JD Crowe... I could tell you some stories too - similar stuff - met the guy and the boys many times - in Louisville, KY '75 to '77 - mostly playing at The Great Midwestern [Bluegrass] Music Hall - and at Festivals.
for awhile, I did soundwork w/ bands. Country Comfort, Bluegrass Alliance, Lazy River. Roomates with Bill Millet, Vince Gill, Eric Levine - many others. This included living in, or spending lots of time at Harry Bickel's house, in Louisville. Harry Sparks visited there often. This is where Sam Bush and others would come to get there precious musical instruments repaired. Sparky was a wizard repairman - very highly regarded. He also built mandolins. Many, many dozens of times - at Bickels - the boys were there - over time - all of them - picking, jamming, buzzing, hanging out, and cutting up. I was sitting right there. Not to mention all the shows I was at - hanging around all the musicians. Holy crap. I saw the Newgrass Revival dozens of times back then. Night after sizzling night - at The Mason Jar - I think it was on Bardstown Rd - in Louisville.
To a musician -- they always were saying the same thing about JD Crowe. JD set the standard for all the great Pickers that played in his band over the years - You have to have meticulously good Timing 1st - before you play any hot licks in his Band. JD was always respected by all the Pickers for this - as much as John Hartford was respected by all the Pickers for being the godfather of Newgrass.
I saw the Post yesterday by BluegrassDustin - about 3-day passes gonna be sold-out. So I picked up a pair. They are gone today - just as he said. I'll be coming down from Fort Collins. One way or perhaps another - I will be saying howdy to Sam and JD. It's been awhile.
*** Just in ***
JD Crowe - SBD - w/ Tony Rice, Ricky Scaggs, and Jerry Douglas - Jan 1975
http://www.festivarian.com/index.php/topic,2872.0.htmllistening to
Hillbilly Jazz band w/ Vassar Clements and Doug Jernigan on pedal steellive at the Exit / In - Nashville - 1975-March 5th
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=514905