Herschel Lee Sizemore (1935 – 2022) was an American mandolinist in the bluegrass tradition,
probably because, when he was 8, his parents took him to see Bill Monroe at the Grand Ole
Opry. The documentary film Mandolin in B focused on Sizemore's life and music.
He played with a host of bands: the Dixie Gentlemen, Boys from Shiloh, Jimmy Martin,
Shenandoah Cut-Ups, Country Grass, Dixie Pals, and Bluegrass Cardinals. In 1995, Sizemore
formed the Herschel Sizemore Band. His first solo album Bounce Away was released in 1979
and included Rebecca. Here’s his Rebecca story, much of it from Mandolin in B:
“I was getting ready to record my first solo album, Bounce Away, and had about two weeks to
come up with some more original material. I was sitting here in my living room one evening and
all of a sudden I could hear this tune in my head and I started playing it and I thought that’s not
a breakdown or anything, what is it? Now, my mother, Rebecca, was an old-time guitar player
and I thought I needed to name that tune after my mother because it’s unusual in that way.”
There is something different about Rebecca. A few measures in both A and B parts have three
beats instead of four, and there’s a kind of half crosspicking pattern in it. Still, it sounds simple.
People generally don’t notice the crookedness. You can whistle it.
On this cut, John Relph displays his masterful Mandolin expertise. John has played mandolin
and guitar since a boy. He plays Old Time fiddle tunes, Celtic tunes, Newgrass, Bluegrass,
Classical, Texas swing, Jazz, Blues and Rock. He is a past California State picking champion
on both mandolin and guitar and at one time was one of the top accompanists at fiddle contests
out West. He was a member of a number of Bluegrass bands in the San Francisco area.
Rattlesnake Hill musicians:
Carolyn Kellock Bass
John Relph Mandolin
Terry Wittenberg Banjo
Ed Schaeffer Guitar
To listen, click: http://rattlesnakehill.org/Web_Music/edsmusic.html
Ed
