Thursday, July 31, 2014
By John Benson
There’s no denying dobro extraordinaire and Leavittsburg native Jerry Douglas is a busy guy.
Not only is he a key member of Alison Krauss and Union Station but the highly sought-after musician is about to release two separate projects.
The first of which is “The Earls of Leicester; Loving Tribute To Flatt & Scruggs” (due out Sept. 16), which Douglas describes as a labor of love that has been on his radar for decades.
“Actually I saw Flatt & Scruggs at [Youngstown’s] Stambaugh Auditorium when I was 8 years old,” said Douglas, calling from Nashville. “I remember everything — the popcorn smell, what they were wearing and how it was such an impact on me. For me, it was like seeing The Beatles.”
The concert in question took place in late 1963 or early 1964, and cemented Douglas’ love of bluegrass, which he received from his musician dad, who in the mornings before leaving for the mill would either tune into the Music City’s influential radio station WSM or play a Flatt & Scruggs record.
By the time he saw the legendary act in concert, Douglas already was playing mandolin and would soon pick up the dobro, which eventually led him to be considered one of the genre’s best.
As for the Earls of Leicester, the six-man band includes Douglas, Shawn Camp (vocals and guitar), Charlie Cushman (banjo and guitar), Tim O’Brien (vocals and mandolin), Johnny Warren (fiddle) and Barry Bales (bass, vocals).
Douglas said “Loving Tribute To Flatt & Scruggs” includes many songs he saw the original act perform live roughly 50 years ago.
“There was a song called ‘You’re Not a Drop in the Bucket,’” Douglas said. “When Lester sang ‘bucket,’ the bass player would hit the top of the bass for a thump. So it’s on our record that way.”
As far as Douglas’ other project, it’s called Three Bells and features himself, Mike Auldridge (sideman for Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt) and Rob Ickes (Blue Highway).
When it comes to Nashville and the bluegrass genre, Douglas sits atop the game. His unique dobro style can be heard on more than 2,000 albums, including discs released by James Taylor, Phish, Paul Simon, Bill Frisell, Earl Scruggs, Ray Charles, Lyle Lovett, Bill Evans, the Chieftains and the eight-million-plus selling soundtrack to “O Brother, Where Art Thou.”
When he’s not touring with Alison Krauss and Union Station — the act just got off the road with Willie Nelson — or recording, Douglas often takes his own band on the road. In fact, he’s booked a return to Northeast Ohio for his band Saturday at Kent Stage.
“The audience will be hearing part of those two records, or at least our version of it,” Douglas said. “This group is more of a progressive band. They’re just amazing. With these guys playing my own music, we’re stretching everything out and really challenging ourselves while including the audience the whole way. It’s going to be a blast. I can’t wait.”
When it’s pointed out he’s like an ambassador keeping the dobro alive, Douglas laughed, “Oh man, it’s so alive it’s driving me crazy right now. But, it’s all good. It’s just going to be fun.”