Biography

HYLO BROWN & THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN BOYS
Frank Brown earned the nickname "Hylo" because of his considerable vocal range that became his trademark. Born in 1922 in Johnson County, KY, which also became the birthplace of Loretta Lynn, Brown had thoroughly absorbed the music indigenous to his Appalachian home.

In 1957, Brown joined Flatt & Scruggs, becoming a featured vocalist with the duo's Foggy Mountain Boys. The group's increasing popularity prompted Flatt and Scruggs to form a second Foggy Mountain band, called the Timberliners, with Brown as the unit's frontman; the Timberliners which included mandolin player Red Rector, fiddler Clarence "Tater" Tate, Jim Smoak on the banjo, and bassist Joe Phillips.

Hylo Brown and the Timberliners released their first album in 1958 on Capitol Records and it remains a traditional bluegrass classic album. The group was short lived and had a few band changes with Norman Blake on dobro and Billy Edwards on banjo and soon after breaking up Brown rejoined Flatt & Scruggs as a featured singer.

In the early '60s, Hylo Brown cut a handful of solo records, including 1961's Bluegrass Balladeer, 1962's Bluegrass Goes to College, and the next year's Hylo Brown Meets the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers.

Hylo Brown recorded seven albums for Rural Rhythm Records in the late 60’s with Lee Sutton as producer. Recorded at Joy Mill recording studios in Ohio, Hylo Brown & The Blue Ridge Mountain Boys was the fifth of the seven albums and was originally released in 1968. Uncle Jim O’Neal, creator of Rural Rhythm Records, was the architect behind Hylo Brown performing all the standard traditional songs that have been handed down through the generations on these seven classic albums.

After recording seven albums for Rural Rhythm Records Hylo ‘s recordings became fewer and news of him was hard-to-find. He broke up his band and retired from the road in the 1980’s and eventually passed away on February 2, 2003.


1. The Martin And The Coys (2:46)
2. Down The Road Of Life (1:48)
3. The Last Mile Of The Way (2:27)
4. Nobody’s Darling On Earth (2:16)
5. What It Means To Be Lonesome (1:58)
6. Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail (2:36)
7. Trouble In Mind (1:28)
8. Frankie And Johnnie (1:57)
9. Intoxicated Rat (1:26)
10. Ace In The Hole (2:06)
11. An Old Rocking Chair (2:37)
12. In The Shade Of The Old Apple Tree (2:55)
13. Somebody Is Waiting For You (1:42)
14. Diamond In The Rough (2:28)
15. Mary Don’t Go (1:31)
16. Prisoner’s Dream (2:39)
17. Just A Rose Will Do (2:01)
18. If You Don’t Like Your Uncle Sammy (1:20)
19. Darlin’ Nelly Across The Sea (1:14)
20. Budded Roses (2:17)

Musicians:
HYLO BROWN – Guitar, Lead Vocal
ROY ROSS - Mandolin
DALE BROTHEINGTON – 5-String Banjo
SID CAMPBELL – Dobro Guitar
CHARLES ROSS – Acoustic Bass

Album Produced by Lee Sutton
Album Arranged by Uncle Jim O’Neal
Reissue Producer: Sam Passamano, II
Mastered for this CD by Steve Hoffman

For free catalog of Country, Bluegrass Gospel and Folk music call
(800) 776-8742 or write to:
Rural Rhythm Records
P.O. Box 750
Mt. Juliet, TN 37121