Distinctions
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First woman in bluegrass to front a band playing banjo while also writing a large part of the band’s repertoire – beginning in the early 70’s
One of the longest continuously running songwriter retreat series for acoustic writers in the country, Lyric Mountain Retreat, since 1989, where she uses a unique artist-centered model that draws on both her psychology and songwriting careers
IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award 2017: for contributions as a songwriter, performer, and volunteer organizer that have “furthered the bluegrass genre and brought many into bluegrass.”
Steel Rails – voted #13th most influential song in First 75 Years of Bluegrass (XM Radio)
Considered most jammed bluegrass song, most performed by young bands
Song of the Year 1991 (SPBGMA) Steel Rails
Song of the Year 2014 (IBMA) Dear Sister, co-written with C. Lynch
Member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame
Member of the Alabama Bluegrass Hall of Fame
IBMA Recorded Event of the Year 2001
IBMA Recorded Event of the Year 2006
7 Nominations Songwriter of the Year (SPGBMA, IBMA)
2 Nominations IBMA Mentor of the Year
Grammy cuts – Steel Rails, on Alison Krauss’s first Grammy album
Steel Rails, on John Denver’s last Grammy album
Over 30 top 10 chart hits
Membership in Daughters of Bluegrass, a group of leading women in Bluegrass
The last two Albums received major recognition and earned hits in roots, Americana, and bluegrass, and remained on the charts for 12 and 18 months, respectively
Dear Sister crossed genres to major chart standing in bluegrass, folk, and Americana
Over 40 award-winning songs in major songwriting contests such as Merlefest and Hazel Dickens Songwriting Contest.
Over 300 recorded originals, including hits by artists such as Claire Lynch, Dale Ann Bradley, McPeak Brothers, NuBlu, Alison Krauss, John Denver, and artists from her own records, such as the Whites, Molly Tuttle, Becky Buller, Sierra Hull, Russell Moore, Allison Krauss, and Jeanette and Johnny Williams.
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Lyrics and Music by Louisa Branscomb unless otherwise noted
Publishing Millwheel Music (BMI) unless otherwise noted
ALBUMS CONTAINING ORIGINAL MATERIAL BY LOUISA OR LOUISA’S BANDS
from “I’ll Take Love: From the Pen of Louisa Branscomb”
Louisa Branscomb
Compass Records 7 4553 2 March 2011
I’m Gonna Love You (Louisa Branscomb/Claire Lynch Millwheel Music/Thrill Hill Music BMI)
I’ll Take Love (Louisa Branscomb/Dale Ann Bradley Millwheel Music)
Closin’ Nashville Down
Wearin’ the Blues
Your Amazing Grace
State Line
Surrender
This Side of Heaven
Extra Blue
Stormy Night
Silence Broke Beyond Repair
That’s What Texas Was For
It’s Just Lovin’
from Louisa Branscomb: Time to Write a Song
Lodestar 1993 #005
Old Familiar Song
Stormy Night
This Too Shall Pass
Train That’s Passed Me By
Turn It Around
Feels So Good
Summertime Waltz
Steel Rails (Universal/one note pub)
Hold Me Gently in Your Dreams
When I See My Savior’s Face
Blue Cowgirl Song
Who’s Gonna Carry it On (publishing was originally with Mel so it’s now Universal?)
It’s Time to Write a Song
From “Fools Gold”
Woodsong Farm Productions 2000:
Fools Gold
Matters of the Heart
Old Virginia Waltz (with Doyle Lawson)
Wearin’ the Blues
Just My Heart in my Hand
One Lonely Night
Beaver Valley Flood
Three Hundred Years
Long Black Train
Angels in the Snow
Woodsong (with Jane Baxter)
Crash and Burn
Love is a Hands on Thing
When I Cry
Stormy Night
from “Steel Rails”
Boot Hill
Millwheel TH-1026
(Recorded at Thunderhill Studios) 1977
Fair Weather Friend
Your Memory and I
Raider’s Revenge
Sit Down Dear Stranger
Who’ll Sing for Me (P.D/Louisa Branscomb, Millwheel Music) (arr)
From “Blue Ridge Memories”
Boot Hill
Millwheel TH 1027 1978
Sweet Virginia
Blue Ridge Memories
Breakaway
Tin Cans and Dishpans
Goin’ Back to the Homeplace
from Boot Hill: “Fly Soul Away”
Millwheel TH1040 1979
God Gave Me a Hand
Fly, Soul, Away
When I see My Savior’s Face
Wake Me Up (On that Last Tomorrow)
Shoreline
Sit Down Dear Stranger
From: “Gypsy Heart”
Gypsy Heart
Lodestar Productions
1992
Ain’t Justified
Forever More
Steel Rails
Back to the Homeplace
Sweet Virginia
You and I Look Good in Years
Angels in the Snow
Shoreline
Forever More
Georgia Home
From Louisa Branscomb and Born Gypsy
“Our Own” 1990
Lodestar Productions
Old Virginia Waltz
(by Louisa Branscomb and Doyle Lawson)
Millwheel/Lawson
Crash and Burn
Woodsong (w/Jane Baxter)
From: Songs of the Whimple Wood
Louisa Branscomb
Volume 1: Songs Capturing the Magic of Childhood
Chinky-Po Tree 1995
I’m on My Way to the Whimple Wood
Song of the Whango-Whee
Magic Friend
Dream Star
I’m Wishing Wishing Wishing
Night is Falling
It’s a Long, Long Way (From Here to the Whimple Wood)
Song of the Flapper-Jacker-Whacker-O
I’m Keepin’ House for a Dragon and a Mouse
It Was Wapiti Hoo
Here in the Whimple Wood
Day is Done
From Journey: Songs of the Monomyth
Louisa Branscomb
Lodestar Music 1988
Look Within
Shoreline
Just Can’t Hold My Own
Turn it Around
When You’re a Dreamer
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Last Soldier Standing (w/ Rebekah Long)
Due for release 2014
History Book of Hearts (w/ Craig Market)
Jeanette Williams
Due for release 2014
End of the Line (w/ Nancy Beaudette)
Due for release 2014
Forgiveless
Nu-Blu “Jesus and Jones”
Nu-Blu 2014
My Silvertone Guitar (Silvertone Guitar)
Nancy Beaudette
“Fa la la”
Moonlit Pond Records 2012 (November)
Wildflowers on the Hill
Janet McGarry
“Just Passing Thru”
Diamond Productions
In Tall Timber
Chordwood
“In Tall Timber”
Chordwood Productions 1996
Woodsong
Louisa Branscomb and Jane Baxter
Bluegrass Bands, Helping Hands Vol. Two: Through the Eyes of a Child 2010
(has bar code)
Lonesome Mountain Bird
Lonesome Redwing
Fly, Fly, Fly
Lonesome Redwing Productions 2009
Fools Gold
Daughters of Bluegrass “Back to the Well”
Blue Circle Records 2008
Steel Rails
Publisher: (Universal/One Note)
The Abeels “Snowflakes and Diamonds”
Beaver Valley Flood
Honeygrass: “Take One”
Honeygrass Productions 2002
Crescent City Flood
Honeygrass
“She’s Running Wild”Need label and date
Lonely Blows Under Your Door (2006)
Louisa Branscomb/Karen Pendley-Kuykendall (Wynwood Music Co, Inc)
Janet McGarry: “Love and Learn”
Diamond Productions PEI
Steel Rails
John Denver: “All Aboard”
Sony 63412
Old Familiar Song
Nancy Longenecker
“Going Home”
no label 1/24/01
From “Don’t Turn Your Back”
Dale Ann Bradley
Compass Records 2011
Don’t Turn Your Back
Will I Be Good Enough
Music City Queen (w/Dale Ann Bradley)
Ghostbound Train (w Dale Ann Bradley)
(All of the above published by Millwheel Music)
Long Black Train
Jim Hurst “Intrepid”
NN Guido Music 2012
Fontanna Sunset: “I Didn’t See it Coming”
Cold December Wind
Out the Door (w/ Dawn Kenney)
Dawn Kenney: Sing Me Home
Heartroots Music 2012
Heart Roots Music (ASCAP)/Millwheel Music (BMI)
Carolina Hurricane (w/Lorraine Jordan)
Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road “Carolina Hurricane”
Rural Rhythm Records 2010 Rhy1062
Steel Rails
Lonesome Meadow “Sittin’ on a Sidewalk”
Lonesome Meadow Productions 2011
Think they filed w/Harry Fox
Will I Be Good Enough
Karen Lynne: Shine Your Light
Shoestring 2013 SR 104
Hope Sings
Richard Ciferski
Coming Back for More
2013; Ressurectiongrass Prod.
Feels So Good
(listed as You’ve Got Me Smiling)
The Dunton Sisters “Singing in My Heart”
Dunton Sisters Productions 2003 DS 001
Has bar code
Sweet Virginia
Fontanna Sunset: “Last Rose for Grandpa”
RonDale Productions
Matters of the Heart
Fontanna Sunset: “Last Rose for Grandpa”
Rondale Productions
Lord I’m Blue
Fontanna Sunset: “Last Rose for Grandpa”
RonDale Productions
Last Night I Fell For You (All Over Again)
Fontanna Sunset: “Last Rose for Grandpa”
RonDale Productions
Just My Heart in My Hand
Fontanna Sunset: “Last Rose for Grandpa”
RonDale Productions
Last Rose for Grandpa
Fontanna Sunset: “Last Rose for Grandpa”
RonDale Productions
When I Cry
Louisa Branscomb: “It’s Time to Write a Song”
Cassette version of album by that name
Lodestar #004 1992
Stormy Night
Blue Cowgirl Song
For Every Day That You Die Young
Magic Friend
Sit Down Dear Stranger
Just Can’t Hold My Own
Day is Done
Dear Sister (w/ Claire Lynch)
Claire Lynch: “Dear Sister”
Compass Records 3/29/13 # 7 4610 2
Steel Rails
Broad River “Broad River”
Lonesome Moutain Bird
Kathy Reed and Lonesome Redwing
Steel Rails (Sawgrass/One-Note)
Hope Sings
Richard Ciferski (don’t have the title of project)
Released in 2013
Steel Rails
Personally reported as recorded by over 125 bands
Recorded for You-Tube by over 250 bands
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John Denver
Alison Krauss
Claire Lynch
Jeanette Williams
Daughters of Bluegrass
Dale Ann Bradley
Nu-Blu
Tony Rook
Janet McGarry
Lizzie Long
High Lonesome
Jim Hurst
Honeygrass
Broad River
Richard Cifersky
Dawn Kenney
Nancy Beaudette
Daughters of Bluegrass
Mindy Rakestraw
Karen Lynne (Australia)
(From Louisa's Albums:)
The Whites
Claire Lynch
Sierra Hull
Molly Tuttle
Dave Peterson
Johnny Williams
Jeanette Williams
Josh Williams
John Cowan
Claire Lynch
Dale Ann Bradley
Steve Gulley
Jane Baxter
Lonesome Redwing
Chordwood
Brooksie Wells
The Abeles
Nancy Pate
Rachel Yeates
Bryan Flynn
The McPeak Brothers
Indian Summer
The Petersens
Louisa's Bands, by Louisa and these vocalists:
Boot Hill: Sam Sanger
Cherokee Rose: Frances Mooney, Tyra Dean Summers, Mindy Rakestraw
Born Gypsy: Jane Baxter, Nancy Pate
Gypsy Heart: Kathleen Hatfield
Fontanna Sunset: Frances Mooney, Mindy Rakestraw
Daughters of Bluegrass: Frances Mooney
Louisa Branscomb (Solo)
Favorites
Time to Write a Song
I'll Take Love
Fool's Gold
Songs of the Whimplewood (children's album and musical)
ARTISTS WHO HAVE PERFORMED LOUISA'S SONGS: Above plus:
Sierra Hull (as child)
Chris Thile (as child)
Valerie Smith
Becky Schlegel
Bela Fleck and Tasty Licks
Jeanette and Johnny Williams
The Pressley Girls
Louisa's Bands, byLouisa and these vocalists:
Union Station: Sam Sanger
Boot Hill: Sam Sanger
Cherokee Rose: Frances Mooney, Tyra Dean Summers, Mindy Rakestraw
Born Gypsy: Jane Baxter, Nancy Pate
Gypsy Heart: Kathleen Hatfield
Fontanna Sunset: Frances Mooney, Mindy Rakestraw
Morningside: TP and Sandra Hollomon
Geez Louise: Jeanette Williams, Pam Gadd
Daughters of Bluegrass: Frances Mooney
Over 1000 known live videos of Louisa's songs on YouTube
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Albums: (banjo, mandolin, or guitar on the following)
Boot Hill “Steel Rails”
Boot Hill “Blue Ridge Memories”
Boot Hill “Fly Soul Away”
Gypsy Heart: “Gypsy Heart”
Louisa Branscomb “Time to Write a Song”
Louisa Branscomb and Born Gypsy “Our Own”
Louisa Branscomb “Songs of the Whimple Wood”
Louisa Branscomb “Fools Gold”
Louisa Branscomb “I’ll Take Love” From the pen of Louisa Branscomb
Fontanna Sunset “Last Rose for Grandpa”
Born Gypsy: Our Own
Guest performances on:
“I’ll Take Love” from the Pen of Louisa Branscomb (mandolin, guitar)
Mark Newton “Follow Me Back to the Fold: A Tribute to Women in Bluegrass” (vocals, co-producer)
Daughters of Bluegrass “Back to the Well” (vocals; songwriter)
Daughters of Bluegrass “Pick it Like a Girl” (vocals)
Dede Vogt “Reckless Angels” (banjo)
Christy Snow “No Doubts, No Fears” (banjo)
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Steel Rails
Longest Running Song on Bluegrass Chart
Grammy Cut: Children’s Album of the Year (John Denver)
Grammy Cut: Bluegrass Album of the Year (Alison Krauss)
Song of the Year SPBGMA, 1991
Blue Ridge Memories
Bluegrass Chart Hit, Japan, 1978
Fly, Soul, Away
#2 Bluegrass Gospel Album of the Year, 1978
Songs of Whimplewood
Parents’ National Seal of Excellence 1993
Stormy Night
Semifinalist, IBMA Songwriting Showcase 1997
Semifinalist, GA Musician’s Ind. Assn. composition 2001
Last Rose for Grandpa
Semifinalist, GA Musician’s Ind. Assn. competition 2001
300 Years
Honorable Mention, GA Musician’s Ind. Assn. Composition 2003
Fool’s Gold
Recorded Event of the Year, Daughters of Bluegrass, 2006
Louisa is available for songwriter panels, workshops, instruction, and offers workshops at Lyric Mountain.