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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCOUNTRY GENTLEMEN, TheProgressive bluegrass group formed in 1957 by Charlie Waller (b 19 January 1935, Jointerville TX; moved to Washington DC as a teen) and John Duffey (b 4 March 1934, Washington, DC; d 10 December 1996) on guitars, who added Jim Cox on banjo and bass (b 3 April 1930, Vansant VA) and Eddie Adcock on mandolin (b 17 June 1938, Scottsville VA). With accurate three-part harmony both instrumentally and vocally as well as eclectic material, they offended some purists but weathered ups and downs until they helped inspire the 'newgrass' movement. Four volumes of Country Gentlemen on Folkways from '60; Bluegrass '62 and Country Gentlemen '65 on Starday; also Live At Roanoke on Zap, others on Vanguard (compiled as Featuring Ricky Skaggs On Fiddle since Skaggs became a star). There were albums on Rebel in the 1970s; Adcock left to form Second Generation in 1971; Duffey formed Seldom Scene that year and recorded for Sugar Hill, which also issued LPs by the Gentlemen: Sit Down Young Stranger with Mike Auldridge, Good As Gold with Jimmy Gaudreau, River Bottom. Classic Country Gents Reunion '89 and New Horizons '92 were on Sugar Hill. Auldridge was a member of Seldom Scene and is one of the all-time great players of the dobro; his LP on Sugar Hill was Eight String Swing. Eleven Seldom Scene albums on Sugar Hill include Grammy-nominated Like We Used To Be and 15th and 20th Anniversary albums; the one that finally won the Grammy was Bluegrass -- The World's Greatest Show, with guests J. D. Crowe, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas and others. |