Duffey proposed some rules that the others agreed to including playing only one night a week at local clubs, doing occasional concerts and festivals on weekends, making records, and keeping their day jobs. Duffey repaired musical instruments, Eldridge was a mathematician, Starling a physician, Auldridge a graphic artist, and Gray a cartographer with National Geographic. The Scene's first home was the Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, Maryland, where they spent six years before starting weekly performances at The Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria, Virginia.
Bluegrass reached a second peak in popularity in the early 1970s, and the progressive bluegrass style played by The Seldom Scene was particularly popular. Duffey's stratospheric tenor anchored the group, but the vocal blend of Duffey/Starling/Auldridge set a new standard that attracted new audiences to what had been a niche music. Their weekly shows included bluegrass versions of country music, rock, and even classical pop. The band's popularity soon forced them to play more than once a week--but they continued to maintain their image as being seldom seen, and on several of their early album covers were photographed with the stage lights on only their feet, or with their backs to the camera.
Though the Scene remained a non-touring band, they were prolific recorders, producing seven albums in their first five years of existence, including two live albums (among the first live bluegrass albums). But the band's philosophy of not touring and maintaining their day jobs eventually caused some changes in membership.
In 1977, John Starling left the group to focus on his medical career, and was replaced by singer and songwriter Phil Rosenthal, whose song "Muddy Water" had been recorded by the Scene on two earlier albums. Around the same time, the group switched record labels from Rebel Records to Sugar Hill; however, while Starling had been officially the band's frontman, these changes made little significant difference to the band's overall sound.
The band recorded several more albums in the 1980s and firmly established themselves as one of the most influential bluegrass bands. In 1986, Rosenthal and Tom Gray both left the band to focus on other pursuits, and were replaced by Lou Reid and T. Michael Coleman, respectively. Coleman proved to be very controversial, as many purists objected to his use of an electric bass in what is an acoustic genre, but the albums produced by the band after Coleman's arrival maintained the traditional appeal of any of the Scene's earlier albums.
Reid left the band in 1993, and Duffey convinced former member John Starling to return to the band for the next year. During that year the Scene recorded the album "Like We Used To Be," but Starling did not wish to stay with the band long term. He was replaced in 1994 by lead singer Moondi Klein.
Throughout these changes, John Duffey remained the group's spiritual center and greatest influence, and his initial ideas about keeping a light touring schedule and staying close to home continued to prevail. Though there had been disagreements about this philosophy before, it wasn't until after Starling left for the second time that it cost the band a majority of its members at once. During 1995 and 1996, Klein and Coleman, along with original member Mike Auldridge, left the group to form a new band called Chesapeake. This new band became a full-time project for its members, and for a time the Scene stopped recording.
Duffey and Ben Eldridge, the two remaining original members, recruited resophonic guitar player Fred Travers, bassist Ronnie Simpkins, and guitarist and singer Dudley Connell to join the band, and the reconstituted group recorded an album in 1996 and resumed live appearances.
For 25 years The Seldom Scene remained extremely popular in bluegrass circles even with the near-constant personnel changes. But the band was dealt what seemed a crushing blow in late 1996, when founder and leader John Duffey suffered a fatal heart attack. The band again stopped recording and made no live appearances for some years. Duffey had been widely regarded as one of the most powerful and entertaining stage performers in bluegrass, and there was no one who could replace him.
Nonetheless, the band was simply too popular to disappear for good. Banjoist Ben Eldridge, the sole remaining original member and a significant force in banjo music in his own right, assumed leadership of the band. Former guitarist Lou Reid rejoined the band on mandolin. Initially the new Scene concentrated on live performances, but in 2000 the group recorded a new album, "Scene it All." The Seldom Scene continues to tour, and remains on the Sugar Hill label for future recordings.
The band currently consists of Dudley Connell (guitar/lead vocals), Ben Eldridge (banjo), Lou Reid (mandolin/tenor vocals), Fred Travers (dobro/lead vocals), and Ronnie Simpkins (bass/baritone vocals).
John Starling died in May 2019.
Discography
Act I (Rebel, 1972)
Act II (Rebel, 1973)
Act III (Rebel, 1973)
Old Train (Rebel, 1973)
Live At The Cellar Door (Rebel, 1975)
The New Seldom Scene Album (Rebel, 1976)
Baptizing (Rebel, 1978)
Act IV (Sugar Hill, 1979)
After Midnight (Sugar Hill, 1981)
At The Scene (Sugar Hill, 1983)
Blue Ridge with Jonathan Edwards (Sugar Hill, 1985)
15th Anniversary Celebration (Sugar Hill, 1986)
A Change Of Scenery (Sugar Hill, 1988)
Scenic Roots (Sugar Hill, 1990)
Scene 20: 20th Anniversary Concert (Sugar Hill, 1992)
Like We Used To Be (Sugar Hill, 1994)
Dream Scene (Sugar Hill, 1996)
Scene It All (Sugar Hill, 2000)
External links
Official site
Rider
The Seldom Scene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Run just like a grey dog run just like a deer
Something in the bushes starin' out at you
Starin' at your feelings feelin' like you do
One way rider, one way down the road
Baby I'm right beside you everywhere you go
Tend to take a hold on everything you do
First we follow losers next we follow fools
Now we follow footsteps sneakin' upon you
One way rider, one way down the road
Baby I'm right beside you everywhere you go
Lovers save your secrets trust not into fools
Don't go look for trouble it will come to you
Like some long lost passage fly in broken lines
Here in the fleetin' moment really gone this time
One way rider, one way down the road
Baby I'm right beside you everywhere you go
Yeah, I'm a one way rider, one way down the road
Baby I'm right beside you everywhere you go
The Seldom Scene's song "One Way Rider" is a cautionary tale about running away from problems and how it only leads to a never-ending journey down a one-way road. The first stanza describes the feeling of being chased, whether it's a physical threat or just fear and uncertainty. The second stanza speaks to the idea that once you fall victim to certain circumstances, they have a tendency to take hold over everything you do. The line "First we follow losers next we follow fools" suggests that we often make poor decisions because we're following those who are also making poor decisions. The final stanza implores the listener to keep their secrets safe and not to go looking for trouble as it will inevitably find them.
The song emphasizes the idea that we should not run away from our problems but confront them head-on. It's better to deal with our issues and learn from them rather than always trying to escape. The lyrics serve as a reminder that our decisions and actions have consequences and we should be careful about who and what we follow in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Now you're off and runnin' run just like you're scared
You're moving quickly as if you're afraid of something.
Run just like a grey dog run just like a deer
You're running as fast as a grey dog or a deer.
Something in the bushes starin' out at you
There's something hiding in the bushes, watching you.
Starin' at your feelings feelin' like you do
Whatever is in the bushes is making you feel the same way.
One way rider, one way down the road
You're on a journey with no way back.
Baby I'm right beside you everywhere you go
I'm always with you, no matter where you go.
Once upon a victim circumstance is due
At some point, you were a victim of circumstances beyond your control.
Tend to take a hold on everything you do
Those circumstances continue to affect you and your actions.
First we follow losers next we follow fools
We start by following those who aren't successful, then move on to following those who are foolish.
Now we follow footsteps sneakin' upon you
We're now following someone who is trying to approach you sneakily.
Lovers save your secrets trust not into fools
Be careful with whom you share your secrets and don't trust those who are foolish.
Don't go look for trouble it will come to you
If you look for trouble, you'll find it, but if you don't, it will find you.
Like some long lost passage fly in broken lines
Like a passage that has been lost for a long time, flying in disjointed lines.
Here in the fleetin' moment really gone this time
This fleeting moment will soon be gone forever.
Yeah, I'm a one way rider, one way down the road
I, too, am on a journey with no way back.
Baby I'm right beside you everywhere you go
And I'll be with you every step of the way.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Rodney J. Crowell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@philrosenthal
This brings back memories. Playing in this band was so easy, such solid rhythm, great playing, and singing with John Duffey - that required all you had to offer. He could hold a note longer than anyone I ever sang with. Hope more of this surfaces. Phil R.
@keithclark2136
Phil Rosenthal S/S STILL THE BEST YOUR VOCALS PUT THE ICING ON THE CAKE THAT HAS YET TO BE CUT.
@annieemccord5668
Phil Rosenthal you added so much to this group. Your singing and your songs not to mention your playing!
@scottorado
Thank you, Phil!
@tankmac5584
Phil - Bluegrass legend !
@peterjackson4623
The Scene was the best when Phil was singing and playing lead. John Starling was a bit before I was turned on to them. I enjoyed my weekly time at the Birchmere watching them perform. Just totally great musicians all the way around
@wiscgaloot
This is the bluegrass that I fell in love with 40+ years ago! Love Seldom Scene.
@SQAE
RIP MIKE AULDRIDGE - I believe he is the best Dobro player who ever lived, founding member of my favorite Bluegrass band, The Seldom Scene, and a personal friend. He leaves a hole that music may not be able to fill.
@aalbi2781
His instrumental version of Tennessee Stud circa 1971 is phenomenal. First heard it in college. Haunts me to this day in a very good way.
@bassmangotdbluz
Check out Emmett Franz with The Petersens. Watch out, Jerry Douglas!