Billy Strings - Europe 2023

Billy Strings
MeAndDad

As long as I can remember I wanted to make a record with my dad, Billy Strings says, his dad, Terry Barber, seated next to him. Ive been burning up and down the highways the last 12 years, and as time slips away, you start thinking, I need to make time. Its been a bucket list thing for me, something Ive been afraid I wouldnt find the time to do. And that scared me; not doing this record scared me.

That dream of coming together to make a proper studio album is finally realized with MeAndDadout November 18 on Rounder Records. Its a collection of 14 classics that Billy and Terry know like the back of their hands, from Doc Watson and Bill Monroe songs to hymns and traditional classics. It's the music that literally and figuratively made Billy the musician and human he is today with the finished album representing a lifelong goal finally achieved: a way for the Grammy-winning musician to honor the man who taught him how to play guitar.

Earlier this year, in the midst of his seemingly nonstop touring schedule, Billy brought his father from their native Michigan to Nashvilles Sound Emporium studios, along with an all-star band including bassist Mike Bub, mandolinist Ron McCoury, banjo player Rob McCoury, and fiddler Michael Cleveland. Jerry Douglas and Jason Carter sat in too.

Terry arrived with his cherished Martin acoustic, the guitar he played when Billy was just a boy and then pawned to financially support his family. When the guitar was sold, Terry thought it was lost forever until Billy, who refers to it as the family jewel, located it online and reunited the instrument with its original owner.

Ive never been so dumbstruck in my life, Terry says. It was like bringing my mother out of the grave.

Its the sound of that guitar, mixed with Billys own playing on a series of Martins, that propels MeAndDad. Over its 14 tracks, father and son trade licks, vocals, and memories. On some songs, like the traditional Long Journey Home and Monroes I Havent Seen Mary in Years, Billy sings lead. On others, like the hymn Wandering Boy and the staple Little White Church, its all Terry. The decision of who would sing was hardly a decision at all, according to Billy.

Weve done these songs forever. We get to the part where someone has to sing and well look at each other: You or me? Weve been doing it since I was 3 years old, he says, turning to Terry. I cant play with anyone like I can play with you.

And I cant either, Terry replies. Ive tried, and forget about it.

While that unspoken father-son bond is the through line of the record, MeAndDad is a true family album. Billys mother, Debra, lends her voice to the records final song, I Heard My Mother Weeping. I remember him and my mom singing it when I was a kid so beautifully. I knew it was always going to be the last song on the record, Billy says. Thats me and my mom and dad. Just us three.

Terry smiles at the mention of his wife. He remembers vividly watching BillyBoomer he nicknamed himstrum a guitar as a child and hollering for Debra to come watch. He was in his high chair with his little plastic guitar and I said, Debbie! We got a star here!

All those years ago, Terry was right. Since releasing his debut solo album, Turmoil and Tinfoil, in 2017, Billy Strings has gone on to make an indelible mark on the world of musicbluegrass and well beyond.

He's been awarded Best Bluegrass Album at the 63rd GRAMMY Awards, Artist of the Year at 2022s Americana Music Awards, Entertainer of the Year and Song of the Year at the 2022 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, Best New Headliner (all genre) at the 2022 Pollstar Awards, Breakthrough Artist of the Pandemic (all genre) at the 2021 Pollstar Awards, named Entertainer of the Year and Guitar Player of the Year at the 2021 International Bluegrass Music Awards along with countless sold out concerts and direct to headline sets at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, JazzFest, etc. A respected figure across all genres, Strings has collaborated with a wide variety of artists.

Billy respects those accolades and albums but says MeAndDad is the cornerstone. When asked where it fits in his catalog, he thinks for a minute and says, At the bottom.

Its the foundation, Billy says. Everything else is sprinkled on top. You cant get more back- to-your-roots than this.