The Rocky Top X-Press welcomes it’s new banjo player, Michael Toppins from West Virignia. Mike originally started playing Dobro with the X-Press back in March and switched to Banjo this past weekend at the Opry. He has played with country music stars such as Hall of Famer “Whisperin’” Bill Anderson and Pam Tillis.
Hey everyone! This is my first on of these, so hear goes!
First off: inducted into the IBMA Hall of Fame for a second time! Wow! What an honor. The first time was with my brother, Sonny, as the Osborne Brothers. This time it was with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers. It was a great night!
Another big event coming up soon is playing Rocky Top during half time at the UT Homecoming game in Knoxville. That’ll be on November 7th. I did this once before back in the ’80s with the Osborne Brothers. It was an honor to do it then, and is an honor to do it now.
The American Bluegrass Masters Tour is about to start also! It features myself, the Rocky Top X-Press, J.D. Crowe & the New South, and the KSBTM Ensemble. It starts the second week of November in Hawaii, and then Clemson, SC the next Monday. The tour will then continue in the first part of 2010.
There are other surprises coming down the line in the future, so come back often to see what’s going on!
Bobby Osborne
Bobby Osborne returns with his third Rounder release, Bluegrass & Beyond. Bobby is joined by the Rocky Top X-Press as well as special guests Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, Rhonda Vincent, and Darrin Vincent. If you’d like to purchase this, or want more information on the CD, go to our merchandise section.
In other news, the American Bluegrass Masters Tour is still on. The first shows are this fall. Keep check on the schedule for more information on that.
A couple other things: Bobby now has a MySpace and Facebook. You can check the MySpace out at myspace.com/bobbyosbornertx and the Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bobby-Osborne-the-Rocky-Top-X-Press/101541856261.
For the first time in 50 years, the American Bluegrass Masters Tour unites Grand Ole Opry legend Bobby Osborne and Grammy Winner JD Crowe, along with Richard Bennett, Curtis Burch, Dean Osborne, Bobby Osborne Jr., and J.P. Mathes and the Kentucky School of Bluegrass & Traditional Music Ensemble. For more information visit http://www.opus3artists.com/artists/american-bluegrass-masters-tour.
Next week is the 15th Annual Osborne Brothers Hometown Festival. Come out and see Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press, along with many others July 31 – August 2. For more information visit www.osbornebrosfestival.com
