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Home Remedy was originally started by Chuck Rice, James Moores, and Willie McCraney in 1985 after the band the three of them had been in had broken up and each of them wanted to keep making music. With Chuck on bass, James on banjo and dobro, and Willie on guitar, they met every week in an old cabin at a Boy Scout camp and worked on building a repertoire of primarily traditional bluegrass tunes interlaced with modern tunes done in a bluegrass style and, more unusually, western tunes that were not generally heard in a bluegrass setting. After some months of tightening their harmonies and honing their set lists they came out and started playing at festivals, private parties and any other venue they could get. They were received very well and started building a fan base that, interestingly enough, were particularly partial to the western music. Songs like "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" became their signature and were the most requested tunes on their play lists.
While playing a gig at a small festival in Millbrook, Alabama, they were approached by a young man with a fiddle who just wanted to jam. Richie Moore blew them away with his awesome fiddling and they quickly asked him to join the band. He agreed and brought a whole new dimension to the band. Several years later Willie took a time out and Richie took on the guitar duties until Andy Darby joined the band with his awesome guitar styling’s at which point Richie went back to playing the fiddle.
When Andy left to pursue other opportunities an old friend and former picking partner, Perry McCain, stepped into the guitar slot and shortly thereafter Willie McCraney returned to play mandolin with the group. This was the period when the band was at its largest with five members. Richie bowed out some time later and, after a period of time, Willie left the group and Chuck, James and Perry were looking to add another member. At that time Tommy Johnson was invited to bring his mandolin and join the group. After a great run with the band Tommy found that he needed more time to spend with his business and family and so he decided to leave the group. And that leaves Chuck Rice on bass, James Moores on banjo and dobro, and Perry McCain on guitar. The true strength of the group is in the strong vocals that take advantage of the great singing abilities of each of the members. Now more concentrated on traditional and contemporary bluegrass songs with a sprinkling of other genres their up tempo selections are balanced with slower ballads and a generous number of gospel offerings.
If you get a chance to see Home Remedy you won't be disappointed. Make plans to see then at the next opportunity. |
