Herschel Sizemore
Birth nameHerschel Lee Sizemore
Born(1935-08-06)August 6, 1935
Sheffield, Alabama, U.S.
DiedSeptember 9, 2022(2022-09-09) (aged 87)
Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.
GenresBluegrass music
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Mandolin
Years active1957–2022
LabelsHay Holler Records

Herschel Lee Sizemore (August 6, 1935 – September 9, 2022) was an American mandolinist in the bluegrass tradition.

Biography

Early years

Sizemore was raised in Leighton, Alabama, near Muscle Shoals. When he was age eight, Sizemore's parents took him to see a performance by Bill Monroe at the Grand Ole Opry.[1]

Music career

The first portion of Sizemore's career was spent playing in established bluegrass bands. From 1957 until 1965, Sizemore played with the Dixie Gentlemen with Jake Landers and Rual Yarbrough.[2][3] In 1971, the Dixie Gentlemen reunited for a period of time.[4]

Sizemore was a member of The Boys from Shiloh in 1966, along with Bobby Smith (lead vocal, guitar), Rual Yarbrough (baritone vocal, banjo), Charlie Nixon (resonator guitar), and Johnny Montgomery (bass). Sizemore then played with Jimmy Martin from 1967 until 1968.[5]

From 1968 until 1974, Sizemore played with the Shenandoah Cut-Ups, trading solos with fiddler Tater Tate and flatpicker Wesley Golding.[6]

Sizemore, Wesley Golding, and Tom McKinney left the Shenandoah Cut-Ups to form Country Grass, which lasted from 1974 until 1976. Other members included Tom Gray (bass, vocals), Ricky Skaggs (fiddle), and Ronnie Bucke (drums). Sizemore was also one of Del McCoury's Dixie Pals from 1978 until 1979. Other Pals included Jerry McCoury (upright bass), Dick Smith (banjo), and the late Sonny Miller (fiddle). The Dixie Pals (with Mike Hargrove) reunited at a 2012 benefit concert for Sizemore.[7][8]

Sizemore was a member of the Bluegrass Cardinals from 1991 until 1995.[9][10]

Solo recordings

In 1995, Sizemore formed the Herschel Sizemore Band. His first solo album Bounce Awa was released in 1979, and in 2000, Sizemore released the album My Style on Hay Holler with Jim Haley (guitar), Terry Baucom (banjo), and Eddie Biggerstaff and Ron Stewart (fiddle).[11][12]

In 2009, Sizemore released the album B-Natural with Terry Baucom (banjo), Jimmy Haley (guitar), Ron Stewart (fiddle), (Mike Bub) (bass),and Alan Bibey (guitar, mandolin).[13]

Mandolin in B

Sizemore and his wife Joyce were both diagnosed with cancer on the same day in fall 2011. On February 19, 2012, a benefit concert for the Sizemores was staged in Roanoke, Virginia. The documentary film Mandolin in B focused on Sizemore's life and music. The film was directed by Rick Bowman and released by Backyard Green Films.[14][15]

Songwriting

Sizemore's best-known composition is the mandolin instrumental "Rebecca," named after his mother. It has been covered by several other artists.[16]

Personal life and death

Sizemore died on September 9, 2022, at the age of 87.[17]

Awards

In 2011, Sizemore was inducted into the Alabama Bluegrass Hall of Fame.[1]

Discography

Solo albums

Jake Landers and Herschel Sizemore

The Blue Ridge Mountain Boys

Shenandoah Valley Quartet

The Shenandoah Cut-Ups

The Dixie Gentlemen

The Country Grass

Roby Huffman and the Bluegrass Cutups

Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals

Bluegrass Cardinals

As composer

Also appears on

Music instruction

References

  1. ^ a b "Herschel Sizemore To Be Inducted into Hall-of-Fame Today". Prescription Bluegrass. March 18, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  2. ^ Rosenberg, Neil V.; Charles K. Wolfe (2008). The Music of Bill Monroe. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252031212. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  3. ^ Ivan M. Tribe. "Dixie Gentlemen". Alabama Music Office. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  4. ^ Erlewine, Michael (1997). All Music Guide to Country: The Experts' Guide to the Best Recordings in Country Music. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879304751. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  5. ^ Richard Thompson (May 14, 2015). "On This Day #39 – Jimmy Martin". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  6. ^ Tribe, Ivan M. (2006). Country: A Regional Exploration. Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313081477. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  7. ^ Tad Dickens (February 7, 2012). "Del McCoury and His Dixie Pals reunion will be a highlight of Herschel and Joyce Sizemore benefit on Feb. 19". Roanoke Times. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  8. ^ Jon Weisberger (October 31, 2001). "Del McCoury - My Dixie Home". No Depression. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  9. ^ John Lawless (February 24, 2011). "Herschel Sizemore to AL Hall of Fame". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  10. ^ Kingsbury, Paul (Feb 1, 2012). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-992083-9. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  11. ^ David Royko (December 3, 2000). "Instruments Of Bluegrass". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  12. ^ "Herschel Sizemore - My Style". Power Pop Lovers. December 5, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  13. ^ John Lawless (July 31, 2009). "B-Natural from Herschel Sizemore". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  14. ^ "New Film Documentary - Herschel Sizemore: Mandolin in B". Cybergrass. September 7, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  15. ^ Mark Raborn (September 18, 2013). "Prescription Bluegrass Reviews New Herschel Sizemore Documentary". Prescription Bluegrass. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  16. ^ Chris Stuart (November 8, 2011). "Blue Yodel #7 – Herschel Sizemore's Rebecca". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  17. ^ Dashiell, Joe (September 10, 2022). "Bluegrass great Herschel Sizemore has died". www.wdbj7.com. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  18. ^ Archie Warnock (March 1, 1997). "The Bluegrass Cardinals: Mountain Girl". Bluegrass Unlimited. Retrieved October 9, 2017.

External links

Authority control databases
Categories