Russell Wilson - Trooper Lee

(Crosscut CR-1134) 2002

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A 'solo' album by Russell Wilson, with backing by Sammy Adkins and The Sandy Hook Mountain Boys plus fiddle wizard Michael Cleveland & Denver Jones on banjo / dobro.

Russell Wilson along with this brother Curnie, was the driving force in the The Wilson Brothers, an excellent trad bluegrass act who were influenced by the Stanley Brothers & who likely will appeal to most Stanley fans.

'Trooper Lee' is a solid enough effort, but the material doesn't quite match the standard set by the earlier Wilson Brothers LPs. Russell's tenor vocals are still reminiscent of Ralph Stanley & for the most part blend well with Sammy Adkins' lead vocals.

The Stanley Brothers also get a nod with the version of There Is A Trap, which Carter & Ralph cut in 1961 for the Award Winners At The Folk Song Festival LP. The version here also features dobro.

The Gospel influence is much in evidence with Drop No Tears, Listening For My Name, I Am Weary, He Is Mine, Making Heaven My Home and Who Will Sing For Me, all showcasing Russell's devotional side.

The title cut Trooper Lee is also a fairly amusing song about a Kentucky state policeman.

Also notable is Take A Little Time, which was also later recorded by Fenced In on their debut 2019 CD.

The Wilson Brothers got started in the music business when J.D. Jarvis invited them to step up to the pulpit and sing with him at a local church. J.D. recorded several Gospel albums and Ralph Stanley used to visit with him when he was on the road. Of J.D.'s many songs, Ralph recorded Take Your Shoes Off, Moses and Come On Little Children on his classic Cry From The Cross LP.

The Wilson's spent some time playing with J.D. Jarvis and helped record some of his albums. It was also through him that Ralph first heard them sing at a church in Lawrenceberg, Indiana. Ralph then booked the brothers for his 'Hills Of Home' festival, where they appeared each year from 1978-84 and were included on the 1983 Live At The Old Home Place album.

In total the Wilson Brothers recorded six albums: 'We'll Work 'til Jesus Comes' (Pine Tree) 1971 (reissued (Old Homestead OHS 70044 1981)); Sacred Songs In The Stanley Tradition (Old Homestead OHS-90028) 1974; 'Preach the Word' (with The Bluegrass Harvesters) (Old Homestead OHS-70016) 1977; 'My Ride is Coming' (Old Homestead OHS-70026) 1979; 'Lonesome Old Home' (Vetco LP-516) 1980 (Reissued on CD (Crosscut) 1999; and 'Time to Pray' (Vetco LP-523) 1984.

The Brothers stopped performing in 1984, when Curnie became ill. Russell then became a long standing member of the Cumberland Highlanders TV show, and in 2001 appeared with Ralph (and Curnie) on the Cumberland Mountain Home CD, and made a reunion appearance at Ralph's festival.

In 2005 Russell had a stroke and eventually passed away in 2013.

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