The roots of the bluegrass and gospel music genres intermingle. Late music pioneer Bill Monroe defined bluegrass as “Scottish bagpipes and ole-time fiddlin’. It’s Methodist and Holiness and Baptist.

The Easter Brothers formed in the 1950s and became famous worldwide. Today, only one brother is still living. James is home in Mount Airy and continues to perform and feel blessed.

It was back in 2008 that I first encountered the Stockdale Family Band at a rural farm near Bolivar. Their family life seemed refreshing and idyllic. The four boys were home-schooled by their mother, ...