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Mountain Home Music Company Mourns the Loss of Phil Leadbetter

October 21, 2021

Mountain Home Music Company and Crossroads Label Group collectively mourns the loss of bluegrass mainstay, Phil Leadbetter.

Leadbetter most recently worked with Mountain Home for the release of his compilation album Masters of Slide: The Spider Sessions, which Phil both curated and appeared on in addition to other standouts Andy Hall, Fred Travers, Justin Moses, Abbie Gardner, Rob Ickes, and so many more.

Affectionately known as “Uncle Phil” by the music community and beyond, you can actually trace the beginning of Leadbetter’s professional career as a head injury rehabilitation nurse in his home town of Knoxville, TN. Music, however, had always permeated his life even from the youngest of ages, and even though a medical career would satisfy most as a lifetime venture, music eventually won out. Leadbetter was known for his contributions with New Dawn, Grandpa Jones, Vern Gosdin, and J.D. Crowe and The New South, which earned him a GRAMMY nomination for his work on the recording, Flashback (1994).

Phil Leadbetter made his mark on bluegrass not only as a distinctive and creative resonator guitar stylist, but as an enthusiastic, joyful presence whenever he was called upon to participate and wherever his love for the music took him. He will be remembered not only as a great musician, but as an inspiration to many and a great friend to all.

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