Potluck Home Page

We are the

Potluck Ramblers

(Bluegrass & More)

_{^{BOB JIM BARB}}

And Potluck is proud to announce the addition of two good friends:

EDDIE HYSINGER

Eddie is quite well know in the region for his Harp playing, having played with about every well-known Louisville musician, including the late, great, Tim Krekel (he is a close friend of Sam Bush and speaks to him on a regular basis and has played with Sam on several occasions as well). And to add another impressive fact, Eddie is also one heck of a dobro player, which fits perfectly with the kind of music Potluck plays. He is currently a band-member of the Louisville based band, "Uncle Louie," the outstanding eclectic trio of Pat Younger, Phil Ragland and of course, Eddie -and he can often be seen playing with the likes of Mickey Clark and John Gage, of Kentucky Homefront fame and many, many other great Louisville musicians. Welcome aboard, Eddie!

And, this just in - we are pleased to announce the addition of another good griend,

JIM ALLEN

Jim Allen has played banjo for many years and most recently has been the banjo player with our good friends, and a Louisville bluegrass band, "BluZenGrass." He is a retired airline pilot and pilot trainer (he is the man who trained "Sully," the pilot who landed in the Hudson River several years ago). Jim is now selling Commercial swimming pool construction and repair. All this, and he is an outstanding banjo player as well - we are very pleased to have him become a part of the "Potluck Ramblers." Welcome aboard, Jim!

While Kyle (click on his name and listen to the Civil War band he's a part of) will still play with us now and then, Jim will ultimately be our primary player. We'll give you more information about our good friend Kyle at a later date, but do not fret (no pun intended); he is now playing banjo on practically a professional level and we are very happy for him (we got him up and running and he has taken off like a rocket).

So, anyway.....,

If you're looking for us,

You found us!

And, as you can see, we're in somewhat of a transition with new members

But, stick around for a few minutes.....

These next few songs will give you an idea of our

Musical Diversity

Please take a listen to ......

Jim and Potluck perform this 1927 blues tune

It's a sad one

(Click on pictures or the song titles)

Trouble in Mind.mp3

Written by: Richard Jones - 1927

Find the lyrics & chords HERE

And here's one written by our banjo player, Kyle:
Original
Angry Chicken Boogie.mp3
Original composition by Kyle Ellison - 2010

Don't mess with this chicken!
(This song is proprietary and may only be used with the written permission of Kyle Ellison - you may contact Kyle by clicking HERE)

Then, here's the story of .....

Ramblin' Bob

As told by Jim, accompanied by Potluck

Click below, or on the above picture and get ready to yodel along!

I'm in The Jailhouse Now.mp3

Written By: Jimmy Rodgers, the singin' brakeman

(Featured in the film, "Oh Brother Where Art Thou")

Lyrics & chords HERE

A happy tune performed by Jim & the band:

Primrose Lane.mp3

Written by: George 'Red' Callender & Wayne Shanklin

Remember this great tune by the late, great Jerry Wallace in 1959? Potluck strings this one out for lots of instrumentals

Lyrics & Chords posted here

This one written by our lead singer, Jim:

Original

I'm Leavin' Mary Lou.mp3
Original - Words & Music by Jim Cowles - 2010

One of the band's favorite numbers is one of Ricky Nelson's hits from 1962,

"Hello Mary Lou," which they do in Bluegrass style.

Jim's version tells the true story of Mary Lou - she wasn't such a great catch after all!

(This song is proprietary and may be only be used with the written permission of Jim Cowles - you may contact Jim by clicking HERE)

Words & Chords - click HERE

You can find a lot more of our music on this page:

If you like what you hear, please let us know by clicking HERE

We'd be happy to put you on our e-mail list and let you know future performance dates - just ask us!

To learn more about the band, keep on scrolling !

Please note:

Many of the songs posted on our website are from recorded practice sessions and

have not been fully mastered, thus not of the highest quality.

"Potluck" hopes they give you the flavor of our music!

Here's a little information about the members of

POTLUCK RAMBLERS

"Our band name is a great reference for playing a musical banquet, with something on the menu for everyone!"

For Festivals, Parties, Anniversaries, Wedding Receptions & Much More

Band Members

BARB FRIEDLAND JIM COWLES KYLE ELLISON BOB BUSH

Based in Louisville, Ky.

Performances are with, or without audio

Rates are increased nominally when band brings audio equipment

BARB

is both a visual and a graphic artist; she plays mandolin with Potluck and adds great vocals and harmony (you can hear a few of her contributions right here on this website - click on her picture or on "Listen to Potluck)." Barb has also played guitar for years, but when the band asked her to pick up the mandolin, she jumped at the opportunity. And it didn't take her long to become super proficient at it. She still plays guitar now and then, mostly finger-picking, but she has fallen in love with the mandolin; Jim sometimes hands over his Larivee (so she can keep her hand in) and lets her get rollin' on it. You oughta hear her play and sing "Some of Shelly's Blues." Click on Barb's picture (above) to hear this Peggy Lee tune: "Fever"

Barb at the Zeppelin Cafe

JIM C.

, lead singer with Potluck, was once a *“Riverfront Rambler,” a Louisville and New Albany based folk group, known for doing mostly sixties folk; he played both "6" & "12" string acoustic guitar with them and credits the Ramblers with encouraging him to get on-stage. Jim played cornet in high school and sat first chair in the Male High Band. While he loved playing his horn, singing has always been his passion. His tenor voice and overall range give him a unique style, allowing him to sing Bluegrass, Blues, Irish and even some old time rock & roll; and he loves the harmonies of old-time spiritual music. A retired Insurance Exec, and CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter), he's finally doing the thing he loves most; singing and playing! He says he admires those who make music a full time gig, but he was chicken and the security of a day job gave him the safety net he needed. Click on Jim's picture to hear John Hartfords, "Gentle on my Mind."

Left to right, Jim (red pants), Ronnie Dee, Ed adams & Kenny Pyle (co-owner of The Rudyard Kipling Rest.)

*Riverfront Ramblers (the "goodul days")

Here's an early recording of the Riverfront Ramblers doing "Midnite Special: CLICK HERE (Ed Adams & Ronnie Dee on verses, Jim on harmony, and friend Herb Kleinert on fiddle)

JIM A.

the bands newest member, brings a load of musical background. He was a good friend of John Hartford, who of course was one heck of a banjo player, fiddler player and songwriter. Interestingly, Jim'a father was a riverboat captain (as was his grandfather) and taught John Hartford how to steer a riverboat and was instrumental in helping him get his riverboat pilot license. John occasionally spent the night with Jim when he was in town for a concert. Jim loves that connection and honors John when he sangs "Old Time Riverman." He is also a retired airline pilot and flight trainer (as noted above, he trained the famous "Sully," the airline pilot who landed his plane successfully in the Hudson River, saving passengers from a terrible fate. Jim is now selling commercial swimming pools and equipment. Thankfully, he's a quick learner and came "ready to play" with "Potluck." We'll record some of his music in the near future for all to hear!

BOB

an outstanding musician with a keen musical ear, plays several instruments. His role with Potluck is to keep the rest of the band in time and in line with his bass beat (and if you need music transposed, you need Bob). The picture above is of Bob playing a stand up bass, but he also plays a hollow bass (note below, right). Bob is a retired draftsman by profession and you can add to Bob's talent the art of woodworking - he is a fine craftsman, making cabinets and other beautiful wood products for the home. He's also an "old" Mercedes buff; he has a 1958 model in his garage (see picture below). OK, add one more talent; the art of converting cooking oils to diesel fuel. Bob supplies his diesel Mercedes station-wagon with all the fuel it needs. This guy is multi-talented!

Click on Bob's picture (above) to hear him do a bass solo on Jim's version of "Trouble in Mind"

Bob at the Upper Highlands Festival

Picture of Bob & Virginia on their wedding day, in their

(what's his is mine and what's mine is mine) '58 Mercedes

And our newest addition:

EDDIE

Hysinger is a local real estate broker and property evaluator and has played with Potluck in the past. He's always a big hit with the crowds, as well as the band. Now he will be a permanent member and we are very pleased to have him. Eddie is a graduate of Atherton High School, attended Eastern Ky. University and now owns his own Real Estate Brokerage Company. If you have ever followed Tim Krekel and his music, you know that Eddie was a close personal friend of Tim's and was usually at his side whenever he performed. Eddie is a great dobro player, but is perhaps better known for his harp playing. Although we currently do not have any recordings of Eddie playing with Potluck, we'll soon have them on our site for all to hear. Welcome Eddie!