During the late 1940s and early 1950s, the Sauceman Brothers and the Green Valley Boys were one of the first hillbilly bands to convert to bluegrass. Taking their cues from Bill Monroe and a hot young regional act that was starting to make waves – the Stanley Brothers – Carl and J. P. Sauceman adopted the instrumentation, rhythms, and repertoire of this new musical genre.

They discovered a healthy amount of acceptance for their music when they were headquartered out of Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee. Recordings by the duo appeared on a variety of labels including Rich-R-Tone, Mercury, Republic and Capitol (their early recordings were the subject of a Rounder reissue several years ago) and exposure through live daily radio broadcasts brought a stream of steady bookings.

From 1950 through 1952, the Sauceman’s appeared on the legendary “Farm And Fun Time” program on WCYB in Bristol, Virginia. This was the same station that was home to the Stanley Brothers, Charlie Monroe, the Blue Sky Boys, Flatt and Scruggs, and countless other rural string bands. Through the foresight of Carl Sauceman, several of the group’s performances from this era were saved over the years and now appear as On WCYB Bristol.

The music from these programs is an enjoyable sampling of the Sauceman’s early efforts. As with many bands of the era, their show was comprised of soaring duets, breakdowns, and gospel quartets. Most of the vocals were centered around Carl and J. P. Lending excellent support were musicians who would play vital roles in the evolution of bluegrass; Curley Seckler became a mainstay in Flatt & Scruggs’ Foggy Mountain Boys while Joe Stuart became known for his longevity in Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. Brothers Arvil and Carmen Freeman completed the group.

The package also contains an excellent essay by noted musicologist Jack Tottle (Department of Music and Center for Appalachian Studies – East Tennessee State University). He offers interesting background information on the Sauceman’s and their music, the songs and the sidemen. For consumers who appreciate the sounds from the early days of bluegrass, On WCYB Bristol is certain to be counted as a valued addition to their music libraries.