Audie Blaylock
Born(1962-08-18)August 18, 1962
El Paso, Texas, U.S.
DiedJanuary 10, 2024 (aged 61)
Auburn, Indiana, U.S.
GenresBluegrass music
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals, mandolin
Years active1983–2024
LabelsRural Rhythm, Patuxent
Websiteredlinebluegrass.com

Audie Blaylock (August 18, 1962 – January 10, 2024) was an American singer, guitarist, mandolinist and composer in the bluegrass tradition.

Biography

Early years

Blaylock was born in El Paso, Texas, but was raised in Lansing, Michigan. Growing up in a family where both parents played music, he learned guitar at age 8. He grew up playing guitar and mandolin in local bands.[1]

Support for Other Artists

In 1982, at age 19, Blaylock joined Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, and spent nine years with them playing mandolin.[2][3]

In 1990, Blaylock worked with Red Allen until his death in 1993.[4]

Starting in 1993, Blaylock played both mandolin and guitar with the Lynn Morris Band.[5]

From 1997 to 2000, Blaylock played with Harley Allen (Red Allen's son). Allen was an accomplished country music songwriter (for Garth Brooks, John Michael Montgomery, and others), and recorded for Mercury Records.[2][6]

From 1999 to 2003, Blaylock worked with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, playing guitar and singing harmonies.[7][8]

From 2006 to 2007, Blaylock and fiddler Michael Cleveland formed "Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper featuring Audie Blaylock."[9][10]

Trains Are the Only Way to Fly

In 2001, Bllaylock recorded his self-released solo album Trains Are the Only Way to Fly, featuring Tom Adams (banjo), Jesse Brock (mandolin), and Ron Stewart (fiddle).[11]

Audie Blaylock and Redline

Blaylock started Redline in 2004, took time out to work with Michael Cleveland, and reactivated Redline in 2007. The current band consists of Evan Ward on banjo, Reed Jones on the bass, and Mason Wright on fiddle. Patrick McAvinue played fiddle in the band prior to joining Dailey and Vincent. Russ Carson played banjo in the band prior to joining Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. Matt Wallace played bass at first, but was later replaced by Reed Jones.[1]

Blaylock and Redline released the Audie Blaylock & Redline album in 2009 on the Rural Rhythm label.[12][13] In 2010, they released Cryin’ Heart Blues which was compared favourably to the music of Jimmy Martin.[14][15]

In 2011, Blaylock released the I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky: A Bill Monroe Celebration album (Rural Rhythm). Special guests included Ronnie McCoury, Glen Duncan, Jason Carter, Bobby Osborne, Lou Reid, Del McCoury, and Carl Jackson.[16]

Blaylock released the album Hard Country in 2012, produced by Scott Vestal.[17] Blaylock chose the album name to emphasize how closely bluegrass and country music are related.[18]

In 2016, Blaylock and Redline released The Road That Winds album for Patuxent Music. Banjoist Evan Ward returned to the band, joining Blaylock, McAvinue, and Jones. The album was recorded at Scott Vestal’s Digital Underground Studio.[19]

Other projects

In 2004, Blaylock was a primary coordinator for and contributor to the A Tribute to Jimmy Martin: The King of Bluegrass project, which also featured Kenny Ingram, J. D. Crowe, Paul Williams, Michael Cleveland, Jason Moore, and Sonya Isaacs.[20]

Luthier Teddy Workman of TW Guitars in West Virginia designed and constructed the Red Line edition guitar in 2010, with rosewood back and sides and a thin red line running up the fret board into the peghead.[1][21]

Death

Blaylock's death, earlier in the week, was announced on January 12, 2024. He was 61.[22]

Discography

Solo albums

  • 2001: Trains Are the Only Way to Fly (self-released)[23]

With Rhonda Vincent

  • 2001: The Storm Still Rages (Rounder)
  • 2003: One Step Ahead (Rounder)

With Michael Cleveland

  • 2002: Flame Keeper (Rounder)
  • 2006: Let 'er Go, Boys! (Rounder)

With Audie Blaylock and Redline

  • 2009: Audie Blaylock and Redline (Rural Rhythm)[24]
  • 2010: Cryin Heart Blues (Rural Rhythm)[25]
  • 2011: I'm Going Back to Old Kentucky: A Bill Monroe Celebration (Rural Rhythm)[26]
  • 2012: Hard Country (Rural Rhythm)[27]
  • 2016: The Road That Winds (Patuxent Music)[28]
  • 2019: Originalist (615 Hideaway Records)[29]

As primary contributor

  • 2004: various artists - Tribute To Jimmy Martin: The King Of Bluegrass (Koch Records)[30]
  • 2010: various artists - All-Star Jam: Live at Graves Mountain (Rural Rhythm)
  • 2011: various artists - Appalachian Gospel Revival (Rural Rhythm) - track 6, "Who'll Sing For Me"
  • 2011: various artists - Rural Rhythm Records Salutes Bill Monroe 100th Year Celebration: Live At Bean Blossom CD (Rural Rhythm) - track 6, "Six Feet Under the Ground"

Also appears on

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jaques DiCroce (April 10, 2012). "A Conversation with Audie Blaylock". Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Heibutzki, Ralph (July 4, 2013). "Five questions with ... Audie Blaylock". Herald-Palladium. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  3. Weisberger, Jon (May 19, 2005). "Jimmy Martin, 1927-2005". Nashville Scene. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  4. "Red Allen". International Bluegrass Music Museum. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  5. MacTaggart, Garaud (March 27, 1996). "The Bluegrass is Greener in the Lynn Morris Tradition". The Buffalo News. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  6. "Harley Allen Dies". BMI. April 5, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  7. staff writer (October 20, 2001). "Rhonda Vincent and the Rage: Stylish Bluegrass". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  8. Weisberger, Jon (June 30, 2001). "Rhonda Vincent - More than a feeling". No Depression. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  9. Mary W. Burton (July 31, 2007). "Out on a limb with fiddlin': Mike Cleveland". LEO Weekly. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  10. Roberts, Tim. "Michael Cleveland: Fiddlin' with the Giants". Louisville Music News. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  11. George Hauenstein. "Audie Blaylock: Trains Are The Only Way To Fly". Country Standard Time. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  12. Matt Bjorke (January 27, 2009). "Audie Blaylock And Redline - Audie Blaylock And Redline". Roughstock. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  13. Tim FitzPatrick. "Audie Blaylock: Audie Blaylock & Redline". Country Standard Time. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  14. James Stiltner (December 20, 2013). "Audie Blaylock and Redline - Crying Heart Blues". Banjo Hangout. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  15. Mark S. Tucker. "Cryin' Heart Blues: Audie Blaylock and Redline". Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  16. "Audie Blaylock and Redline – I'm Going Back To Old Kentucky (A Bill Monroe Celebration)". Bluegrass Unlimited. November 3, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  17. ""Hard Country" by Audie Blaylock and Redline Out June 19, Single on Charts". Cybergrass. June 14, 2012. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  18. "New Album Release by Audie Blaylock + Redline Next Week". Prescription Bluegrass. June 14, 2012. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  19. Lawless, John (June 10, 2016). "Audie Blaylock back with The Road That Winds". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  20. Weisberger, Jon (August 31, 2004). "Various Artists - A Tribute to Jimmy Martin, "The King of Bluegrass"". No Depression. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  21. "The Redline Model TW Guitar". Hope River Entertainment. November 9, 2010. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  22. Lawless, John (2024-01-12). "Audie Blaylock passes". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  23. Weisberger, Jon (August 31, 2001). "Audie Blaylock - Trains Are The Only Way To Fly". No Depression. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  24. "Reviews – June 2009". Bluegrass Unlimited. June 1, 2009. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  25. Hyperbolium (April 23, 2010). "Audie Blaylock and Redline - Cryin' Heart Blues (Rural Rhythm, 2010)". No Depression. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  26. Moulton, Jim (June 8, 2011). ""I'm Going Back To Old Kentucky" - Audie Blaylock & Redline - A Review". No Depression. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  27. Glen Herbe (January 26, 2013). "Audie Blaylock & Redline: Hard Country". Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  28. Fred Smith. "Audie Blaylock and Redline: The Road That Winds". Country Standard Time. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  29. "Originalist - Audie Blaylock and Redline". 5 November 2019.
  30. "Tribute To Jimmy Martin "The King Of Bluegrass"". Hybrid Magazine. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
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