The Year’s Top Five News Posts
Bluegrass Comedian Steve Martin Holds Two Spots and Three Obituaries Round Out The List of The Most Read Stories in 2011!
Number 5
Fiddler Kenny Baker – Stroke Victim!
Jul 3, 2011
Kenny Baker, best known for his 25 year tenure as a “Bluegrass Boy” with Bill Monroe and often unofficially credited with the actual composition of some of Monroe’s biggest instrumental hits suffered a stroke, which affected the left side of his body. Just eight days later Kenny passed on. The story we ran on his death (Bluegrass Fiddler Kenny Baker Dies from Stroke!) came in at number six in the list. When combined, the two stories together would have made the number two spot.
Number 4
Me And Paul Revere - New Song From Steve Martin.
Jun 8, 2011
In Honor of the U.S. Independence Day Holiday in which Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers will make their special appearance at the White House Martin wrote a new song for the occasion entitled: "Me And Paul Revere." The song tells the tale from the horses perspective.
Number 3
Steve Martin to Narrate Banjo Film on PBS!
Sep 1, 2011
The PBS fall 2011 line-up will include The Banjo Project documentary, now known as Give Me the Banjo. It will be one episode in the new mini-series, “PBS Arts Fall Festival,” for national prime time broadcast. The banjo documentation’s PBS incarnation will be 82 minutes, with Steve Martin narrating and as many of the players and commentators as will fit. The DVD/home video is currently being negotiated. The film will air on PBS TV November 4, 2011.
Number 2
Harley Allen Dead at Age 55
Mar 30, 2011
Harley Lee Allen, Nashville songwriter, passed away this morning. He had been diagnosed recently with a stage 4 lung cancer. (Born January 23, 1956-Died March 30, 2011) He was a son of the late bluegrass performer and legend Red Allen. He won two Grammy Awards for in 2002, in the Best Country Collaboration with Vocals and Album of the Year categories for his work on the soundtrack of “O Brother Where Art Thou”.
Number 1
Oh, Hazel!
Apr 23, 2011
The death of songwriter, singer and voice of miners, women and the working class, Hazel Dickens on April 22 saddened us all. Dry Branch Fire Squad Founder Ron Thomason was a friend of Hazel and allowed us to reprint his eulogy.
“…No epithets accurately describe her voice—even when used in tandem. The best that can be said is that it projected the sounds of deep pit mining itself.” - Ron Thomason
Albuquerque’s KRQE Television has a bizarre news story about a con-woman posing as famed Bluegrass vocalist and fiddler Alison Krauss in order to bilk unsuspecting men of their life savings. 
The Prescription Bluegrass Media Center has numerous ways to get the news to you. One of the more popular ways – through your very own EMAIL – gets high marks on the surveys because of the convenience of reading the news “…at your own convenience.” 
