Junior Sisk - If There's a Will There's a Way (2024)

The newest offering from Junior Sisk on Mountain Fever Records is the masterfully recorded and produced, If There’s a Will, There’s a Way. Junior shared, “We played and sang our hearts out, and strived to come up with the best project for all our fans and many radio listeners.” This is a winsome 10-song bluegrass project that you will want to keep on repeat, with two very special appearances. More on those later.

Junior and his band are top level singers and players, and, together, they have built a fine body of work. Johnathan Dillion is an absolute stud of a mandolin player who brings hard-driving chops and fluid solos that are “Whoa, Nelly” fast. Curt Love is becoming one of the premier bass players in bluegrass – his tone, accuracy, and rock-solid rhythm remind me of a younger Jason Moore. Junior tells me that Tony Mabe is a bluegrass “Swiss Army knife” – he can play any instrument and sing any part. Heather Mabe is more than a harmony singer; check out her lead vocal on Bluegrass Country. Dare ya’ not to tap your foot along! Lawd, that song is good! Interestingly, Del McCoury released it in 2001 under a slightly different name, The Bluegrass Country. Young mandolin players, take note of Johnathan’s rhythm on this cut.

Tim Crouch sits in on the fiddle. He has played with Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Ricky Skaggs, and Marty Stuart, to name a few, and was the Grand Ole Opry’s staff fiddle player. Enough said.

Junior has an iconic voice. Such rare voices are immediately recognizable due to their unique character. Think of Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, George Jones, and Ralph Stanley. Add Junior to that elite group. No one in bluegrass sounds like Junior. Whether singing an old Stanley Brothers tune or a new one he just wrote, Junior’s voice transports you back in time to a 1950s gospel sing on Smith Ridge deep in the Hills of Home. It’s his unique sound, feel, and honesty.