In a historic recording session combining three of the most legendary names in country and gospel music, steel guitar master Tom Brumley has joined artistic forces with "Mr. Gospel Music" James Blackwood and the original western swing band, The Light Crust Doughboys for a special album scheduled for early 2000 release.
In an ultra-rare occurrence for an independent, bandstand-type record label Light Crust Doughboys Records, The Doughboys have earned 1998 and 1999 back-to-back Grammy Nominations for their recorded works in the gospel music field, being reviewed by the Muse Music Network with comments like "...classics delivered with style and conviction...deeply powerful sound...stark, sanctified, and surging...deserves all the attention it gets...swinging, stomping foundation for forceful, heaven-reaching vocals...". The Light Crust Doughboys are credited with the origination of the western swing style of music and are the State Of Texas' Official Music Ambassadors as named by the 74th Legislature, the first inductees in the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame, and their last gospel release with James Blackwood was nominated for album of the year by both the Dove Awards and the Inspirational TV Network (INSP) in addition to Grammy recognition.
James Blackwood, the only living original member of the famous Blackwood Brothers Quartet, has been repeatedly called in industry publications "perhaps the greatest lead singer to ever sing in a gospel quartet". James has been the founding member and/or leader of three of the most influential gospel groups of our era, and among his many, varied activities as southern gospel music's highly-recognized and emulated singer, he was asked to sing Elvis's signature gospel song, "How Great Thou Art" at the entertainer's funeral at Graceland.
When asked about the origins of the Brumley-Blackwood-Doughboys collaboration, youngest Doughboy Art Greenhaw said, "Long before I knew he was the son of the greatest songwriter in southern gospel music history, my idol in steel guitar-playing has always been Tom Brumley. At the age of fifteen, I was totally mesmerized by Tom's artistry as the key musician in Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band, and the innovative recorded work of Tom with Rick was my introduction to the power and the beauty of the steel guitar as the lead instrument in a musical combo. Later I became very familiar with his pioneering work with Buck Owens and his gospel music lineage as the son of Albert Brumley, and I thought what a neat sound we could develop if we all worked together in the recording studio. It was a fateful day in the life of the music of James Blackwod and The Light Crust Doughboys when I phoned Tom with some recording ideas and he said 'YES'!"
Art first met Tom at a meeting and artist showcase of the Texas Steel Guitar Association in the mid-1980s. Throughout their long and colorful history, The Light Crust Doughboys have had a keen appreciation for the steel guitar. Leon McAuliffe was an early member of the Light Crust Doughboys, joining the band in 1932. Paul Blunt was a featured steel guitarist in personal appearances throughout the 1950s and 60s, and more recently Maurice Anderson and Junior Knight have added their considerable talents on steel guitar to the sounds of The Light Crust Doughboys.
For the Blackwood-Doughboys-Brumley project, Tom alternated between pedal steel guitar, lap steel, and a vintage Rickenbacker "frying pan" steel.
For further information on the release date of the James Blackwood-Light Crust Doughboys-Tom Brumley project, check the internet at http://www.lightcrustdoughboys.com; http://www.texas-music.com; or write The Doughboys at 105 Broad Street, Mesquite, Texas 75149.