MP3 Carl Towns & the Remnant - Songs From My Childhood, Vol. 1
Positive Bluegrass from the Northwest Georgia Mountains to the depths of your soul.
10 MP3 Songs in this album (36:37) !
Related styles: COUNTRY: Bluegrass, SPIRITUAL: Traditional Gospel
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Details:
Carl was born in Guntersville, AL, shortly after the family moved to Lookout Mountain Georgia, where Carl was raised.
The third child of Joe and Polly Towns, who were members of the Southern Strangers and later, The Lookout Mountain Quartet, Carl grew up listening to his mother and dad sing the old hymns intertwined with Bluegrass and the old country. If anyone was country when country wasn''t cool, Carl definitely fit the bill. He was ridiculed for bringing a "Truck Drivin'' Son of Gun " album to school for "music day". But that was Carl''s raising, he had heard it from the time he was in his mothers womb and it became instilled in his very being.
As Carl grew, his talents did as well. He first picked up a mandolin at the age of 10, but laid it back down after only few months, disinterested. At 14 Carl began learning the Bass, his hunger to learn all things music led him to learn the guitar shortly thereafter, and at age 18, he returned to his first love, the Mandolin.
Carl''s singing abilities were first discovered at the early age of of 3, he first began to sing with his family in churches. By 6 he was leading and singing harmony. Carl''s talents continued to be nurtured as the family joined with Jackie Tinker to form "The Bluegrass Harmoneers" which officially began in 1983. This group would change members only one time in their 15+ year history together, touring much of the Southeast and parts of the Northeastern United States. The Bluegrass Harmoneers also hosted Dillard''s Music Park in Rome, GA for several seasons until that festival was discontinued. Many bands crossed the stage at Dillard''s and Carl learned from each one of them.
Carl left the group in 1998 after he signed with an independent label and toured Sweden, Denmark and Austria for three months in that summer as a Country Music artist. When Carl returned to the states, he returned to Bluegrass, and has never strayed since.
Upon his return, Carl ventured out with his mother, dad and some friends in a group known as Cherokee Wind who were on the go for a while until Carl''s mother got sick. During her illness, Carl continued to play with other groups, but when his Mother passed away in 2006. The music within him seemed to have died as well...for a time. 2 years before her passing, Carl was being blessed with songs of a different nature, a different feel and sound, which lay silent for some time.
Those songs have awakened as Carl''s faith has kept him on solid ground. Carl was called to carry out the message and a ministry blessed by the Father. This ministry is what you see now: Carl Towns & The Remnant. Positively Bluegrass!
Carl has opened...and closed for many of the top artists in Bluegrass: Allison Krauss, Ralph Stanley, Rhonda Vincent, The Osborne Bros., Jim and Jesse, Charlie Louvin and countless others. This experience and the influences of these artists and more brought about the sound that you will hear Carl portray, from traditional to more modern styles of Bluegrass. It''s positive bluegrass from the Northwest Georgia mountains to the depths of your soul!
"Songs From My Childhood" has been in the works for several years. Carl decided to release as his first project, songs which he grew up with. Starting with songs that influenced his music today. This CD features one original song, "See Ye First" which Carl''s mother, Polly Towns wrote and sang with his dad. Though the song was never written down by his mother, he kept those words in his heart through the years and remembered the majority, tho he had to write the second verse.
Most of the music on the project was played and sang by Carl himself with the exception of a few. Ben Hayes is featured on the finger-style guitar and Carl''s Dad, Joe is heard playing the banjo, even at 76 years of age. It was a great joy for Carl to be able to include his dad on another recording!
The project is Dedicated to Carl''s Mother, Polly who passed away in October 2006. Carl credits his mother for his singing and writing ability which she nurtured and taught him from an early age.
The song "Rock of Ages" is dedicated to Rob Mashburn, who performed with the Pinnacle boys for several years then ventured out on his own. Rob performed Rock of Ages on stage many times with that strong and gentle voice. Carl credits Rob Mashburn with teaching him some of his "musical awareness" and chops.
Most of all, "I thank my Father, the God of Israel for giving me this talent and this opportunity and hope that one of these songs will inspire, embrace and encourage you in your walk with the Father. God Bless!" - Carl Towns