When a beloved musical group decides it's time to retire, that doesn't mean their music becomes a thing of the past. Just ask Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, who, as the award-winning duo Dailey & Vincent, have recorded a new CD containing 12 of the legendary Statler Brothers' most-loved songs. This album, Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers, features exciting and authentic bluegrass interpretations of songs from the Statlers' repertoire and will be available exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Storeฎ on February 1st.
Dailey & Vincent are uniquely qualified for this project. As the reigning International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Entertainers of the Year, they have previously recorded their versions of some Statler songs and include a few in their live show. In 2008, they performed at the medallion ceremony marking the Statlers' official induction into the Country Music Hall of Fameฎ. Dailey & Vincent's self-titled debut on Rounder Records included their version of the Statlers' hit "More Than a Name on a Wall," which topped the Sirius bluegrass chart in 2008. Their Brothers From Different Mothers CD included "Years Ago" and "There is You" from the Statlers' catalog, along with a special guest appearance by Statler Harold Reid in his alter ego of Lester "Roadhog" Moran on "Head Hung Down," which spent two months at #1 on the Bluegrass Unlimited song chart.
"The Statler Brothers are my childhood heroes," says Dailey. "My daddy bought me a Statler Brothers record in 1983, and I went to bed every night listening to that record. I knew every word to every song. We're delighted to work with Cracker Barrel on this project because we pull our bus into a Cracker Barrel every weekend; that's where we have breakfast and lunch."
"The Statlers have given so much to America through their music," adds Vincent. "Some of those lyrics are just so powerful, like "The Class of '57." It's all about America. It's an honor to record these classic songs and share them with Cracker Barrel's guests."
The Statler Brothers themselves are enthusiastic supporters of Dailey & Vincent and the album. "Jamie and Darrin have used their magic touch to honor us and our music," says Statler Don Reid. "This CD is one great tribute from two great friends. Dailey and Vincent - they are what good music and friendship is about today." The Statler Brothers have made an indelible contribution to the American music landscape, from the day they hit the road with Johnny Cash in 1964 until their retirement in 2002. They are one of only six acts to be inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, writing and recording iconic songs about small-town life, love, faith, and days gone by.
Dailey & Vincent have taken the bluegrass world by storm since they launched their career as a duo in 2007. Jamie Dailey was formerly the lead singer and guitarist for Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver; until the end of 2007, Darrin Vincent was guitar and mandolin player and harmony vocalist with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder.
In addition to being named Entertainer of the Year, Dailey & Vincent received 2009 IBMA awards for Vocal Group of the Year and Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year, for "On the Other Side." In 2008 they took home seven IBMA awards, becoming the first act in the history of the IBMA awards to be named Entertainer of the Year and Emerging Artist in the same year. The feat was all the more impressive because they had released their debut album just a few months earlier. The New York Times has called them "the most celebrated new bluegrass act of the last few years." The Wall Street Journal began a recent feature on Dailey & Vincent ("A Bluegrass Duo Reigns Again") with, "A new dynasty may be taking shape in bluegrass music." More information on Dailey & Vincent is available at www.daileyvincent.com.
