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Rob McNurlin

Gary Hayes Country

Muddy Bottom Blues

Program #79 (September 16 at 8:00PM)

Rob McNurlin was raised in Eastern Kentucky, the hymns in church, the Johnny Cash Show on TV, a harmonica from his grandmother, his parents records and a guitar on his ninth Christmas set him on a very musical path.

McNurlin began studying traditional music learning hundreds of folk, hillbilly-blues and Gospel tunes. Inspired by Cash, Dylan, Woody Guthrie and Hank Williams, he started writing songs and mixing these originals with the  traditional .

A few of his CD’s include "Cowboy Boot Heel", recorded at Johnny Cash's Cabin Studio, produced by his son John Carter Cash and features a duet with guest Ramblin' Jack Elliott. "Lonesome Valley Again" reached #26 on the FAR charts and #55 on the Americana chart, remaining in the top 100 over two months,  "Sacred Numbers" is a collection of Gospel songs and “Rhinestoned” an original, traditional, country music recording,  featuring legendary steel guitarist, Kayton Roberts. 

In 2012, McNurlin was the executive producer on the Kayton Roberts CD "Valley of the Roses", he also contributed vocals and guitar along with Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, Chris Scruggs and Ranger Doug Green.

McNurlin has toured North America, England and Australia,solo and with the Beatnik Cowboys,  traveled Ramblin' Jack Elliott and  Hot Tuna, his songs have been covered by Ronnie Elliott among others and used in two award winning documentaries.  

Paul Hitchcock earned his Masters in Communications from Morehead State University and Bachelors in Radio-TV/Psychology from Georgetown College. A veteran broadcaster for more than 40 years and an avid fan of blues, jazz and American roots music. Hitchcock has been with WMKY since 1986 and was named General Manager in 2003. He currently hosts "Muddy Bottom Blues" (Fri., 8pm-9pm), "Nothin' But The Blues" (Sat., 8pm-12am), "Sunday Night Jazz Showcase" and "Live From The Jazz Lounge" (Sun., 8pm-9pm) and "The Golden Age of Radio" (Sun., 2pm-3pm). He also serves as producer for "A Time For Tales" and "The Reader's Notebook."