While trying to put songs together for the annual Mother's Day edition of my classic bluegrass show on SiriusXM known as Truegrass, I lamented once again the shortage of songs in our music about mothers who are still living. Sure,
Opinion / Humor
Ask Sonny Anything… celebrating The Chief’s 100th column!
Good morning Chief, well it's finally here... Ask Sonny # 100! On behalf of all our readers, your fans and admirers around the world, Mr. Lawless and myself, please accept our heartfelt thanks for this weekly journey through the pages
From The Side of the Road… Mr. Bluegrass Manners delivers an exception
He's back! Mr. Bluegrass Manners appears to be thriving well in the pandemic environment, or at least thriving as well as any other bluegrass etiquette specialist is right now. Recently I had to delicately point out to him that it
Ask Sonny Anything… who was the biggest jokester on the Opry?
Well Chief, it's hard to believe, but this is Ask Sonny #99. Next week will mark the 100th column since we began this little journey nearly two years ago. I think congratulations are in order, so to everyone reading this,
From The Side of the Road… the threat of an aggressive song pitcher
Greetings from the studio! My band and I are in the studio all this week and time has run short, what with oboe overdubs and getting basic rhythm tracks for our much-requested medley of No School Bus in Heaven and
Ask Sonny Anything… where is that biography you promised?
Good morning Chief, I hope you get this. When I got off the bus last week we were in 1996, I turned around and you boys were gone. Very funny. Fortunately we have dial-up internet. I'm out front here at Bean Blossom...reading
From The Side of the Road… on conspiracy theories, real or imagined
Well it's been an interesting week for reader/viewer commentary. In this time of heightened sensitivity, and when almost everything is squeezed into a political "us vs. them" mold, I knew some pushback was inevitable. Is it fair game to satirize conspiracy theorists,
Ask Sonny Anything… did you ever play clawhammer banjo?
Hey Good morning Chief! We just swung by the electronic post office, and we have a bag of questions for you. Hey, there's some doozies in here. Be forewarned, we have an onion and a glass of water next to
From The Side of the Road… what they aren’t telling you about bluegrass music
Watch this before it gets taken down. The truth is out there!
Ask Sonny Anything… When did you know how good Bobby was?
Hey good morning Chief! We're all out here with coffee and donuts, looking at the buds on the apple and dogwood trees, and reminiscing. This sure feels like the official kickoff to bluegrass festival season to us. We've been swapping


