Audie Blaylock and Redline

Audie Blaylock takes center stage again in 2010 with his self-produced album Cryin’ Heart Blues, his sophomore album on Rural Rhythm Records He continues to wow audiences with the energy of the early days of bluegrass to every show. Blaylock, who plays guitar, is joined by his band Redline. “Whether these guys are unlimbering their formidable talents on a Carter Stanley classic (“Let’s Part The Best Of Friends”), an old Jimmy Martin gospel staple (“Pray The Clouds Away”), a contemporary honky-tonker (Keith Stegall’s “Matches”) or a reprise of a ’50s Ray Price country hit (“Talk To Your Heart”), the result is first-rate. If artistry and authenticity still really are bywords, then Cryin’ Heart Blues assures Blaylock’s place among the leading ranks of bluegrass’s headliners.”–BLUEGRASS UNLIMITED MAGAZINE

“One hesitates to say ‘third time’s the charm’ when an artist has been as honored and critically acclaimed as has Audie Blaylock, but on this, indeed his third album, second with the sterling band Redline, he’s settled into a traditional bluegrass style full of energy and soul to burn that sounds as durable as the music itself has been over time.”–THE BLUEGRASS SPECIAL

TODAY’S COUNTRY writes, “…Cryin’ Heart Blues is arguably Blaylock’s best overall album to date as it combines a little bit of everything, crossing through genre borders, and rolls it all together into one cohesive effort worth giving a spin to.”

“Blaylock is not your classic bluegrass high lead voice, but that’s what makes him interesting. His restrained power, crisp phrasing and ability to hit the high notes when warranted (as on Bill Monroe’s “Stay Away from Me”) are what makes him unusually good.”–LONESOME ROAD REVIEW

“This CD has some hard-driving bluegrass and some soft, sweet and gentle ballads, all with strong harmonies and cracking instrumental support. This is the best recorded work that Blaylock and his band has yet produced.”–AUSTRALIAN BLUEGRASS

“Audie Blaylock’s mellow, wailing tenor and lightening-fast guitar picking have made him one of the names to watch in the world of traditional bluegrass.”–ALL MUSIC GUIDE

Multi-Grammy® Award winner Carl Jackson wrote in the liner notes of Audie’s first album on Rural Rhythm Records “…This new project by Audie Blaylock and Redline is not only “bluegrass”… its GREAT bluegrass… no argument… end of discussion!!! I was blown away by the professionalism of Audie’s performance at IBMA Fanfest this past year and this album further confirms that he is a force to be reckoned with in the world of bluegrass music for years to come.”

AUDIE BLAYLOCK has performed with some of bluegrass music’s most distinguished acts over the years including the great Jimmy Martin and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage as well as doing session work that earned him a Grammy® nomination for Best Bluegrass Album and an IBMA nomination for Recorded Event of the Year for” A Tribute to Jimmy Martin: The King of Bluegrass.” This group project included Audie Blaylock on guitar and vocals along with a stellar lineup of musicians including former Sunny Mountain Boys J.D. Crowe, Paul Williams, and Kenny Ingram. He has also performed with the legendary Red Allen, The Lynn Morris Band and songwriting great Harley Allen. Audie Blaylock and Redline had the honor of being nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Emerging Artist of the Year award in both 2005 and 2006.

In October 2007, while Blaylock was the featured artist with Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper featuring Audie Blaylock, they brought home the Instrumental Group of the Year Award at the 18th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards show held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN. “I’m extremely honored to receive the award that so many prestigious and talented musicians have been nominated for and received in the past. This is a great honor for myself and the entire group,” said Audie Blaylock. “This is particularly humbling when you consider the caliber of the past recipients such as Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Nickel Creek, Del McCoury and others,” he adds.

Born in El Paso, Texas into a family whose roots go back to the hills of Virginia and Tennessee, Audie learned to play guitar and sing with his parents and siblings, and went on to play locally in the Lansing, Michigan area where he grew up. In 1982, at age 19, Audie Blaylock joined Jimmy Martin and The Sunny Mountain Boys and spent nine years on the road learning the craft of bluegrass from one of the music’s first-generation legends.

PATRICK MCAVINUE

Young, fresh, inspiring, talented, and spirited are all adjectives that describe the fiddler, Patrick McAvinue. It was at the age of seven when his friend introduced him to the violin. In view of his talents, his family supported him in his decision to take private lessons. The three years he was classically trained during school helped him for when at the age of ten Amy Hopkins, a Peabody graduate, began teaching him fiddle tunes. He went on to take lessons from Troy Engle (Patty Loveless, Buddy Jewel, Oak Ridge Boys, The Issacs) when he was fourteen.

Since he began his musical journey, he has participated in many fiddle competitions and was even honored with the title of Delaware State Fiddle Champion (2003-2005). He was a Candidate for Fiddle Player of Year at IBMA from 2009-2011 and has had the fortunate opportunity of performing and recording with such incredible musicians as Marty Stuart, JD Crowe, Paul Williams, Bobby Osborne, Del and Ronnie McCoury, Michael Cleveland, Mark Schatz, Ellery Eskelin, and Gerald Cleaver.

In May 2011, Patrick received a Bachelor’s in Jazz Performance from Towson University, where he studied under the direction of renowned pianist Tim Murphy, trumpeter David Ballou and violinist Dr. Jeffrey Howard.

Patrick McAvinue has two solo recordings (Grave Run, Rutland’s Reel) available through Patuxent Music.

Patrick proudly endorses Hershey Violins. Visit him on Facebook for more!

RUSS CARSON is from Central Pennsylvania and the newest member of Redline. Russ comes by his passion for bluegrass and the banjo in particular honestly, as his father Glenn has made handmade banjos and played fiddle and clawhammer banjo since the early 70’s, and as a result Russ was exposed to a non ending string of jams and traditional musical events while growing up.

While learning to play, Russ had the opportunity to spend time with some of the great banjo players living near him, such as Chris Warner, Tom Adams, Mike Munford, Reed Martin and his first teacher Nev Jackson, each of which had an impact on his playing. Russ has been fortunate to win or place in a number of contests on bluegrass and clawhammer banjo, guitar, and mandolin.

Russ played banjo for the Virginia based band Gold Heart before joining Redline. Russ first met and played music with Redline fiddler Patrick McAvinue while in his early teens, and is tickled to have the opportunity to be on the road playing hard driving bluegrass with Audie, Patrick and Redline.

REED JONES maintains family ties in Eastern Kentucky and resides in West Liberty, Ohio. Reed was introduced to bluegrass music at a young age. He grew up playing and singing in church, but it wasn’t until the age of 16 that an encounter with a Tony Rice record forever altered and set his musical course. A multi-instrumentalist, Reed began playing mandolin and guitar with local bluegrass acts and did so through most of his college career. As a senior in college, he began traveling and recording with the Kentucky-based Billie Renee and Cumberland Gap, with whom he played for five years and won SPBGMA’s International Bluegrass Band Championship in 2006. In the following years, Reed began doing freelance fill-in bass work as needed with groups including Unlimited Tradition and Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers.

Reed currently resides in West Liberty, Ohio with his wife, LeAnn and son, Eli, where he remains active in education and church in addition to playing bass with Redline.