Herschel Sizemore


Herschel Sizemore is an American mandolinist in the bluegrass tradition.

Biography

Early years

Sizemore was raised in Leighton, Alabama, near Muscle Shoals. When he was age eight, Sizemore's parents took him to see a performance by Bill Monroe at the Grand Ole Opry.

Music career

The first portion of Sizemore's career was spent playing in established bluegrass bands. From 1957 until 1965, Sizemore played with the Dixie Gentlemen with Jake Landers and Rual Yarbrough.
In 1971, the Dixie Gentlemen reunited for a period of time.
Sizemore was a member of The Boys from Shiloh in 1966, along with Bobby Smith, Rual Yarbrough, Charlie Nixon, and Johnny Montgomery. Sizemore then played with Jimmy Martin from 1967 until 1968.
From 1968 until 1974, Sizemore played with the Shenandoah Cut-Ups, trading solos with fiddler Tater Tate and flatpicker Wesley Golding.
Sizemore, Wesley Golding, and Tom McKinney left the Shenandoah Cut-Ups to form Country Grass, which lasted from 1974 until 1976. Other members included Tom Gray, Ricky Skaggs, and Ronnie Bucke. Sizemore was also one of Del McCoury's Dixie Pals from 1978 until 1979. Other Pals included Jerry McCoury, Dick Smith, and the late Sonny Miller. The Dixie Pals reunited at a 2012 benefit concert for Sizemore.
Sizemore was a member of the Bluegrass Cardinals from 1991 until 1995.

Solo recordings

In 1995, Sizemore formed the Herschel Sizemore Band. His first solo album Bounce Away" was released in 1979, and in 2000, Sizemore released the album My Style on Hay Holler with Jim Haley, Terry Baucom, and Eddie Biggerstaff and Ron Stewart.
In 2009, Sizemore released the album B-Natural'' with Terry Baucom, Jimmy Haley, Ron Stewart, ,and Alan Bibey.

Mandolin in B

Sizemore and his wife Joyce were both diagnosed with cancer on the same day in fall 2011. On February 19th 2012, a benefit concert for the Sizemored was staged in Roanoke, Virginia. The documentary film Mandolin in B focused on Sizemore's life and music. The film was directed by Rick Bowman and released by Backyard Green Films.

Songwriting

Sizemore's best-known composition is the mandolin instrumental "Rebecca," named after his mother. It has been covered by several other artists.

Awards

In 2011, Siizemore was inducted into the Alabama Bluegrass Hall of Fame.

Discography

Solo albums