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Friday November 16th, 2001
Galaxy of bluegrass stars pay tribute to Josh Graves
Gibson Signature Dobro artist Jerry Douglas gathered a galaxy of bluegrass and acoustic music stars this week for a benefit on behalf of fellow Gibson Signature Dobro artist Josh Graves. The benefit featured the legendary Earl Scruggs, five-time Grammy winner Alison Krauss & Union Station, master hitmaker and instrumentalist Ricky Skaggs, Grand Ole Opry stars The Whites and progressive bluegrass group Blue Highway.
The tribute before a standing-room-only crowd was held at the Gibson Bluegrass Showcase. Josh is suffering from a debilitating illness and did not attend the benefit gala.
However, Graves' legacy and artistry were the true stars of the evening as the performers told stories of meeting and being inspired by the man and his music. Douglas remembered Josh's kindness to him at a long ago bluegrass festival. Josh stopped to meet the young, awe-struck Douglas. He said Josh handed him his Dobro and backed him on guitar as Douglas performed. "He taught me not only how to play, but how to act wearing one of these Dobros," Douglas reminisced.
Burkett K. "Josh" Graves was born in 1925 in Tellico Springs, Tennessee. Graves is universally recognized as one of the greatest of all Dobro players and probably the first to have played the "hound dog guitar" in bluegrass music and brought the Dobro to prominence as a lead instrument. Says music historian Bill C. Malone, "Graves perfected a rolling syncopated style that enabled him to play galloping breakdowns as well as slow love songs or ballads." He emulated Earl Scruggs' three-finger banjo style and, from 1955 to 1969, played with Flatt & Scruggs on tour, radio and television.
Here's an exclusive photo gallery from the Josh Graves Benefit.
Jerry Douglas hosted the event Some of the finest Dobro players performing an old Josh Graves standard. Blue Highway featuring Rob Ickes on Dobro Jerry's old friends and former bandmates, The Whites Jerry Douglas, Victor Krauss and Bryan Sutton Earl Scruggs and Friends Earl and Gary Scruggs Randy Scruggs Earl, Gary and Randy Scruggs with Ricky Scaggs Ricky Scaggs, Randy and Earl Scruggs Alison Krauss and Union Station Alison Krauss Ron Block Jerry Douglas
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