Few topics in bluegrass generate as much controversy, excitement and heated discussions as CMH Records’ venerable Pickin’ On series. Vilified by some, praised by others, the Pickin’ On albums have endured especially heavy fire from the “Bluegrass Police.” “Bluegrass people will sometimes just write [the series] off,” CMH’s Colonel Jim Silvers, one of the illustrious “Three Tenors of Bluegrass,” raconteur, jack-of-all-trades, and Pickin’ On producer observes. “They say, in the famous words of the bluegrass world . . . ‘that ain’t bluegrass.’”

However, with more than 230 titles; a heavy presence in record stores throughout the country; high visibility on the internet, MTV and CMT; and more than 1.5 million records sold, the line has obviously struck a responsive chord. “Outside of the five big bluegrass bands—Del McCoury, Rhonda Vincent, Nickel Creek, Alison Krauss, and Ricky Skaggs—our Pickin’ On albums are among the biggest sellers in bluegrass,” Jim reports...

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