Harry "Junior" Sisk is an American guitarist and vocalist in the bluegrass tradition, best known for his work with his band Rambler's Choice. He cites the hard-driving bluegrass of

the Stanley Brothers The Stanley Brothers were an American bluegrass duo of singer-songwriters and musicians, made up of brothers Carter Stanley (August 27, 1925 – December 1, 1966) and Ralph Stanley (February 25, 1927 – June 23, 2016). Ralph and Carter perform ...

as a major influence on his approach to bluegrass music.

Biography

Early years

Sisk was born in Arlington but was raised in

Ferrum, Virginia Ferrum is a census-designated place (CDP) in Franklin County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,043 at the 2010 census, an increase of over fifty percent from the 1,313 reported in 2000. Ferrum is home to Ferrum College and its Blue R ...

. His early interest in music was sparked by his father Harry Sisk Sr., who wrote songs and played guitar, and his mother who sang. When Sisk was 14, his parents gifted him with an upright bass. Sisk began performing in local bands at age 16, first playing bass but eventually switching to guitar. He also played in his family's band Dreamin' Creek with his father and cousins.

Music career

In the early 1990s, Sisk wrote songs made popular by the

Lonesome River Band The Lonesome River Band is an American contemporary bluegrass band. The band has released 15 recording projects since its formation in 1982. Lonesome River Band is led by Sammy Shelor who is a member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame ...

, such as "A Game (I Can't Win)," "My Heart Belongs to You," and "Tears Are Blinding Me." Playing bluegrass every Saturday at Partners II bar in Centreville, Virginia, he met many other bluegrass musicians, such as

Del McCoury Delano Floyd McCoury (born February 1, 1939) is an American bluegrass musician. As leader of the Del McCoury Band, he plays guitar and sings lead vocals along with his two sons, Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury, who play mandolin and banjo respec ...

, the

Johnson Mountain Boys The Johnson Mountain Boys were a popular bluegrass band throughout the 1980s from the Washington, D.C. area. Their style favored a more traditional approach to bluegrass than some of their contemporaries. They released two 45 RPM single record ...

, and the

Bluegrass Cardinals The Bluegrass Cardinals were a Bluegrass band from Los Angeles, California. The group is credited with being the first bluegrass band to record bluegrass gospel in a cappella. Founded in 1974, the Bluegrass Cardinals disbanded in 1997 when foundi ...

. In 1995, Sisk and his cousin songwriter Tim Massey began playing with

Wyatt Rice Wyatt Rice is an American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He is best known for his solo albums and his work in his brother's group the Tony Rice Unit. Biography Rice was born in Long Beach, California but grew up in Florida and other locat ...

and Santa Cruz, which also included Elmer Burchett (banjo) and Ricky Riddle (mandolin). They released the album ''Picture in a Tear'' in 1996. Sisk formed Rambler's Choice in 1998. Besides Sisk, the band included Massey, Elmer Burchett, Jimmy VanCleve, and Allan Perdue. Rambler's Choice released the album ''Sounds of the Mountains'' on

Rounder Records Rounder Records is an independent record label founded in 1970 in Somerville, Massachusetts by Marian Leighton Levy, Ken Irwin, and Bill Nowlin. Focused on American roots music, Rounder's catalogue of more than 3000 titles includes records by Al ...

, but dissolved in 2001. In 2001, Sisk worked with the band Lost and Found, then in 2002, he joined Baucom, Bibey and BlueRidge. BlueRidge toured extensively and recorded three albums, and disbanded in 2006 because Bibey wanted to join Grasstowne. In 2007, Sisk re-formed Rambler's Choice with Massey, Darrell Wilkerson (banjo), Chris Harris (mandolin), and Billy Hawks (fiddle) and in 2008, they released the album ''Blue Side of the Blue Ridge'' on

Rebel Records Rebel Records is an independent American record label based in Charlottesville, Virginia that specializes in bluegrass and old time music. The label was founded in Mount Rainier, Maryland in 1959 by Dick Freeland, Bill Carroll and Sonny Compton. ...

. The album contained original and traditional songs, and was produced by

Ronnie Bowman Ronnie Bowman (born July 9, 1961) is an American singer and composer of bluegrass music. Besides his solo albums, he is known for his work with the Lonesome River Band. Biography Early years A native of Mount Airy, North Carolina, Bowman sang gos ...

. Sisk and Ramblers Choice released ''Heartaches and Dreams'' in 2010, then in 2011 released ''The Heart of a Song'' which contained the popular song "A Far Cry From Lester and Earl" and climbed the bluegrass charts. In 2013, Sisk released the album ''The Story of the Day That I Died'' with Ramblers Choice, and also in 2013, released ''Hall of Fame Bluegrass'', an album of duets with banjoist Joe Mullins. They selected songs from first and second-generation bluegrass artists that have rarely been covered or heard. In 2017, Sisk released the album ''The Mountains Are Calling Me Home'' on the Mountain Fever label. The current lineup of Ramblers Choice includes Sisk, Jason Davis (banjo), Johnathan Dillon (mandolin), Jamie Harper (fiddle), and Kameron Keller (bass). Sisk has also worked with

Ralph Stanley Ralph Edmund Stanley (February 25, 1927 – June 23, 2016) was an American bluegrass artist, known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing. Stanley began playing music in 1946, originally with his older brother Carter Stanley as part of ...

, Dave Evans, and

Awards

In 2012, Sisk won the

International Bluegrass Music Association The International Bluegrass Music Association, or IBMA, is a trade association to promote bluegrass music. Formed in 1985, IBMA established its first headquarters in Owensboro, Kentucky. In 1988 they announced plans to create the International ...

(IBMA) award for Song of the Year for "A Far Cry from Lester and Earl," and he also won Album of the Year for ''The Heart of a Song''. In 2013, he won the IBMA award for Male Vocalist of the Year, and in 2016, he won the award for Recorded Event of the Year for The song "Longneck Blues" (with

). In 2013, Ramblers Choice won the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) Bluegrass Band of the Year award.

Discography

Junior Sisk and Rambler's Choice

* 1998: ''Sounds of the Mountains'' (

Rounder Rounder(s) or The Rounder(s) may refer to: Film and television * ''The Rounders'' (1914 film), a comedy short * ''The Rounder'' (1930 film), a comedy short * ''The Rounders'' (1965 film), a western comedy * ''Rounders'' (film), a 1998 poker f ...

) * 2008: ''Blue Side of the Blue Ridge'' (

Rebel A rebel is a participant in a rebellion. Rebel or rebels may also refer to: People * Rebel (given name) * Rebel (surname) * Patriot (American Revolution), during the American Revolution * American Southerners, as a form of self-identification; s ...

) * 2010: ''Heartaches and Dreams'' (Rebel) * 2011: ''The Heart of a Song'' (Rebel) * 2013: ''The Story of the Day That I Died'' (Rebel) * 2014: ''Trouble Follows Me'' (Rebel) * 2016: ''Poor Boy's Pleasure'' ( Mountain Fever) * 2017: ''The Mountains Are Calling Me Home'' (Mountain Fever)

Wyatt Rice Wyatt Rice is an American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He is best known for his solo albums and his work in his brother's group the Tony Rice Unit. Biography Rice was born in Long Beach, California but grew up in Florida and other locat ...
and Santa Cruz

* 1996: ''Picture in a Tear'' (Rounder)

Lost and Found

* 2002: ''It's About Time'' (Rebel)

BlueRidge

* 2002: ''Come Along With Me'' (Sugar Hill) as Baucom, Bibey & BlueRidge * 2004: ''Side by Side'' (Sugar Hill) * 2006: ''Gettin' Ready'' (Pinecastle)

Junior Sisk and Joe Mullins

* 2013: ''Hall of Fame Bluegrass'' (Rebel)

Junior Sisk

* 2018: ''Brand New Shade of Blue'' (Mountain Fever) * 2020: ''Just Load the Wagon'' (Mountain Fever)

Also appears on

* 1997:

Sammy Shelor Sammy Shelor is an American banjoist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known as leader of the Lonesome River Band and for his solo recordings, music instruction, and session work. Biography Early years The Shelor Family has a long banjo ...

- ''Leading Roll'' (Sugar Hill) * 2009: various artists - ''Born Into Bluegrass: The Songs of Cullen Galyean'' (Mountain Roads) * 2017:

Mac Wiseman Malcolm Bell Wiseman (May 23, 1925 – February 24, 2019) was an American bluegrass and country singer. Early life He was born on May 23, 1925, in Crimora, Virginia. He attended school in New Hope, Virginia, and graduated from high school the ...

- ''I Sang the Song'' ( Mountain Fever)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sisk, Junior 1964 births Living people Songwriters from Virginia Musicians from Virginia American country bass guitarists American country guitarists Bluegrass musicians from Virginia American bluegrass guitarists 20th-century American singers 20th-century American musicians 21st-century American musicians 20th-century American bass guitarists