Junior Sisk

Harry Carpenter "Junior" Sisk, Jr.[2] is an American guitarist and vocalist in the bluegrass tradition, best known for his work with his band Rambler's Choice. He cites the hard-driving bluegrass of the Stanley Brothers as a major influence on his approach to bluegrass music.[3]

Junior Sisk
Birth nameHarry Carpenter Sisk, Jr.
Born (1964-11-06) November 6, 1964
Arlington, Virginia, United States
GenresBluegrass music
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsGuitar, bass, 1975 Martin D-35 (named "Sally")[1]
Years active1995–present
LabelsRebel Records, Mountain Fever Records
Websitejuniorsisk.us

Biography

Early years

Sisk was born in Arlington but was raised in Ferrum, Virginia. His early interest in music was sparked by his father Harry Sisk Sr., who wrote songs and played guitar,[4] and his mother who sang. When Sisk was 14, his parents gifted him with an upright bass.[5] Sisk began performing in local bands at age 16, first playing bass but eventually switching to guitar. He also played in his family's band Dreamin' Creek with his father and cousins.[1]

Music career

In the early 1990s, Sisk wrote songs made popular by the Lonesome River Band, such as "A Game (I Can't Win)," "My Heart Belongs to You," and "Tears Are Blinding Me."[3] Playing bluegrass every Saturday at Partners II bar in Centreville, Virginia, he met many other bluegrass musicians, such as Del McCoury, the Johnson Mountain Boys, and the Bluegrass Cardinals.[6]

In 1995, Sisk and his cousin songwriter Tim Massey began playing with Wyatt Rice and Santa Cruz, which also included Elmer Burchett (banjo) and Ricky Riddle (mandolin). They released the album Picture in a Tear in 1996.[7]

Sisk formed Rambler's Choice in 1998. Besides Sisk, the band included Massey, Elmer Burchett, Jimmy VanCleve, and Allan Perdue. Rambler's Choice released the album Sounds of the Mountains on Rounder Records, but dissolved in 2001.[8]

In 2001, Sisk worked with the band Lost and Found, then in 2002, he joined Baucom, Bibey and BlueRidge.[9] BlueRidge toured extensively and recorded three albums, and disbanded in 2006 because Bibey wanted to join Grasstowne.[10]

In 2007, Sisk re-formed Rambler's Choice with Massey, Darrell Wilkerson (banjo), Chris Harris (mandolin), and Billy Hawks (fiddle) and in 2008, they released the album Blue Side of the Blue Ridge on Rebel Records. The album contained original and traditional songs, and was produced by Ronnie Bowman.[11]

Sisk and Ramblers Choice released Heartaches and Dreams in 2010, then in 2011 released The Heart of a Song which contained the popular song "A Far Cry From Lester and Earl" and climbed the bluegrass charts.[12]

In 2013, Sisk released the album The Story of the Day That I Died with Ramblers Choice, and also in 2013, released Hall of Fame Bluegrass, an album of duets with banjoist Joe Mullins. They selected songs from first and second-generation bluegrass artists that have rarely been covered or heard.[13]

In 2017, Sisk released the album The Mountains Are Calling Me Home on the Mountain Fever label. The current lineup of Ramblers Choice includes Sisk, Jason Davis (banjo), Johnathan Dillon (mandolin), Jamie Harper (fiddle), and Kameron Keller (bass).[9][14]

Sisk has also worked with Ralph Stanley, Dave Evans, and Del McCoury.[5]

Awards

In 2012, Sisk won the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award for Song of the Year for "A Far Cry from Lester and Earl," and he also won Album of the Year for The Heart of a Song. In 2013, he won the IBMA award for Male Vocalist of the Year, and in 2016, he won the award for Recorded Event of the Year for The song "Longneck Blues" (with Ronnie Bowman).[15]

In 2013, Ramblers Choice won the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) Bluegrass Band of the Year award.[16]

Discography

Junior Sisk and Rambler's Choice
  • 1998: Sounds of the Mountains (Rounder)
  • 2008: Blue Side of the Blue Ridge (Rebel)[17]
  • 2010: Heartaches and Dreams (Rebel)[18]
  • 2011: The Heart of a Song (Rebel)[19]
  • 2013: The Story of the Day That I Died (Rebel)[20]
  • 2014: Trouble Follows Me (Rebel)[21]
  • 2016: Poor Boy's Pleasure (Mountain Fever)[22]
  • 2017: The Mountains Are Calling Me Home (Mountain Fever)[23]

Wyatt Rice and Santa Cruz
  • 1996: Picture in a Tear (Rounder)[24]

Lost and Found
  • 2002: It's About Time (Rebel)

BlueRidge
  • 2002: Come Along With Me (Sugar Hill) as Baucom, Bibey & BlueRidge
  • 2004: Side by Side (Sugar Hill)
  • 2006: Gettin' Ready (Pinecastle)

Junior Sisk and Joe Mullins
  • 2013: Hall of Fame Bluegrass (Rebel)

Junior Sisk
  • 2018: Brand New Shade of Blue (Mountain Fever)[25]
  • 2020: Just Load the Wagon (Mountain Fever)[26]

Also appears on

References
  1. "Junior Sisk and Rambler's Choice". Music City Roots. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  2. "TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  3. Jewly Hight (March 21, 2013). "Junior Sisk Makes a Choice to Play Hardcore Bluegrass". CMT Edge. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  4. Ted Lehmann (February 14, 2017). "The Crooked Road: Virginia's Musical Highway". No Depression. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  5. Holly Kozelsky (July 14, 2017). "A Rambler's Choice: Junior Sisk finds his own road to success". Martinsville Bulletin. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  6. Mark Vosburgh (May 1, 2014). "Junior Sisk and Rambler's Choice". The Missoulian. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  7. Jim Zimmerschied. "Picture in a Tear: Wyatt Rice & Santa Cruz". Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  8. Justin Epley (January 19, 2017). "Junior Sisk and Rambler's Choice set to perform at Old Rock School". News Herald. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  9. Derek Halsey (June 1, 2017). "Junior Sisk: Tossing Another Log On The Fire, Keeping The Traditional Bluegrass Flames Burning". Bluegrass Unlimited. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  10. Marla Toncray (March 26, 2014). "Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice coming to 'Years of Farming Bluegrass Show'". Marysville Ledger-Independent. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  11. Brance (June 4, 2008). "Junior Sisk: Blue Side of the Blue Ridge". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  12. "Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice Offer a Helping Hand". Cybergrass. October 28, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  13. Chuck Dauphin (November 15, 2013). "Junior Sisk and Joe Mullins Team Up for 'Hall of Fame Bluegrass'". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  14. "The Mountains Are Calling Me Home". Bluegrass Unlimited. July 1, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  15. "Recipient History". IBMA. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  16. Edward Morris (February 4, 2013). "Dailey & Vincent, Junior Sisk, Rhonda Vincent Are Top Winners at Bluegrass Awards". CMT. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  17. Steven Stone (October 1, 2008). "Junior Sisk – Blue Side of the Blueridge". Vintage Guitar. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  18. Grant Alden (August 5, 2010). "Junior Sisk: A bluegrass ramble". No Depression. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  19. Keith Lawrence (October 3, 2011). "the-heart-of-a-song"-rebel-13-tracks/ "Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice, The Heart of a Song". Bluegrass Notes. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  20. Ted Lehmann (February 11, 2013). "Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice - The Story of the Day That I Died". Bluegrass, Books, and Brainstorms. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  21. David Gandin (October 21, 2014). "Review: Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice- Trouble Follows Me". Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  22. Tad Dickens (June 9, 2016). "Junior Sisk's new CD, 'Poor Boy's Pleasure' debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard bluegrass chart". Roanoke Times. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  23. "Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice Drop New Album". Mountain Fever. March 24, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  24. George Hauenstein. "Wyatt Rice & Santa Cruz: Picture in a Tear". Country Standard Time. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  25. "NEW MUSIC FROM JUNIOR SISK! – Mountain Fever Records – Red Hot Bluegrass Music Label". mountainfever.com. Retrieved 2018-06-16.
  26. "Junior Sisk - Load The Wagon". mountainfever.com. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  27. Jerome Clark (February 13, 2010). "Various Artists, Born into Bluegrass: The Songs of Cullen Galyean". Rambles. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
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