Hershel Sizemore passed away yesterday, September 9th. Bluegrass Today, as always, did a fantastic tribute to the man's career.
https://bluegrasstoday.com/herschel-sizemore-passes/ The name probably isn't familiar right away, but Hershel was unarguably one of the most influential bluegrass musicians who ever lived. And he lived about three miles away from me. I grew up playing upright bass in string bands, and being introduced to Mr. Sizemore at a very young age was a turning point that made a fun pastime into a burning passion. Once he took a liking to you, and began to take an interest in your 'education', you had no choice but to learn, and learn to play it right.
I can't tell you the exact date, but it was a hot Summer night in 1989, the Amsterdam district of Botetourt County near where I went to High School. I was invited to a garage jam out there in the country. I knew a few of the regulars who might be there, and it sounded like a good time was in store. I had no idea who Hershel Sizemore was at that point in life, had never heard of him, but he was supposed to be there, and supposedly was a great mandolin picker from wayback, sideman to practically everybody. Okay, I thought... that's a decent intro. I'd like to meet him. Maybe I can pick up a gig or two. So the jam was in full swing, I was in my element, so full of it... play anything and everything, fast and loud. One of my Dad's buddies proudly says to Hershel-
"you hear that boy playin' bass over there?!" Hershel replied-
"I reckon by-gawd I did... he's been beatin' that po' thang like a mule for the last hour!" I was crushed. I didn't know it yet, but he was 100% right. I had no sense yet of playing with any restraint or nuance. Over the years I would share a private backstage joke with him about that night.
"Quit slappin' that thang son, it ain't done nuthin' to you!". I was living in Nashville 1996 when Bill Monroe died, coincidentally also on September, 9th. I was standing on the sidewalk outside the Ryman Auditorium waiting to go inside for the Memorial Service, when I heard that Alabama drawl behind me, and there was a friend from home... we sat there at the funeral of the Father of Bluegrass Music together. I've got a thousand stories like that.
There's a few people who change the course of your life. He was one of those guys. Lay your mandolin down and go take your rest. We'll carry on.
