Ronnie Reno’s Man-Do-Lin Productions record label is releasing 2 albums for digital downloads and streaming with many more titles to be released this year. The second group of titles to be released on Reno’s Man-Do-Lin Productions label are Lester Flatt – Legends of Bluegrass (1971) and Ronnie Reno & The Reno Tradition – Front Porch Gospel.
LESTER FLATT first came to prominence as a member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in 1945 and played a thumb-and-index guitar style that was in part derived from the playing of Charlie Monroe and Clyde Moody. In 1948, he created the legendary bluegrass Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys with fellow Monroe alumnus Earl Scruggs, and for the next 20 years were one of the most successful bands in bluegrass. When they parted ways in 1969, Flatt formed a new group, the Nashville Grass, hiring many of the Foggy Mountain Boys. His role as rhythm guitarist and vocalist in each of these seminal ensembles helped define the sound of traditional bluegrass music. His solid guitar playing, and rich lead voice are unmistakable in hundreds of bluegrass standards.
FLATT & SCRUGGS were ranked No. 24 on CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music in 2003. They performed "The Ballad of Jed Clampett", which was used as the theme for the highly popular 60’s & 70’s television show The Beverly Hillbillies.
Flatt was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985 with Scruggs and made an inaugural inductee into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1991.
We can all be very grateful that the songs on this album were recorded and will be enjoyed for many generations. This wonderful timeless bluegrass album was recorded in 1971 at the Mac Wiseman's Renfro Valley Bluegrass Festival. Along with LESTER FLATT’s signature guitar pickin’ and smooth warm vocals these recordings contain Flatt’s star-studded group THE NASHVILLE GRASS including Uncle Josh Graves, Paul Warren, Roland White, Haskel McCormick and Johnny Johnson. Song highlights include many hits and standards including “My little Cabin On the Hill”, “Will You Be Loving Another Man”, “The Ballad of Jed Clampett”, “Footprints in the Snow”, “Shady Grove”, “Six White Horses” and the instrumental barn burners “Dixie Breakdown”, “McCormick String Two Step” and more. In addition, we are treated to the solid vocals of Roland White on two songs: “I’m Just A Used To Be To You” and “New River Train”.
LEGENDS OF BLUEGRASS: (1971) is a very nice snapshot in time that captures Lester smooth warm, relaxing stage style combined with his high energy live performances during his celebrated and award-winning career in Bluegrass and Country music.
Bluegrass and Gospel music have always had a strong connection and that has been true throughout the generations in the Reno Family. On FRONT PORCH GOSPEL, Ronnie Reno & The Reno Tradition have recorded 12 well-chosen gospel songs that showcase the strong connection and passion between Bluegrass and Gospel music.
Produced by Ronnie Reno, FRONT PORCH GOSPEL contains three of his fathers, Don Reno’s, compositions; “My Mother’s Bible”, “Hear Jerusalem Mourn” and “Jesus Will Save Your Soul”, along with powerful versions of “I’ll Have A New Life”, “River Of Jordan”, “The Family Who Prays Together (Shall Never Part) and (Gathering Flowers For The) Master’s Bouquet”.
“Gospel music has always been a big part of my family’s musical history. I started singing gospel at an early age and performed some of the songs on this CD with Reno and Smiley. My dad (Don Reno) wrote and sang some of the best original gospel songs that you are familiar with today. I’m Using My Bible For A Roadmap was their first recording released on King Records in 1951.
Front Porch Gospel is a project that is really dear to me, and I was lucky to record great songs while writing a couple of them myself. There are some wonderful messages in these lyrics, and I hope the music will lift your spirits and be a blessing for you. I want to thank all the musicians on this record and hope you enjoy listening to it as coming from the heart of a fortunate and Christian man.” - May God Bless, - Ronnie Reno
Both albums are available commercially wherever digital downloads are available including iTunes and Amazon and streaming on Spotify and Pandora.
For more information on Ronnie Reno go to Ronniereno/Facebook.
About Ronnie Reno:
The legendary Ronnie Reno often called “Bluegrass Music’s Youngest Old Timer,” is the son of banjo pioneer Don Reno, and began his career over 60 years ago playing with his father’s group, the Hall of Fame duo Reno & Smiley. In the late 60’s and early 70’s, Reno played bass for The Osborne Brothers and would lend his voice to their trademark trio harmony before becoming a front man for Merle Haggard’s Strangers.
As a songwriter, Reno would pen several cuts for Haggard, as well as the pivotal signature song, “Boogie Grass Band” for Conway Twitty. In 1983, Reno made his first solo entry on the charts with “Homemade Love,” but would later reunite with his brothers, Don Wayne and Dale, to form the celebrated group, The Reno Brothers. In 1993, Reno became an ambassador of traditional music, producing and hosting the first and only national television show featuring Bluegrass music, the Cable Ace-nominated “Reno’s Old Time Music.”
“Reno’s Old-Time Music” TV show aired weekly for nearly 25 years and reached over 80 million homes on the RFD-TV Network. In 2016, Reno earned SPBGMA’s highest honor, and Ronnie was inducted into the Preservation Hall of Greats, alongside such legends as Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley and his father.
