Springtime in the Rockies was recorded in Colorado. The CD is a collection of 14 traditional-style bluegrass tunes on love, loss, joy, sorrow and life in the mountains -- both the Rockies and Appalachians.

The Bluegrass Patriots have been together for more than 25 years, marking the landmark anniversary just one year after this CD's release in 2004. There has been only one personnel change in all that time, and this longevity has enabled band members to work off of each other to bring a smooth sound to the music. The current lineup is Dan Mitchell, Glenn Zankey, Danny Rogers, Ken Seaman and Willie McDonald; Mitchell joined the band in 2003, one year after the death of Richard Bradstreet.

Songs included on Springtime in the Rockies include "Trail of the Lonesome Pine," "Eat at the Lonesome Table," "Just As I Am/Country Boy," "Down in the Valley," "Paul Bunyan Love" and "The Girl I Left in Sunny Tennessee."

While at times some of the vocals leave a little to be desired, the voices lend themselves perfectly to the bluegrass style of music. And, in typical bluegrass tradition, even the lively tunes cannot hide the sadness in some of the songs.

by Sherrill Fulghum
Rambles.NET
24 June 2006

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