Herschel Lee Sizemore (August 6, 1935 – September 9, 2022) was 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.[1]
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.[2][3]
In 1971, the Dixie Gentlemen reunited for a period of time.[4]
Sizemore was a member of The Boys from Shiloh in 1966, along with Bobby Smith (lead vocal, guitar), Rual Yarbrough (baritone vocal, banjo), Charlie Nixon (resonator guitar), and Johnny Montgomery (bass). Sizemore then played with Jimmy Martin from 1967 until 1968.[5]
From 1968 until 1974, Sizemore played with the Shenandoah Cut-Ups, trading solos with fiddler Tater Tate and flatpicker Wesley Golding.[6]
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 (bass, vocals), Ricky Skaggs (fiddle), and Ronnie Bucke (drums). Sizemore was also one of Del McCoury's Dixie Pals from 1978 until 1979. Other Pals included Jerry McCoury (upright bass), Dick Smith (banjo), and the late Sonny Miller (fiddle). The Dixie Pals (with Mike Hargrove) reunited at a 2012 benefit concert for Sizemore.[7][8]
In 1995, Sizemore formed the Herschel Sizemore Band. His first solo album Bounce Awa was released in 1979, and in 2000, Sizemore released the album My Style on Hay Holler with Jim Haley (guitar), Terry Baucom (banjo), and Eddie Biggerstaff and Ron Stewart (fiddle).[11][12]
In 2009, Sizemore released the album B-Natural with Terry Baucom (banjo), Jimmy Haley (guitar), Ron Stewart (fiddle), (Mike Bub) (bass),and Alan Bibey (guitar, mandolin).[13]
Mandolin in B
Sizemore and his wife Joyce were both diagnosed with cancer on the same day in fall 2011. On February 19, 2012, a benefit concert for the Sizemores 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.[14][15]
Songwriting
Sizemore's best-known composition is the mandolin instrumental "Rebecca," named after his mother. It has been covered by several other artists.[16]
Personal life and death
Sizemore died on September 9, 2022, at the age of 87.[17]
Awards
In 2011, Sizemore was inducted into the Alabama Bluegrass Hall of Fame.[1]
Discography
Solo albums
1979: Bounce Away (County) listed on the album as "Hershel Sizemore"
1993: Back in Business (Hay Holler)
2000: My Style (Hay Holler)
2009: B-natural (self-released)
Jake Landers and Herschel Sizemore
2013: For Old Times Sake (B Sharp)
The Blue Ridge Mountain Boys
1963: Blue Grass Back Home (Time)
1963: Hootenanny N' Blue Grass (Time)
Shenandoah Valley Quartet
1970: Shenandoah Valley Quartet with Jim Eanes (County)
The Shenandoah Cut-Ups
1971: Bluegrass Autumn (Revonah)
1971: Plant Grass (In Your Ear) (MRC)
1971: Curly Seckler Sings Again (County) recorded with the Shenandoah Cut-Ups
