Album Notes

Cheryl is a school teacher and life-long singer from along the Elk River in West Virginia. Her influences are Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Patsy Cline, and the winning writing style of Larry Cordle, along with numerous gospel greats. “I believe the sound in your blood, are the sounds of your childhood, songs you heard your family singing, as they worked.”

Richard, a third generation coal miner born in Hazard, Ky, grew up on bluegrass, played rock for a while, then went back to his bluegrass roots. His influences are the Osborne Brothers, Jimmy Martin, Del McCoury, and Dave Peterson. Richards hard driving bass lines provide drive and energy for every song, as well, his high energy, stage persona and old school vocals.

The two married and started making music and were offered bookings as a two- piece band, with just mandolin, bass, and vocals.

Stevenson, a well-known bluegrass performer from Boone County, WV joined them. As a young man, he played with the Coal Valley Men. He can play guitar, mandolin, and banjo in that old “Pentecostal” way, that engages and endures. Basically, if the instrument has strings, he can play it.

Together, they are Blue Maggie.