I first became aware of Jeremy Fritts several years ago when he first started performing with The Fritts Family as just a younster. His dad, Larry Fritts, and I go way back to the late 70's when I was first starting to play in local bands and he was working with Jimmy Smith, "The Old Ridgerunner". Jimmy was somewhat of a local legend, having been a radio announcer for many years and a member of Carl Smith's band back in the 1950's. (Hey Larry, remember that trip to Knoxville when I rode in the back of the car under the bass fiddle?) Anyway, people kept coming up to me and saying "Have you heard that boy of Larry Fritts' pick the guitar he's going to be good one of these days!" Well friends, I'm here to tell you that day is here.
Jeremy has the three T's, that is tone, taste, and timing. But he has the main thing that makes a good musician, that is the fact that he plays the melody. My feeling is that if you are going to play a song, make it sound like the song. Don't clutter things up with a bunch of hot licks to impress other musicians. Jeremy does this and more, as you will hear on this album. He has also assembled a good band to help him on this project, including former Bluegrass Boys Clarence "Tater" Tate and Dana Cupp. I would also like to add that I was honored to be asked to play on a couple of tunes myself. From being around The Fritts Family at various shows over the years, I know that this young man just loves to play and I don't recall ever seeing him without a guitar in his hands. So folks, I know you will enjoy Jeremy's first solo album - IT'S A GOOD ONE! |
