Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys

Joseph Valiante was born on 25 June 1926 in Everett, Massachusetts, USA, and died on 11 June 1985 in the USA. Growing up in the northeast did not deter an early fascination with bluegrass, sparked above all by Bill Monroe’s radio broadcasts and recordings. The area where he lived nurtured a deep bluegrass scene, exposing him further to regional groups and especially the fiddling of virtuoso Tex Logan. He began on guitar, later adding banjo and mandolin. With increasing proficiency came stints alongside the Radio Rangers, the Berkshire Mountain Boys, the Lilly Brothers and Don Stover. The timing proved ideal for participation in the bluegrass surge that swept through local universities and colleges during the 1960s. Appearances and sessions followed with both the Bill Keith–Jim Rooney band and the Charles River Valley Boys; on each occasion he adapted readily to evolving styles while retaining a core allegiance to traditional bluegrass.

Val launched the New England Bluegrass Boys in 1970, enlisting Herb Applin on guitar and vocals, Bob French on banjo, and Bob Tidwell on bass. Rounder Records captured the group the next year, after which additional albums appeared throughout the decade. Although membership shifted, Val’s guiding vision ensured a consistent band identity across every release. Other participants at various times included guitarists Dave Dillon and Dave Haney, banjoists Paul Silvius and Karl Lauber, and bassist Eric Levenson. Early-1980s tours took the ensemble far beyond New England, among them a European trip that yielded a live recording in the Netherlands. Val’s cancer diagnosis ultimately curtailed further activity, with the 1984 Georgia Bluegrass Festival marking their final major performance. Posthumously, in 1995, the International Bluegrass Music Association bestowed an Award of Merit upon him.