When It’s Time For the Whippoorwill To Sing
Billy Blue Records today released “When It’s Time for the Whippoorwill to Sing,” the first single from A Century of Strings, Stories & Songs: A Tribute to The Delmore Brothers. Originally a Top 3 hit on Billboard’s Hillbilly chart in 1941, the song is newly recorded by bluegrass legend Doyle Lawson and producer Jerry Salley, launching a centennial celebration of the pioneering duo whose songs and harmonies helped shape the sound of country, bluegrass, folk, and American roots music for generations.
“When I was asked by the Athens State University Foundation to produce a tribute album to The Delmore Brothers, Doyle Lawson was the first artist I asked to sing on it. He is a lifelong Delmore Brothers fan, and I have always wanted to sing tenor to Doyle’s legendary voice. ‘When It’s Time for the Whippoorwill to Sing’ was one that we have both always loved, so we chose that one for our song. It was such an honor to record this with him,” says Salley.
“I’ve been a Delmore Brothers fan for longer than I remember, and it’s an honor for me to sing ‘When It’s Time for the Whippoorwill to Sing’ with Jerry,” adds Lawson. “It’s a special song and it thrills me to know it’s the track that’ll be kicking off the release of this very special album.”
A Century of Strings, Stories & Songs: A Tribute to The Delmore Brothers
track listing, and featured artists, is below:
1. “Honey, I’m Ramblin’ Away” (2:56) – Junior Sisk & Don Rigsby
2. “I’ve Got the Big River Blues” (3:05) – Marty Raybon & Jimmy Fortune
3. “When It’s Time for the Whippoorwill to Sing” (3:21) – Doyle Lawson & Jerry Salley
4. “Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar” (3:11) – Trey Hensley & Del McCoury
5. “Put Me on the Trail to Carolina” (3:28) – The Malpass Brothers
6. “Brown’s Ferry Blues” (3:14) – The SteelDrivers
7. “Will You Be Lonesome Too?” (3:45) – The Grascals (feat. Charlie McCoy)
8. “Field Hand Man” (3:21) – Wood Box Heroes
9. “Hillbilly Boogie” (2:59) – Alex Miller & Carson Peters
10. “The Fugitive’s Lament” (3:23) – Riders in the Sky
11. “Blue Railroad Train” (3:32) – Bradley Walker & Ricky Skaggs
12. “Life’s Too Short” (3:36) – The Gibson Brothers
13. “Blues Stay Away from Me” (3:19) – Chris Jones & The Night Drivers
14. “Bound For The Shore” (2:41) – Appalachian Road Show
15. “Sweet, Sweet Thing” (3:05) – Darin and Brooke Aldridge (feat. Charlie McCoy)
Of the album, available everywhere on October 1, Salley says, “The Delmore Brothers are a national treasure whose songs, harmonies, musicianship, and pioneering spirit helped shape the very foundation of American roots music. Their influence can be heard in generations of artists who followed, including Woody Guthrie, Bill Monroe, The Everly Brothers, The Louvin Brothers, Merle Travis, Doc Watson, Bob Dylan, Jim & Jesse, The Osborne Brothers, The Band, and, more recently, Billy Strings.
Their timeless songs have also been embraced by artists across genres, from Merle Haggard, B.B. King, Asleep at the Wheel, Red Foley, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, and Vince Gill to countless others who have carried the Delmore’s music to new audiences. One hundred years after Alton and Rabon Delmore first began making music together, their influence remains as strong as ever, and this album is a celebration of their extraordinary contribution to American music.”
Dr. Keith Ferguson, Vice President of University Advancement, Athens State University, whose Foundation executive produced the album, says, “With A Century of Strings, Stories & Songs: A Tribute to The Delmore Brothers, we set out to honor a musical legacy that continues to inspire artists across country, bluegrass, folk, Americana, and beyond. The incredible performances on this album are a testament to the enduring power of the Delmores’ songwriting and the profound mark they left on American music. One hundred years after Alton and Rabon first began performing together, their influence remains as strong as ever and as caretakers of the Delmore Brother’s legacy, it has been a privilege to help celebrate their extraordinary contribution to our musical heritage.”
Debby Delmore, Alton Delmore’s youngest daughter, says, “I’m honored that my father and uncle’s music will be shared again through this special project. We are so proud of the legacy they left behind, and we thank the Athens State University Foundation, Jerry Salley, Billy Blue Records, and all the artists who contributed their voices and musicianship to this album. We are excited for the world to hear it.”