New Grass Revival

Other groups were also playing progressive bluegrass at the time, such as The Dillards, Eddie Adcock's II Generation, and the Country Gentlemen, but few did it with the flair of the New Grass Revival. At the time, bluegrass was a very tradition-bound music; bands were expected to have short hair and dress in matching outfits. The New Grass Revival bucked these traditions, with long hair, informal clothing, and performances of songs from a variety of genres, including music by Jerry Lee Lewis ("Great Balls of Fire"), the Beatles ("Get Back"; "I'm Down"), Bob Marley ("One Love/People Get Ready"), and protest songs ("One Tin Soldier"). This break from bluegrass tradition was not well received in some quarters—some thought it wasn't the way Bill Monroe meant for Bluegrass to be played.[2] "Our reason for doing the newer-type music wasn't pretentious or irreverent or sarcastic or disrespectful," explained Curtis Burch. "We just felt like people were ready to see that you could really expand the sound, using those same instruments."[3] (Monroe was a fan of New Grass Revival.) In 1979, they became the backup group and opening act for Leon Russell, further alienating them from the mainstream bluegrass community.

After the release of their debut, Walker parted ways with the band, and the group replaced him with Butch Robins, who was with the band from July, 1973 to November, 1974. He was replaced by John Cowan, an Evansville, Indiana, native. This lineup was stable throughout the 1970s, recording a number of albums for Flying Fish Records. As their name suggested, New Grass Revival never played traditional bluegrass—all of the members brought elements of rock & roll, jazz, and blues to the group's sound. Consequently, certain portions of the bluegrass community scorned them, but they also gained a devoted following of listeners who believed they were moving the genre in a new, fresh direction. For example, they played regularly to sold-out shows at Amazingrace Coffeehouse in the Chicago metro area.

In 1981 Johnson and Burch left the band, claiming they were tired of touring. Bush and Cowan continued the group, replacing them with virtuoso banjoist Béla Fleck and guitarist Pat Flynn. These two moved the band to new musical heights. Fleck's compositions such as "Metric Lips", "Seven by Seven" and "Big Foot" were very well received as were Pat Flynn's "Do What You Gotta Do", "Lonely Rider" and "On The Boulevard". Pat Flynn also brought strong lead and harmony vocals to the group as well as a distinctive guitar style.

In 1984 the group moved to Sugar Hill Records, and released their first album featuring the new lineup, On the Boulevard. In 1986 the band signed with EMI Records and released an eponymous album New Grass Revival, which proved to be their breakthrough into the mainstream. Two of the singles from the album, "What You Do to Me" and "Ain't That Peculiar" were minor hits on the country charts, and Fleck's showcase "Seven by Seven" was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Instrumental. Hold to a Dream, released in 1987, was just as successful as its predecessor, featuring the hits "Unconditional Love" and "Can't Stop Now," both of which nearly made the Top 40.

In 1989, New Grass Revival released their third major-label album, Friday Night in America, which was yet another commercial success. "Callin' Baton Rouge" became their first Top 40 single, followed by the number 58 hit "You Plant Your Fields." Even though the band was more popular than ever, Bush decided to pull the plug on the group after the release of Friday Night in America. Bush formed The Sam Bush Band, and Fleck went on to a successful and respected solo career.

New Grass Revival reunion at beneficial concert for Courtney Johnson in 1996. From left: Béla Fleck, Sam Bush, John Cowan, Curtis Burch.

In 1993, Bush, Cowan, Fleck, and Flynn returned to the studio, to back Garth Brooks, on his recording of "Callin' Baton Rouge".

Banjoist Courtney Johnson died of lung cancer in 1996 at age 56.[4] Bush, Fleck, Cowan, and Burch reunited for one concert (September 24, 1996) at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee to benefit his widow.[5] The concert included a number of musicians and groups, such as John Hartford, Hot Rize, Tim O'Brien, Vassar Clements, Del McCoury Band, Ricky Skaggs, Pete Rowan, Jerry Douglas and others.[5]

In 1997, when Garth Brooks was invited on Late Night with Conan O'Brien to perform "Do What You Gotta Do", a song written by Pat Flynn, he asked Flynn, Bush, Cowan, and Fleck to join him in performing it. Since that performance, Flynn has worked with both Cowan and Fleck, but not Bush. Likewise, Bush has also worked with Cowan and Fleck on numerous occasions. Bush and Cowan have also played with Burch.

In April 2007, Bush, Fleck, Cowan, and Flynn stepped into the spotlight together during the Merlefest 20th Anniversary Jam and played the Townes Van Zandt song "White Freight Liner." The single song reunion was the first time the four of them had played together in a decade.

Sam Bush, John Cowan and Curtis Burch performed with their own groups on the world's first International Newgrass Festival 21–23 August 2009 at Ballance Motox, Kentucky.[6]

• Sam Bush - mandolin, fiddle, guitar, vocals
• Curtis Burch - guitar, Dobro, vocals
• Courtney Johnson - banjo, guitar, vocals
• Ebo Walker - acoustic bass, vocals
• Butch Robins - bass guitar

• Sam Bush - mandolin, fiddle, guitar, vocals
• Curtis Burch - guitar, Dobro, vocals
• Courtney Johnson - banjo, guitar, vocals
• Butch Robins - bass guitar

• Sam Bush - mandolin, fiddle, guitar, vocals
• Curtis Burch - guitar, Dobro, vocals
• Courtney Johnson - banjo, guitar, vocals
• Butch Robins - bass guitar
• John Cowan - bass guitar, vocals

• Sam Bush - mandolin, fiddle, guitar, vocals
• Pat Flynn - guitar, vocals
• Béla Fleck - banjo, guitar, vocals
• John Cowan - bass guitar, vocals

(Benefit concert for Courtney Johnson)

• Sam Bush - mandolin, fiddle, guitar, vocals
• Curtis Burch - guitar, Dobro, vocals
• Béla Fleck - banjo, guitar, vocals
• John Cowan - bass guitar, vocals