Bell Buckle Records has announced the signing of Indiana’s Branded Bluegrass to the label, with a new single and video arriving with the news.  The band is headed by guitarist and vocalist Larry Norfleet, and has been performing for several years in the central US. A number of their previous releases have found favor with bluegrass fans, including this year’s When Charlie Dreams, whose video was honored by the Telly Awards in June. Clayborn Studios, who filmed and edited the video, and Branded Bluegrass were named as Silver Award winners in the Non-Broadcast division o ..read more

Back in January we premiered the current single from Branded Bluegrass, When Charlie Dreams.  It’s a true story about a true life cowboy, written by David Stewart and Brice Long.  Now the guys have a music video to go along with the track, which finds them performing the song, set against real cowpokes going about their work. When Charlie Dreams is available now in iTunes, and to radio programmers at AirPlay Direct.  True to the central Indiana band’s name, the song carries a cowboy theme. When Charlie Dreams is a true story written by Da ..read more

Branded Bluegrass has released a new single to bluegrass radio in advance of its independent retail release in mid-February.  True to the central Indiana band’s name, the song carries a cowboy theme. When Charlie Dreams is a true story written by David Stewart and Brice Long about a real-life cowpoke, a rough-and-tumble steer wrangler and rodeo writer known to Stewart.  Guitarist and lead singer Larry Norfleet says that the song is a natural for the band.  “When Charlie Dreams is an emotion al tribute song, a true story of a man loved by his community and fam ..read more

Last year was a sad one for fans of the long-running Salt River Bluegrass Festival in Midland, MI. The event was a dream fulfilled for promoter George Carr, who had run it on his property the past 40 years.  But shortly before the July festival in 2018, Carr was suddenly taken ill and he barely made it long enough to attend his last one. His wife Kris, who had assisted with the festival since it began, announced beforehand that it would be the last for everyone, as she couldn’t imagine continuing without him.  George was able to attend last July, but only lived a short time ..read more

It's been a whirlwind week in the holler at #teamWPP headquarters with a bunch of exciting things happening all on the verge of a beautiful Christmas and New Year. It frankly left me speechless and in a great reflection of the gifts we have all been blessed with in this tremendous family of bluegrass music, friends, and family.  I could not be more proud of the bands and band members that have a legion of fans and peers that follow and respect their music and performances so much to write them in for nominations in their categories and I wish them, and all nominees, the best of luck. Here ..read more

Not long ago, Gil Benson, an outstanding fiddle player from the Cincinnati, OH area, took part in a very successful project he recorded with the popular Indiana-based band, Branded Bluegrass. MOST WELCOME, was released in 2016 and has not only received escalated bluegrass radio airplay, a boost in their band following and bookings, but also a series of nine SPBGMA nominations that stemmed from it, for both the album and it’s participating members, including Gil.  Until just recently, Gil had been playing locally with a band close to home and filling in with Branded&nbs ..read more

One of the 43rd Annual SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards most nominated bands this year is BRANDED BLUEGRASS. When Larry Norfleet, lead singer and guitarist for the band answered the phone early on the morning of December 15th, that news was not what he expected to hear. Though he was looking forward to attending SPBGMA, performing some showcases, hanging out with his Wilson Pickins Promotions team, he never imagined he would have such a personal reason to attend the awards show. Well…he still didn’t…he had NINE.  Here is the list of the associated nominations for Branded Blueg ..read more

Wilson Pickins Promotions has been adding bands to its roster like wildfire throughout 2016, creating a lineup of up-and-coming groups whose sound falls mostly in the modern traditional vein. Branded Bluegrass signed on with Wilson Pickins earlier this year, just in time for the release of the band’s second album, Most Welcome. Produced by Clay Hess, the record offers up a mixture of original songs from guitar player Larry Norfleet alongside bluegrass and country covers.  The album opens with one of Larry’s songs, the banjo-heavy Ramblin’ Boy Blues. A working man’s wis ..read more

BRANDED BLUEGRASS  MOST WELCOME  With their second CD, the Kokomo, Ind., group Branded Bluegrass has put together a solid release of 12 cuts, which include four originals by guitarist and lead singer Larry Norfleet. Their sound is based in traditional bluegrass, but they demonstrate the ability to venture off into the progressive realm as well, as evidenced in part by “Mountain Song” (popularized by the Gibson Brothers) and Boudleaux Bryant’s “All I Have To Do Is Dream.” The band is clean and solid, if nt flashy instrumentally, with Larry Norfleet on guitar, Tristen Norfleet on mando ..read more

Wilson Pickins Promotions is excited to announce an endorsement deal with GHS Strings. The “blanket” endorsement will cover all of the artists signed with the Wilson Pickins agency for as long as that relationship exists.  “The GHS Product Development and Artist Reps have been so great to work with,” says Wilson. “They are working with the artists not yet familiar with GHS products to figure out which strings will be the best match for their own personal instruments and sound. This is going to be a very beneficial arrangement for everyone!”  -Melanie Wilson  GH ..read more