Lisa Leadbetter Celebrates Husband Phil's Good News!

GOOD NEWS! 2015 brings the long-awaited news that Phil Leadbetter is once more CANCER FREE!

For anyone unfamiliar with Uncle Phil's situation, he has been battling treatment sessions for Hodgkin's Lymphoma for at least 4 years, and was once before pronounced "Cancer-Free" by his doctors only to have a recurrence and live the nightmare with all of it's uncertainties all over.  (Read More)  Through it all his wife, Lisa, remained a rock of support.  With the news of his victory she posted the following message on her social pages.  It is re-printed here with the Leadbetter's permission.

Cancer has been the worst nightmare I've ever known, it's cruel beyond words, you really have to deal with it yourself to know what a hell it truly is. I would of gave anything to have taken his Cancer, I prayed so many many times Please God make him well, give it to me, just don't let him hurt with it anymore. I just about lost hope, many many times, I never let Phil know this. For the last 4 years.....I watched the love of my life try and do anything and everything to make this go away. we kept getting knocked down time and time again. So for all of you out there, and I know some very precious friends who are in this same battle:  Try, try your hardest to not give up, don't lose your faith....they sent us home to die, nothing more they could do for him. But, what a strong brave man God made......he never lost hope, he never stopped trying, and God never gave up on him. So, no matter what the docs say......be still, listen to what God can do!  Don't give up on God, cause he never gives up on you !!!! Our God is mighty and his love is the most powerful thing ever! Thank you Lord, with all my heart I thank you.....and I know he heard all your prayers for Phil. I am forever grateful for all your love and support.....God heard you, thank you !!!!!!

-Lisa Lindsey Leadbetter

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Look Good/Play Good - by Eric Gibson

People often comment about how we dress up for stage.  In 2008 or so, we started wearing dark suits with ties onstage.  I had seen a picture of Bob Dylan and his band in Rolling Stone at the time wearing dark suits, and it looked so crisp that it really caught my eye.  Johnny Cash’s stark look always appealed to me as well.  

Dressing up is nothing new for bluegrass bands; so many of our heroes like Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, and Del McCoury had always done so.  However, we had gone through a stage of everybody in the band wearing whatever felt comfortable.  I see pictures of us from those days and cringe now. We all had different ideas about what looked ‘right.’   I don’t think the guys in the band were too crazy about the change at first. 

Say What You Will!

Over the last several years we've had something to say on the subject of just about anything and everything connected with bluegrass. Every week we've published a new editorial comment as a feature of our weekly newsletter and as a special bonus page on the Prescription Bluegrass Blog.

And just about every week we hear from readers. Some who agree, and some who don't, with what we have to say. But the editorials that have always generated the most readership are the ones written by our guest writers.

We've always had a policy of openness when it comes to publishing guest editorials and we will continue to do so. We may not always agree with your point of view, but we agree with your right to express yourself and we believe you should have a platform with which to do so.

Guest editorials should be sent to:

News@PrescriptionBluegrass.com

with “Guest Editorial” in the subject line. Your name, short bio and professional photo should accompany the text.

GUEST EDITORIAL - Sharing Amber's Story!

Cody Farrar of BREAKING GRASS writes this week's editorial column on a subject very dear to him and the band.

Friends,

Brian McNeal, and Prescription Bluegrass, have been gracious enough to provide a platform for me to let you in on the inspiration behind our new song "Fly" (Amber's Song). I'm honored for the opportunity and grateful for all of you who take time to read this. 

Our (Breaking Grass) new album "Just As Strong" was recently made available to download on iTunes, Amazon, mountainfever.com, and several other online sites. "JUST AS STRONG" contains a song that holds special meaning to us, and was inspired by a special person we would like you to know about. 

Your Chance to Be Heard!

Got something to say?  Think it's pretty important?  Prescription Bluegrass is giving you, the reader, a chance to be heard* on any subject related to bluegrass music.

Send your comments to: News@PrescriptionBluegrass.com  along with a recent photo of yourself.

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*Not all submissions can be used. Prescription Bluegrass reserves the right to use or not use any specific submission based upon editorial discretion.  Prescription Bluegrass also reserves the right to edit  or omit any submissions or sections of any submission but will not change the the flavor of the message.

Prescription Bluegrass Editorial - THE BIRTH OF A RADIO JINGLE!

Guest Editorial by:
TOM FELLER

August 2010, began the musical partnership of Feller and Hill. Since that beginning, Chris and I have discussed having a wider and more entertaining approach to the music business. I've always been entertained by performers who use "radio personality" or "voice-over" references on stage, i.e. Ned Luberecki doing "the White Zone". Today's bluegrass scene has more bands and what I believe are higher quality bands than ever before. For this reason, a group who wishes to succeed must find creative ways to promote themselves and their music. 

Prescription Bluegrass Editorial - WHEN COMMUNITY IS CONTAGIOUS!

by  Davis Welborn On April 25, Prescription Bluegrass published this story of bassist Gene Libbea's mysterious illness. While working as an instructor at a fiddle camp, Libbea was exposed to strep throat by an infected student, whom he calls "Ventura Fiddle Girl". Ventura Fiddle Girl was there with her mother. While sitting across from Libbea at breakfast, the girl confided that she had strep. Just a few days later, Libbea became seriously ill. After 12 days of suffering from an infectious illness that five doctors could not diagnose, and a subsequent five-day hospital stay, Libbea announced that he had been discharged from the hospital. That part of his story, at least, has a happy ending, but what are we to make of the girl?

Our "Guest Editorial" this week is by; Dust bowl grandchild, Davis Welborn,  a bluegrass singer and a freelance publicist for clients in music, publishing, and high tech. She loves nature, dogs, and the Enneagram.

Prescription Bluegrass Editorial - Deserving of An Award!

      [Ed. Note: This week's editorial is written by Prescription Bluegrass CD Reviewer, W. J. Hallock]

      In the nearly three years since Prescription Bluegrass invited me to start reviewing new bluegrass CD releases, I’ve been immersed in some great bluegrass, so much so that I was afraid I was becoming too jaded to be impressed anymore.

To Cover Tune, Or Not To Cover Tune - Guest Article by DETOUR's Missy Armstrong

[Ed. Note:  Ever since we first heard Missy Armstrong sing with Detour, we've been amazed at where all this talent has been hiding.  Not only can they pick and sing like they were doing it before they started walking, they also  write songs that stand right up with the legends.  One of the great strengths of the band is to take a well known classic song and remake it, staying true to the structure of the original but giving it their own flavor   - something often attempted by many but seldom accomplished to the level necessary to create a second classic version of the same song.   Their last album,  A BETTER PLACE contained two of these cover tunes done to perfection.  We wondered when we received the news of a new album to be forthcoming if it would also contain more of their magic on cover tunes.  To our delight, the answer was yes, on their GOING NOWHERE FAST  album, (available now) they included their rendition of Johnny Nash's 1972 number one hit, "I Can See Clearly Now."   We asked Missy if she would write about the concept of cover songs and how she approaches it.  Here are her words.  Thank you Missy!]

To Cover Tune, Or Not To Cover Tune? by Missy Armstrong

I’ll never forget the moment my fate to become part of a bluegrass band was sealed. It happened in the hallway of a hotel lobby while jamming with members of a, new to me, Michigan bluegrass band by the name of Detour. When asked to sing one I responded with one of my all-time favorite songs, “People Get Ready”. As the song progressed I figured out that not only did these guys know this song but THEY. ROCKED. IT. It wasn’t until much later that I learned my faux pas.

PRESCRIPTION BLUEGRASS GUEST EDITORIAL: Should AM/FM Radio Be Required to Pay Performers for Broadcasting Songs Over the Air?

[Ed. Note: The following guest editorial on a highly controversial subject is from James Reams.   Your comments are welcome here if you wish to weigh in on this subject.]

Performance Rights vs. Radio Freedom Who’s a Musician to Believe?

 

 

 

Digging through political doublespeak on the Internet is worse than having a dentist digging around in my mouth. It was like trying to swim in quicksand. I kept getting sucked in…deeper and deeper with each click of the mouse. And the articles weren’t short ones either, many had clickable references to other pertinent articles and off I would go, down another rabbit hole leaving behind a whole trail of Internet cookie crumbs. Okay, I think I mixed up a whole batch of metaphors there, but you get the idea. To say I was confounded would be putting it mildly. But I thought that as a musician, I should be informed about potential legislation that could affect my bank statement.

"Honor Thy Roots" - Prescription Bluegrass Guest Editorial

Occasionally, Prescription Bluegrass invites guests to speak their mind on subjects of interest to the bluegrass community. Today's editorial comments are from Shelly Mullins.

The True Bluegrasser KNOWS AND EMBRACES Their History, Their Legends and Their Stories!

Guest Comments by:   Shelly Mullins,PR Specialist

I was in a club in Nashville not long ago and saw a new-to-town female fiddle player--adorable, young, talented, pretty.  She got up and played “Devil Went Down to Georgia.” My husband and I were really impressed and felt she had a ton of potential.