Larry Stephenson

Thankful Larry Stephenson

'Since 1998, Larry Stephenson has recorded a long string of albums for Pinecastle, a label featuring solid roots music. As one might guess from the title, Thankful, Stephenson and his crack band have chosen to focus on gospel music. To be more specific, Thankful is bluegrass gospel, similar to the work of Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. Stephenson's a traditionalist, and the music here harks back to a time when bluegrass pickers (and gospel singers) worried less about radio programming or the fact that they might sound too country or Southern.