News
8/19/2010
Ramblers Finish Hymns From The Hills!
Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers have officially completed the recording process of their soon-to-be-released gospel project for Rebel Records. Hymns From The Hills features both new and older songs and some of the finest singers and musicians in bluegrass and gospel music. Very special guests include Ralph Stanley, Doyle Lawson, Paul Williams, Rhonda Vincent, Larry Sparks, Dale Perry, James Allen Shelton, Matt DeSpain, Missy Everidge, and a special children's choir comprised of 22 youth. The CD is a true labor of love for Joe who states, "This project has been a lifetime in the making. When the Radio Ramblers came together in 2006, we were blessed with the right combination of talent to produce a set of songs with a broad diversity of arrangements and dynamics. In addition to the endless contributions of the Ramblers, I wanted the chance to record with some of the artists I have featured on my radio broadcast daily for many years. Besides the legendary musicianship and singing of each guest, I cherish the rich friendship I share with each one." Rebel Records expects to release Hymns From The Hills later this year.
(Pictured above: Ralph Stanley with Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers During Completion of Hymns From The Hills)
7/13/2010
Exciting News From JMRR
Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers have some very exciting news which they would like to share with all of their loyal fans. The Ramblers will be releasing a new Gospel album, which will hopefully be out early fall! The Ramblers have been working hard all summer in order to get the project out as soon as possible, and are very excited for everyone to hear it. The project will also include a host of special guests including Larry Sparks, Doyle Lawson, Rhonda Vincent, Paul Williams, and Ralph Stanley. This is a project which Joe has been wanting to record for a long time. The album will include many originals as well as several lesser-known musical "chestnuts" from old songbooks and musical pioneers. Stay tuned for more news involving the new album from Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers!
5/26/2010
Joe Mullins Receives Special Honor
Joe Mullins is the recipient of the Outstanding Musician Award granted during the 14th Annual Appalachian Unsung Hero Ceremony presented by Sinclair Community Colleges Appalachian Outreach Committee on Friday, May 14th.
Recipients of these awards must meet the definition of Appalachian as per federal government guidelines; or must have demonstrated outstanding service within the Appalachian community. The purpose of the awards is to recognize unsung heroes who have performed good deeds, built pride and self-esteem, but have gone unnoticed or unrewarded for their exceptional efforts. Joe Mullins is a southwestern Ohio native who has been an active bluegrass performer and radio broadcaster for over 25 years. He also produces many major bluegrass events throughout Ohio annually.
Fred Bartenstein remarked, Joe Mullins is one of the most prominent Appalachian business, cultural and civic leaders in the Miami Valley. Tens of thousands of Appalachians who listen to the radio already know who he is, but maybe not the full extent of his inspiring story and contributions. The 2010 Appalachian Award will help to remedy this and win him much-deserved recognition from other leaders in the region.
4/30/2010
Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers continue to promote their new Rebel Records release Rambler's Call during WorldWide Bluegrass Music Month in May. The band will kick-off the celebration when Joe Mullins interviews live with Gracie Muldoon on WorldWideBluegrass.com on Saturday, May 1st at 9:30pm EST.
Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers visited recently with Sirius/XM's Kyle Cantrell for a Track By Track special. The special will feature every cut from Rambler's Call and an interview with the band. The show will air on Bluegrass Junction (Sirius channel 65 or XM channel 14) on Wednesday, May 5th at 9:00am EST with rebroadcasts on Thursday, May 6th at 9:00pm EST and Sunday, May 9th at 11:00am EST.
Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers will also celebrate Bluegrass Month with several shows across the country. The band will headline the Appalachian Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday, May 8th. They'll followup that performance with an appearance at the Amvets Post 61 Bluegrass Festival in Hillsboro, Ohio on Friday, May 28th. On Saturday, May 29th, Joe Mullins &a mp; The Radio Ramblers will join Bluegrass legend, Ralph Stanley for the Hills of Home Bluegrass Festival in Coeburn, Virginia.
4/9/10
Earlier this year, Joe was very thankful to receive a beautiful new banjo from Joe Hardwick, a custom banjo builder at the Banjo Barn in Louisa, KY. The new Hardwick banjo features several special features. Joe's new model includes a solid cherry block, a JLS 20 hole tone ring and a straight grain maple neck.
"I am so thankful to be playing a great NEW banjo with an OLD tone! It's really got it!" --Joe Mullins
For information, contact Joe Hardwick at the Banjo Barn. 606-638-0916.
4/7/10
Listen to an interview with Joe Mullins on WAMU's Lee Michael Dempsey Show starting at 11AM today! Go to bluegrasscountry.com .
Check out our new website, and make sure to sign the Guestbook before you leave. Thanks!
ABOUT
These days you never know if the ringing in Joe Mullins ears is that of his banjo or a phone call requesting a performance by his new band, the Radio Ramblers. Mullins owns and operates Classic Country Radio, a network of three southwest Ohio radio stations featuring Classic Country, Bluegrass and Gospel music. The Radio Ramblers, a collaboration of veteran Bluegrass musicians who have worked with one another during former musical endeavors, formed in 2006 for the primary purpose of performing at Classic Country Radio promotions. However, due to the level of their professionalism and talent, the requests for performances by the Radio Ramblers has grown, thus expanding their schedule to include shows at area music venues, benefits, and festivals. It cannot be left unacknowledged that camaraderie and inherent passion for Bluegrass music within this band has had a profound impact on the quality of their stage presence and ultimate demand. The Radio Ramblers have become a welcomed addition to the southwest Ohio Bluegrass music scene.
Joe Mullins is a southwestern Ohio native who has been an active Bluegrass performer and radio broadcaster for over 25 years. Mullins' experience spans a lifetime, growing up in the industry with his father, fiddler, Paul Moon Mullins, also one of Ohios most notable radio personalities. Joe began working on radio and playing banjo professionally while still in high school in the early 1980s. Joe toured and recorded nationwide as a founding member of the band the Traditional Grass until 1995, when he purchased WBZI Radio in Xenia, Ohio.
Mullins did manage to record and perform on a limited basis with the band Longview, earning Song of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year awards from the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association, see www.ibma.org) in the late 1990s. He was honored by winning an Instrumental Recording of the Year award in 2001 from the IBMA for his banjo work on Rebel Record's Knee Deep in Bluegrass. Mullins was also one of many artists in 2006 sharing Album of the Year honors for Celebration of Life, on Skaggs Family Records.
Joe now owns an Ohio network of radio stations, adding WKFI in Wilmington and WEDI in Eaton and recently a spot on the FM dial for WBZI in the Dayton area at 100.3. He is on the air weekdays from 1 until 3 p.m. featuring Bluegrass and Old-Time Gospel music on all four stations and web casting at www.myclassiccountry.com. Joe produces many major Bluegrass events throughout Ohio annually and keeps the Radio Ramblers busy at Bluegrass events and concerts regionally and across the nation. He is respected as one the top banjo players nationally and is an occasional banjo workshop presenter.
Joe and his wife Tammy have been married 23 years, have a son in college, a daughter in high school, live near Cedarville, Ohio, and all are active members of their church.
Rooted in Lebanon, Ohio, Adam McIntosh is the guitarist and a vocalist with the Radio Ramblers. Adam started playing Bluegrass at age 11, when he got his first guitar. While still in high school, he entertained the visitors of Kings Island with Bluegrass music. In 1999, Adam assembled a local band, Borderline, where he initially met mandolin player, Mike Terry. The next year, Adam began playing guitar and singing tenor with Rounder recording artists, Dry Branch Fire Squad, where he remained for 3 ½ years. During his tenure, they made television and radio appearances and recorded one album, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Live From New Burryport Firehouse. During this time he also moonlighted, playing mandolin and singing with a band, High Tymes, who later changed their name to Kentucky Ridge, recording one album, Mountain Memories.
It is the honesty of Bluegrass music that he appreciates and is why he has chosen to remain within this genre of music. Adam was recruited as a member of the Radio Ramblers in 2006. I really appreciate the level of professionalism that everyone brings to the band. Everyone is easy to get along with and the musicianship is outstanding. I love audience response. I love singing an a capella song that silences a crowd. I love seeing people wipe a tear after a heartfelt tearjerker. That emotional response is what its all about for me. Among his many musical influences, he credits Keith Whitley, the Lonesome River Band, the Eagles, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Ray Charles, Doyle Lawson and Lou Reid.
When hes not playing Bluegrass, Adam and his wife, Jessica, a hairdresser, own Salon 757, in Lebanon, Ohio. They have a two beautiful daughters and are active in their church. Ive been helped out by a lot of people. "Ive been lucky to meet almost all of my musical heroes. Bluegrass is simple, but its not easy. "
Born in Dayton, Ohio, and a graduate of Chaminade-Julienne High School, fiddler and vocalist, Evan McGregor, currently calls Brookville, Ohio home. This is where he owns and operates Oscar Fish Studio, a professional music, production and recording company. Evan comes from a family of five, including his father, Larry, mother, Beverly, older brother, Mark, who is a writer at the Dayton Daily News, and a twin sister, Amanda. His family has been very supportive of his musical endeavors.
Evan has been playing Bluegrass since 1994 and been a member of a number of regional and national acts since his career started, including Reynolds and Rife Revue, Jesse Branham-Two Shoes Band, Gods Country, Kentucky Heritage, Simple Tymes, Dayle Eskridge and Changing Times, the Wildwood Valley Boys, the Aubrey Holt Show, Blue Tradition, who won the Kentucky State Bluegrass Band Championship in 2005 and 2006, the Country Sounds Show and the James King Band. Hes placed in several regional fiddle contests since 1994. Although his Bluegrass experience is extensive, his musical talents began forming during 3rd grade piano lessons and classical violin lessons the following year.
Bluegrass became his preference because it is a very organic form of music. Acoustic instruments and vocals are the tools to help us discover the deepest parts of our soul. Basic human emotion, allows me to connect to such a natural genre of music.
He credits numerous musicians as influential, including Mark OConnor, Bobby Hicks, Kenny Baker, Bill Monroe, Ralph and Carter Stanley, Curly Ray Cline, Gerald Evans, Aubrey Holt, Vassar Clements, Bob Wills and Jaco Pastorius.
After hearing Evans work on a 2006 recording by the Wildwood Valley Boys, Joe Mullins contacted Evan regarding a spot in the Radio Ramblers. While playing local venues as a member of different regional bands, Evan had become acquainted with Mike Terry and Adam McIntosh. He enjoys the camaraderie and the always-positive attitude of each bandmember, as well as the opportunity to play good quality music. As a live performer, Evans thankful for the opportunity to go out on the stage and hopefully play something that moves someone spiritually or emotionally. "If I can accomplish that for just one person, I have achieved my goal."
Mike Terry, mandolin player and vocalist for the Radio Ramblers, was born and raised in Ohio. However, most of his family are Kentucky natives, a place where he hopes to retire. Currently, Mike resides in Jamestown, Ohio, with his wife, Theresa, and daughters, Kayla and Klara. In addition to music, Mike owns MTK Heating, Cooling and Plumbing, providing sales and repairs of residential heating, cooling and plumbing systems.
He has been involved with Bluegrass music most of his life and performing with local Bluegrass groups for 12 years. Mike has a real passion for the music stating, Bluegrass is in my heart. Ive played rock and country at a younger age, but nothing is like mountain music to me. Bluegrass music is a heart-felt music that I truly enjoy. It will always be a deep part of my roots. After his father taught him a few techniques on guitar, Mike continued to progress, teaching himself by ear. He also taught himself to play bass, banjo and mandolin, influenced by artists such as Earl Scruggs, Doyle Lawson and Keith Whitley.
Mike first met Joe Mullins when they performed together in the gospel group, the Beacons. Performing with the Radio Ramblers is an enjoyable experience for Mike because of the energy on stage, and the good group of Christian guys who are also talented musicians. Mike also enjoys talking to the fans, answering their questions and listening to their feedback.
Bassist, Tim Kidd, currently keeps time for the Radio Ramblers. Originally from Lebanon, Ohio, he now resides in Morrow, Ohio with his wife, Tiffany, son, Taylor and daughter, Trinity. Tim is a also a part-time police officer in the greater Cincinnati area.
He was raised in a talented family of musicians. His grandfather is a pastor and gifted singer, his mother an outstanding singer and pianist, and his father an exceptional singer as well. She sang in a southern gospel group, The Singing Gospel Jewels, and he in The Gary Cohn Trio. At the age of 7, Tim began playing the drums at his grandfathers church. In 7th grade, Tim began learning the electric bass. A year later, he met a friend who was Bluegrass music enthusiast as well as an electric and upright bass player. Tim appreciated the unique sound of Bluegrass, incorporating it into his life. As his friend embraced the dobro, Tim began honing his skills on the upright bass, influenced by such musicians as Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, Ben Isaacs and the Hinsons.
At 17, Tim began playing Southern Gospel with The Hoskins Family, where he remained for 1½ years until moving to the Beacons at age 19. It is with the Beacons that Tim first became acquainted with Joe Mullins and Mike Terry, and where he performed for nearly 5 years. Tim has also known Adam McIntosh since his junior year of high school.
The enjoyment for Tim of performing with the Radio Ramblers is rooted in the musicianship and crowd excitement. All of the guys in the band are really talented. We have a lot of fun! I also love the type of crowd that turns out to see us. An enthusiastic crowd is the best part of playing live.
MUSIC
Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers currently have two releases. Their first, Tuned In , was released March 2007.
"...The first song on the CD is "Each Minute Seems A Millions Years," and it sets the tone of solid old-school bluegrass picking and harmony singing, a direct line back to the old homeplace. Other highlights include the McIntosh penned "Brand New Man," the instrumental "Bending The Strings," and the harmony infused gospel a cappella number, "Deeper Than The Stain." --Bluegrass Unlimited
The Ramblers' sophmore album, Ramblers' Call, was released February 2009, and is approaching a re-release through Rebel Records on March 30, 2010.
"...Wynn Stewart's 'Another Day, Another Dollar' gets the album off to a rousing, yet atavistic start, and things just get better from there. The band pulls from sources as diverse as Don Reno ('Charlotte Breakdown') to Primitve Quartet ('No Longer An Orphan') to Tony Senn and Tommy Stough whose 'Boston Jail' is one of the album's most pleasant surprises. The title track comes from Boys From Indiana alumnus Aubrey Holt, whose contributions as a topnotch songwriter remain underappreciated. Joe's former bandmate, Gerald Evans, checks in with two most appropriately retro compositions, 'The Old Rocking Chair' and 'Don't You Want To Go Home.' " --Bluegrass Unlimited
TOUR
August 6, 2010
Greene County Fair
Xenia, OH 7PM
www.greenecountyfairgrounds.com
August 14, 2010
Antique Power Show
Butler Co. Fairgrounds
Hamilton, OH 4PM
August 19, 2010
North Carolina State Bluegrass Festival
Tom Johnson Ralley Park- Marion, NC
www.aandabluegrass.com
August 20, 2010
WDVX Blue Plate Special
Market Square- Knoxville, TN Noon
August 27, 2010
Brown County Bluegrass Festival
Brown County Fairgrounds- Georgetown, OH
www.browncofair.org
www.browncountybluegrass.com
August 28, 2010
Rail and Arts Fest
Xenia, OH
Noon FREE
September 2, 2010
Montgomery County Fair
Dayton, OH
montcofair.com
September 4, 2010
Lil John's Mountain Music Festival
Snow Camp, NC
www.littlejohnsmountainmusic.com
September 16, 2010
Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival
Morehead, KY
www.poppymountainbluegrass.com
September 18, 2010
Hylo Brown Memorial Bluegrass Festival
Mechanicsburg, OH
September 23, 2010
Nothin' Fancy Bluegrass Festival
Buena Vista, VA
www.nothinfancybluegrass.com
September 25, 2010
Old Timers' Festival
Greene County Fairgrounds- Xenia, OH
www.oldtimersclub.com
September 27-30, 2010
IBMA World of Bluegrass
Nashville, TN
www.ibma.org
September 28, 2010
WAMU Broadcast LIVE
Nashville, TN 3PM
October 9, 2010
Lester Flatt Celebration
Liberty Square- Sparta, TN
October 22, 2010
Renaissance Theatre
w/ Del Mcoury
Mansfield, OH
mansfieldtickets.com
October 23, 2010
Bluegrass Opry Barn
Oakwood, OH (Paulding, OH) 7PM
October 30, 2010
Mountaineer Opry
Milton, WV 730PM
www.mountaineeropry.com
November 6, 2010
Song of the Mountains
Marion, VA
www.songofthemountains.org
November 11-13, 2010
Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival
Roberts Convention Centre- Wilmington, OH
www.somusicfest.com
December 4, 2010
Clifton Opera House
Clifton, OH 7:30PM
January 15-17, 2011
Blockhouse Bluegrass Festival
www.mansfieldtickets.com
February 5, 2011
Western Brown High School
Mt Orab, OH 7PM
March 11, 2011
Bluegrass Family Gathering Festival
Arcadia, FL
www.craigsrv.com
March 12, 2011
Everett's Music Barn
Suwanee, GA 7PM
www.everettsmusicbarn.com
March 25-26, 2011
Roberts Centre
Wilmington, OH
April 22, 2011
High School
Radford, VA 7PM
April 23, 2011
Community Center
Lucketts, VA 7PM
April 28-29, 2011
Festival
North Platte, NE
May 21, 2011
Amelia, VA
May 28, 2011
Stanley Festival
McClure, VA
July 2-3, 2011
Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival
Prince Edward Island, Canada
August 13-14, 2011
Princeton, ON
You can get professional pictures taken on the cruise. This one Adam and Jess did.
photos
Classic Country Radio
Oscar Fish Studios
Rebel Records
Ramblers' Facebook Page
Ramblers' Myspace Page
NS Design
GHS Strings
CityFolk
Clinton County, Ohio
Renfro Valley
CONTACT
For booking, call Joe at 937-768-0911
Publicity:
Kimberly Williams/East Public Relations
931-808-8083
kw_eastpublicrelations.com
Label Contact:
Mark Freeman/Rebel Records
434-973-5151
Electronic Press Kit:
Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers' EPK
Nashville Public Radio
Bluegrass Radio Network
Bluegrass for Breakfast
WMMT Whitesburg, KY
KASU Jonesboro, Arkansas
Click Here to learn how to win tickets to IBMA!
