Artist: Roland White & Friends
Album: A Tribute To The Kentucky Colonels
Label: Mountain Home Music
Release Date: 10/26/18
Big changes were in store in 1954, when the very musical, French-Canadian Eric LeBlanc Sr. family moved from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast, settling in Burbank, California and changing their name to White. Big brother Roland formed a little band with his brothers Eric Jr., Clarence and, for a time, sister Rosemarie. Entering some talent contests, they caught the attention of already living legend Joe Maphis, who presented them on his Los Angeles TV show. Settling down as a trio in 1957, The Three Little Country Boys followed Roland’s lead and focused on Bluegrass music. As teens they appeared as The Country Boys in the first season of The Andy Griffith Show.
Roland left for a hitch in the Army and when he returned he rejoined the group, who were now calling themselves—at the suggestion of mentor Maphis—“The Kentucky Colonels.” They cut some landmark albums like “Appalachian Swing” in 1964, which put them on the map in the world of bluegrass, then disbanded.
Roland and his brother Clarence rolled on through the ’60s and early ’70s in a variety of legendary bands that always kept the White musical traditions in sight. Clarence went electric, but brought his musical roots and more to the front with the Byrds on Sweethearts Of The Rodeo. Roland rolled on, still playing bluegrass with the likes of legends Bill Monroe and Lester Flatt, as well as a guiding light (and a long haul) in the progressive bluegrass group, The Country Gazette and more. A reunion of the Kentucky Colonels in ’73 was cut short by Clarence’s tragic death.
Throughout his 64 years of performing and teaching, now an IBHOF member and octogenarian, Roland, has never lost focus of passing on his musical knowledge to younger players. I witnessed this first-hand in 1980, when I presented The Country Gazette in a two day concert and instrument teaching workshop. On this overdue tribute to The Kentucky Colonels, almost a double baker’s-dozen of younger bluegrass super pickers (too many friends to list all, and not right to omit any), joined Roland to revisit the mighty fine music he initially made with Clarence, Eric, Billy Ray, Lee Roy and Roger.
Kicking’ it off with the Colonels original “ If You’re Ever Gonna Love Me,” Roland leads the charge with his high friendly voice, and from there they never quit. There are banjo, guitar, fiddle and of course mando licks by the bucketloads, thanks to half the CD being instrumental staples like “Mockingbird,” “Alabama Jubilee,” “Nine Pound Hammer,” all recorded and mixed pristinely, and that sonically surpass the original recordings. The only musical mystery for me was, why no Dobro? LeeRoy Mack not only played it in The Colonels, he also wrote some of their iconic tunes.
The CD is produced in a beautiful and fitting package, with historic liner notes from a longtime friend, Canadian Neil Rosenburg. I know this will be another melt-the-miles traveling companion, as I drive south this winter. It closes on “Farewell Blues” to which I would say to Colonel White, “I sure hope not.. just Roland buddy, don’t you roll too slow.” —Ken Spooner
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