The Seldom Scene
The Seldom Scene | |
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Origin | Bethesda, Maryland,United States |
Genres | |
Years active | 1971–present |
Labels | Rebel,Sugar Hill |
Members | Lou Reid Dudley Connell Ron Stewart Ronnie Simpkins Fred Travers |
Past members | John Duffey Mike Auldridge Ben Eldridge Tom Gray John Starling Phil Rosenthal T. Michael Coleman Moondi Klein Rickie Simpkins |
Website | seldomscene |
The Seldom Sceneis an Americanbluegrassband that formed in 1971 inBethesda, Maryland.[1]The band's original line-up comprisedJohn Starlingon lead vocals and guitar,Mike AuldridgeonDobroand baritone vocals,Ben Eldridgeonbanjo,Tom Grayondouble bass,andJohn Duffeyonmandolin;the latter three also provided backing vocals. Together they released their debut studio album,Act I,in 1972, followed by bothAct IIandAct IIIin 1973.
In 1977, Starling left the group and was replaced by singer-songwriter Phil Rosenthal. Starling and Rosenthal shared lead vocals on the group's sixth studio album,Baptizing,released in 1978. Around the same time, the group switched record labels fromRebel RecordstoSugar Hill Records.In 1986, Rosenthal and Gray left the band, and were replaced byLou ReidandT. Michael Coleman,respectively; Reid and Coleman first appeared on the band's 1988 albumA Change of Scenery.Reid left the band in 1992, and Starling briefly returned to the group, performing on their 1994 albumLike We Used to Be.Starling was replaced byMoondi Kleinas the band's lead singer.
During 1995 and 1996, Klein, Coleman, and Auldridge, left the Seldom Scene to form a new band calledChesapeake.Duffey and Eldridge recruited guitarist Fred Travers, bassist Ronnie Simpkins, and guitarist and singerDudley Connellinto the Seldom Scene, and together released the albumDream Scenein 1996. That same year, Duffey died of aheart attack.Reid returned to the band to replace Duffey on mandolin, and the group released the albumScene It Allin 2000. The group's 2007 albumScenechronizedwas nominated for aGrammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album.The band's original members (Auldridge, Duffey, Eldridge, Gray, and Starling) were inducted into theInternational Bluegrass Music Hall of Famein 2014.
History
[edit]Formation and early career (1971)
[edit]The Seldom Scene was established in 1971, and they would practice in Ben Eldridge's basement.[2]These practice sessions includedJohn Starlingonguitarand lead vocals,Mike Auldridgeon Dobro and baritone vocals, and formerCountry GentlemenmemberTom Grayonbass.ThemandolinistJohn Duffey,who had also performed with the Country Gentlemen,[3]was invited to jam sessions at the time whenMike Auldridgearranged for the group to play as a performing band.[4] Another member of the Country Gentlemen,Charlie Waller,is responsible for the band's name. Expressing his doubt that this new band could succeed, Waller reportedly asked Duffey, "What are you going to call yourselves, the seldom seen?"[5]The band had weekly performances at clubs and performed regularly at the Red Fox Inn, a music club in Bethesda Maryland. The band switched over to theBirchmere music hallinAlexandria, Virginia,which resulted in a residency.[2]
Members' backgrounds
[edit]Each of the band members had a job during the week; Duffey repaired musical instruments, Eldridge was a mathematician, Starling a physician,[1]Auldridge a graphic artist, and Gray acartographerwithNational Geographic.[3]They agreed to play one night a week at local clubs, perform occasionally at concerts and festivals on weekends, and make records. After playing for six weeks at a small Washington, D.C., club called the Rabbit's Foot, the group found a home at the Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, Maryland.[5]They performed at that venue Friday nights from January 1972 through September 1977 before starting weekly performances at the Birchmere music hall.[6]
Rise to popularity (1972–1976)
[edit]Theprogressive bluegrassstyle played by the Seldom Scene had become increasingly popular during the 1970s, especially Duffey's high tenor and the vocal blend of Duffey/Starling/Auldridge.[1]Their weekly shows included bluegrass versions of country music, rock, and even classical pop.[1]The band's popularity soon forced them to play more than once a week[1]—but they continued to maintain their image as being seldom seen, and on several of their early album covers were photographed with the stage lights on only their feet, or with their backs to the camera. Though the Scene remained a non-touring band, they were prolific recorders, producing seven albums in their first five years of existence, including one live album (among the first live bluegrass albums).[7]
John Starling's departure and Phil Rosenthal as lead singer (1977–1986)
[edit]In 1977, John Starling left the group to focus on his medical career, and was replaced by singer and songwriter Phil Rosenthal, whose song "Muddy Water" had been recorded by the Scene on two earlier albums. Starling and Rosenthal shared their lead vocals on the group's sixth studio album,Baptizing(recorded in 1978). Around the same time, the group switched record labels fromRebeltoSugar Hill.Starling recorded a solo album for Sugar Hill in 1980 called "Long Time Gone" and another in 1982 called "Waitin' On a Southern Train", on both of which Mike Auldridge played.
The lineup of Rosenthal-Duffey-Gray-Auldridge-Eldridge recorded five albums of a comparable popularity to the ones with the founding members, including John Starling. Rosenthal proved to be as good lead singer as Starling and his baritone voice contrasted well with Duffey's high tenor extravaganzas. He also wrote typically two to three songs on each of the albums and also added acoustic guitar solos to the group.[8]
More changes in lineup (1986–1996)
[edit]In 1986, Phil Rosenthal and Tom Gray both left the band to focus on other pursuits, and were replaced byLou ReidandT. Michael Coleman,respectively. Coleman proved to be very controversial, as many purists objected to his use of an electric bass in what is nominally an acoustic genre, but the albums produced by the band after Coleman's arrival maintained the traditional appeal of any of the Scene's earlier albums.
Reid left the band in 1992, and Duffey convinced former member John Starling to return to the band for the next year.[9]During that year the Scene recorded the albumLike We Used to Be,but Starling did not wish to stay with the band long term. He was replaced in 1994 by lead singerMoondi Klein.[1]
Throughout these changes, band leader John Duffey's original plan of keeping a light touring schedule and staying close to home continued to prevail. During 1995 and 1996, Klein and Coleman, along with original memberMike Auldridge,wanting to be part of a full-time project, left the Seldom Scene to form a new band calledChesapeake.[9]For a time the Scene stopped recording.
Duffey and Eldridge, the two remaining original members, recruited resophonic guitar player Fred Travers, bassist Ronnie Simpkins, and guitarist and singerDudley Connellto join the band, and the reconstituted group recorded an album in 1996 and continued live appearances.[9][10]
John Duffey's death, return of Lou Reid, andScene It All(2000–2006)
[edit]In late 1996, band leader and founder John Duffey suffered a fatal heart attack.[11]
Banjoist Ben Eldridge, the sole remaining original member of the Seldom Scene, assumed leadership of the band. Former guitarist Lou Reid rejoined the band, replacing Duffey on mandolin.[9]Initially the new Scene concentrated on live performances, but in 2000 the group recorded a new album,Scene It All.The Seldom Scene continues to tour, and has recorded for the Sugar Hill Records and Smithsonian Folkways labels.
Scenechronized,Long Time... Seldom Scene,andChanges(2007–present)
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Seldom_Scene_Bluegrass_Festival_2008.jpg/220px-Seldom_Scene_Bluegrass_Festival_2008.jpg)
Seldom Scene continues to perform and has received critical acclaim for their work.Scenechronized,recorded in 2007, was nominated for aGrammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album.[12]
In July 2008, Seldom Scene performed at aWhite Housedinner honoring the2008 U.S. Olympic teamas well as previous U.S. Olympians.[13]Seldom Scene also played theNational Folk FestivalJuly 11–13, 2008, representing bluegrass music.
On April 22, 2014, the band returned withLong Time... Seldom Scene,via Smithsonian Folkways. The collection features interpretations of 16 oft-requested tunes and is the band's first studio album since theScenechronizedin 2007. In 2015, "Long Time...Seldom Scene" and "Mean Mother Blues" won awards in the "Bluegrass" Album and Song categories at The 14th Annual Independent Music Awards.
In January 2016, Ben Eldridge retired after 44 continuous years with the band. He was replaced by Rickie Simpkins.[14]
In 2017,Ron Stewartjoined the Seldom Scene, replacing Rickie Simpkins.[15]
In 2019, the Seldom Scene released the albumChanges,featuring songs by songwriters of the 1960s and early 1970s, through Rounder Records.[16]
The band currently consists of Dudley Connell (guitar/lead vocals), Ron Stewart (banjo/fiddle/guitar), Lou Reid (mandolin/tenor vocals), Fred Travers (dobro/lead vocals), and Ronnie Simpkins (bass/baritone vocals). Ben Eldridge's son,Chris,also frequently performs with the group.
Personnel
[edit]Members
[edit]- Current members
- Lou Reid– mandolin, guitar, vocals(1986–1993, 1996–present)
- Dudley Connell – guitar, vocals(1995–present)
- Ronnie Simpkins – bass(1995–present)
- Fred Travers – Dobro, vocals(1995–present)
- Ron Stewart– banjo, fiddle(2017–present)
- Former members
- John Duffey– mandolin, vocals(1971–1996; died 1996)
- Mike Auldridge– Dobro, vocals(1971–1995; died 2012)
- Tom Gray– bass(1971–1986)
- John Starling– guitar, vocals(1971–1978, 1993–1994; died 2019)
- Ben Eldridge– banjo, guitar(1971–2016; died 2024)
- Phil Rosenthal – guitar, vocals(1977-1986)
- T. Michael Coleman– bass(1986–1995)
- Moondi Klein– guitar, vocals(1994–1995)
- Rickie Simpkins– banjo, fiddle, guitar(2016–2017)
Lineups
[edit]1971–1977 | 1977–1978 | 1978–1986 | 1986–1993 |
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1993–1994 | 1994–1995 | 1995–1996 | 1996–2015 |
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2016–2017 | 2017–present | ||
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Timeline
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/9ae0bsjqxv9x677gyngnrgjs80d6990.png)
Discography
[edit]Year | Title | Label | Number | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1972 | Act I | Rebel | REB-1511 | |
1973 | Act II | Rebel | REB-1520 | |
1973 | Act III | Rebel | REB-1528 | |
1974 | Old Train | Rebel | REB-1536 | |
1975 | Live at The Cellar Door | Rebel | REB-1547/8 | live double album |
1976 | The New Seldom Scene Album | Rebel | REB-1561 | |
1978 | Baptizing | Rebel | REB-1573 | |
1979 | Act Four | Sugar Hill | SH-3709 | |
1981 | After Midnight | Sugar Hill | SH-3721 | |
1983 | At the Scene | Sugar Hill | SH-3736 | |
1985 | Blue Ridge | Sugar Hill | SH-3747 | withJonathan Edwards |
1987 | The Best of The Seldom Scene, Vol. 1 | Rebel | REB-1101 | compilation from 1972–74 |
1988 | 15th Anniversary Celebration | Sugar Hill | SH-2202 | live double album |
1988 | A Change of Scenery | Sugar Hill | SH-3763 | |
1990 | Scenic Roots | Sugar Hill | SH-3785 | |
1992 | Scene 20: 20th Anniversary Concert | Sugar Hill | SH-2501/02 | live double album |
1994 | Like We Used to Be | Sugar Hill | SH-3822 | |
1996 | Dream Scene | Sugar Hill | SH-3858 | |
2000 | Scene It All | Sugar Hill | SUG-3899 | |
2007 | Scenechronized | Sugar Hill | SUG-4003 | |
2007 | Different Roads | Rebel | REB-7516 | compilation from 1973–76 |
2014 | Long Time... Seldom Scene[17] | Smithsonian Folkways | SFW40199 | |
2019 | Changes[18] | Rounder |
References
[edit]- ^abcdefPaul Kingsbury (5 November 1998).The Encyclopedia of Country Music: The Ultimate Guide to the Music.Oxford University Press. pp. 475–.ISBN978-0-19-984044-1.
- ^abFawcett, Kirstin."Seldom Scene, Often Heard: A Bluegrass Band Returns to its Roots With a New Album".Smithsonian.Archivedfrom the original on 21 June 2019.Retrieved21 June2019.
- ^abRosenberg, Neil V. (2005).Bluegrass: A History.University of Illinois Press.ISBN978-0-252-07245-1.
- ^"The Seldom Scene Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio &..."AllMusic.Archivedfrom the original on 2024-04-09.Retrieved2024-07-11.
- ^abStambler, Irwin; Landon, Grelen (14 Jul 2000). "Seldom Scene".Country Music: The Encyclopedia.St. Martin's Griffin. pp. 432–433.ISBN978-0312264871.
- ^Barrett, Randy (2013-10-20)."Seldom Scene Returns to the Red Fox Inn"(PDF).International Bluegrass Music Association.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2018-01-01.Retrieved2017-05-10.
- ^"The Seldom Scene - Discography".AllMusic - The Seldom Scene discography.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-01-08.Retrieved2017-05-10.
- ^Act Four - The Seldom Scene | Album | AllMusic,archivedfrom the original on 2023-11-04,retrieved2024-07-11
- ^abcdBogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2003).All Music Guide to Country: The Definitive Guide to Country Music.Backbeat Books. p. 679.ISBN978-0-87930-760-8.Archivedfrom the original on 2024-07-11.Retrieved2024-07-11.
- ^Carlin, Richard,FolkArchived2024-07-11 at theWayback Machine.Infobase Publishing, 2005, p. 185.
- ^"MUSICIAN JOHN DUFFEY DIES".Washington Post.2024-02-24.ISSN0190-8286.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-12-28.Retrieved2024-07-11.
- ^"GRAMMY - 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominations List".grammy.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-12-13.
- ^Bluegrass Unlimited.Vol. 42. Bluegrass Unlimited. 2008.Archivedfrom the original on 2024-07-11.Retrieved2023-03-14.
- ^David Morris (January 15, 2016)."Ben Eldridge Retires from Seldom Scene".Bluegrass Today.Archivedfrom the original on March 24, 2018.RetrievedMarch 24,2018.
- ^David Morris (November 13, 2017)."Ron Stewart lands with Seldom Scene".Bluegrass Today.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2018.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^John Lawless (April 4, 2019)."Everybody's Talkin' from Seldom Scene".Bluegrass Today.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2019.RetrievedApril 30,2019.
- ^"Long Time... Seldom Scene".Smithsonian Folkways.Smithsonian Institution.Archivedfrom the original on April 28, 2017.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
- ^Richards, Chris (May 22, 2019)."The Seldom Scene Still Knows How to Change Direction at High Speeds".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on June 18, 2019.RetrievedApril 18,2024.
- ^"Chronological".Discography.Rebel Records.Archivedfrom the original on July 11, 2024.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
- ^"Seldom Scene".Discography of Bluegrass Sound Recordings, 1942 -.ibiblio.Archivedfrom the original on June 20, 2016.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- The Seldom Scenediscography atDiscogs
- The Seldom SceneatIMDb
- A short oral history of The Seldom SceneonYouTube
- John Duffey/Seldom Scene biographyhttp://johnduffeybook /