 4536) *1966: ''Big and Country Instrumentals'', (Decca DL7-4891, tracks: A1-A4 and B2, with

Vernon Derrick Vernon Derrick (November 7, 1933 – January 4, 2008) was an American musician and entertainer. Derrick may best be remembered as a fiddle and mandolin player of Hank Williams Jr.'s Bama Band in the 1980s. Personal life Derrick was born in Grant ...

: mandolin,

Buddy Spicher Buddy Spicher (born Norman Keith Spicher; July 28, 1938 in DuBois, Pennsylvania; pronounced “Spiker”) is an American country music fiddle player. He is a member of The Nashville A-Team of session musicians, and is Grammy-nominated. He was ...

: fiddle, Bill Yates (bass) - B5: recorded in 1963, with Bill Torbert: mandolin, Tater Tate: fiddle])) * J.D. Crowe recorded 42 studio tracks with Jimmy Martin, all of which appear in chronological order on the 5CD box-set : ''Jimmy Martin And Sunny Mountain Boys 1954-1974'' (Bear Family BCD-15705); tracks 11–43, 73–76, 107–111) *1984 ''Big Jam Session'' Recorded Live in 1959 at Johnny Sanders house, Lubbock, TX], with Paul Williams: mandolin and Terry Smith: bass (Old Homestead OH-159).

J.D. Crowe and the Kentucky Mountain Boys

*1968: ''Bluegrass Holiday'' (with Red Allen (bluegrass), Red Allen (guitar),

Doyle Lawson Doyle Wayne Lawson (born April 20, 1944) is an American traditional bluegrass and Southern gospel musician. He is best known as a mandolin player, vocalist, producer, and leader of the 6-man group Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Lawson was inducte ...

(mandolin), Bobby Slone (bass) (Lemco LP-609, reissued in 1981 on Rebel REB-1598. *1970: ''Ramblin' Boy'' (Lemco LP-610 – reissued as ''Blackjack'' in 1978: Rebel SLP-1583)(Doyle Lawson (guitar, vocal),

Larry Rice Larry Rice (24 March 1946 – 20 May 2009) was an American auto racing, racing driver in the United States Automobile Club, USAC and Champ Car, CART Championship Car series. He was the 1973 USAC National midget driver's champion and won the USAC S ...

(mandolin), Bobby Slone (bass)). *1971: ''The Model Church'' (Lemco LP-reissued in 1978: Rebel SLP-1585)(Doyle Lawson (guitar, vocal), Larry Rice (mandolin), Bobby Slone (bass)) *1973: ''Bluegrass Evolution''(with

Tony Rice David Anthony Rice (June 8, 1951 – December 25, 2020) was an American bluegrass guitarist and singer. He was an influential acoustic guitar player in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and acoustic jazz. He was inducted into the In ...

: (guitar Lead Vocals) & Larry Rice: (Mandolin)) (recorded by Starday, April 1973; released in 1978 by Gusto GT-0010)

J.D. Crowe and the New South

*1975: '' J. D. Crowe & The New South'' (Rounder 0044) (with Tony Rice (guitar, lead Vocals),

Jerry Douglas Gerald Calvin Douglas (born May 28, 1956) is an American Dobro and lap steel guitar player and record producer. He is widely regarded as "perhaps the finest Dobro player in contemporary acoustic music, and certainly the most celebrated and prol ...

(Resonator Guitar),

Ricky Skaggs Rickie Lee Skaggs (born July 18, 1954), known professionally as Ricky Skaggs, is an American neotraditional country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, ma ...

(Fiddle, Viola, Mandolin), Bobby Slone (bass). *1978: ''You Can Share My Blanket'' (Rounder 0096) (with Glenn Lawson (guitar, lead Vocals),

Jimmy Gaudreau James Arnott “Jimmy” Gaudreau is a singer and mandolinist playing traditional and progressive bluegrass music. He is best known for his solo albums, and his work with The Country Gentlemen, Tony Rice, and J. D. Crowe. Biography Early life I ...

(mandolin), Bobby Slone (fiddle), Randy Best (e-bass); guests: Jim Murphy (Steel Guitar, Dobro),

Charlie McCoy Charlie McCoy (born Charles Ray McCoy, March 28, 1941) is an American harmonica virtuoso and multi-instrumentalist in country music. He is best known for his harmonica solos on iconic recordings such as " Candy Man" ( Roy Orbison), "He Stoppe ...

(Harmonica)), Karl Himmel (drums)). *1980: ''My Home Ain't in the Hall of Fame'' (Rounder 0103) (with

Keith Whitley Jackie Keith Whitley (July 1, 1954 – May 9, 1989) was an American country music and bluegrass singer and songwriter. During his career, he released only two albums, but charted 12 singles on the ''Billboard'' country charts, and seven more af ...

, (guitar, lead vocals), Jimmy Gaudreau, (mandolin), Bobby Slone (fiddle), Steve Bryant, (e-bass) guests: Doug Jernigan (steel guitar, dobro), Jimmy Ashby (drums)). *1982: ''Somewhere Between'' (Rounder 0153 (with Keith Whitley, (guitar, lead vocals), Wendy Miller, (mandolin), Bobby Slone (fiddle), Steve Bryant (e-bass), guests: Doug Jernigan (steel guitar, dobro),

Kenny Malone Kenny Malone (August 4, 1938 – August 26, 2021) was an American drummer and percussionist. Life and career Malone was born in Denver, Colorado. From the 1970s onwards, he was a prominent session musician in folk, country and many other acousti ...

(drums),

Pete Wade Herman Bland "Pete" Wade (December 16, 1934 – August 27, 2024) was an American guitarist. Wade worked as a session musician in Nashville, playing on numerous hits including "Crazy Arms" by Ray Price, "He Stopped Loving Her Today" by George Jo ...

(e-guitar), The Jordanaires (Harmony Vocals)) *1982: ''Live in Japan'' (Rounder 0159) recorded in Tokyo, 11-1979 (with Keith Whitley, (guitar, lead vocals), Jimmy Gaudreau, (mandolin), Bobby Slone (fiddle), Steve Bryant, (e-bass)) *1986: ''Straight Ahead'' (Rounder 0202) (with Tony King, (guitar, lead vocals), Wendy Miller,

Sam Bush Charles Samuel Bush (born April 13, 1952) is an American mandolinist who is considered an originator of progressive bluegrass music. In 2020, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as a member of New Grass Revival. ...

(mandolin), Bobby Slone (fiddle), Jerry Douglas (Resonator Guitar), Randy Hayes (bass, drums) *1994: ''Flashback'' (Rounder CD 0322 ) (Richard Bennett (guitar, lead vocals), Don Rigsby (mandolin), Phil Leadbetter (Resonator Guitar), Randy Howard (Fiddle), Curt Chapman (bass)). *1999: ''Come On Down to My World'' (Rounder 0422) (Greg Luc (Guitar, Lead Vocals), Buddy Spicher, Glen Duncan (Fiddle), Dwight McCall (mandolin), Phil Leadbetter (Resonator Guitar, Rickey Wasson (guitar), Curt Chapman (bass)) *2006: ''Lefty's Old Guitar'' (Rounder 0512) (Rickey Wasson (Guitar, Lead Vocals), Dwight McCall (mandolin), Ron Stewart (fiddle), Harold Nixon (bass))

The Bluegrass Album Band

Bluegrass Album Band Bluegrass Album Band was a bluegrass supergroup, founded by Tony Rice and J. D. Crowe in 1980. Originally, there was no intention to build a permanent group and the main reason for the collaboration was to record a solo album for Tony Rice ...

band members:

(guitar), J.D. Crowe (banjo),

(mandolin),

Bobby Hicks Robert Caldwell Hicks (July 21, 1933 – August 16, 2024) was a Grammy Award-winning American bluegrass fiddler and musician with more than fifty years of experience. He was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2017. L ...

(Fiddle),

Todd Phillips Todd Phillips (born Todd Philip Bunzl; December 19, 1970) is an American filmmaker. Phillips began his career in 1993 and directed films in the 2000s such as ''Road Trip'', '' Old School'', ''Starsky & Hutch'', and '' School for Scoundrels''. ...

, except 1989:

Mark Schatz Mark L. Schatz (born April 23, 1955) is an American double bass, bassist, banjoist, mandolinist, acoustic guitar, guitarist, clogging, clogger, and Juba dance, hambone performer who has recorded on albums for and toured with artists including Be ...

(bass); additional member - since 1983 (Vol 5 & 6):

- since 1989 (Vol 6):

Vassar Clements Vassar Carlton Clements (April 25, 1928 – August 16, 2005) was an American jazz, Swing music, swing, and Bluegrass music, bluegrass fiddler. Clements has been dubbed the Father of Hillbilly Jazz, an improvisational style that blends and borro ...

*1980: ''The Bluegrass Album'' (Rounder 0140) *1982: ''The Bluegrass Album, Vol.2'' (Rounder 0140) *1983: ''The Bluegrass Album, Vol.3: California Connection'' (Rounder 0180) *1984: ''The Bluegrass Album, Vol.4'' (Rounder 0210) *1989: ''The Bluegrass Album, Vol.5: Sweet Sunny South'' (Rounder 0240) *1996: ''The Bluegrass Album, Vol.6: Bluegrass Instrumentals'' (Rounder 0330)

Crowe, Lawson & Williams

* 2010: ''Old Friends Get Together'' (Mountain Home MH 1292) *2014: ''Standing Tall And Tough'' Mountain Home MH 1502)

J.D. Crowe, Rickey Wasson

* 2018: ''Hats Off To Haggard'' (Truegrass Entertainment CDTGE90444) * 2021: ''Crowe & Wasson'' (Truegrass Entertainment TG-9584-1)

As session musician

*1963:

Charlie Monroe Charlie Monroe (July 4, 1903 – September 27, 1975) was an American country and bluegrass music guitarist. Charlie performed with his brother, Bill, as part of the Monroe Brothers. He later formed his own group, Charlie Monroe & the Kentucky ...

– ''Bluegrass Sound'' (REM LP-1003, reissued in 1982 as: ''Songs He Made Famous'' by Old Homestead OHCS 304) (feat. J.D. Crowe (banjo), B. Joslin (fiddle), E. Stacy (bass) *1965: Charlie Monroe – ''Lord build me a cabin'' (REM RL 1010) (feat. J.D. Crowe (banjo), B. Lucas, Paul Mullins (fiddle), K. Whalen, B. Wassumm K. O. Durham, (guitar, T. Sharp (bass)). *1969: Joe Green – ''Joe Greene's Fiddle Album'' (County 722) (feat. J.D. Crowe (banjo),

Roland White Roland Joseph White (né LeBlanc; April 23, 1938 – April 1, 2022) was an American bluegrass music artist, performing principally on the mandolin. He was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2017. Biography White wa ...

(mandolin),

Chubby Wise Robert Russell "Chubby" Wise (October 2, 1915 – January 6, 1996) was an American bluegrass fiddler. Originally starting out playing the banjo and guitar, Wise began playing fiddle at age 12, working locally in the Jacksonville area. He joine ...

(guitar), Benny Williams (bass)) *1970: Dan & Louise Brock – ''Kentucky Songbag'' (Donerail 201) feat. J.D. Crowe (banjo), Doyle Lawson (guitar), Bobby Slone (fiddle)).''Dan & Louise Brock – Kentucky Songbag'' in Bluegrass discography on ibiblio.org
/ref> *1974: Tony Rice – ''Freeborn Man'' (King Bluegrass KB 529) (J.D. Crowe, Larry Rice, Bobby Slone) *1975:

– ''Mr. Poverty'' (King Bluegrass KB-543) (feat. J.D. Crowe (banjo), Tony Rice (guitar), Ricky Skaggs (fiddle), Jerry Douglas (Resonator Guitar), Bobby Slone (bass), producer : Tony Rice) *1977:

– ''Tennessee Dream'' (County 766, reed.2002, Rebel CD-1778) (feat. J.D. Crowe (banjo), James Bailey (guitar, banjo), Kenny Baker (fiddle), Jerry Douglas (Resonator Guitar), Bobby Slone (bass)) *1977: Tony Rice – ''Tony Rice'' (Rounder 0085) *1988:

David Grisman David Jay Grisman (born March 23, 1945) is an American mandolinist. His music combines bluegrass, folk, and jazz in a genre he calls "Dawg music". He founded the record label Acoustic Disc, which issues his recordings and those of other acousti ...

– ''Home Is Where The Heart Is'' (Rounder CD0251/0252) (5 tracks, feat. J.D. Crowe (banjo), Tony Rice (guitar)) *1991:

– Grass Routes (Rounder CD0287) (feat. J.D. Crowe (bjo), Jesse McReynolds (mando),

(2° fiddle),

David Grier David Grier is an American Steel-string guitar, acoustic guitarist. A three-time International Bluegrass Music Association, IBMA guitarist of the year, Grier has been lauded as highly influential and a master Flatpicking, flatpicker by music pub ...

(gtr),

Roy Huskey Jr. Roy Milton Huskey (December 17, 1956 – September 6, 1997), known professionally as Roy Huskey Jr., was a prominent American upright bass player in country music from Nashville, Tennessee. Huskey performed alongside musicians such as Chet At ...

(bass)) *2000:

''Sad Songs and Waltzes'' (Rounder CD 0399 included 6-tracks from – New South album: ''Somewhere Between'', Rounder 0153) Produced by J.D. Crowe and Don Gant Others sessions, among others, with: Red Allen (bluegrass), Red Allen,

Ronnie Bowman Ronnie Bowman (born July 9, 1961) is an American singer and composer of bluegrass music. Besides his solo albums, he is known for his work with the Lonesome River Band. Biography Early years A native of Mount Airy, North Carolina, Bowman sang gosp ...

, Jerry Douglas, Jimmy Gaudreau,

Richard Greene Richard Marius Joseph Greene (25 August 1918 – 1 June 1985) was a noted English film and television actor. A matinée idol who appeared in more than 40 films, he was perhaps best known for the lead role in the long-running British TV series ...

Tom T. Hall Thomas Hall (May 25, 1936 – August 20, 2021), known professionally as Tom T. Hall and informally nicknamed "The Storyteller," was an American country music singer-songwriter and short-story author. He wrote 12 number-one hit songs, with 26 more ...

Michael Johnathon Michael Johnathon is an American folk singer-songwriter, producer, author, and playwright. He has released 20 albums, published 5 books, a play, composed an opera, performs with symphony orchestras and in coffee houses, completed a motion pict ...

Phil Leadbetter Phil Leadbetter (March 31, 1962 – October 14, 2021) was an American resonator guitar player. Life Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Leadbetter began playing the resonator guitar at age 12. He was a 1980 graduate of Gibbs High School in Corryton ...

Don Rigsby Donald Glen Rigsby is an American mandolinist, fiddler, guitarist, vocalist, and producer in the bluegrass tradition. He is known for his solo career, and for his work with the Lonesome River Band and Longview. Biography Early years Growing up ...

, Ricky Skaggs...

Citations

Sources

External links

* Home page: * Feature story on J. D. Crowe:
J.D. Crowe Interview
at NAMM Oral History Collection (2016) * *
J. D. Crowe
featured player i
Banjo All-Stars
Trading Cards, Series 1 {{DEFAULTSORT:Crowe, J. D. 1937 births 2021 deaths American banjoists American country singer-songwriters Bluegrass Album Band members Bluegrass musicians from Kentucky Country musicians from Kentucky Longview (American band) members Musicians from Lexington, Kentucky New South (band) members Rounder Records artists Singer-songwriters from Kentucky Deaths from pneumonia in Kentucky