The Kentucky Colonels represent the absolute peak of the 1960s bluegrass revival, characterized by a technical precision that never sacrifices soul. Their sound is dominated by the interplay between the White brothers, where the mandolin and guitar don't just provide rhythm but engage in high-stakes melodic conversations. It is bright, wooden, and intensely rhythmic, capturing the feeling of a live performance even in their studio recordings.
What truly sets them apart is the revolutionary guitar work of Clarence White. Before this group, the acoustic guitar was largely a rhythmic 'boom-chick' instrument in bluegrass. The Colonels transformed it into a front-center lead voice, utilizing flatpicking techniques that would later influence everyone from Tony Rice to the country-rock movement. Their vocal harmonies are equally impressive, offering that 'high lonesome' sound with a polished, California-influenced clarity.
Start with 'Appalachian Swing!' to hear the band at their most instrumental and inventive. It is a masterclass in how to make four acoustic instruments sound as big and driving as a full rock band. Whether you are a bluegrass purist or a fan of 60s folk-rock looking for the source code, this is essential listening.
The Kentucky Colonels were an American bluegrass band that was popular during the American folk music revival of the early 1960s. Formed in Burbank, California in 1954, the group released two albums, The New Sound of Bluegrass America (1963) and Appalachian Swing! (1964). The band featured the influential bluegrass guitarist Clarence White, who was largely responsible for making the acoustic guitar a lead instrument within bluegrass, and who later went on to join the Los Angeles rock band the Byrds. The Kentucky Colonels disbanded in late 1965, with two short-lived reunions taking place in 1966 and 1973.
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