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     The Bluegrass Yearbook is intended as both a reference and a keepsake for fans, as well as a forum for the various performers to reach out to and communicate with their supporters. Bluegrass observer Bob Donaghey of Pelham, North Carolina says he's changed his perspective on bluegrass music 180 degrees since he began interviewing and collecting stories for the upcoming book. He felt a need to give the bluegrass festival attendees a sort of "field book" that would be like " the book that bird watchers use when they want to know a little more about an unfamiliar bird."

   Donaghey discovered that many of the performers are simple people with simple backgrounds, and that they sounded remarkably alike until he started interviewing and adding some of the more colorful "personal" stories. "Obviously, there are some stories that can't be used, like the one about a record company owner who burned down his studio in order to collect enough insurance money to do his next record. He forgot that he had locked a rather famous fiddler in the bathroom earlier to sober up. Another fiddler broke down the door in time for him to jump out a window before flames got to him."

   "There were many classy bluegrass performers and various hillbillies who had flare and showmanship, but not much in their pockets. Rose Maddox traveled 'hobo style' occasionally on the railroad to get from on gig to another. She died last year at age 71 before I could get a chance to talk with her. Donna Stoneman of the legendary bluegrass Stoneman family told me that she played mandolin on 'The Old Rugged Cross' for Rose when she recorded it years ago. I loved talking with her and hearing her bluegrass memories. She sent me some of her music that is priceless to me. Those are the stories that give the bluegrass artist the character that makes the music so interesting."

A free bluegrass CD sampler will be included with the book as an introductory offer featuring several artists from the major bluegrass labels.