J.D. Crowe, 27 Aug. 1937-24 Dec. 2021 (updates)

The BIB learns with deep regret that James Dee 'J.D.' Crowe died at home early this morning, just a week after the news that he was recovering after a brief stay in hospital. John Lawless gives on Bluegrass Today an appreciation of his career, together with photos and two videos from stage shows, one by the 'Rounder 0044' lineup of the New South from the early 1970s and one from a more recent version of the band. More features and tributes will certainly be following.

A ninety-minute interview with J.D., conducted in late 2018 as part of the East Tennessee State University's 'Living History' series, can be seen on YouTube. A video history of his life and music, 'A Kentucky treasure: the JD Crowe story', can be seen here, divided into ten uneven sections; the tenth ends with his part in the 'Bluegrass Album Band' in the late 1980s. Though the divisions are more or less arbitrary, this is recommended for the close-up views of J.D. and others. He is the third banjo-player member of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame that we have lost since the summer.

Update 28 Dec.: Bluegrass Today announces that the funeral will be held on Thursday (30 Dec.) in Nicholasville, KY.

BT also gives links to video interviews with J.D., as well as the ETSU one mentioned above: a half-hour one with Jim Mills (also on YouTube) and another, at 47 minutes (also on YouTube), with fellow Kentuckians the Moron Brothers, who toured Ireland in September 2014.

© Richard Hawkins