Walls of Time: Bluegrass Podcast

Larry Sparks is truly one of one. We return to the Sparks home in eastern Indiana for the second half of our conversation with the "Youngest of the Old Timers".

We chat with Larry about some of his biggest songs and albums, and we learn about why he turned down some opportunities in the late-80's. He also opens up about his faith and the love of his life, Pam Sparks.

Enjoy Part 2 of our conversation with Larry Sparks.

This episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

-- Greene County Public Library: greenelibrary.info
-- Samson's Haircare: samsonshaircare.com (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 10%.) 

There is no one like Larry Sparks. A member of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, he is a large part of the "Industrial Strength Bluegrass" story. As we dive into the history of southwestern Ohio bluegrass, we visited with Larry Sparks at his home in eastern Indiana.

Larry Sparks talks growing up in the Miami Valley and vividly recalls the first time he sang in church as youngster. We learn about his time with The Stanley Brothers, about him being asked to join Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, and what made him strike out on his own to form Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers. (He also bemoans the retirement of his flip phone.)

Enjoy Part 1 of our conversation with Larry Sparks.

This episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

-- Greene County Public Library: greenelibrary.info
-- Samson's Haircare: samsonshaircare.com (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 10%.) 

In this second episode of our "Industrial Strength Bluegrass" season of Walls of Time, we pick back up with Fred Bartenstein at his home in Yellow Springs, OH. Fred was about to share "the quintessential Carlton Haney story" (trust us, you have to hear it!).

Fred also discusses working in New York City with the Greenbriar Boys and the time he spent in the Big Apple with Joe & Lily Isaacs. He also shares fascinating stories about his publications on Joe Wilson and Uncle Josh Graves. Fred's "bluegrass spotlights" analysis of the genre will change the way you view our musical genre, and of course, we chat more about "Industrial Strength Bluegrass."

Enjoy Part 2 of our conversation with Fred Bartenstein, who truly is a "bluegrass guru.".

This episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

-- Greene County Public Library: greenelibrary.info
-- Samson's Haircare: samsonshaircare.com (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 10%.) 

In this inaugural episode of our "Industrial Strength Bluegrass" season of Walls of Time, we sit down with Fred Bartenstein at his home in Yellow Springs, OH. Fred is one of the editors of the book Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio's Musical Legacy for University of Illinois Press, so he had to be our first guest this season. We start off our conversation, by learning what exactly is "industrial strength bluegrass", where did the title originate, and why does it refer to bluegrass music connected to the Dayton/Cincinnati region.

Fred truly is a "bluegrass guru." His multi-faceted career in this music began as a teenager. For six decades, he has worn many hats, including guitar player, radio broadcaster, newspaper editor, scholar, festival emcee, author, educator, and more. His work in bluegrass began in a big way as a young man, becoming the right hand man for Carlton Haney, known as the "P.T. Barnum of Bluegrass Music", and he tells us all about it! (Yes -- I ask about Pythagoras.) Enjoy Part 1 of our conversation with Fred Bartenstein.

This episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

-- Greene County Public Library: greenelibrary.info
-- Samson's Haircare: samsonshaircare.com (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 10%.) 

Season 4 is almost here! Catch this exclusive sneak peek of our first "themed" season of Walls of Time: Bluegrass Podcast. We will be diving deep into the stories of "industrial strength bluegrass", learning more about southwestern Ohio's impact on bluegrass history.

This special season of Walls of Time is brought to you by the Greene County Public Libraries of Greene County, OH. Learn more at greenelibrary.info

 

In Part Two of our conversation with Ken Irwin & Marian Leighton Levy, we continue diving in to the fifty-plus year history of Rounder Records, which they helped found alongside Bill Nowlin. They tell us why J.D. Crowe & The New South's 1975 release (Rounder 0044) was so pivotal for the aspiring label (and so unlikely as well). Ken also takes us to the exact moment he first heard the voice of Alison Krauss of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, and we learn more about her rise as one of the most celebrated vocalists in American roots music history. Ken & Marian also share some of their pick hits from the Rounder catalog, and we put Ken's knowledge of the label's stock numbers to the test. Enjoy the second half of our in-depth conversation with this pair of Rounders (and Bluegrass Music Hall of Famers), Ken Irwin & Marian Leighton Levy!

Be sure to check out the new book on the history of Rounder Records, written by David Menconi, 'Oh, Didn't They Ramble.' Click here to learn more!

 

This episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: 

-- Samson's Haircare: samsonshaircare.com (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 10%.) 
-- LawnChair USA: lawnchairusa.com/wallsoftime (Use code WALLSOFTIME to save 10%.)
-- Best Self Co: bestself.co (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 15%)

 

The story of Rounder Records is one of the most unlikely success stories in American roots music. Two of the historic record label's three founders, Ken Irwin & Marian Leighton Levy join us to tell the tale in this extensive, in-depth, two-part interview. We learn how this set of outlaw romantics journeyed from the counter-culture to the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, and learn many lessons along the way, like the importance of "knowing that you don't know" and how to travel across the entire country on only eleven cents! Enjoy the first part of our conversation with this legendary pair of Rounders.

Be sure to check out the new book on the history of Rounder Records, written by David Menconi, 'Oh, Didn't They Ramble.' Click here to learn more!

 

This episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: 

-- Samson's Haircare: samsonshaircare.com (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 10%.) 
-- LawnChair USA: lawnchairusa.com/wallsoftime (Use code WALLSOFTIME to save 10%.)
-- Best Self Co: bestself.co (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 15%)

Jeremy & Corrina Stephens are truly old souls. They both seek a deeper understanding of their shared passions: traditional music and their faith. Both are uber-talented multi-instrumentalists with an immense knowledge of the music of early roots music pioneers such as Reno & Smiley, Jim & Jesse, The Chuck Wagon Gang, Charlie Monroe, Fred Rose, and more, which is evident in the style of bluegrass they create with their band, High Fidelity. It was a treat to sit down for a visit at the Coffee Hub in Xenia, OH with this wonderful folks, as we chatted about everything from Corrina's love of punk rock to Jeremy's analysis of canned tuna! Enjoy!

 

This episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: 

-- Samson's Haircare: samsonshaircare.com (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 10%.) 
-- LawnChair USA: lawnchairusa.com/wallsoftime (Use code WALLSOFTIME to save 10%.)
-- Best Self Co: bestself.co (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 15%)

Tammy Rogers King is a founder of the Grammy award-winning band, The Steeldrivers. Known for her fiddling, singing, and songwriting, her musical journey includes touring with Patty Loveless, working as a Nashville songwriter, and making music with Dusty Miller in the late 80's/early 90's. In this interview, she sits down backstage on a Saturday night at SamJam Bluegrass Festival in Piketon, OH, and Tammy dives deep into the "why" of carving her own path, how the right song can make an impact when you least expect it, and why she chose a life "fiddlin' around" with music (or did the fiddle choose her?).

 

This episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: 

-- Samson's Haircare: samsonshaircare.com (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 10%.) 
-- LawnChair USA: lawnchairusa.com/wallsoftime (Use code WALLSOFTIME to save 10%.)
-- Best Self Co: bestself.co (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 15%)

Dubbed "The Sweethearts of Bluegrass", Darin & Brooke Aldridge are a strong couple -- both in music and in marriage. Growing up in the same region of North Carolina, they met through mutual friends and bonded over a mutual interest in bluegrass. Recorded in a hotel room in the fall of 2021 in Wilkesboro, NC, Darin and Brooke discuss how their love blossomed, Darin's early days with Charlie Waller & The Country Gentlemen, the allure of the Grand Ole Opry, and the importance of making music with a message.

 

This episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: 

-- Samson's Haircare: samsonshaircare.com (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 10%.) 
-- LawnChair USA: lawnchairusa.com/wallsoftime (Use code WALLSOFTIME to save 10%.)
-- Best Self Co: bestself.co (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 15%)