West Virginia Bluegrass (Mod) [CD]

Jalyn Records is back! The Dayton, Ohio label from the creative mind of bluegrass legend Jack Lynch originally ran from the early '60s through the late '70s. Working out of his apartment on Brown Street, Lynch turned out a steady run of hard-driving bluegrass, country, and gospel sides cut by local pickers and big names alike, including Ralph Stanley and Don Reno. Decades on, these records are now lovingly remastered for modern ears and available on CD for the first time. The Butler Brothers came out of Summerville, West Virginia, where Homer and Jerry had been picking and singing since their teenage years before teaming up to form their own band. Homer, the elder, brought his sure hand as arranger, his rhythm guitar, and his easy shift between low and high baritone, while Jerry's clear tenor and lead formed the bright center of the group's harmony alongside his deft mandolin work. They were joined by Logan County's Phil Bunch, whose sharp five-string banjo style and low baritone gave the band extra weight, and Ohio's Jim Higgins, anchoring it all with steady bass. With Dwayne McCumbers adding dobro to the mix, the Butler Brothers forged a driving bluegrass sound that carried them across clubs, festivals, and radio shows throughout the region - and onto their very first album.