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20110418

Mountain Fever Records Release Debut CD From Ashlee Blankenship & Blades of Blue

Mountain Fever Records is proud to announce the debut release from Ashlee Blankenship & Blades of Blue.   The self-titled project has been shipped and will be in the hands of radio programmers this week.

A native of Floyd, Virgnina, Blankenship attended her very first bluegrass festival in Syria, Virginia in June of 2005 and "was hooked" stated Ashlee.  It wasn't long before she began to listen to her inner-voice and started singing at bluegrass jam sessions every chance she had.  Later Ashlee, her brother and a friend founded the very popular bluegrass gospel group,Statement.  The band recorded two CDs that were received well among DJs and fans and found themselves performing over 100 dates annually.  

Through the encouragement of her family and her new-found bluegrass friends, Ashlee Blankenship & Blades of Blue was born.  With a stellar young group of musicians consisting of Blankenship on lead and harmony vocals; Joshua Underwood on banjo and vocals; Caleb Courtner on mandolin; Dustin Pyrtle on guitar, lead and harmony vocals; and Travis Greer on bass and harmony vocals; this band is receiving tremendous attention from some pretty heavy hitters in bluegrass music.

The group made their showcase debut at the International Bluegrass Music Association's 2010 World of Bluegrass conference with one of their biggest fans, and 2010 Mandolin Performer of the Year, Adam Steffey at their side.  "I feel like the sky is the limit for Ashlee," stated Steffey.  "She has a powerful voice that can wrap around any song, whether old or new, and deliver it with authority and confidence."   Banjo master Sammy Shelor states "Ashlee Blankenship is my favorite of the up and coming singers in the bluegrass industry. She's soulful and energetic with a great range and can sing anything from traditional to contemporary bluegrass with great feeling!" 

Ashlee Blankenship & Blades Of Blue, produced by Sammy Shelor, is a stellar debut effort that includes a variety of traditional and contemporary bluegrass and gospel music and special guest appearances by Shelor (banjo on "You Can Run" and "Hooked On A Feeling" and lead guitar on "Cheyenne" and "Devil Be Gone"), Tim Crouch on fiddle and Mike Sharp on resophonic guitar.  In addition to Blankenship's lead vocals on the majority of the project, band member Dustin Pyrtle lends his talents when he takes lead vocal duties on "Devil Be Gone" and "One Ole Red Mule".  All told, the project includes 12 tracks of a large variety of styles including original material written by Blankenship, Becky Schlegal, John Pennell, Clay Hess, and even an unsuspected, grassed-up version of the 1968 pop hit by B. J. Thomas titled "Hooked On A Feeling".  "Ashlee is one of the most promising young singers I've heard in years", states Mountain Fever Records executive Mark Hodges.  "She's as real as they come and we are just thrilled to be working with her." 

Ashlee Blankenship & Blades of Blue has been shipped to radio and is also available to radio programmers via Airplay Direct and Radio Submit.  The new CD is available to consumers via iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, and wherever great music is sold.  For more information on Ashlee Blankenship & Blades of Blue, please visit 


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