Louie Setzer and The Appalachian Mountain Boys

Bluegrass Music has been a part of our culture for six decades and has produced a relatively small number of masters of the art form. Pickers and singers such as Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, and the Stanley Brothers instantly come to mind. Louie Setzer must be included in this elite group.

One has only to listen to a few tunes from Louie and the Boys to realize that this is the real thing: genuine bluegrass from Louie's heart and soul. He would have it no other way. Like most of us, Louie has had his good times, but life can take some sharp turns. Consequently, Louie Setzer has allowed his diverse experiences to sharpen his perception and understanding of our human existence.

What this means for you and me is that we get to hear bluegrass as it was meant to be heard. Louie projects the sharp edge of a true and talented bluegrass master who has taken the time to learn his craft well. One can sense the raw presence of the late Vern William's in his voice, and the soul-that-cries-out that was so evident in Charlie Moore's songs...and, of course, as Don Kissel from Pickin' Magazine once pointed out, no one does a Louie Setzer tune better than Jimmy Martin. While that's a bit of tongue-in-cheek, you can see why Louie's talent is so admired.

Louie was the primary founder of the Appalachian Fiddle and Bluegrass Association (AFBA) in1973, which is the organization that owns and controls Mountain View Park in Wind Gap, PA. Please enjoy Louie's genuine bluegrass material; keep a CD in your vehicle and another at home, and give a copy to a friend. The next time Louie is scheduled to perform, be sure to be in the audience! His musical interpretation is the same on stage as it is on record. And be sure to say howdy to Louie and the Boys; nowhere will you find a better expression of the spirit of bluegrass or friendlier musicians making it happen.

                                      -- Mr. Richard Evans

                                          www.wdvrfm.org