Dudley Connell

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Dudley Connell

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|02|18}}

| birth_place = Scherr, West Virginia, U.S.

| occupation = Musician

| instrument = Vocals, 1943 Martin D-28 herringbone guitar{{cite news|last1=Verlinde|first1=Jason|title=Interview: The Seldom Scene|url=https://www.fretboardjournal.com/features/interview-seldom-scene/|accessdate=August 22, 2017|work=Fretboard Journal|date=April 1, 2014}}

| years_active = 1975–present

| associated_acts = Johnson Mountain Boys, Hazel Dickens, Laurie Lewis, Longview, The Seldom Scene, Don Rigsby, Seneca Rocks!

}}

Dudley Dale Connell{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/900119883 |title=ORPHAN GIRL |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=April 26, 2023}} (born February 18, 1956) is an American singer in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his work with the Johnson Mountain Boys, Longview, and The Seldom Scene.

Biography

=Early years=

Connell grew up in Rockville, Maryland. His parents were bluegrass enthusiasts.{{cite news|last1=Gilder|first1=Sharon Allen|title=SCENE-chronized in Perfect Harmony|url=http://towncourier.com/scene-chronized-in-perfect-harmony/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824094248/http://towncourier.com/scene-chronized-in-perfect-harmony/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 24, 2017|accessdate=August 23, 2017|work=Gathersburg Town Courier|date=July 2, 2014}} Connell initially played banjo like his father, but switched to guitar when he realized his strongest asset was his voice. Carter Stanley was a major influence on Connell's singing style.{{cite web |url=http://www.cmtedge.com/2014/04/28/the-seldom-scene-cover-the-classics-on-long-time/|title=The Seldom Scene Cover the Classics on Long Time|work=CMT Edge|accessdate=August 23, 2017|author=Brian T. Atkinson|date=April 28, 2014}}

=Johnson Mountain Boys=

In 1975, Connell founded and led the Johnson Mountain Boys, playing guitar and singing lead vocals. Other members included Richard Underwood (banjo), David McLaughlin (mandolin), Eddie Stubbs (fiddle) and Gary B Reid (bass).{{cite book |last=Goldsmith|first=Thomas|date=2004|title=The Bluegrass Reader|publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=9780252029141 |edition=1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LgAGzopOTbYC

|access-date=August 23, 2017}} The band ended in 1988 due to road life stresses, but have since played reunion shows and another album Blue Diamond.{{cite news|last1=Lawless|first1=John|title=Johnson Mountain Boys reunion this summer|url=https://bluegrasstoday.com/johnson-mountain-boys-reunion-this-summer/|accessdate=August 23, 2017|work=Bluegrass Today|date=February 3, 2011}} Connell and other band members also provided musical support for Buzz Busby.{{cite news|last1=Harrington|first1=Richard|title=Old-Fashioned Bluegrass|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1981/04/26/old-fashioned-bluegrass/10bb510e-f40a-4252-b631-42bcd12123cd/|accessdate=August 23, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 26, 1981}}{{cite book |last=Wright|first=John|date=1995|title=Traveling the High Way Home: Ralph Stanley and the World of Traditional Bluegrass Music|publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=9780252064784 |edition=1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4nvNYdw_q18C|access-date=August 23, 2017}}

=Touring and session work=

Connell has recorded with Hazel Dickens, and toured with her in 1992.{{cite book

|last=Dickens|first=Hazel|author2=Bill C. Malone|date=2008|title=Working Girl Blues: The Life and Music of Hazel Dickens|publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=9780252033049 |edition=1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bQPaAAAAMAAJ|access-date=August 23, 2017}}

In 1993, Joe Wilson organized the "Masters of the 5-String Banjo" tour, with Connell, Laurie Lewis, Ralph Stanley, Will Keys, Seleshe Damessae]l, Kirk Sutphin, Tony Ellis, Seamus Eagan, and Carroll Best.{{cite news|last1=Buckley|first1=Daniel|title=Laurie Lewis' music may be addictive|url=http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue2/1994/03/10/61331-laurie-lewis-music-may-be-addictive/|accessdate=August 23, 2017|work=Tucson Citizen|date=March 10, 1994}} Music from this tour was collected and released on the 1994 album Masters of the Banjo on Arhoolie Records.{{cite web |url=http://www.clinchmountainecho.co.uk/disc/cd421.php|title=Masters Of The Banjo: A National Tour Of Traditional Banjo Styles|work=Clinch Mountain Echo|accessdate=August 23, 2017|author= |date= }}

=Longview=

In 1994, Connell formed Longview with Don Rigsby (mandolin), Marshall Wilborn (bass), Joe Mullins (banjo), James King (guitar), and Glen Duncan (fiddle).{{cite book

|last=Wolff|first=Kurt|date=2000|title=Country Music: The Rough Guide|publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=9781858285344 |edition=1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Jorozp1yp4C|access-date=August 23, 2017}}

=Seldom Scene=

In 1995, Connell joined the Seldom Scene, playing guitar and singing lead vocals, and has remained with them since.{{cite web |url=http://www.flipsidepa.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/01/08/bluegrass-band-maryland/78515802/|title=MD bluegrass band's lead playing for 20 years|work=FlipSidePA|accessdate=August 23, 2017|author=Jossie Carbonare|date=January 8, 2016}}

=Dudley Connell and Don Rigsby=

Connell recorded two albums with Don Rigsby: Meet Me By the Moonlight in 1999 and Another Saturday Night in 2001. They drew on the Appalachian brother style of singing in country music made popular in the early 20th century by groups such as the Blue Sky Boys and the Monroe Brothers.{{cite news|last1=Himes|first1=Geoffrey|title=Longview: A Mountain-Wailing Ensemble|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/2000-01/14/003r-011400-idx.html|accessdate=August 23, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 14, 2000}}

=Stony Point Quartet=

The Stony Point Quartet, featuring Connell, David McLaughlin (mandolin), Linda Lay (vocals), and Billy Lux (bass), focuses on gospel music.{{cite news|last1=Netherland|first1=Tom|title=Linda Lay bring summer jams to Bristol|url=http://www.heraldcourier.com/community/linda-lay-bring-summer-jams-to-bristol/article_6034d864-56b7-11e7-9388-6f6e8e55a296.html|accessdate=August 1, 2017|work=Bristol Herald-Courier|date=June 21, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Richard|title=Gospel Choices #4 – Bob Webster|url=https://bluegrasstoday.com/gospel-choices-4-bob-webster/|accessdate=August 26, 2017|work=Bluegrass Today|date=October 18, 2015}}

=Seneca Rocks!=

2006, Connell formed the band Seneca Rocks! with Tom Adams, David McLaughlin, and Marshall Wilborn from the Johnson Mountain Boys along with Sally Love Connell, who previously sang in a duo with Connell and is his wife.{{cite web|url=http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2005b/200531/entertainment/musicfeat/287899-1.html|title=Johnson Mountain Boys regroup as new Seneca Rocks|work=Gazette.net|accessdate=August 23, 2017|author=Nathan Oravec|date=August 3, 2005|archive-date=August 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824093522/http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2005b/200531/entertainment/musicfeat/287899-1.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://users.rcn.com/fredfeinstein/bluemoon/descript.html|title=About Us|work=Blue Moon Cowgirls|accessdate=August 23, 2017|author= |date= }}

=Audio Archival=

From 1989 to 1998, Connell worked as manager of the Smithsonian Folkways office in Rockville, Maryland. He currently is an Audio Archivist for the National Council for the Traditional Arts, cataloging and digitizing their collection of recordings for the Library of Congress.{{cite web|url=http://www.blueridgemusiccenter.org/jw-dudley-connell.htm|title=Remembrances of Joe Wilson|work=Blue Ridge Music Center|accessdate=August 23, 2017|author=Dudley Connell|date=|archive-date=June 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624042316/http://www.blueridgemusiccenter.org/jw-dudley-connell.htm|url-status=dead}}

=Awards=

Connell won the 2000 International Bluegrass Music Awards (IBMA) award for Male Vocalist of the Year.{{cite web

|url=https://ibma.org/awards/recipient-history

|title=Recipient History

|work=IBMA

|accessdate=August 1, 2017

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103011642/https://ibma.org/awards/recipient-history

|archive-date=January 3, 2018

|url-status=dead

}}{{cite magazine|last1=Evans Price|first1=Deborah|title=Bluegrass Awards Go to McCoury, Vincent|url=http://www.billboard.com|accessdate=August 23, 2017|magazine=Billboard|date=October 28, 2000}}

In Sept of 2020 Connell was inducted into the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame with the Johnson Mountain Boys.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Discography

Besides his ensemble work, Connell has contributed his vocal and guitar support to recordings by numerous artists.

=With The [[Johnson Mountain Boys]]=

1981: The Johnson Mountain Boys (Rounder)
1982: Walls of Time (Rounder)
1983: Working Close (Rounder)
1984: Live at the Birchmere (Rounder)
1985: We'll Still Sing On (Rounder)
1987: Let the Whole World Talk (Rounder)
1988: Requests (Rounder)
1989: At the Old Schoolhouse (Rounder)
1993: Blue Diamond (Rounder)

=With [[Longview (American band)|Longview]]=

1997: Longview (Rounder)
1999: High Lonesome (Rounder)
2002: Lessons In Stone (Rebel)

=With [[Don Rigsby]]=

1999: Meet Me By the Moonlight (Sugar Hill){{cite news|last1=Havighurst|first1=Craig|title=Dudley Connell / Don Rigsby - Meet Me By The Moonlight|url=http://nodepression.com/album-review/dudley-connell-don-rigsby-meet-me-moonlight|accessdate=August 22, 2017|work=No Depression|date=October 1, 1999}}
2001: Another Saturday Night (Sugar Hill){{cite web |url=http://www.vintageguitar.com/2325/dudley-connell-and-don-rigsby-another-saturday-night/|title=Dudley Connell and Don Rigsby – Another Saturday Night|work=Vintage Guitar|accessdate=August 22, 2017|author=Steven Stone|date=October 1, 2001}}

=With [[The Seldom Scene]]=

1996: Dream Scene (Sugar Hill)
2000: Scene It All (Sugar Hill)
2007: Scenechronized (Sugar Hill)
2014: Long Time... Seldom Scene (Smithsonian Folkways)
2019: Changes (Rounder)

=With Stony Point=

2003: Band of Angels (Cracker Barrel){{cite news|last1=Joyce|first1=Mike|title="Springfield Exit"|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2003/09/12/springfield-exit-springfiel/827b524a-95b8-4f9d-9a51-fb645bac5595/|accessdate=August 26, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 12, 2003}}

=Also appears on=

==1983–1989==

1983: Phyllis Boyens - I Really Care (Rounder)
1983: Hazel Dickens - By the Sweat of My Brow (Rounder)
1984: Delia Bell and Bill Grant - The Cheer Of The Home Fires (Rounder)
1985: Delia Bell and Bill Grant - A Few Dollars More (Rounder)
1985: Tony Trischka - Hill Country (Rounder)
1986: Gloria Belle - Love of the Mountains (Webco)
1988: Delia Bell and Bill Grant - Following a Feeling (Rounder)
1989: Chris Warner - Chris Warner & Friends (Webco)

==1990–1999==

1990: Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson - Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson at Folk City (Smithsonian Folkways)
1993: James King - These Old Pictures (Rounder)
1993: Larry Stephenson - Wash My Blues Away (Pinecastle)
1995: James King - Lonesome and Then Some (Rounder)
1995: Lynn Morris - Mama's Hand (Rounder)
1995: Butch Robins - Grounded Centered Focused (Hay Holler)
1995: Ralph Stanley and Joe Isaacs - A Gospel Gathering (Freeland)
1995: Tony Trischka - World Turning (Rounder)
1995: Tony Trischka - Glory Shone Around: A Christmas Collection (Rounder)
1996: Exit Thirteen - Wind on My Back (Freeland)
1997: Delia Bell - Dreaming (Rounder)
1997: Will Keys - Banjo Original (County)
1997: Stephen Wade - Dancing in the Parlor (County)
1998: Hazel Dickens - Heart of a Singer (Rounder)
1998: Mark Newton - Living a Dream (Rebel)
1998: Suzanne Thomas ll - Dear Friends & Gentle Hearts (Rounder)
1999: Tony Ellis - Sounds Like Bluegrass to Me (Copper Creek)Copper Creek)