Red Knuckles And The Trailblazers On Mountain Stage

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Red Knuckles And The Trailblazers On Mountain Stage.

Brian Blauser

Red Knuckles And The Trailblazers On Mountain Stage.

Brian Blauser

As the legend goes, Red Knuckles and his band The Trailblazers were discovered by members of bluegrass group Hot Rize at a bar in Wyoming, Mont., while leaning on a jukebox that contained only classic country material from the 1960s. At the height of their popularity and looking for a break in the norm, Hot Rize took the classic-country interpreters on the road and the relationship continues to this day.

Featuring the mandolin of leader Red Knuckles, guitarist Wendell Mercantile, steel-guitar player Waldo Otto, their new bassist Swade, the group performs George Jones' "One Woman Man" and "Oh Mona," as well as an advertisement for their (fictional) collection, Red Remembers The 60s In His Own Western Style.

Hot Rize then returns to the stage for a rousing set that includes "Colleen Malone," from the group's 1991 release Take it Home. As leader Tim O'Brien mentions, "Won't You Come and Sing For Me" was written by fellow West Virginian Hazel Dickens and recorded by the duo Hazel & Alice.

This performance originally ran on Dec. 14, 2010.