The Inner Views of Doyle Lawson

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9
Doyle's favorite Bible verse

  I don't ever remember a moment when bluegrass music was not an integral part of my life.  Some of my earliest childhood memories include moments sitting by my Daddy listening to him play his five-string banjo and learning to sing high tenor, honing that high lonesome sound with him and Mom.
 While every, single interview I have conducted for Inner Views has been distinctive and personally memorable to me, I must tell you that the Inner Views I am sharing with you today will forever hold an extraordinarily special place in my heart.  This humble man of God is a legendary giant in the world of bluegrass music and is one of my biggest musical heroes, hands down.  Whether you are a long-time fan or being introduced to him for the first time today, you will be abundantly blessed by reading his Inner Views.  I am deeply humbled and beyond grateful to have met him and for his kindness in taking the time to grant us this interview.  My only regret is that Dad isn't here to cherish this experience with me.



The 

of
Doyle Lawson

Cheryl:  Could you share with us about your childhood?  What are some of your favorite memories to recall from your time growing up?

Doyle:  As far back as I can remember I have loved the sound of music. Radio was the vehicle of entertainment in those days and there was an abundance of local, regional and national programs to listen to. The ones I remember vividly are of course The Grand Ole Opry on WSM in Nashville and The Farm and Fun Time show heard daily on WCYB in Bristol, TN/VA. In the early 1950's my dad and mother along with one of his nephews started singing in churches locally and I loved to watch them work out the harmony parts and I absorbed everything I heard them do.

After hearing Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys on the Opry I was knocked out by Bill's voice and mandolin playing and decided that I was gonna be a picker and singer. In 1948 we moved to Leatherwood, KY when dad went to work for the Blue Diamond Coal Company. I saw my first country music show there when I was 5 years old. Mom had taken us to see a Roy Rogers movie at the Commissary (Company Store) Theater and Jimmie Skinner and his band performed after the movie. I was captivated by the whole thing and the fact that he had a mandolin player (Ray "Curly" Lunsford) was icing on the cake. When I was 11 years old, we were living in Hancock County, TN and dad was singing lead with the Clinch River Quartet and I discovered that one of the men in the quartet (Willis Byrd) had a mandolin and I asked dad to ask Willis if I could borrow it to learn to play. In 1958 I got to meet the man who became my first professional boss in music. Jimmy Martin was from Hancock County and had gone to work for Bill Monroe in 1949 and went on to front his own band The Sunny Mountain Boys in 1954, first teaming up with The Osborne Brothers. On the 3rd day of Feb. 1963 I went to Nashville and auditioned for him to pick the banjo and that started my 55 years and counting music career. I could go on and on with childhood memories, but time and space will not allow it. I suppose at some point in time I'll probably write my book.

Cheryl:  Were you raised in a Christian home?  What are your first recollections about Jesus?  How old were you when you became a Christian?

Doyle:  Yes, I was brought up in a Christian home after my dad rededicated his life in 1950. He and mom along with one of his nephews started singing in church as a trio and later added a bass singer. At the age of 8 during a revival service, I realized that I was lost, and I went to the altar and accepted Jesus as my Savior.

Cheryl:  Who has most influenced you in your walk with the Lord?  Is there a particular person who prayed for you most and whom you credit with being your strongest Christian mentor?

Doyle:  I would venture to say that the many prayers of my parents that went up on my behalf especially after I left home to chase my music dream.  Dad would tell me that many times he had no idea where I was, but he prayed for my safety.

Cheryl:  How has becoming a Christian impacted your music and career?

Doyle:  The music business can be full of worldly trappings and it can be easy to lose your way. And I did for a good while. But on the 1st Sunday of May in 1985 I humbled myself and asked God to take control of my life because I had made a mess of it. On the outside things looked and were going great but inside me I was miserable. I didn't have the one thing I needed most of all and that was God. He never ever left me, I left Him, but He was there when I truly asked for forgiveness. That was the best decision I have ever made as an adult.

Cheryl:  Who has most influenced you, musically?  Who are your musical heroes?

Doyle:  Bill Monroe was my first musical hero and then came the 1st generation of what was to become known as Bluegrass music. Flatt & Scruggs, Mac Wiseman, Jimmy Martin, The Stanley Brothers, Reno and Smiley, and The Osborne Brothers and more.

Gospel music would be The Chuck Wagon Gang, The Statesmen Quartet, The Blackwood Brothers, The Masters Family, The Browns Ferry Four, and local and regional groups.

Cheryl:  How did you become involved with Bluegrass?  What most draws you to this genre of music?

Doyle:  I covered this earlier but will elaborate on what drew me to it. The vocal emotion they sang with as well as the driving tempo used in many of the songs. Of course, Bill's commanding voice and dominant playing along with Earl Scruggs's banjo prowess. It was different than the mainstream country of that time and it was when every one group was trying to present their music in their own way.

Cheryl:  Can you share with us about a special highlight in your career?

Doyle:  Oh my, there are many to draw from, but I suppose the first-time appearance at the Opry with Jimmy Martin was one of the standouts. I had always wanted to go see the Grand Ole Opry and as it turned out the first time I saw it was from the stage.  I was so nervous you could literally see my pants legs shaking. The National Endowment of the Arts Fellowship award is another treasured memory as well as being inducted into the IBMA Hall of Fame in 2012.

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

From left to right:  Eli Johnston, Dustin Pyrtle, Stephen Burwell, Doyle Lawson, Josh Swift, & Joe Dean

Cheryl:  One of the songs of yours that has impacted my family and me the most is “Closer I Must Be."  To this day, I cry each time I hear it, and I would love to know the story behind the song.  How did you come across this song, and what persuaded you to record it?

Doyle:  Dee Gaskin wrote that song and I had the demo for quite a while and finally got it recorded on the Winding Through Life CD. When recording I like for songs to compliment each other and that one certainly had something to say about our desired walk with the Lord.

Closer I Must Be ~ Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Cheryl:  Another of our personal favorites is one you co-wrote with Jamie Dailey, “Just Over In Heaven.”  As a songwriter, how do you find inspiration?  Is there a particular place you like to go to write?

Doyle:  While I have written a number of songs and co-wrote, even more, I have never thought of myself as a writer. I think I am a better song doctor because there are times when I think a song should maybe be more in-depth or take a different approach to the storyline. I think Jamie Dailey and I wrote well as a team. Much of the time he would have a melody and maybe a verse or so and we would start from there. Just Over In Heaven is written and performed much in the style of the Quartet music I listened to as a youngster. I want to be clear in the fact that I never change a writer's song without getting their permission.

Just Over In Heaven ~ Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Cheryl:  If you could go back and change one thing about your life, so far, what would it be?

Doyle:  I wouldn't want to go back and change anything because it could be that I would make it worse the second time. My belief is that when you humble yourself and pray for forgiveness of your transgressions, it's done and one should not beat themselves up and be remorseful of their past mistakes. God forgives and forgets and we should be joyfully accepting of that. And I thank Him for loving His children.

Cheryl:  Of all of the songs you have recorded, is there one that stands out as meaning the most to you?

Doyle:  When I record, be it Gospel or secular, every song on the cd earns its place. I don't record anything just to fill up space. So it's really hard for me to pick a favorite. The people that listen and buy my recordings determine the favorites most of the time. Probably the two most requested Gospel songs are "On The Sea Of Life" and "Help Is On The Way." But there are far more than these two in both Gospel and secular. "Blue Train (of the heartbreak railroad line") is probably the most requested secular and we usually close the show with it.

On The Sea Of Life ~ Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Help Is On The Way ~ Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Blue Train ~ Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Cheryl:  What advice would you give to the person who dreams of becoming a bluegrass musician/singer?

Doyle:  It's not an easy thing to accomplish and one must have what I call the three P's. Practice, Patience, and Perseverance. That applies to any genre of music one undertakes. And remember the first reason to play music is for the love of the music. Money is a necessity but it should be the second reason for what one is doing. In my early days of music, I and most everyone else had day jobs to supplement our income. But the music was first.

Cheryl:  How can we pray for you at this season of life?

Doyle:  My Hope and Prayer is that the way I carry myself in the public eye is pleasing to God and the folks who see me. I appreciate your prayers as well.  Thanks for taking time for me.  Blessings on you and yours.
                                                           

Words are incapable of expressing my deep appreciation and gratitude to Doyle for taking time from his busy schedule to bless us with his presence here.  If you would like to learn more about Doyle Lawson and his band, Quicksilver, or purchase his music, you can find him at www.doylelawson.com and on Facebook, 

From left to right:  Dustin Pyrtle, Stephen Burwell, Eli Johnston, Doyle Lawson, Josh Swift, & Joe Dean

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