Danny Paisley and John Reischman
Episode #299: While the public has become hyper aware of Billy Strings on his rocket ride to the top of bluegrass, only a small retinue of the music’s traditional veteran artists have achieved popular name recognition. I think especially of Del McCoury and Ricky Skaggs. But there’s a deeper world there, and we should work a little harder to shine the light on more of the old school masters working today. That’s what episode #299 of The String is about, through conversations with singer Danny Paisley and mandolinist John Reischman. Paisley, who grew up in a bluegrass family band a few miles from the McCourys is a four time IBMA Male Vocalist of teh Year. Reishman is a Californian who early on played in the first Tony Rice Unit before starting his 25-year band the Jaybirds. They are “musicians’ musicians,” which doesn’t help them put food on the table or build their legacies.