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 "I believe that prayer and devotional time is crucial every day to
keep us on the straight and narrow."
Jen G: Terri what is it like being the only lady representing the Chigger Hill Boys?
Terri: I really just feel like one of the boys. I guess I’m special because I’m the only one with my name in the title.
Jen G: How do you think each of the guys complete the group’s sound?
Terri: I think each one in the band is a unique individual and when we play together, we achieve a sound that only we can. We each bring a different personality and character to the group. And there are some characters in this group
Jen G: Looking back on the group, you guys have gone through several transitions over the years, but your music only gets stronger. Tell me how you guys have managed to stay focused through the trials?
Terri: All the glory goes to God for this. He has always put all the pieces where they need to be and it always works out. Honestly, we have little to do with much of what happens.
Jen G: Can you tell me a little bit about the newest member of the group?
Terri: Ethan Blair is what you might call an “old soul”. He’s only 16 years old but we were all impressed with the way he whipped out an old “Lewis Family” standard the first time we met. We’re glad to have him on board.
Mark: I think adding Ethan really completed our sound. I think we’ve been trying to get to that sound for a while and when we added him it all kind of came together.
Jen G: You all are bluegrass gospel, but ya’ll could very easily go straight country. Really, experiment in other genres, why has it been important to stay true to your bluegrass roots?
“If the devil ain’t after you,
he’s already got you”.
Terri: I think from early on we made a silent commitment to God to follow where he leadeth. That commitment has become more vocal recently because folks ask us a lot why we don’t play secular music.
But God had placed us in this particular genre and since His plan is perfect, who of us could argue with His direction. The older I grow, the more I understand that only what is done for His kingdom will matter. Where else could we go but to the Lord?
Bob: We’ve all grown up playing different types of music and that’s probably shaped the musicians that we are today. But I have always felt God called this group to be certain style of music, have it’s own “personality” for Him. It’s about playing a simple style that a variety of people can enjoy and all the while “lovin’ on” the people as God loves on us.
Terri, Dolly Parton’s Vocal Soul Sister
Jen G: Terri you have been compared to Dolly Parton, which I have to agree your vocals are just as amazing! Growing up who were some of your favorite female artists?
Terri: I love to listen to Dolly Parton and I’m flattered by the comparison. Honestly, growing up I listened to a lot of everything and I’d have to say my all-time favorite singer is Steve Perry from Journey (I was a child of the 80s, what can I say). Other than that, I probably learned the most from my family. Everybody in the family sang. My most precious memories are when the whole family was gathered around the piano singing old hymns.
Jen G: If The Chigger Hill Boys and Terri could perform with any artist or band who would it be and why?
Terri: I really like lots of groups but I truly just like to play with folks who have their hearts in the right place. I don’t care who you are.
Mark: Ralph Stanley, because he’s so cool.
Bob: Having Charlie Louvin, of the legendary Louvin Brothers, in the studio with us on our latest CD was a dream come true.
Jen G: Over the years you guys have performed at both secular and Christian events. Why do you think the sound of Chigger Hill is accepted by so many?
Terri: Bluegrass had a huge resurgence after the release of the movie “O brother, where art thou?”, and many folks developed an appreciation for it then. And gospel and bluegrass just go hand in hand. I don’t know any bluegrass band that doesn’t throw a handful of gospel tunes into their show.
Bob: We refer to this a lot, but we’re just real folks doing real music. I think a lot of people enjoy meeting us, seeing that we love to just “love on” folks, and enjoy the privilege of playing for them. We’ve been blessed with several #1’s, Dove Award nominations, and more. But the bottom line is, we love what we do, and it shows.
Jen G: The songs off your last album Soul Central Railroad really felt like those songs I grew up in church singing along with. Get off my shoulder get out of my way…the lyrics to Get Off My Shoulder seems to address how the devil attacks our thoughts. Tell me how prayer plays a part in getting the devil out of your way?
Terri: My mama used to say that “If the devil ain’t after you, he’s already got you”. I believe that to be true in some ways. The devil is never going to leave us alone as long as we’re working for the Lord. I believe that prayer and devotional time is crucial every day to keep us on the straight and narrow. We must fill our hearts and minds with the things of the Lord so there’s no room to entertain the things of the world and of satan.
Jen G: He Understands is a very special song because a lot of people don’t believe that God understands what we’re going through. Some don’t even realize that his grace is sufficient. Terri in your personal life when did you discover that the Lord understands exactly what you were going through?
Terri: Well God did send His only son to earth to become flesh so that He could know our every trial and temptation. We were created by God and in His image. Who could know us better than the One who made us and knew us before we were even born? Daily, He shows me through gifts, blessings and answers to prayer that He knows my every need, my desires and the burdens that I bear.
Jen G: Another song that really speaks volumes is Room At The Top. Why do you believe there’s room for everyone in Christ?
Terri: John 1:12 says “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”. God says to ALL who believe and receive His gift.
Jen G: In closing, you guys are working on a new album, can you tell me when we can expect it to release and if there will be any surprises in store?
Terri: The new project promises to be a truly traditional release. It should be a very straight-forward bluegrass album; the way we like it. We’re looking at studio time in January, but the release date is still unknown.
www.chiggerhill.com
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