New Artist Spotlight - The Grascals

New Artist Spotlight: The Grascals

By Amanda Eckard

The music of The Grascals both honors the past and forges into the future, bringing a breath of fresh, yet familiar air.

The Grascals includes Terry Eldredge (vocals); Jimmy Mattingly (fiddle); David Talbot (banjo); Jamie Johnson (harmony vocals); Danny Roberts (guitar, mandolin); and Terry Smith (bass).

Indiana native, Eldredge started his career playing bass for Opry regulars Lonzo and Oscar and in 1988 joined the Osborne Brothers' band. In the 1990s, he played with Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time and recorded with Dolly Parton, Benny Martin and Dierks Bentley.

Mattingly played fiddle in Garth Brooks' band from 1995 until the superstar retired. The Leitchfield, Ky. native joined Parton's band in 1989 and briefly played with the Osborne Brothers.

Canadian-born Talbot's banjo playing has been heard on albums from Aubrey Haynie and Bryan Sutton to Reba McEntire and Marty Raybon.

Johnson helped found the Wildwood Valley Boys in the '90s and was also a member of the Boys From Indiana. He has recorded with Gail Davies, Trent Summar and Ricky Van Shelton.

Roberts grew up next door to Mattingly in Kentucky and in 1982 founded New Tradition. In 2000, he joined Gibson Musical Instruments as plant manager.

North Carolinian Smith played in a family band (which included his mother, Country Music journalist Hazel Smith) before playing bass for Jimmy Martin, Wilma Lee Cooper and the Osborne Brothers. He recorded an album with his brother.

The Grascals, which features first single "Viva Las Vegas" (with Parton), was released on Feb. 8 on Rounder Records.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

What song do you wish you had written?

Eldredge: "'Today I Started Loving You Again.' I think this is the best-written Country song ever. It's true-to-life and believable."

What word or phrase do you find yourself saying over and over again?

Roberts: "You'll have that."

If you wrote an autobiography, what would the title be?

Smith: "I'm Always Right, That's What's So Wrong About Me."

When they look back on your life in 50 years, what do you hope people say about you?

Mattingly: "I hope they say I gave it all I had with everything I did, and I tried to leave a smile with everyone I met."

If you could go back in time what year/era would you visit and why?

Mattingly: "I have always said that if I could time travel, I would go back to the '50s and be backstage at the Ryman Auditorium for the Grand Ole Opry on a Saturday night. That would be an amazing experience."

What moment in your life would you relive if you could?

Mattingly: "I've had many great moments in my life, but to relive a music-related moment, it would be without a doubt the Central Park concert with Garth Brooks."

Do you have a lucky charm?

Eldredge: "Mom. She's been there for everything."

What kind of album, other than Country, would you like to make?

The Grascals collectively: "Bluegrass."

Who is your dream duet partners and why?

Johnson: "My dream duet partners would be Dolly Parton and Bobby Osborne, and I'm living my dream. Dolly sang on 'Viva Las Vegas,' and Bobby sang on 'Some Things I Want to Sing About.' Both are songs are on our debut album, The Grascals."

What instrument do you wish you could play?

Smith: "The acoustic saw."

What does Country Music mean to you?

The Grascals collectively: "We share the thoughts of the great Bill Monroe, 'It's my heart talking to yours.'"

On the Web: www.grascals.com

April 5, 2005