High Fidelity includes Kurt Stephenson, Corrina Rose Logston, Jeremy Stephens and Vickie Vaughn. The band can be found at http://highfidelitybluegrass.com/ or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/highfidelitybluegrass/.
PARAGOULD, Ark. — High Fidelity will perform Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Collins Theater as part of KASU 91.9 FM’s Bluegrass Monday concert series.
A group of young musicians who have a passion for bluegrass music from the 1950s and 1960s, High Fidelity first performed together onstage at the 2014 International Band Championship at the 40th annual Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America awards. After a very brief rehearsal just prior to their competition performance, the band won the championship, beating two dozen other groups, many of which had been performing music together for years.
Since winning that championship, the band has performed at select venues across the country, receiving praise from bluegrass music fans who love their traditional style and sound. The band’s influences include the Stanley Brothers, Jim and Jesse, the Louvin Brothers, Don Reno and Red Smiley.
High Fidelity’s recent Rebel Records’ release, “Hills and Home,” has received widespread acclaim from the bluegrass music community. Bluegrass Today said of the project, “There’s not a single song here that doesn’t inspire an enthusiastic response or an urge to get in their groove.” Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine called it “bluegrass from the true vine of the tradition.”
Kurt Stephenson plays banjo and sings in the band. A graduate of Arkansas State University, he won the 2010 National Bluegrass Banjo Championship held in Winfield, Kansas. This West Tennessee native also plays as a member of the band Stone County Connection, which has also performed at past Bluegrass Monday concerts. Stephenson has also released solo CDs.
High Fidelity’s guitarist and a vocalist Jeremy Stephens has been performing bluegrass music in a variety of bands since his teenage years. Best known as the former guitarist and vocalist in the long-running gospel group The Chuck Wagon Gang, he was also featured as a multi-instrumentalist on the television program “Ray Stevens’ Nashville.” He has also performed in the bands of Jesse McReynolds and Kody Norris.
Corrina Rose Logston plays fiddle and sings in the group. She has performed in numerous acclaimed and high-profile bluegrass groups including Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys, David Peterson and 1946, and Chris Henry and the Hardcore Grass. A graduate of the music business program at Belmont University in Nashville, Logston is also an outstanding songwriter and has produced two solo CDs featuring her own compositions.
Vickie Vaughn sings and plays bass for the band. In addition to playing with High Fidelity, this Kentucky native leads her own bluegrass group, the Vickie Vaughn band. She sings back-up vocals in concerts with country superstar Patty Loveless, and is a former member of bluegrass vocalist Valerie Smith’s band.
The Venue
Collins Theatre seating is first-come, first-served at 120 W. Emerson St. in downtown Paragould. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. concert. KASU will literally “pass the hat” to collect money to pay the group with suggested donations of $5 per person.
In addition to the concert, Terry’s Café opens on Bluegrass Mondays to welcome bluegrass music fans. The café at 201 S. Pruett St. in Paragould serves a country-style buffet meal beginning at 4:30 p.m. on the evenings of Bluegrass Monday concerts. Concessions will also be available at the Collins Theatre.
Bluegrass Monday concerts are held on the fourth Monday night of each month. These concerts are presented with support from Bibb Chiropractic Center, the Posey Peddler, Holiday Inn Express and Suites of Paragould, the Northeast Arkansas Bluegrass Association and KASU.
KASU, 91.9 FM, is the 100,000 watt public broadcasting service of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. For more information, contact KASU Program Director Marty Scarbrough at mscarbro@astate.edu or 870-972-2367. Bluegrass Monday is also on Facebook (search “Bluegrass Monday”).