Hopes and Dreams by The Linville Ridge Band

Growing up here in western North Carolina, we have also been influenced by the music of Flatt & Scruggs, The Stanley Brothers and their band mates George and John Shuffler, and other musical heroes, some of whom happen to be neighbors and friends.

David Wiseman has joined The Linville Ridge Band and brings a wealth of mandolin playing and wonderful tenor and lead singing. David sings lead on Pete Goble's "Back to Dixie" and on the song "I'd Rather Die Young." His tenor soars on the remainder of the cuts with the exception of "The Grave Could Not Hold Him" and "When Uncle Came Home From the War." David also does a wonderful job playing fiddle on "Old Joe Clark."

Perry Woodie handles banjo and dobro duties and sings "The Grave Could Not Hold Him," "Never Again," and his own composition, "I've Lost the Will to Try." In choruses of other songs, Perry can be found singing lead or baritone parts, with the exception of "The Grave Could Not Hold Him," where Perry sings the tenor line on the chorus.

Mike Ramsey sings lead on two of his own original songs. "Lift Him Up" is a Gospel tune resurrected from the recordings of Damascus Road. Mike gets to sing a duet with his son, Aaron, on

"When Uncle Came Home From the War." This song tells the story of Mike's great uncle, Louis Ramsey, a World War II veteran, who still resides in Rutherford College, North Carolina.

Aaron Ramsey has moved to the guitar since the last recording of The Linville Ridge Band. His mandolin can be heard on the above mentioned song about Louis Ramsey, along with dobro work, on that song, as well. On this recording, Aaron steps forth to sing lead on three cuts: "Why He Went to Calvary," "Time is a Healer," (both Perry Woodie songs) and a song from the catalog of John Denver, "River of Love." Aaron also contributes baritone parts to most of the rest of the recording.

One highlight for this record is to include our friend, neighbor and hero, Herb Lambert of Glen Alpine, North Carolina. Years ago a couple of young upstarts by the names of Grisman and Bush would pick Herb's brain when they would encounter him at some of the contests held here in North Carolina. Herb has also been a friend and mentor to Dempsey Young of The Lost and Found. We were thrilled to get Herb to help us record the instrumental, "Old Joe Clark." That cut was recorded live into a stereo microphone with no overdubs. It is our hope that, through this recording, others will get to experience and appreciate Herb's continued zeal and excitement for this music as he now approaches his 80th birthday, as well as his abilities on mandolin.

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