The "Tall Pines Radio
Show" hit the airwaves in May of 2001 on WFLO AM 870 in Farmville,
Virginia. We are heard from 1-3 p.m., Monday - Friday. Although it had a very
humble beginning, the show was instantly popular. Bluegrass on the air two hours
a day, Monday - Friday, in the middle of the day. What a NOVEL idea! We've been
going and growing strong ever since.
One of the first concepts of the
show was "Featured Artists Fridays". I started on May 11, 2001 with
of course, Bill Monroe. The entire two hours on those Fridays were devoted to a
single artist or band. The second week Flatt & Scruggs were the feature.
Here we grow again! I invited a very special gentleman, who I am very proud to
call my friend, Mr. Jody Rainwater to sit in as guest DJ. Jody was bassist and
comedian for Lester & Earl's Foggy Mountain Boys for many years. Flatt
& Scruggs were based out of our sister station WSVS in Crewe, Virginia for
a time. Jody stayed on there for 19 years as a show host and announcer,
starting a lengthy and notable career in radio. Jody still makes his home in
Crewe. We had a great afternoon together, Jody shared many stories of the early
days of bluegrass and life on the road. The most memorable part of the
afternoon for me was getting to play Lester Flatt's part in one of Jody's old
comedy routines. How cool is that? Jody is still very active in the bluegrass
community, you might catch him at any festival, he and his lovely wife Emma
like to make the circuit. You may even spot him at a Lone Ridge show performing
one of his favorite numbers. He is truly a treasure to this music we love so
much, bluegrass. Featured Artist Fridays ran for one year, it now continues as
Featured Album Fridays.
Another milestone in the progression
of "The Tall Pines Radio Show" emerged on July 6, 2001. LIVE
BLUEGRASS ON THE RADIO! I remember sitting at work, looking out into our main
studio, at these two old RCA ribbon mikes, thinking, no dreaming, about all the
talented and colorful people who had sang into them. Thinking "I was born
50 years too late!". Then it hit me, EUREKA. Why can't we do it again? I
made a few phone calls to bands I knew and the interest was definitely there. I
approached the powers that be at WFLO, ( Thank you Henry Fulcher, Francis Wood
and John Wilson) and they said "Let's give it a shot". Now, almost 7
years and 90 some bands later, we continue to bring you great live bluegrass in
Farmville. The Bands play on "The Tall Pines Radio Show" From 2-3
p.m., and 7-10 pm at the VFW hall in Farmville. We have had quite the
impressive list of guests.....
July 6, 2001- George Winn & The Bluegrass Partners
August 3, 2001- Monroe Station
September 7,2001- Lynwood Lunsford & The Misty
Valley Boys
October 12, 2001- Fastest Grass Alive
November 2, 2001- The James King Band
December 7, 2001- Hard Knox
January 4. 2002- The Bluegrass Brothers
February 2, 2002- Pine Ridge Express
March 1, 2002- In The Tradition
April 5, 2002- The James King Band
May 3, 2002- Old School Freight Train
June 2002- Pocket Change
July 2002- Nunn Brothers
August 2002- The Slack Family
AUGUST 21, 2002 - Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
September 2002- King Wilkie
October 2002- Back In Bluegrass
November 2002 - The Jeanette Williams Band
December 2002- The James King Band
January 3, 2003 - The Larry Stephenson Band
February 3, 2003- Jackass Flats
March 21, 2003 - Lost & Found
April 3, 2003 - The James King Band
April 18, 2003 - Open Road
May 2, 2003 - King Wilkie
May 2003 - Greasy Beans w/ Danny Barnes
May 30, 2003 - The Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show
June 2003 - Cook County Bluegrass
August 2003 - Cook County Bluegrass
September 2003 - King Wilkie
October 2003 - Jay Kaczor & Bluegrass Connection
November 7, 2003 - Lynwood Lunsford & The Misty
Valley Boys
December 5, 2003 - The James King Band
February 6, 2004 - The Bluegrass Brothers / Allen's
Mill
February 27, 2004 - Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain
March 5, 2004 - Phoenix / Jay Kaczor & Bluegrass
Connection
April 2, 2004 - James King Band / Rock Solid Grass
May 7, 2004 - George Winn / The Deer Creek Boys
June 4, 2004 - The Cherryholmes Family
July 2, 2004 - Willow Branch
August 6, 2004 - Jody Rainwater, The Slack Family
September, 2004
October, 2004 -
November 5, 2004 - David Davis & The Warrior River
Boys
December 3, 2004 - James King / Melvin Goins &
Windy Mountain
January 7, 2005 - Rock Solid Bluegrass
February 4, 2005 - Bluegrass Brothers
March 4, 2005 - Heather Berry & Virginia Carolina
April 1, 2005 - James King Band
May 6, 2005 - Alan Bibey & Blueridge
June 3,2005 - Audie Blaylock & Redline
July 1, 2005 - Allen's Mill
August 5, 2005 - Eddie Gill & The Grassmasters
September 2, 2005 - Misty Valley Boys
October 7, 2005 - David Davis & The Warrior River
Boys
November 4, 2005 - The Slack Family
December, 2005 - Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain
January 6, 2006 - Heather Berry & Dominion Grass
February 3, 2006 - Phoenix
March 17, 2006 - Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain
April 7, 2006 - Appomattox
May 5, 2006 - Misty Valley Boys
June 2, 2006 - Michelle Nixon & Drive
July 7, 2006 - High Ground
August 4, 2006 - Cedar Hill
September 1, 2006 -Willow Branch
October, 2006 - Johnathon Dillon & Phantom Grass
November 3 , 2006 - David Davis & The Warrior River
Boys
December 1, 2006 - James King Band
January 5, 2007 - Johnathon Dillon & Phantom Grass
