A Real Mando Mama

Last week I picked up the new Cherryholmes release, Black and White, from Skaggs Family Records. This is such a terrific band. And they've come a long way on this second album, which really shows off the musicianship and the songwriting within this unique bluegrass family band with a young, high-driving sound. Their live performances are absolutely riveting, possibly because the kids are just musically years ahead of their chronological age, and, possibly because there's no pressure like playing with your parents on stage with you.

As I've written before on this blog, I can't imagine what it would be like to head up a family like this. Sandy Lee Cherryholmes writes songs, homeschools her four kids, makes all their costumes, and of course does most everything any working mother and wife does. One of my favorite tracks on this new album is "My True Love" which Sandy wrote and which she sings.

It's plain and pretty, harkening back to mountain modality by ending the first half of each verse on the minor tonic. The sweet and simple lyric is the kind of thing a group of sisters might sing while hanging laundry.

Sandy Cherryholmes has an interesting life, one I'm sure she would probably not trade for anything, as busy and exhausting as it must be. I am so looking forward to seeing the whole family perform again in just over a week at IBMA. If you haven't heard Cherryholmes, this album is a great invitation to start. Give "My True Love" a listen here, and see what you think of the other tracks, including another great tune Cia Leigh (move over Earl Scruggs) Cherryholmes performs with Ricky Skaggs and songwriter Sonja Isaacs, titled Black and White.