HIGH FIDELITY  

PACKS 'EM IN AT  

THE COLLINS THEATRE

Paragould, AR, November 26, 2018

The marquee at the Collins Theatre

Host Marty Scarbrough intro's High Fidelity

 

The crowd came early! Lots of fans filled the legendary Collins Theatre to see HIGH FIDELITY at KASU 91.9 FM's "Bluegrass Monday". The band has taken on popularity like nothing you ever saw. This fine band reaches 'way on back to what serious bluegrass music fans love . . . that is bluegrass pure and simple. It's not dolled up, or stretched in other directions. It's recognizable and right on the money! High Fidelity has signed with Rebel Records and produced a couple of great CDs. Their newest is Hills and Home, and "Bluegrass Unlimited," "Bluegrass Today," and other rating/reviewing locations give Hills and Home some very high marks. The band takes its cues from the 1950's and '60's, so purists will be sure to be pleased. They captured the 2014 SPBGMA (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America) International Band Competition after putting together a practice backstage a few minutes before they appeared. That tells the listener how really good High Fidelity really is. The band provides a good mix of great old bluegrass and bluegrass gospel tunes from 'way back when. Their show is top quality all the way!

     KURT STEPHENSON plays banjo and sings in the band. He is a 2010 winner of the coveted top banjo prize out in Winfield, KS. This graduate of Arkansas State University calls West Tennessee home. You may remember his appearances with the band Stone County Connection. Kurt's wife ANDREA STEPHENSON appeared on guitar several time in support of the band when Jeremy Stephens played twin banjos with Kurt. Andrea is a fine musician.

     JEREMY STEPHENS plays guitar and banjo and also sings in the band. A man with rich experience in bluegrass music, Jeremy performed for several years with the Chuck Wagon Gang; he's even appeared on Ray Stevens' Nashville show and performed with Jesse McReynolds and Kody Norris. We can tell that he's excited to play bluegrass . . . he jumps and dances around and seems to really enjoy what he does.

     CORRINA ROSE LOGSTON plays fiddle and sings in High Fidelity. Her strong voice and personality reaches out all over the room. She knows her way around the music we love, as she has performed with Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys, David Peterson and 1946, and Chris Henry and the Hardcore Grass. She is also a songwriter and has produced two solo CD projects. Corrina is Jeremy Stephens' wife, so this is a kind of two-family band.

     VICKIE VAUGHN plays upright bass and sings in the band. While she stands behind the band, she takes the backseat to nobody! Her bright smile, powerful voice, and solid bass work lend that extra something to the group. Her very own band is the Vickie Vaughn Band, and you can see them at the Collins Theatre on August 26, 2019. Vickie performs backup vocals for Patty Loveless and is a former member of the Valerie Smith Band.

     Here are the selections the band performed for their concert:

     Set 1  Another Day, My Saviour's Train, Weep and Cry, Soppin' the (Red-Eye) Gravy, I've Changed My Mind, Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow, I'm Happy to Know, The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn, Gotta Get You Near Me Blues, Follow the Leader (twin banjos), I Know You're Married but I Love You Still, I Would Not Be Denied, Kneel at the Cross, and The Cry from the Cross

     Set 2  The Hills and Home, The Leaf of Love, Grey Eagle (Corrina), He's Passing This Way, I See a Bright Light Shining (Kurt), My Empty Arms (twin banjos), Remington Ride (Kurt won Winfield with that one!), After the Sunrise (1940, The Chuck Wagon Gang), Christmas Time's A-Comin', Sunny Side of the Mountain (Vickie), My Mother's White Rose (from Charlie Monroe), Foggy Mountain Top (Corrina), Will the Circle Be Unbroken (original version), Feuding (not Dueling) Banjos (original version by Don Reno), and the encore was Ain't Got Time. Dandy show from High Fidelity!

 

For more information:  http://highfidelitybluegrass.com



Corrina, Vickie, Jeremy, Kurt

Corrina Rose Logston

 

Jeremy, Kurt, Feudin' Banjos



 

Vickie Vaughn

Jeremy Stephens

 



 Kurt Stephenson

Andrea Stephenson

 

 

 

 

 

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Friends: Banjo Player Mike McKnight

Sons Michael and Jackson

Mike's Dad, Sims McKnight

Andrea, Corrina, Vickie, Jeremy, Kurt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Bluegrass Monday at the Collins Theatre, 120 W. Emerson, in Paragould, AR, is January 28, 2019, with MONROE CROSSING, Minnesota Music Hall of Fame band. NOTE: The band will soon be taking a break from their rigorous schedule, so don't miss the January show!

 

Be sure to eat dinner at TERRY'S CAFE, 201 S. Pruett in Paragould, on Bluegrass Monday nights. They open at 4:30p with a delicious catfish buffet for the bluegrass fans! It's a short walk from Terry's Café to the Collins Theatre.

 

KASU 91.9 FM is located on the campus of Arkansas State University, Jonesboro. Listen at 91.9 FM or online at www.kasu.org. The station provides fine programming with DJ Marty Scarbrough and others. Catch Sunday programs which are filled with bluegrass, gospel, and other great music.