Bluegrass and Country Music Pioneer Hazel Dickens Passes

Bluegrass legend Hazel Dickens, who grew up in poverty in Mercer County and sang her hard-hitting songs about working people, coal mining and West Virginia all over the world, died in her sleep Thursday night at age 75.

"She was a treasure, a musical pioneer in bluegrass music, a gifted songwriter, an activist and a very wise woman who saw the truth in things and spoke it freely," Goldenseal magazine editor and musician John Lilly said Friday. "She sang and wrote about mining issues and mine safety issues and women's issues in general, and spoke up in her songs and conversation for people who needed a voice."

Dickens was "an authentic voice of America's working class," The Washington Post said Friday.

She received a 2001 National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and has been honored by the Smithsonian Institution, the International Folk Alliance, the International Bluegrass Music Association and many other organizations. But she frequently said that no award meant more to her than her induction into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.

"These rugged mountains and these coal-dusty mining towns and lonesome hollers have shaped my life," she said during her induction in 2007. "They shaped my music for all time."

Her songs were recorded by Dolly Parton, Kathy Mattea, Johnny Cash and scores of other musicians. Her song "West Virginia, Oh My Home" has become an unofficial West Virginia anthem, and "Mama's Hand" was an International Bluegrass Music Association song of the year. Her deep understanding of working women showed in songs like "Working Girl Blues" and "Don't Put Her Down, You Helped Put Her There." Dickens' songs like "Black Lung," "They'll Never Keep Us Down" and "The Farmington Mine Disaster" chronicled West Virginia's coal mining history and were featured in the films "Matewan" and "Harlan County USA."

"Hazel was a real inspiration to coal miners everywhere," United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts said Friday. "She was a strong, clear voice when we needed one and was never at a loss for words when it came to describing the hard lives miners and their families endured.  She was an icon, not just for West Virginians, but for anyone who had a concern for labor and women's issues," said Michael Lipton, founder of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. "She entered bluegrass music when it was a man's world, and she didn't push open doors. She kicked them open and allowed many other women to follow."

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Sunny Sweeney Gets July Release Date For Upcoming Album

Sunny Sweeney went to her Facebook page this week with the announcement that her first album on Republic Nashville will be released to the public on July 26. The self-titled album will include some of the songs that were released on her EP earlier this January. Sweeney said:

"SOOO EXCITED! I did my photo shoot today with the amazing photographer, Jeremy Cowart, for my record which will be coming out July 26.... Tomoro I'm shooting my video for my new single, "Staying's Worse Than Leaving"... I get to work with the director, Roman White...I'm pretty sure I couldn't be happier..."

Actor Jeff Bridges To Release Country Album This Summer

Oscar-winning actor and talented musician Jeff Bridges has signed with EMI’s Blue Note Records with a new album due out this summer. The actor has most recently been seen in films such as Crazy Heart, in which he played a downtrodden country singer, as well as True Grit and Tron.

Bridges will work on the project with his long-time friend T-Bone Burnett, who he met on the set of Heaven's Gate, three decades ago. Besides producing albums by Willie Nelson, and Alison Krauss with Robert Plant, Burnett co-wrote the music on Crazy Heart. Both men earned Oscars for their work on the film. For the new album, Bridges will contribute several of his own compositions, as well as covering Waits, Bo Ramsey, Greg Brown and Stephen Bruton and John Goodwin. Internet rumors say that Roseanne Cash and Elton John could be involved. Bridges and John have jammed together before, and Burnett produced the singer's recent album with Leon Russell.

"The music is a big force in me now," Bridges said in December. "I'm going on 61-years-old now and I've been playing since I was a teenager, and now for some reason all the stars are aligned and it's just coming out. That's my big dream."

Critic's Corner- Miss Willie Brown- Self-Titled EP- CD Album Review

“Four tracks make up Miss Willie Brown’s new EP. Three of the tracks take equal parts janeDear Girls, Pat Benatar and Jason Aldean, blended all together. The result is an uptempo thumpy and sometime bombastic rock collection that throws just enough fiddle in the mix to be called country. Lyrical depth is optional, but harmonies are good and the vocal engagement is strong. The best track on the album is the exception to the rule. “Freeland” is an introspective and thought-provoking torch song about a lonely wife of a deployed soldier who must figure out a way to get along while he’s gone off to fight to protect our nation. She is forced to substitute classic romance movies to cover her lonely nights and the not-so-warm-and-fuzzy return of her husband makes it all the more real. It’s a very strong track that deserves a listen.”
Ken Morton, Jr.
That Nashville Sound

“Like Bomshel and far more recently, The janeDear Girls, the sound is pumping, upbeat and far more rocking. It's bright sounding and lively, but ultimately doesn't cut very deep.”
Jeffrey B. Remz
Country Standard Time

“The duo, which features a pair of fantastically gifted singers in Texas native Kasey and Virginia native Amanda, has gained a higher profile this year as they’ve appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and actually were guests on Adam Carolla’s podcast as well. The duo has a vocal style that’s as powerful as Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland mixed with a bit of Shelby Lynne’s edge for good measure.”
Allen Jacobs
Roughstock

“Snarling. Loud. Swampy. Edgy. Miss Willie Brown’s industry showcase on March 15 at the Rutledge closed with Kasey Buckley on her knees, violently slamming the stage floor with a tam- bourine in a form-fitting, black mini-skirt and boots. It was a wild—and appro- priate—finale for a duo that demonstrated a shockingly unique take on country music that combines West Coast energy levels and punk attitude.”
Billboard

“The four songs on the EP, produced by Keith Stegall (Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson, George Strait), has plenty of contemporary funk but is filled with a down-home passion that puts one in mind of queens of country including Loretta Lynn and Reba McEntire. The duo share writing credits on each song and take turns on lead vocals.”
Nancy Dunham
OurStage.com

“You will find that these ladies have quite a bit of spunk and personality. That is very apparent on the opening track, the ironically-titled “Sick Of Me.” With an entertaining, thump-heavy beat, and harmonies as high as the clouds, I don’t think any music fan would get tired of these ladies anytime soon! That attitude and sass can also be found on “Couyon Crazy,” which I am sure is one that keeps the fans entertained when they do it live!”
Dan Harr
Music News Nashville

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