The Nashville Bluegrass Band initially made a name for themselves by teasing out the black gospel strain of bluegrass, and emphasizing it in their repertoire.
Additionally, they were (and are) virtuoso players squarely in in the Monroe tradition while adding their own innovations. What's more, they synthesized technical brilliance with soulful harmonies and bluesy leads in their vocal style.
With To Be His Child, all this combined for a brilliant record that's still influential in bluegrass circles today. The songs come from sources as diverse as black gospel quartets (The Golden Gate Quartet, The Dixie Hummingbirds, The Pilgrim Jubilee Singers), Jim Eanes, and Ralph Stanley.
The singing is passionate, blues-drenched, and full-throttle -- even rarer in bluegrass today than in 1987, when this album was released. The a capella harmonies are brother-close. And the instrumental work is superb.
To Be His Child is a bluegrass gospel classic that will appeal to fans of all different strains of gospel, as well as fans of the blues.
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