When The Seldom Scene started out in 1971, their slightly jam-tinged breed of bluegrass was deemed revolutionary. Takes on classic songs like “City of New Orleans” and “Working on a Building” earned them some of the genre’s first crossover fans. Bluegrass is popular with city boys and front-porch pickers alike, and compared to the Yonder Mountains and String Cheese Incidents of the musical world, five 50-somethings singing gospel bluegrass is no longer nouveau.
That’s the beauty of the Scene. They weathered countless lineup changes and the devastating loss of lead man John Duffey, who passed away in 1996. However, their rich three-part harmonies — complemented by mandolin, dobro, guitar, bass, and banjo — haven’t lost a bit of their authenticity or relaxed nature.
Since the band’s formation, they’ve kept an infrequent performance schedule. Each member makes a point to maintain a regular job. “When I’m not playing I get to listen, so I am in the music business full-time,” says guitarist Dudley Connell, who works at the National Council for Traditional Arts in Washington, D.C. “It takes some of the pressure off when you’re not solely depending on the band for your livelihood. We do have very understanding employers.”
Bassist Ronnie Simpkins is also an archivist, while the only original member, banjo-player Ben Eldridge, has an equally long tenure as a mathematician. Dobro player Fred Travers is a fireman. Mandolinist Lou Reid owns a daycare facility with his wife.
“When we show up to play, we’re all so psyched to be together,” says Connell. “When we go our own ways, it’s a different kind of world completely, whether it’s taking your kid to school or getting the car fixed.”
For one of the most influential groups in bluegrass history, maintaining a normal working life certainly helps keep fame in check, but it also hinders their ability to regularly record. Scenechronized, released earlier this year, was seven years in the making, but resulted in a beautiful album touching on many of their musical influences. —Stratton Lawrence
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