Celebration Tour is headed for Radford, Virginia and the Little River Bluegrass Barn on Saturday, April 5th! Celebration Tour began back in December and will continue throughout 2014 and celebrates Bobby’s fifty years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He will be accompanied by his band the Rocky Top X-Press, which consists of sons Wynn Osborne and Bobby Osborne Junior on banjo and bass respectively, as well as Joe Miller on guitar, and Buddy Griffin on fiddle.
On New Year’s Eve, acclaimed Nashville musician Steve Thomas and his wife Janet, suffered extensive damage to their house due to chimney fire. The music community has graciously come together to present the “Ashes of Love” benefit concert for them on Thursday, February 20th at the Ernest Tubb Troubadour Theater located at 2416 Music Valley Drive in Nashville. Parking is free. Doors will open at 6:00 pm and the concert will take place from 6:45 pm to 9:50 pm.
The “Ashes of Love” concert will be hosted by Marcia Campbell of The WSM All Nighter radio show. Some of the top names in Bluegrass and Country music will lend their talents including: Del McCoury Band; The Grascals; Rambling Rooks; Bobby Osborne; Mark Newton & Steve Thomas; Claire Lynch; Marty Raybon; Sister Sadie (Dale Ann Bradley, Gena Britt, Deanie Richardson, Beth Lawrence, Tina Adair); Gary Ferguson, Larry Stephenson Band; Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle & Jerry Salley; Val Storey; Paul Brewster; Melonie Cannon; Steve Gulley & Phil Leadbetter; Aubrey Haynie; Randy Kohrs; Scott Vestal; Mike Bub; Ashby Frank; Clay Hess; and more.
A suggested minimum $20 donation can be purchased at the door the night of the concert. Friends, family and fans of Steve Thomas can also make online donations via PayPal at Bluegrass Today. The publication recently featured an article with more details on Steve’s New Year’s Eve nightmare. Mailed donations can be made payable to Steve Thomas and mailed to PO Box 1016, Gallatin, TN. 37066.
The “Ashes of Love” benefit concert is sponsored by: David and Adrienne Kirkey of Eagle Canyon Music in Lebanon, TN; Pinecastle Records, and Corey Frizzell Portrait Artist. Event photography will be provided by Dreama Stephenson of dreambeecreations.com.
More on Steve Thomas:
For over twenty years, Steven Thomas has been a professional musician touring and working with some of the biggest names in Bluegrass and Country music. He began his impressive career at an early age growing up in the Roanoke, Virginia area and later formed the Lonesome River Band with Tim Austin. His impressive career includes performing with: Del McCoury; with Jim & Jesse and The Virginia Boys on the Grand Ole Opry; The Lost and Found, The Whites, The Osborne Brothers, Aaron Tippin, Barbara Mandrell, Brooks and Dunn, LeeAnn Womack, Kenny Chesney, John Michael Montgomery, Ronnie Bowman, and Lorrie Morgan. He is now performing with Mark Newton as “Newton & Thomas” and celebrating their hit bluegrass album, “Reborn” on Pinecastle Records. When Steve is not touring, you can find him in the studio recording and producing music by The Crowe Brothers, Larry Cordle, Jesse McReynolds and more talented artists.
Celebration Tour picks back up again this Saturday as Bobby Osborne and his band – the Rocky Top X-Press – will be headed to The Villages, Florida! The show, which will be at the Savannah Center. There will be a Meet and Greet with Bobby and the rest of the band prior to the show. All proceeds from the show will go to The Villages charter schools. Information on the Savannah Center can be found here, and the website to the charter schools here. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here! Further info can be found below!
Nashville, TN (November 26th, 2013) – Bobby Osborne, two time member of the IBMA Hall of Fame, will be going on tour in 2014 in celebration of his 50th year as a member of the Grand Ole Opry®. “The Opry has been such a big part of my life. It didn’t seem right to let the year go by without doing something special for it. I know the rest of the guys in the band are excited to be a part of it as well.” “Celebration Tour” will begin on December 7th, 2013 on Bobby’s birthday in Clay City, Kentucky at Meadowgreen Park and continue through 2014.
Bobby and his brother Sonny were made members of the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, August 8th, 1964 at the Ryman Auditorium. The Brothers performed Ruby that night, one of the most significant and influential song throughout both the Osborne Brothers’ and Bobby’s career.
Bobby began his career in 1949 with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers. From there he began playing with the Stanley Brothers before being drafted in the Korean War where Bobby was awarded the Purple Heart for his services. After returning from Korea, in 1953 Bobby teamed up with Sonny as the Osborne Brothers. They would become the first Bluegrass group to perform at a college campus and the White House. They would also win CMA Vocal Group of the Year in 1971 and be nominated for a Grammy in 1991. In 1994 the Brothers were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Hall of Fame, and in 2002 into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.
In 2004, Sonny retired, however Bobby continued touring with his band, the Rocky Top X-Press. In 2009 Bobby was inducted into the IBMA Hall of Fame once again as a part of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, making him the only person in the Hall of Fame twice!
Bobby’s band, the Rocky Top X-Press, consists of his sons Wynn Osborne on banjo and Bobby Osborne Jr. on bass, as well as Joe Miller on guitar, and Buddy Griffin on fiddle.
For more information visit www.bobbyosborne.com
For booking, management, and press for Bobby contact
The Rocky Top X-Press Agency
P.O. Box 321
Portland, TN 37148
(615) 815-8898
rtxagency@icloud.com
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Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press are excited to be headed back to Bean
Blossom once again for the 36th Annual Uncle Pen Days on Saturday, September 21st! Be sure to stop by and visit with Bobby and enjoy a great weekend of Bluegrass Music!
Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press will be stepping in for Jesse McReynolds at the Eureka Springs Bluegrass Festival on August 17th due to Jesse’s ongoing health concerns. Bobby and the Rocky Top X-Press wish Jesse the best.
Bobby will be conducting a workshop at 9:00 AM and then the Grand Finale show with Bobby and the X-Press will follow in the evening at 7:00 PM at the Auditorium. For more information see below or visit www.eurekasprings.org.