Wow! This artist is an undiscovered gem! But yeah, he's really great on the instruments. But he's just as great on the vocals! And you can't beat this for a great collection of gospel standards done in the bluegrass style. I'm very impressed.

Sartain is a genius musician and great singer who is yet undiscovered by the world at large. EVERY single song is just wonderful! Sartain brings a whole new emotional meaning to gospel bluegrass. Highly recommended for bluegrass fans, but otherswill love it, too, since he sings much better than the usual whiney mountain bluegrassers.

Playing Time – 43:51 -- From Texas-based CSP Records, a label that promotes and supports that region’s music, comes bluegrass, country and Gospel musician Jerry Sartain’s “Sing Me Back Home.” Since being taught by his grandfather, Jerry’s been picking guitar since age six in 1962. In the early 1970s, Jerry was part of a family bluegrass band called The Sartains. To make a living in music, he moved into playing country music and toured with such greats as Little Jimmy Dickens, Melba Montgomery and Johnny Gimble. This bluegrass gospel project features some of his family’s favorites, songs from Roy Acuff, A.P. Carter, Hank Williams, A.E. Brumley, and traditional numbers. His grandfather once told him, “Jerry, you will never make it in music until you sing one for the Lord.” The songs are primarily oft-played standard gospel fare that we’ll quickly be singing joyously. One of the cuts, “Two People in Love” featuring Jerry in a duet with Rhonda Vincent, is receiving considerable airplay as a result of being included on Volume 71 of Prime Cuts of Bluegrass. The theme of undying and endearing love, blessed by Heaven above, is always a well-received theme. Jerry’s accompanists include Milo Deering (mandolin, fiddle, dobro), George Anderson (bass), Rocky Gribble (banjo), and Scott Moody (tenor vocals). Jerry plays guitar, and he sings the lead and baritone vocals. This is a spiritually-tinged and well-produced project of favorite gospel sing-alongs that will also serve to introduce a wider audience to the music of Jerry Sartain. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

The first thing you notice about this CD is the beautiful photography, and the special appearance of Ozzy the Wonder Dog! The sense of fun and family continues with some heartfelt liner notes and dedications. There's a lot of gospel on "Sing Me Back Home", and you get the impression it's heartfelt even before you hear a note of the CD. And what a fun CD it is! There are only 12 songs, and most of them are songs you've heard millions of times before. What makes this CD work is the sense of fun that comes out of it. You can feel the musicians smile with every note, and you know that these people had a good time with this recording project. Although the duet "Two People In Love" sung by Jerry and special guest Rhonda Vincent is a lovely tune, by far the best song on the CD is "Will The Circle Be Unbroken". Not only does this version change tempo three times (from blues to bluegrass and back again), it has a wonderful tag and studio fade at the end. Listen to the fiddle backup work of Milo Deering. This man knows how to have fun on a fiddle! The slower tunes (lots of ¾ time here) are all heartfelt and sweet. The upbeat tunes are all interesting and fun. Jerry Sartain has not only a great voice, but a fabulous sense of timing and style. I highly recommend this CD for your "sing along" collection, or as a CD to learn some traditional tunes off of if you are new to bluegrass. Oh yeah, you can contact Ozzy the Wonder Dog at csprecds@flash.net. (Kathy Boyd, Ground Zero Sound & Promotions)