Tuesday, August 26, 2014

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Steve Spurgin

Artist:Steve Spurgin
Song:Fire In The Kettle
Album:Past Perfect





Steve Spurgin has been a session musician and sideman since the 60s. He is primarily known for his work with legendary fiddle player Byron Berline in the 70s and 80s. In recent years Spurgin has concentrated more on songwriting and recording his own albums. Spurgin is from Dallas and he got into music listening to Bob Dylan and Gordon Lightfoot. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 60s and became a session drummer working with Freddy Fender and Mason Williams among others. But then he met former Flying Burrito Brothers fiddle player Byron Berline. Spurgin was in Berline's 70s band Sundance along with guitarist Dan Crary and banjo player John Hickman. Vince Gill played mandolin in Sundance for a while. When Sundance split up, Spurgin moved back to Dallas. Berline formed the band California in the early 90s with Spurgin, Crary, Hickman and John Moore on mandolin. California was IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year for three straight years. Berline disbanded California in 1995 and moved to Oklahoma. Spurgin moved to Nashville to concentrate on his songwriting. Probably his biggest hit as a songwriter is Carmen for Gene Watson in 1985. Spurgin also records occasionally. Past Perfect was released in 2011. Musicians include The Kruger Brothers, Jens (banjo) and Uwe (guitar), former Alison Krauss & Union Station mandolinist Adam Steffey, Rob Ickes of Blue Highway on dobro and Rusty Holloway of The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra on bass. Bluegrass fans will want to check out Past Perfect. Here's Steve Spurgin and Sawmill Road performing Fire In The Kettle at the 2008 IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, NC.

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