Herschel Sizemore Explained

Herschel Sizemore
Birth Name:Herschel Lee Sizemore
Birth Date:6 August 1935
Birth Place:Sheffield, Alabama, U.S.
Death Place:Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.
Genre:Bluegrass music
Occupation:Musician
Instrument:Mandolin
Years Active:1957–2022
Label:Hay Holler Records
Associated Acts:Dixie Gentlemen, Jimmy Martin, Del McCoury, Bluegrass Cardinals

Herschel Lee Sizemore (August 6, 1935 – September 9, 2022) was an American mandolinist in the bluegrass tradition.

Biography

Early years

Sizemore was raised in Leighton, Alabama, near Muscle Shoals. When he was age eight, Sizemore's parents took him to see a performance by Bill Monroe at the Grand Ole Opry.[1]

Music career

The first portion of Sizemore's career was spent playing in established bluegrass bands. From 1957 until 1965, Sizemore played with the Dixie Gentlemen with Jake Landers and Rual Yarbrough.[2] [3] In 1971, the Dixie Gentlemen reunited for a period of time.[4]

Sizemore was a member of The Boys from Shiloh in 1966, along with Bobby Smith (lead vocal, guitar), Rual Yarbrough (baritone vocal, banjo), Charlie Nixon (resonator guitar), and Johnny Montgomery (bass). Sizemore then played with Jimmy Martin from 1967 until 1968.[5]

From 1968 until 1974, Sizemore played with the Shenandoah Cut-Ups, trading solos with fiddler Tater Tate and flatpicker Wesley Golding.[6]

Sizemore, Wesley Golding, and Tom McKinney left the Shenandoah Cut-Ups to form Country Grass, which lasted from 1974 until 1976. Other members included Tom Gray (bass, vocals), Ricky Skaggs (fiddle), and Ronnie Bucke (drums). Sizemore was also one of Del McCoury's Dixie Pals from 1978 until 1979. Other Pals included Jerry McCoury (upright bass), Dick Smith (banjo), and the late Sonny Miller (fiddle). The Dixie Pals (with Mike Hargrove) reunited at a 2012 benefit concert for Sizemore.[7] [8]

Sizemore was a member of the Bluegrass Cardinals from 1991 until 1995.[9] [10]

Solo recordings

In 1995, Sizemore formed the Herschel Sizemore Band. His first solo album Bounce Awa was released in 1979, and in 2000, Sizemore released the album My Style on Hay Holler with Jim Haley (guitar), Terry Baucom (banjo), and Eddie Biggerstaff and Ron Stewart (fiddle).[11] [12]

In 2009, Sizemore released the album B-Natural with Terry Baucom (banjo), Jimmy Haley (guitar), Ron Stewart (fiddle), (Mike Bub) (bass),and Alan Bibey (guitar, mandolin).[13]

Mandolin in B

Sizemore and his wife Joyce were both diagnosed with cancer on the same day in fall 2011. On February 19, 2012, a benefit concert for the Sizemores was staged in Roanoke, Virginia. The documentary film Mandolin in B focused on Sizemore's life and music. The film was directed by Rick Bowman and released by Backyard Green Films.[14] [15]

Songwriting

Sizemore's best-known composition is the mandolin instrumental "Rebecca," named after his mother. It has been covered by several other artists.[16]

Personal life and death

Sizemore died on September 9, 2022, at the age of 87.[17]

Awards

In 2011, Sizemore was inducted into the Alabama Bluegrass Hall of Fame.

Discography

Solo albums

Jake Landers and Herschel Sizemore

The Blue Ridge Mountain Boys

Shenandoah Valley Quartet

The Shenandoah Cut-Ups

The Dixie Gentlemen

The Country Grass

Roby Huffman and the Bluegrass Cutups

Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals

Bluegrass Cardinals

As composer

Also appears on

Music instruction

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Herschel Sizemore To Be Inducted into Hall-of-Fame Today. Prescription Bluegrass. September 26, 2017. March 18, 2011.
  2. Book: Rosenberg, Neil V.. Charles K. Wolfe. 2008. The Music of Bill Monroe. University of Illinois Press . 9780252031212. September 26, 2017.
  3. Web site: Dixie Gentlemen. Alabama Music Office. September 27, 2017. Ivan M. Tribe.
  4. Book: Erlewine, Michael. 1997. All Music Guide to Country: The Experts' Guide to the Best Recordings in Country Music. Hal Leonard Corporation . 9780879304751. September 26, 2017.
  5. Web site: On This Day #39 – Jimmy Martin. Bluegrass Today. September 27, 2017. Richard Thompson. May 14, 2015.
  6. Book: Tribe, Ivan M.. 2006. Country: A Regional Exploration. Greenwood Press . 9780313081477. September 27, 2017.
  7. Web site: Del McCoury and His Dixie Pals reunion will be a highlight of Herschel and Joyce Sizemore benefit on Feb. 19. Roanoke Times. September 28, 2017. Tad Dickens. February 7, 2012.
  8. Web site: Del McCoury - My Dixie Home. No Depression. September 28, 2017. Jon Weisberger. October 31, 2001.
  9. Web site: Herschel Sizemore to AL Hall of Fame. Bluegrass Today. October 9, 2017. John Lawless. February 24, 2011.
  10. Book: Kingsbury, Paul. Feb 1, 2012. The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-992083-9. October 8, 2017.
  11. Web site: Instruments Of Bluegrass. Chicago Tribune. September 28, 2017. David Royko. December 3, 2000.
  12. Web site: Herschel Sizemore - My Style. Power Pop Lovers. September 28, 2017. December 5, 2010.
  13. Web site: B-Natural from Herschel Sizemore. Bluegrass Today. September 28, 2017. John Lawless. July 31, 2009.
  14. Web site: New Film Documentary - Herschel Sizemore: Mandolin in B. Cybergrass. September 26, 2017. September 7, 2013.
  15. Web site: Prescription Bluegrass Reviews New Herschel Sizemore Documentary. Prescription Bluegrass. September 26, 2017. Mark Raborn. September 18, 2013.
  16. Web site: Blue Yodel #7 – Herschel Sizemore's Rebecca. Bluegrass Today. September 26, 2017. Chris Stuart. November 8, 2011.
  17. Web site: Bluegrass great Herschel Sizemore has died. Joe. Dashiell. www.wdbj7.com. September 10, 2022. September 11, 2022.
  18. Web site: The Bluegrass Cardinals: Mountain Girl. Bluegrass Unlimited. October 9, 2017. Archie Warnock. March 1, 1997.

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