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Don Rigsby - A Vision

(Sugar Hill SH-CD 3873) 1998.

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This is Don Rigsby's first solo album, and it's a fine traditional grass / gospel effort too.

Don grew up in Isonville, Ky. listening to The Sloas Brothers, early Ralph Stanley records and his cousin Ricky Skaggs. For his sixth birthday, his father, who knew Keith Whitley, took Don to see Ralph perform at the Paramount Arts Centre in Ashland, Ky (circa 1974) and through Keith, he got to meet Ralph in person.

Don worked his way through Morehead University by playing with Charlie Sizemore, and later played with The Bluegrass Cardinals, J.D. Crowe, and Lonesome River Band.^[1]

On this recording he is accompanied by a wealth of talent: Barry Bales, John Berry, John Bowman, Jason Carter, J.D. Crowe, Ray Deaton, Jack Hicks, Randy Howard, Roy Husky Jr., Ben, Rebecca & Sonya Isaacs, Greg Luck, Danny Marshall, David Parmley, Ron Rigsby, Sammy Shelor, James A. Shelton, Rickie Simpkins, Ricky Skaggs, Kenny Smith, Ralph Stanley, Jimmy Stewart, Tim Surrett, Brian Sutton, Dan Tyminski...

Ralph is featured on two cuts: A version of Rose Among The Thorns, which Ralph cut on I Want To Preach The Gospel and here features Ralph on lead vocal; and Vision Of A Golden Crown, an interesting a cappella number which again has Ralph on lead and features a virtual church-full of bluegrass talent on 'supporting vocals' (i.e. The Isaaacs, John Bowman, Tim Surrett, John Hartford, Allen Mills, Charlie Sizemore, Dudley Connell, Ronnie Bowman, Dan Tyminski, Barry Bales, John Berry, Elder Jerry Brown and Greg Luck).

The album also features versions of three Stanley Brothers songs: Wings Of Angels, Angel Of Death and That Home Far Away; one Sloas Brothers cut God Needed My Mother (also cut by Ralph II on Born To Be A Drifter); and John B Preston's I've Just Seen The Rock Of Ages, which Ralph recorded in 1977 for Clinch Mountain Gospel.

Vision Of A Golden Crown was also featured on the 'Sacred Voices: An A Cappella Gospel Collection' CD (Sugar Hill SUG-CD 3898) 1999.

Don was of course also responsible for the excellent Doctor's Orders - A Tribute To Ralph Stanley CD in 2013.

^{[1] http://www.flatpik.com/instructors/don-rigsby}