Junior Sisk – If There’s a Will There’s a Way (Mountain Fever Records, 2024)
Junior Sisk, a prominent artist in the classic bluegrass scene, has a new album titled If There’s a Will, There’s a Way. In this album, Sisk’s unmistakable voice and masterful guitar work both honor tradition and welcomes innovation. His superb ensemble delivers an exquisite mix of the old and the new. The plaintive strains of an old-time fiddle, the brilliance of mandolin solos, the relentless drive of the banjo, and the beauty of masterfully crafted harmony vocals all come together in a way that is as timeless as it is contemporary.
In a statement, Sisk expresses his dedication to delivering an exceptional listening experience to his fans: “For your listening pleasure, we have played and sang our hearts out and strived to produce the best project for all our fans and listeners. We wanted to show everyone that we all love and take pride in what we record,” says Sisk. “The title track is penned by one of my favorite songwriters in bluegrass today, Mr. JR Satterwhite. We picked this song because it is great advice for us all to live by; ‘If There’s a Will There’s a Way.’ We have combined new songs and old country tunes, performing them the Junior Sisk style, with the help of special guests, Ricky Skaggs, and Dan Tyminski.“
The album features Junior Sisk on lead vocals and guitar; Tony Mabe on harmony vocals and banjo; Heather Berry Mabe on guitar, harmony vocals, and lead vocal on “Bluegrass Country;” Johnathan Dillon on mandolin; Curt Love on bass; and Tim Crouch on fiddle.
Sisk’s previous accolades include the 2022 SPBGMA Album of the Year Award for his album Load the Wagon and the SPBGMA Song of the Year Award for “Just Load the Wagon.” Additionally, he received a 2023 IBMA nomination for Gospel Recording of the Year for his track “Take a Little Time for Jesus” from the Lost & Alone project.
Tracks on If There’s a Will There’s a Way include:
01 – What a Wonderful Life – John Michael Keith, David H. Lindsey, Matthew A. Lindsey
02 – A Man Like Me (Feat. Dan Tyminski) – Roger Miller
03 – These Are They – Squire Parson
04 – Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper’s Dream) – Rodney Crowell
05 – Bluegrass Country – Cindy Walker
06 – Memories of Mother (Feat. Ricky Skaggs) – Carter Stanley
07 – Nothing’s Good About Goodbye – James Raleigh Satterwhite
08 – If There’s a Will There’s a Way – James Raleigh Satterwhite
09 – Wild and Wicked World – JD Miller, Sherry George
10 – Old Cold Shoulder – Talmage W. Massie
Buy If There’s a Will, There’s a Way.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.