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Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine

January 2004 Issue

In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia is a band called the Locust Mountain Boys. The band consists of two Southern families, the Dowdys and the Carpers.

Victor Dowdy is a very talented bass fiddle player and singer. He has probably won more ribbons and trophies for his picking than any other bass player in the South. Victor's son, Steve Dowdy, is a talented lead guitar picker and singer. Victor's other son, 16 year old Donald Dowdy, plays rhythm and lead guitar, and also sings. Bluegrass is second nature to the whole Dowdy Family

14 year old Jesse Carper has been singing and playing mandolin for four years. Jesse's two hobbies are bluegrass and girls, not necessarily in that order. In the last couple years his hobbies have really improved. Steve (Coop) Carper, Jesse's father, is one of the finest banjo pickers in the South. In this recording, he plays both bluegrass and clawhammer style. The Carper Family is now in the fifth generation of playing mountain and bluegrass music.

Special guest, Bobby Moore, added fiddle on two songs on the CD. Bobby is a multi-talented area native, old friend of the Dowdys, and a frequent session player at Catawba Sound Studio. On this CD you will hear everybody taking turns singing lead, and picking their instruments in the traditional style. - Jerry Steinberg