The Seldom Scene
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist
The Seldom Scene is an American bluegrass band that formed in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland.<ref name=enc>Template:Cite book</ref> The band's original line-up comprised John Starling on lead vocals and guitar, Mike Auldridge on Dobro and baritone vocals, Ben Eldridge on banjo, Tom Gray on double bass, and John Duffey on mandolin; the latter three also provided backing vocals. Together they released their debut studio album, Act I, in 1972, followed by both Act II and Act III in 1973.
In 1977, Starling left the group and was replaced by singer-songwriter Phil Rosenthal. Starling and Rosenthal shared lead vocals on the group's sixth studio album, Baptizing, released in 1978. Around the same time, the group switched record labels from Rebel Records to Sugar Hill Records. In 1986, Rosenthal and Gray left the band, and were replaced by Lou Reid and T. Michael Coleman, respectively; Reid and Coleman first appeared on the band's 1988 album A Change of Scenery. Reid left the band in 1992, and Starling briefly returned to the group, performing on their 1994 album Like We Used to Be. Starling was replaced by Moondi Klein as the band's lead singer.
During 1995 and 1996, Klein, Coleman, and Auldridge, left the Seldom Scene to form a new band called Chesapeake. Duffey and Eldridge recruited guitarist Fred Travers, bassist Ronnie Simpkins, and guitarist and singer Dudley Connell into the Seldom Scene, and together released the album Dream Scene in 1996. That same year, Duffey died of a heart attack. Reid returned to the band to replace Duffey on mandolin, and the group released the album Scene It All in 2000. The group's 2007 album Scenechronized was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. The band's original members (Auldridge, Duffey, Eldridge, Gray, and Starling) were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2014.
HistoryEdit
Formation and early career (1971)Edit
The Seldom Scene was established in 1971, and they would practice in Ben Eldridge's basement.<ref name="Smithsonian">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> These practice sessions included John Starling on guitar and lead vocals, Mike Auldridge on Dobro and baritone vocals, and former Country Gentlemen member Tom Gray on bass. The mandolinist John Duffey, who had also performed with the Country Gentlemen,<ref name="rosenberg">Template:Cite book</ref> was invited to jam sessions at the time when Mike Auldridge arranged for the group to play as a performing band.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Another member of the Country Gentlemen, Charlie Waller, is responsible for the band's name. Expressing his doubt that this new band could succeed, Waller reportedly asked Duffey, "What are you going to call yourselves, the seldom seen?"<ref name="Country Music Encyclopedia">Template:Cite book</ref> The band had weekly performances at clubs and performed regularly at the Red Fox Inn, a music club in Bethesda Maryland. The band switched over to the Birchmere music hall in Alexandria, Virginia, which resulted in a residency.<ref name="Smithsonian" />
Members' backgroundsEdit
Each of the band members had a job during the week; Duffey repaired musical instruments, Eldridge was a mathematician, Starling a physician,<ref name=enc /> Auldridge a graphic artist, and Gray a cartographer with National Geographic.<ref name=rosenberg /> They agreed to play one night a week at local clubs, perform occasionally at concerts and festivals on weekends, and make records. After playing for six weeks at a small Washington, D.C., club called the Rabbit's Foot, the group found a home at the Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, Maryland.<ref name="Country Music Encyclopedia"/> They performed at that venue Friday nights from January 1972 through September 1977 before starting weekly performances at The Birchmere music hall.<ref name="IBMA Scene at Red Fox">Template:Cite news</ref>
Rise to popularity (1972–1976)Edit
The progressive bluegrass style played by the Seldom Scene had become increasingly popular during the 1970s, especially Duffey's high tenor and the vocal blend of Duffey/Starling/Auldridge.<ref name=enc /> Their weekly shows included bluegrass versions of country music, rock, and even classical pop.<ref name=enc /> The band's popularity soon forced them to play more than once a week<ref name=enc /> —but they continued to maintain their image as being seldom seen, and on several of their early album covers were photographed with the stage lights on only their feet, or with their backs to the camera. Though the Scene remained a non-touring band, they were prolific recorders, producing seven albums in their first five years of existence, including one live album (among the first live bluegrass albums).<ref name="Allmusic Scene discography">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
John Starling's departure and Phil Rosenthal as lead singer (1977–1986)Edit
In 1977, John Starling left the group to focus on his medical career, and was replaced by singer and songwriter Phil Rosenthal, whose song "Muddy Water" had been recorded by the Scene on two earlier albums. Starling and Rosenthal shared their lead vocals on the group's sixth studio album, Baptizing (recorded in 1978). Around the same time, the group switched record labels from Rebel to Sugar Hill. Starling recorded a solo album for Sugar Hill in 1980 called "Long Time Gone" and another in 1982 called "Waitin' On a Southern Train", on both of which Mike Auldridge played.
The lineup of Rosenthal-Duffey-Gray-Auldridge-Eldridge recorded five albums of a comparable popularity to the ones with the founding members, including John Starling. Rosenthal proved to be as good lead singer as Starling and his baritone voice contrasted well with Duffey's high tenor extravaganzas. He also wrote typically two to three songs on each of the albums and also added acoustic guitar solos to the group.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
More changes in lineup (1986–1996)Edit
In 1986, Phil Rosenthal and Tom Gray both left the band to focus on other pursuits, and were replaced by Lou Reid and T. Michael Coleman, respectively. Coleman proved to be very controversial, as many purists objected to his use of an electric bass in what is nominally an acoustic genre, but the albums produced by the band after Coleman's arrival maintained the traditional appeal of any of the Scene's earlier albums.
Reid left the band in 1992, and Duffey convinced former member John Starling to return to the band for the next year.<ref name="allbook">Template:Cite book</ref> During that year the Scene recorded the album Like We Used to Be, but Starling did not wish to stay with the band long term. He was replaced in 1994 by lead singer Moondi Klein.<ref name=enc />
Throughout these changes, band leader John Duffey's original plan of keeping a light touring schedule and staying close to home continued to prevail. During 1995 and 1996, Klein and Coleman, along with original member Mike Auldridge, wanting to be part of a full-time project, left the Seldom Scene to form a new band called Chesapeake.<ref name=allbook /> For a time the Scene stopped recording.
Duffey and Eldridge, the two remaining original members, recruited resophonic guitar player Fred Travers, bassist Ronnie Simpkins, and guitarist and singer Dudley Connell to join the band, and the reconstituted group recorded an album in 1996 and continued live appearances.<ref name=allbook /><ref>Carlin, Richard, Folk Template:Webarchive. Infobase Publishing, 2005, p. 185.</ref>
John Duffey's death, return of Lou Reid, and Scene It All (2000–2006)Edit
In late 1996, band leader and founder John Duffey suffered a fatal heart attack.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Banjoist Ben Eldridge, the sole remaining original member of the Seldom Scene, assumed leadership of the band. Former guitarist Lou Reid rejoined the band, replacing Duffey on mandolin.<ref name=allbook /> Initially the new Scene concentrated on live performances, but in 2000 the group recorded a new album, Scene It All. The Seldom Scene continues to tour, and has recorded for the Sugar Hill Records and Smithsonian Folkways labels.
Scenechronized, Long Time... Seldom Scene, and Changes (2007–present)Edit
Seldom Scene continues to perform and has received critical acclaim for their work. Scenechronized, recorded in 2007, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In July 2008, Seldom Scene performed at a White House dinner honoring the 2008 U.S. Olympic team as well as previous U.S. Olympians.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Seldom Scene also played the National Folk Festival July 11–13, 2008, representing bluegrass music.
On April 22, 2014, the band returned with Long Time... Seldom Scene, via Smithsonian Folkways. The collection features interpretations of 16 oft-requested tunes and is the band's first studio album since the Scenechronized in 2007. In 2015, "Long Time...Seldom Scene" and "Mean Mother Blues" won awards in the "Bluegrass" Album and Song categories at The 14th Annual Independent Music Awards.
In January 2016, Ben Eldridge retired after 44 continuous years with the band. He was replaced by Rickie Simpkins.<ref name=BE-bgrtoday-2016>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2017, Ron Stewart joined the Seldom Scene, replacing Rickie Simpkins.<ref name=RS-bgrtoday-2017>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2019, the Seldom Scene released the album Changes, featuring songs by songwriters of the 1960s and early 1970s, through Rounder Records.<ref name=RS-bgrtoday-2019>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The band currently consists of Clay Hess (guitar/lead vocals), Ron Stewart (banjo/fiddle/guitar), Lou Reid (mandolin/tenor vocals), Fred Travers (dobro/lead vocals), and Ronnie Simpkins (bass/baritone vocals). Ben Eldridge's son, Chris, also frequently performs with the group.
PersonnelEdit
MembersEdit
- Current members
- Lou Reid – mandolin, guitar, vocals (1986–1993, 1996–present)
- Clay Hess - guitar, vocals (2024–present)
- Ronnie Simpkins – bass (1995–present)
- Fred Travers – Dobro, vocals (1995–present)
- Ron Stewart – banjo, fiddle (2017–present)
- Former members
- John Duffey – mandolin, vocals (1971–1996; died 1996)
- Mike Auldridge – Dobro, vocals (1971–1995; died 2012)
- Tom Gray – bass (1971–1986)
- John Starling – guitar, vocals (1971–1978, 1993–1994; died 2019)
- Ben Eldridge – banjo, guitar (1971–2016; died 2024)
- Phil Rosenthal – guitar, vocals (1977-1986)
- T. Michael Coleman – bass (1986–1995)
- Moondi Klein – guitar, vocals (1994–1995)
- Rickie Simpkins – banjo, fiddle, guitar (2016–2017)
- Dudley Connell – guitar, vocals (1995–2024)
LineupsEdit
| 1971–1977 | 1977–1978 | 1978–1986 | 1986–1993 |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 1993–1994 | 1994–1995 | 1995–1996 | 1996–2015 |
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| 2016–2017 | 2017–2024 | 2024–present | |
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TimelineEdit
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Colors =
id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:mandolin value:gray(0.5) legend:Mandolin id:banjo value:drabgreen legend:Banjo id:Dobro value:teal legend:Dobro id:lines value:black legend:Studio albums
LineData =
at:01/01/1972 color:black layer:back at:04/01/1973 color:black layer:back at:09/01/1973 color:black layer:back at:12/01/1973 color:black layer:back at:03/01/1976 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1978 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1979 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1981 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1983 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1985 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1988 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1990 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1994 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1996 color:black layer:back at:01/01/2007 color:black layer:back at:01/01/2014 color:black layer:back at:01/01/2019 color:black layer:back at:01/01/2025 color:black layer:back
Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1971
PlotData=
width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:John Starling from:01/01/1971 till:02/01/1978 color:guitar bar:John Starling from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/1994 color:guitar bar:Phil Rosenthal from:01/01/1977 till:01/01/1986 color:guitar bar:Lou Reid from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1993 color:guitar bar:Moondi Klein from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1995 color:guitar bar:Dudley Connell from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/2024 color:guitar bar:Clay Hess from:01/01/2024 till:end color:guitar bar:Tom Gray from:01/01/1971 till:01/01/1986 color:bass bar:Michael Coleman from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1995 color:bass bar:Ronnie Simpkins from:01/01/1995 till:end color:bass bar:John Duffey from:01/01/1971 till:01/01/1996 color:mandolin bar:Lou Reid from:01/01/1996 till:end color:mandolin bar:Ben Eldridge from:01/01/1971 till:01/01/2016 color:banjo bar:Rickie Simpkins from:01/01/2016 till:11/01/2017 color:banjo bar:Ron Stewart from:11/01/2017 till:end color:banjo bar:Mike Auldridge from:01/01/1971 till:01/01/1995 color:Dobro bar:Fred Travers from:01/01/1995 till:end color:Dobro
</timeline>
DiscographyEdit
| Year | Title | Label | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Act I | Rebel | REB-1511 | |
| 1973 | Act II | Rebel | REB-1520 | |
| 1973 | Act III | Rebel | REB-1528 | |
| 1974 | Old Train | Rebel | REB-1536 | |
| 1975 | Live at The Cellar Door | Rebel | REB-1547/8 | live double album |
| 1976 | The New Seldom Scene Album | Rebel | REB-1561 | |
| 1978 | Baptizing | Rebel | REB-1573 | |
| 1979 | Act Four | Sugar Hill | SH-3709 | |
| 1981 | After Midnight | Sugar Hill | SH-3721 | |
| 1983 | At the Scene | Sugar Hill | SH-3736 | |
| 1985 | Blue Ridge | Sugar Hill | SH-3747 | with Jonathan Edwards |
| 1987 | The Best of The Seldom Scene, Vol. 1 | Rebel | REB-1101 | compilation from 1972–74 |
| 1988 | 15th Anniversary Celebration | Sugar Hill | SH-2202 | live double album |
| 1988 | A Change of Scenery | Sugar Hill | SH-3763 | |
| 1990 | Scenic Roots | Sugar Hill | SH-3785 | |
| 1992 | Scene 20: 20th Anniversary Concert | Sugar Hill | SH-2501/02 | live double album |
| 1994 | Like We Used to Be | Sugar Hill | SH-3822 | |
| 1996 | Dream Scene | Sugar Hill | SH-3858 | |
| 2000 | Scene It All | Sugar Hill | SUG-3899 | |
| 2007 | Scenechronized | Sugar Hill | SUG-4003 | |
| 2007 | Different Roads | Rebel | REB-7516 | compilation from 1973–76 |
| 2014 | Long Time... Seldom Scene<ref name="Folkways">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref>||Smithsonian Folkways||SFW40199|| | ||
| 2019 | Changes<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Rounder | 1166100485 | |
| 2025 | Remains To Be Scene | Smithsonian Folkways | SFW40248 |
<ref name="rebeldiscog">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref name="hillwilliam">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Template:Official website
- {{#if:The Seldom Scene|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs|{{#if:Template:Wikidata|Template:Wikidata Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at DiscogsTemplate:EditAtWikidata|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs}}}}
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- Template:YouTube
- John Duffey/Seldom Scene biography http://johnduffeybook.com/
Template:Seldom Scene Template:International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Template:Authority control