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Goldstarman - Posted - 11/17/2009: 16:49:25
Interesting question, It would have been cool to see him and Lester hook up. Him playing Lesters songs and Lester singing His.
"Aint" aint a word
robbif - Posted - 11/17/2009: 17:00:22
New Paltz, NY 1974
David Ward - Posted - 11/17/2009: 19:06:10
That is a great picture!
"Blue Country Bluegrass"
larry p - Posted - 11/17/2009: 20:06:01
Bill Harrell was one of my very favorite singers- in my mind he was not only gifted with an awesome, unique voice, but his pitch, phrasing, and sense of timing was impeccable. I can easily see why Don Reno, being the incredible artist he was, would have loved working with Bill. Working with a great singer/songwriter is incredibly inspiring for a musician; as their moods change and interpretations of the songs they sing evolves, musicians can find themselves 'stretching out', finding fresh ways to approach a melody and accompaniment.Their partnership brought lots of great music to the world. Bill attracted lots of great musicians over the years-Bobby Lundy for one sounded great with him on banjo after Don's passing..
Larry Perkins
www.larryperkins.net
f5loar - Posted - 11/17/2009: 22:44:22
I think the question should be asked as to why Red Smiley picked David Deese as Reno's replacement? Deese didn't sing lead or tenor.
Tom Isenhour
rexhunt - Posted - 11/18/2009: 09:07:24
Don and Bill got together before Red passed on and Red actually re-joined the band briefly before he died. We opened a show with them in New York years ago. I've got a vivid memory of Bill pushing Red up the steps to the stage. I think they joined up because Bill had the same smooth style as Red and I beleive they were both living in the same area around DC too.
Rex
The Old Timer - Posted - 11/18/2009: 17:34:38
Don announced his new partnership with Benny Martin in 1965 when Flatt was still with Scruggs. Reno & Martin didn't last... Sid Campbell was their guitar man.
Don was with Bill in 1966, I saw them in Ellsworth Maine of all places. They were EXPLOSIVE. Young Jerry McCoury on bass. Bill was as far from Red's smooth relaxed guitar style as possible, he was gunnin' it all the time. He picked leads just like Don also. (No knock on Red, I think he was great!)
All long before F&S split up in 1969.
Perhaps Don encountered Bill on Washington area tv with Buck Ryan and Smitty with Jimmy Dean? I would like to know, I'm just guessing. Hopefully someone will report.
Banjocoltrane - Posted - 11/18/2009: 17:42:41
He chose Bill for his good looks 
The Old Timer - Posted - 11/18/2009: 17:44:42
The Lewis Family once followed Bill Harrell on stage at a festival, and Li'l Roy said if his old maid sister Miggie married Bill Harrell, their baby would look like a monkey! Talk about cruel!
Edited by - The Old Timer on 11/19/2009 12:50:54
SandyR - Posted - 11/19/2009: 00:15:25
Not only was "The Henry Kissinger of Bluegrass" an agile singer and good songwriter, he possessed an athletic right wrist and played loose and smooth—qualities Don, as a master guitarist, undoubtedly enjoyed listening to and picking with.
flange5st - Posted - 11/19/2009: 05:21:01
......all we can do is speculate but I'd imagine that Bill Harrell had the network/contacts that helped Don get his music away from the mid-Atlantic states....I believe that he said in an interview that with Red's health the way it was, and him not wanting to venture too far away from home, Don needed some one who wanted to play "big-time" professional....and he couldn't got a better person than Bill Harrell...IMHO.....Bill had a smooth country/cosmopolitian voice, played great guitar, and his voice blended well with Don's unique tenor.....the ultimate group will always be the Reno/Smiley configuration but the Reno/Harrell does not take a back seat to it.....it was somthing unique to its own self and good to listen to....I'd recommend finding a copy of the "All the Way to Reno" album and you can hear the Reno/Harrell music at it's best....peace
lethegoodtimesroll - Posted - 11/19/2009: 17:42:30
Harrell is a Great singer and musician and did all the booking.
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