Mid-Ohio Valley bluegrass group releases Christmas CD
Buck and Company, a local bluegrass and gospel group, has released a Christmas CD, “My Christmas Dream.” From left, members of the band are Dwayne McCumbers, Connie Hardman, Jerry Hardway, Buck McCumbers and Randy Brady. (Photo Provided)
“My Christmas Dream,” a CD by the local bluegrass band Buck and Company is available at local stores and online. Most of the songs were written by Buck McCumbers of Rockport. (Photo Provided)
Buck and Company, a local bluegrass and gospel group, has released a Christmas CD, “My Christmas Dream.” From left, members of the band are Dwayne McCumbers, Connie Hardman, Jerry Hardway, Buck McCumbers and Randy Brady. (Photo Provided)
“My Christmas Dream,” a CD by the local bluegrass band Buck and Company is available at local stores and online. Most of the songs were written by Buck McCumbers of Rockport. (Photo Provided)
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PARKERSBURG -- A local bluegrass and gospel band has released a CD of original songs.
"My Christmas Dream" by Buck and Company includes the title song written by Buck McCumbers of Rockport about his grade school years in a one-room school in Calhoun County in the 1950s and early '60s.
"It's about how we celebrated Christmas," McCumbers said.
The CD is a compilation of a dozen songs, 10 written by McCumbers and "If We Make It Through December" by Merle Haggard.
Members of the band include McCumbers, sister Connie Hardman on guitar, brother Dwayne McCumbers on dobro, Jerry Hardway on upright bass and Randy Brady on banjo. The band formed in 2002.
Buck McCumbers, 74, started playing music when he was 16. He professionally performed for about four years, but learned that was a difficult way to earn a living for a family and went to work for the gas company in 1970
Hardman also performed with Northern Blend and writes songs. Hardway, who graduated from West Virginia University with numerous honors, also plays other string instruments.
Dwayne McCumbers also has appeared with national performers including Red Allen, Harley Allen, John Hartford, Mac Wiseman and Hylo Brown. He also plays with the Sheppard Brothers bluegrass band.
Brady has a recording studio in Parkersburg and was raised in a musical family.
Buck's wife, Patty, organizes the CD sales and appearances for the band.
While the pandemic has slowed things down, Buck McCumbers said he doesn't plan to quit performing or writing songs. He has written more than 100 songs and has many ready to go.
"I want to try to get them in as much as we can," he said.
The CD can be ordered from the band's website, buckandcompany.com, or from several locations around the region including the Christian Supply Center in Parkersburg, Red Barn Diner in Mineral Wells, the Mineral Wells Tire Center, Chloe Hardware in Chloe in Calhoun County, the Outdoor Store in Arnoldsburg, Alice's Attic in Grantsville and Hilltop Pizza in Mt. Alto.
Songs on the CD are "Christmas Sleigh Ride," "The Greatest Gift," "Christmas at Grandma's," "My Christmas Dream," "Hillbilly Christmas," "Christmas Donkey," "Christmas Time is Near," "Christmas Foretold," "Little Snowflake," "Soldier's Christmas," "Buck's Christmas Medley" and "If We Make it Through December." "My Christmas Dream" is the only song about the one-room school, McCumbers said.
The CD costs $15 on the website and $10 at the locations. It's $15 online because of shipping costs, Mrs. McCumbers said.
Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.