Kenny Baker Turned Down Tony Rice- Bluegrass Album Band

Zane Fairchild runs an excellent Facebook Group all about Tony Rice called, 58957-The Tony Rice Forum. Recently forum member, Carl Eldridge posted about the time Kenny Baker turned down Tony Rice about playing on the Bluegrass Album Volume 6, which was all instrumental.
He also shares an interesting story of his grandfather being in the Navy with Kenny.

[@elliottcrews4997]

For anyone into LPs County Records has just reissued/repressed the Kenny Baker album Country. I ordered it a few days ago and am waiting for it to arrive. Thankfully County never sold their catalog to one of the big corporate groups like the other labels did back in I guess it was the 1990s. So far County has released 2 Tony Rice LPs and now a Kenny Baker. Hopefully there will be more to come. Enjoyed the story!

[@bradapplemusic]

That's awesome! Yes, thankfully County has stayed true to itself and we're fortunate to have them still turning out this great material.

[@arthurogle7581]

One of the best albums I've ever heard in my 51 years of playing semi pro BG. Is the one Kenny and Josh Graves made. Fave song was their duet of the tune "Step it up and go". Not many folks are aware that Kenny played some killer 3 finger style guitar playing.

[@bradapplemusic]

I saw them play live one time and it was great! Thanks for sharing!

[@josephpeter2000]

Used to see Kenny Baker and Josh Graves play at the Quality Inn in I think Covington, Ky. My next door neighbor grew up in Fairmount. We used to go to the local bar in Fairmount and drink beer etc.

[@bradapplemusic]

I got to see Kenny and Josh play one time, but it was great! Thanks for watching and sharing!

[@redlinemando]

A good friend of mine & singer who passed some 20 yrs ago, used to tell me stories that Kenny Baker would come to Corbin, KY to play some music & try to date his sister. Now, I have no way of confirming those stories, but I do know that Kenny & another one of my older banjo playing friends (Bill Grimes), used to pick some & had recorded some sessions with the late Ray Hoskins. Ray had a recording studio in London, KY called "Laurel Leaf Records". The 45's are hard to find, but there are still some of them floating around my area from some of those sessions. Ray's son Dallas, could possibly share some stories about some of his memories concerning those recording sessions & others. I used to have a CD that Ray had made me of a 4 song session from the late 60's/early 70's that had Doyle Lawson on guitar & fiddle, Larry Rice on mandolin & lead & baritone vocals, Bobby Slone on fiddle, Ray Hoskins on bass & tenor vocals, Vernon Lee Brown on guitar & lead vocals & Bill Grimes on banjo. Bill Grimes is 85 & still going strong. He still has a couple of the 45's from that session. I've tried to talk Bill into doing some interviews with people, but he doesn't have internet or a computer. I need to take my recording stuff down to his house & ask him some questions about some of those sessions & some of his memories of Kenny & other musicians he's played with.

[@bradapplemusic]

Thanks for sharing! Yes, you should get those stories archived!

[@RUNNOFT71]

I love both of them, and their impact they had on bluegrass music. But, that's Kenny Baker's loss, in my opinion.

[@bradapplemusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@johngolden4468]

Thanks for informing us Brad!

[@bradapplemusic]

You bet!

[@arthurogle7581]

Altho quite short a fiddle break, Kennys break on "Working on a building" was my fave. Double stop fiddling RULES!!!!

[@64bluegrass]

Nice story. Thanks!

[@bradapplemusic]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@JohnDoe-cp3yg]

I totally agree. To hear those 3 on tripples!

[@bradapplemusic]

That would have been incredible! Thanks for watching!

[@Jessesmathers1]

Thanks for sharing!

[@bradapplemusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@cliftonjarvis8010]

Did any of y’all ever hear of J.D. Jarvis gospel blue grass group from Kentucky.

[@arthurogle7581]

IMO Kenny was the finest fiddle player to resin up a bow.Chubby said Bill lie long bow strokes. So both Chubby and Kenny gave em.

[@billweathers5080]

Great!

[@bradapplemusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@dozensides]

That’s a great story. What if Kenny Baker had joined Bobby Hicks and Vassar on volume six? It would’ve been triple fiddle heaven.. Kenny had his reason I guess like you said.

[@arthurogle7581]

Ah Tony. If youve seen Tonys, Sams, Jerry and Belas "Nine Pound Hammer" it not hard to see who ran that BG mob. Tony!!!Gives Sam a glance when tt's his time to do his turn around. Adjusts mic for Jerry's.

[@alfrede.neuman8898]

Good for Kenny! Good decision on his part! I saw Kenny perform twice on stage. He was great! TR was more of a jazz stylist on a dreadnaught guitar.

[@mandolin8297]

LOL - Kenny had a taste for music that mattered.