Dudley Dale Connell (born February 18, 1956) is an American singer in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his work with the Johnson Mountain Boys, Longview, and

The Seldom Scene The Seldom Scene is an American bluegrass band that formed in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland. The band's original line-up comprised John Starling on lead vocals and guitar, Mike Auldridge on Dobro and baritone vocals, Ben Eldridge on banjo, Tom ...

Biography

Early years

Connell grew up in Rockville, Maryland. His parents were bluegrass enthusiasts. Connell initially played banjo like his father, but switched to guitar when he realized his strongest asset was his voice.

Carter Stanley Carter Glen Stanley (August 27, 1925 – December 1, 1966) was a bluegrass music lead singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitar player. He formed The Stanley Brothers and The Clinch Mountain Boys band with his younger brother Ralph Stanley. Biogra ...

was a major influence on Connell's singing style.

Johnson Mountain Boys

In 1975, Connell founded and led the Johnson Mountain Boys, playing guitar and singing lead vocals. Other members included Richard Underwood (banjo), David McLaughlin (mandolin),

Eddie Stubbs Eddie Stubbs (born November 25, 1961) is an American radio disc jockey. Stubbs is best known for his work and promotion of country music on WSM, a radio station with a nighttime clear channel signal broadcast from Nashville, Tennessee, United ...

(fiddle) and Gary B Reid (bass). The band ended in 1988 due to road life stresses, but have since played reunion shows and another album ''Blue Diamond''. Connell and other band members also provided musical support for

Buzz Busby Bernarr Graham Busbice (September 6, 1933 – January 5, 2003), known professionally as Buzz Busby, was an American bluegrass musician, known for his mandolin style and high tenor voice. He was nicknamed the "Father of Washington, D.C. Bluegra ...

Touring and session work

Connell has recorded with

Hazel Dickens Hazel Jane Dickens (June 1, 1925 – April 22, 2011) was an American bluegrass singer, songwriter, double bassist, guitarist and banjo player. Her music was characterized not only by her high, lonesome singing style, but also by her provoca ...

, and toured with her in 1992. In 1993, Joe Wilson organized the "Masters of the 5-String Banjo" tour, with Connell,

Laurie Lewis Laurie Alexis Lewis (born September 28, 1950) is an American bluegrass singer, musician, and songwriter. History Laurie Lewis was born in Long Beach, California on September 28, 1950. Her family moved regularly from place to place until she w ...

Ralph Stanley Ralph Edmund Stanley (February 25, 1927 – June 23, 2016) was an American bluegrass artist, known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing. He began playing music in 1946, originally with his older brother Carter Stanley as part of The ...

, Will Keys, Seleshe Damessae]l, Kirk Sutphin, Tony Ellis, Seamus Eagan, and Carroll Best. Music from this tour was collected and released on the 1994 album ''Masters of the Banjo'' on

Arhoolie Records Arhoolie Records is an American small independent record label that was run by Chris Strachwitz and is based in El Cerrito, California, United States (it is actually located in Richmond Annex but has an El Cerrito postal address.) The label was ...

Longview

In 1994, Connell formed Longview with

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 ...

(mandolin),

Marshall Wilborn Marshall Wilborn is an American bluegrass music bass player and composer best known for his work with the Johnson Mountain Boys, Longview, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, and the Lynn Morris Band. Biography Early years Wilborn was raised ...

(bass), Joe Mullins (banjo), James King (guitar), and Glen Duncan (fiddle).

Seldom Scene

In 1995, Connell joined the Seldom Scene, playing guitar and singing lead vocals, and has remained with them since.

Dudley Connell and Don Rigsby

Connell recorded two albums with Don Rigsby: ''Meet Me By the Moonlight'' in 1999 and ''Another Saturday Night'' in 2001. They drew on the Appalachian brother style of singing in country music made popular in the early 20th century by groups such as the

Blue Sky Boys The Blue Sky Boys were an American country music duo consisting of the brothers Earl Bolick (November 16, 1919 – April 19, 1998) and Bill Bolick (October 28, 1917 – March 13, 2008), whose careers spanned over forty years. Biography The bro ...

and the Monroe Brothers.

Stony Point Quartet

The Stony Point Quartet, featuring Connell, David McLaughlin (mandolin), Linda Lay (vocals), and Billy Lux (bass), focuses on gospel music.

Seneca Rocks!

2006, Connell formed the band Seneca Rocks! with Tom Adams, David McLaughlin, and Marshall Wilborn from the Johnson Mountain Boys along with Sally Love Connell, who previously sang in a duo with Connell and is his wife.

Audio Archival

From 1989 to 1998, Connell worked as manager of the

Smithsonian Folkways Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a part of the Smithsonian's Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, located at Capital Gallery in downtown Washington, D.C. The label was f ...

office in Rockville, Maryland. He currently is an Audio Archivist for the

National Council for the Traditional Arts The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) is a private, non-profit arts organization based in the United States that promotes the traditional arts. It organizes the National Folk Festival. It is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryl ...

, cataloging and digitizing their collection of recordings for the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...

Awards

Connell won the 2000

International Bluegrass Music Awards The International Bluegrass Music Awards is an award show for bluegrass music presented by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). Awards are voted based on professional membership in the IBMA. Award winners 2021 award winners The ...

(IBMA) award for Male Vocalist of the Year. In Sept of 2020 Connell was inducted into the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame with the Johnson Mountain Boys.

Discography

Besides his ensemble work, Connell has contributed his vocal and guitar support to recordings by numerous artists.

With The Johnson Mountain Boys

* 1981: ''The Johnson Mountain Boys'' ( Rounder) * 1982: ''Walls of Time'' (Rounder) * 1983: ''Working Close'' (Rounder) * 1984: ''Live at the Birchmere'' (Rounder) * 1985: ''We'll Still Sing On'' (Rounder) * 1987: ''Let the Whole World Talk'' (Rounder) * 1988: ''Requests'' (Rounder) * 1989: ''At the Old Schoolhouse'' (Rounder) * 1993: ''Blue Diamond'' (Rounder)

With Longview

* 1997: ''Longview'' (Rounder) * 1999: ''High Lonesome'' (Rounder) * 2002: ''Lessons In Stone'' (

Rebel A rebel is a participant in a rebellion. Rebel or rebels may also refer to: People * Rebel (given name) * Rebel (surname) * Patriot (American Revolution), during the American Revolution * American Southerners, as a form of self-identification; ...

)

With
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 ...

* 1999: ''Meet Me By the Moonlight'' (Sugar Hill) * 2001: ''Another Saturday Night'' (Sugar Hill)

With
The Seldom Scene The Seldom Scene is an American bluegrass band that formed in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland. The band's original line-up comprised John Starling on lead vocals and guitar, Mike Auldridge on Dobro and baritone vocals, Ben Eldridge on banjo, Tom ...

* 1996: '' Dream Scene'' (Sugar Hill) * 2000: '' Scene It All'' (Sugar Hill) * 2007: '' Scenechronized'' (Sugar Hill) * 2014: '' Long Time... Seldom Scene'' (

) * 2019: ''

Changes Changes may refer to: Books * '' Changes: A Love Story'', 1991 novel by Ama Ata Aidoo * ''Changes'' (The Dresden Files) (2010), the 12th novel in Jim Butcher's ''The Dresden Files'' Series * ''Changes'', a 1983 novel by Danielle Steel * ''Chan ...

'' (Rounder)

With Stony Point

* 2003: ''Band of Angels'' (Cracker Barrel)

Also appears on

1983–1989

* 1983: Phyllis Boyens - ''I Really Care'' (Rounder) * 1983:

- ''By the Sweat of My Brow'' (Rounder) * 1984: Delia Bell and Bill Grant - ''The Cheer Of The Home Fires'' (Rounder) * 1985: Delia Bell and Bill Grant - ''A Few Dollars More'' (Rounder) * 1985:

Tony Trischka Anthony Cattell Trischka (born January 16, 1949) is an American five-string banjo player. Sandra Brennan wrote of him in 2020: "One of the most influential modern banjoists, both in several forms of bluegrass music and occasionally in jazz and ...

- ''Hill Country'' (Rounder) * 1986:

Gloria Belle Gloria Belle Flickinger (June 9, 1939 – May 5, 2023) was an American bluegrass vocalist and musician, playing the banjo, bass, and mandolin. She was probably the first female lead singer in bluegrass, having begun her music career as early as ...

- ''Love of the Mountains'' ( Webco) * 1988: Delia Bell and Bill Grant - ''Following a Feeling'' (Rounder) * 1989: Chris Warner - ''Chris Warner & Friends'' (Webco)

1990–1999

* 1990:

Jean Ritchie Jean Ruth Ritchie (December 8, 1922 – June 1, 2015) was an American folk singer, songwriter, and Appalachian dulcimer player, called by some the "Mother of Folk". In her youth she learned hundreds of folk songs in the traditional way (orally, ...

and

Doc Watson Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson (March 3, 1923 – May 29, 2012) was an American guitarist, songwriter, and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues, and gospel music. He won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His ...

- ''Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson at Folk City'' (Smithsonian Folkways) * 1993: James King - ''These Old Pictures'' (Rounder) * 1993:

Larry Stephenson Larry Lee Stephenson is an American singer-songwriter. He sings, plays mandolin, and writes songs in the Bluegrass music, bluegrass tradition. Biography Early years Stephenson learned how to play the mandolin as a young boy. At age 13, he rec ...

- ''Wash My Blues Away'' ( Pinecastle) * 1995: James King - ''Lonesome and Then Some'' (Rounder) * 1995: Lynn Morris - ''Mama's Hand'' (Rounder) * 1995: Butch Robins - ''Grounded Centered Focused'' (Hay Holler) * 1995:

and Joe Isaacs - ''A Gospel Gathering'' (Freeland) * 1995: Tony Trischka - ''World Turning'' (Rounder) * 1995: Tony Trischka - ''Glory Shone Around: A Christmas Collection'' (Rounder) * 1996: Exit Thirteen - ''Wind on My Back'' (Freeland) * 1997: Delia Bell - ''Dreaming'' (Rounder) * 1997: Will Keys - ''Banjo Original'' (County) * 1997:

Stephen Wade Stephen Graham Wade (born 28 March 1960) is a former Australian politician. He was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council serving between May 2006 and January 2023, representing the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party ...

- ''Dancing in the Parlor'' (

County A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

) * 1998: Hazel Dickens - ''Heart of a Singer'' (Rounder) * 1998: Mark Newton - ''Living a Dream'' (Rebel) * 1998: Suzanne Thomas ll - ''Dear Friends & Gentle Hearts'' (Rounder) * 1999:

Tony Ellis Anthony Joseph Ellis (born 20 October 1964) is an English former professional footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association footbal ...

- ''Sounds Like Bluegrass to Me'' ( Copper Creek)Copper Creek)

2000–present

* 2000: Bruce Molsky - ''Poor Man's Troubles'' (Rounder) * 1998: Mark Newton - ''Follow Me Back to the Fold'' (Rebel) * 2001: Bill Kirchen - ''Tied to the Wheel'' ( HighTone) * 2001: Carroll Best - ''Say Old Man, Can You Play the Banjo?'' (Copper Creek) * 2001:

Ron Stewart Ronald George Stewart (July 11, 1932 – March 17, 2012) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1952 to 1973, as well as a coach. He spent the first half of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, ...

- ''Time Stands Still'' (Rounder) * 2003: The Lynn Morris Band - ''Shape of a Tear'' (Rounder) * 2004: Bruce Molsky - ''Contented Must Be'' (Rounder) * 2005: Bill Kirchen - ''King of Dieselbilly'' (HighTone) * 2006: Patrick McAvinue - ''Grave Run'' ( Patuxent Music) * 2007:

Bill Emerson Norvell William Emerson (January 1, 1938 – June 22, 1996) was an American politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri from 1981 until his death from lung cancer in Bethesda, Maryland in 19 ...

- ''Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band'' (Rebel) * 2007:

Curly Seckler John Ray Sechler (December 25, 1919 – December 27, 2017), known professionally as Curly Seckler, was an American bluegrass musician. He played with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs in their band, Foggy Mountain Boys, from 1949 to 1962, as well as ...

- ''Bluegrass, Don't You Know'' (Copper Creek) * 2007: Tony Trischka - ''Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular'' (Rounder) * 2008:

Margot Leverett Margot Leverett is a New York City-based clarinettist. Born in Ohio, she lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Buffalo, New York before studying at Indiana University School of Music. At Indiana University, she was classically trained.

- ''Second Avenue Square Dance'' (Traditional Crossroads) * 2013: James King - ''Three Chords And The Truth'' (Rounder) * 2013: Junior Sisk and Joe Mullins - ''Hall of Fame Bluegrass'' (Rebel)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Connell, Dudley 1956 births American country singers Country musicians from West Virginia American bluegrass guitarists 20th-century American singers 21st-century American singers Singers from West Virginia Bluegrass musicians from West Virginia Living people 20th-century American guitarists Longview (American band) members Johnson Mountain Boys members The Seldom Scene members People from Grant County, West Virginia People from Rockville, Maryland