Crown of the Carolinas

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CD Credits

CD Credits:

Bobby Holliday - Lead & background vocals, guitars, harmonica & misc.
Viktor Krauss - Acoustic Bass
Randy Kohrs - Dobro, & Weissenborn
Tom Roady - Percussion

Additional musicians:
Tammy Heard - Lead Vocals on "Keowee Keeps Callin' Me", "The Monarchs' Mystery", "Oconee Bells" (w/Bobby), "Jocassee Jewel", and "Autumn"

Robert Bowlin - Mandolin on "The Angels' Share", "Whiteside", "Voiceless Forest", "Oconee Bells", "Simple Life", and "Mother Nature Lost Her Balance"

David Johnson - Violin on "The Angels' Share", "Keowee Keeps Callin' Me", "Alone With the Ancients", "Jocassee Jewel", "Winter Wildflower", and "Red Hills & Cotton"

Pete Huttlinger - additional Acoustic Guitar on "Peaceful Eastatoe", "The Monarchs' Mystery", and "Jocassee Jewel" and all Guitar parts on "Keowee Keeps Callin' Me"

Joe Wehunt - Flute on "Oconee Bells"

Guitarboy - additional Acoustic Guitar on "Enchanted Tree" and "Enchanted Tree (revisited)"

Cindy Orr, Lead Vocals on "The Angels' Share"

Stephen Hill, - Lead Vocals on "Voiceless Forest"

Wendy Haley - Lead Vocals on "The Enchanted Tree"

Marty Harrison and Tammy Heard- background vocals on "Simple Life" and "Mother Nature Lost Her Balance"

Melissa Cassel - background vocals on "The Monarchs' Mystery"

Thanks

Many Thanks to the following people for their friendship, their talents and their support of this project: Marty Harrison at Access Bags & Cases; David Hosler, Bob Borbonus, Dena Hickman & everyone at Taylor Guitars; Bil Vorndick for assembling a dream team of Nashville musicians; Ozzie Kotani & Keola Beamer for introducing me to "Hawaiian Slack Key" guitar; Dale Perry, James Warren, Terry Thompson, Roy Davis, Larry Irwin, Buster Phillips, Gene Berger, Lyn Cook, Rudy Wyatt, Randy Burgess, and Jim Campbell.

Randy Mathena, you assembled an incredible team of artists, printers, website designers, and supporting staff. I am forever in your debt.
Special thanks to Dana Irwin & Rob Cassels for your beautiful artwork.
Thanks to all the musicians on this album for their inspiring contributions, and thank you Buddy for bringing these songs to life. (It's been fun, every step of the way.)
Thanks to John Weathers for building a great Bojax website. For a look at my life in the 60s go to: http://flounder62.serverpro2.com/Bojax.htm
Thanks to Koaloha for the beautiful and inspiring ukulele, and again to Ozzie Kotani for introducing me to Paul and all the fine folks at Koaloha.
http://www.koaloha.com/

Thank you Darelyn for you patience, love, support, and ideas for this project.
This record is dedicated to my Mom & Dad (Ruth N. & John D. Holliday Jr.) who taught me to love these mountains.

Crown of the Carolinas - "The Angels' Share"

A musical treasure map honoring the natural beauty of the Western Carolinas.

Laid-back grooves of "fingerstyle" guitars, dobro, mandolin & violin provide the backdrop to lush harmonies with lyrical images of nature at its' finest.
On those days when you're unable to get to your favorite hiking trail, play these songs, close your eyes & you'll get there. It's a musical mini-vacation.

"The Crown of the Carolinas" is absolutely the perfect musical explanation of what our Southern Heritage, lifestyle and great beauty of the South truly is all about. Great music and great players bring to mind many of the beautiful places in our homeland that I had almost forgotten."
Doug Gray (The Marshall Tucker Band)

"Just as in Hawaiian music where there is love for places expressed, I get that same message in the lyrics on your cd - love of the `aina. Love of your land and your home." Ozzie Kotani ("Dancing Cat" Recording Artist)

"Crown of the Carolinas" refers to the many wonderful places in the Carolinas & beyond, rather than referring to the group of musicians. These places, and the treasures they hold, inspired the music, and it is dedicated to them.

"From Ellicott to Blowing Rock
Clingman's Dome to Catalochee
Swannanoa, Sassafras to Shenandoah
And all that's in between
I've heard it's called God's country
Well I don't know if this is where he's from,
But I'll bet if he takes a vacation
This is where he comes."

"The Angels' Share" was a phrase first used by the whiskey makers of Scotland, & later Appalachia. It refers to the tiny essence of whiskey that escapes into the mountain air during the distilling process. The places & things mentioned in this collection are just the Angels' Share of the countless offerings from this area. There are thousands of these treasures, and it's impossible to mention them all, but I hope the Angel's Share will inspire everyone to go out and discover more about this region's special places.

"Blue ridge after blue ridge
I have to stop & stare
And when I think I've seen it all
It's just the Angel's Share"

Listen to an interview with Bobby Holliday that aired on October 17th, 2005 as part of Clemson University Productions' "Your Day" radio program on South Carolina ETV Radio. Click here to listen