Southern Rail
PO Box 323, Watertown, MA 02471-0323
email: bluegrass@SouthernRail.com
Web Site: http://SouthernRail.com
Embarking on their 25th anniversary, Southern Rail continues to delight audiences with their contemporary energy, spirit and drive, matched only by the warmth and humor of their performances. Southern Rail's music is upbeat and emotionally-charged, encompassing contemporary trios, powerful Gospel quartets and solid instrumentation. Their songs have graced Bluegrass Unlimited's Top Thirty Singles Chart for a combined total of 32 months, receiving heavy national airplay. Southern Rail's reputation for strong original material, heart-stopping harmonies, and infectious good humor has spread to both coasts, spurred on by a heavy national touring schedule and 8 successful recordings.
Southern Rail celebrates their 25th anniversary with the release of their eagerly awaited 8th recording, "Coal Tattoo," featuring the group's prodigious harmonies.
Southern Rail's recordings have all received outstanding reviews and heavy national airplay, climbing to #11 on Bluegrass Unlimited'sTop Thirty Single's Chart, and hitting #1 on radio stations across the country. One of Southern Rail's CD's, a special Bluegrass Gospel compilation entitled Glory Train, was nominated for Best Gospel Recording of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association. Southern Rail has been selected by the New England Foundation for the Arts to be included in their prestigious Touring Roster.
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Quotes and Record Reviews
"Simply outstanding!" Top rating by Cybergrass (Internet Bluegrass magazine, an international publication.)
"Beautiful quartet singing...a pure winner." SPGMA's Bluegrass Music News
"First rate bluegrass...precise harmonies, sharp instrumental work...soaring and lush." Boston Herald
"The vocal harmonies are exquisite and the musicianship is impeccable." Radio Star, Ireland
"The best Gospel CD I've ever heard!" WXCF, Clifton Forge, VA
"Bluegrass Gospel at some of its most heartfelt emotion. Beautiful." WTSR, NJ
"The phones went nuts over this!" KVML, CA
"A genuine jewel" Beringen Country Radio, Belgium
"One of the most original and exciting groups in bluegrass" Powe'r Pickin', CO
"Jim Muller has one of the most distinctive voices in Bluegrass today. It is the type of voice from which bluegrass legends have been made." Bluegrass Now, Rolla, MO
"Beautiful and creative arrangements, emotionally knife-edged" Twangin' Country Magazine, CA
"The musicianshop is superb, the vocals rich, and the energy fun. Excellent!" New England Performer Mag.
"One of the most significant groups in contemporary bluegrass...on the cutting edge of creativity."
Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine, VA
"Unplugged and untamed! One of the hottest groups on the cicuit!" Chico News & Review, Chico, CA
"There's a renewed exuberance in SOUTHERN RAIL's harmonies and playng that seems to emanate from meticulous attention to composition and a sheer joy in picking." Dirty Linen Magazine, Baltimore, MD.
"Southern Rail's musical arsenal is formidable." Worcester Magazine, Worcester, MA
"Southern Rail's music shines!" Richmond Times Dispatch, Richmond, VA
"The songwriting is fantastic. You're a smash in Houston! There hasn't been a slowdown of requests for Southern Rail." KPFT-FM, Houston, Texas
"Southern Rail brims with contemporary energy, harmonies and nuance while featuring lots of original material...A bluegrass band with the total package of style, material, vocals and picking. They stand ready for an international breakout." Bluegrass Canada Magazine
"Invigorating picking, riveting harmonies. They have a real hit on their on their hands." Patriot Ledger, MA
"A talented, polished group... strong tight harmonies, and a good dose of creativity to give it all their own stamp." Victory Review, Boney Lake, WA
"There's warmth and depth in a SOUTHERN RAIL performance. The joy and talent in their music will make people happy for a long time". Worcester Telegram & Gazette, MA----------
PERSONNEL:
Jim Muller (Richmond, VA. Resides Massachusetts - guitar, lead vocals. Talented singer, songwriter & humorist.
"JIm's guitar playing is the genuine article." Bluegrass Unlimited (VA) "One of the most distinctive voices in Bluegrass." Bluegrass Now (MO)
Sharon Horovitch (Montreal, Que. Resides in Massachusetts)- acoustic bass, harmony vocals. Sharon's infectious energy has become one of the group's trademarks. "Marvelously upbeat" Worcester Telegram (MA)
Bob Sachs (Fairfax, VA. Resides S.Carolina) - mandolin, fiddle, harmony vocals. Bass vocalist and award-winning mandolinist. Bob's playing is clean and lightning-fast. "A wizard on the mandolin" VA Public Radio
Rick Briggs (Charlotte, NC. Resides Pennsylvania) - banjo, harmony/lead vocals. Talented multi-instrumentalist. Over 20 years on banjo. Extensive and diverse performance experience, most recently with the Old Dominion Opry in Williamsburg, VA where he ultimately became their Musical Director.
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