NEW TIME RECORDS
FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY
NEW TIME RECORDS WILL RELEASE WHEN THE BANDS PLAYED BY ROGERS AND JOHNSON ON JANUARY 1ST 2009.
North Carolina songwriters Barney Rogers and The Grass Cats’ Russell Johnson collaborate on a CD of original songs inspired by the people, places and events of the American Civil War.
As the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War approaches, New Time Records will release the Rogers and Johnson CD When the Bands Played. This unique collection of original songs was inspired by the people places and events of America‘s greatest tragedy and triumph. Dynamic vocals, distinctive melodies, creative arrangements and their solid performances capture the emotion, passion and spirit of the men who fought and the families that were left behind. From the selfless sacrifices of six brothers joining the Confederacy in The Tatham Boys and the lonesome melancholy experienced in When the Bands Played to the anticipation of the wearied veteran returning home in Heading South, Rogers and Johnson relate in song the hardships and hopes of this desperate time.
Native North Carolinians with deep ancestral ties to the War, Barney and Russell combined their two passions of bluegrass music and Civil War interest to complete When the Bands Played. Barney can trace his ancestors service to the 25th NC, the Thomas Legion and the 3rd and 10th Tennessee Union Cavalry. "Pird" Tatham, one of the brothers in the song The Tatham Boys was a personal bodyguard for Jefferson Davis as the war drew to a close. Russell’s ancestors were primarily in the 5th, 24th, 50th, 55th NC infantry regiments, the 4th NC Cavalry and the 10th Battalion Heavy Artillery. He is a distant relation to Lieutenant General William J. Hardee.
As a banjo player and songwriter, Barney has performed with numerous local bands and taught banjo for 18 years in the Raleigh NC area. His two previous releases, “Opening Act” and “Pig Picking Picks” were critical successes and established him as the “first call” traditional banjo player in the Triangle. Four Oaks’ Russell Johnson has primarily performed with two bands in his career, the 90’s band New Vintage and currently The Grass Cats. He brings twenty years of stage and recording experience to this project. As a songwriter he has had 10 songs on the National Bluegrass Survey and as a producer he has 4 top 10 CD’s to his credit. Bluegrass Unlimited magazine said that his voice “has got that ‘lonesome’ quality that makes even a just written tune sound a hundred years old” and placed him in "the first ranks of contemporary bluegrass."
The CD is available for purchase from the Averasboro Battlefield Museum Gift Shop, 3300 NC Highway 82, South of Dunn/Erwin and North of Godwin. Price of the CD is $14.99 + NC sales tax if purchased at the Gift Shop. CD is available for purchase by calling (910)-891-5019. MasterCard and Visa are accepted, however, shipping charges and NC sales tax must be added to purchase.