Fifty years ago Bill Jenkins played his unique brand of mountain music at the historic National Press Club. Then just a young teenager, Jenkins played with a band that included the Cottingham Brothers (Robert and Russell) who were also teens.
Now on Friday, March 28 Jenkins is returning to play a 50(th) Anniversary Concert at the Press Club. His band the Virginia Mountain Boys will be joined by special guest Robert Cottingham.
The sound of the group differs from most contemporary bluegrass bands in that it has an older, starker and rawer sound. Jenkins and his singing partner Ken Worrell use their voices as instruments as much or more than their guitars.
Their ability to harmonize, swapping back and forth from lead to harmony several times during the same song, is part of the genius of this group. It is a precise skill only developed by years and years of practice and performance. In addition to the vocals the group also has some of the finest acoustic musicians performing currently. Jenkins is considered one of the best cross-picking guitarists in the country.
The world class five-string banjo player Clyde Bailey contributes breakdowns and sings baritone. Robert Cottingham will join as a special guest on mandolin. Others in the band include Bill Collier on bass and Joe Gilley on his Dixon guitar. A short history lesson and explanation about each song is an important educational part of each show.
| This old music reflects the lives of the early immigrants and their descendants who eked out a living in the hills and hollows of the majestic Appalachians. Mountain music produced what we now call Bluegrass and Country Music. Jenkins and his band can sing an astonishing 500 songs from memory. | Jenkins was born in Newport News, Va. He has performed with the Virginia Gentlemen and Red Allen and the Kentuckians as well as at many unique and historic venues including the White House lawn. He was featured on a nationally syndicated Smithsonian presentation promoting traditional music. The band records for the Achilles label and their CDs and DVDs are on sale at the show or on their website. |
Founded in 1908 the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has more than 3,000 members representing nearly every major journalism organization. More than 250,000 people visit the Club every year to attend more than 2,000 events that include speeches and news conferences by world leaders in the areas of government, politics, business sports and the arts. Musicians who have performed at the Club include: Louis Armstrong, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Dolly Parton and Ricky Skaggs.
The event begins at 7:30 in the Ballroom of the National Press Club, 529 14(th) Street NW, Washington, D.C. The For tickets: Click Here!
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