The McPeak Brothers of Wytheville, Virginia have long been recognized as one of the top vocal groups in bluegrass. Ever since their debut in the late 1960s, the trio harmonies of Dewey, Mike, and Larry McPeak have commanded the respect of their peers and adoration of their many fans. Although they are known primarily for their smooth vocal deliveries, they are very competent musicians as well. Dewey plays banjo, Mike plays guitar, and Larry plays electric bass.

The McPeaks gained national attention in the early 1970s when they were discovered by country singer Mel Tillis. He secured a contract for the boys with RCA that resulted in the well-received Bluegrass At Its Peak. Several additional albums followed on the County and Rebel labels. This period of their career produced some of their most memorable recordings including “Shelly’s Winter Love,” “Simon Crutchfield’s Grave,” and the poignant Civil War ballad “The Last Time.”

It’s been twenty-five years since the McPeak Brothers first made their mark in bluegrass and they stand today reinvigorated by a strong second wind that leaves them sounding fresh and vibrant as ever. A strong desire of the group over the years has been to produce a collection of gospel recordings. At long last their wish has been fulfilled.

Pathway To Heaven is a very personal statement for the group. As a writer, bass player Larry McPeak has supplied songs to a variety of groups including the Country Gentlemen and Virginia Squires. Amazingly, he provides a total of eight originals to this new project. The remaining tracks could be classified as bluegrass gospel standards. “Where We’ll Never Grow Old” has appeared in numerous shape-note hymnals in the south over the last sixty-five years and has been recorded by groups such as the Carter Family and the Stanley Brothers. “House Of Gold” is best remembered as a Hank Williams’ classic from the late 1940s while Carl Story popularized “A Light At The River” in the early 1950s.

The newest member of the McPeak Brothers band is talented multi-instrumentalist Rick Allred. Rick played with Country Gentlemen for several years in the early 1980s and was later a founding member of Summer Wages, a popular contemporary band that released three albums for Rebel in the middle and late 1980s. On Pathway To Heaven, Rick supplies tasteful instrumental backing on a variety of instruments including mandolin, lead guitar, and dobro. Also adding excellent fiddle work to several tracks is North Carolina musician Tim Smith, a respected session player and a former member of the Bluegrass Cardinals.