The McLain Family Band has been entertaining audiences for more than 50 years with their bluegrass, country and old-time music. Various group members have performed together in 64 countries and all 50 states. Now the band is being inducted into The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. Raymond McLain talks about the Hall of Fame.
“It’s a wonderful place. You go in and you can see Merle Travis’ guitar, the one with his name in the fingerboard. You can see all this memorabilia and information about Kentucky artists, not only in the country or bluegrass field but Rosemary Clooney is there for example, Exile. In this induction they’re going to have a hard rock group for the very first time. There is all kinds of information and memorabilia from the Renfro Valley stars that played for the King and Queen of England and the White House,” explained Raymond.
The musician widely known for his banjo and fiddle playing shares his surprise at the band’s induction.
” I don’t even know how to feel about it. It’s something that we never expected. It is I guess validating but it feels like we’re being included with some mighty high-powered company in a place that I honor and a place I revere,” said Raymond.
Raymond’s sister and band member Ruth feels honored by the award. She says the induction values the legacy of the McLain’s parents.
“It’s appreciating what our parents have done and the impact they’ve had, not only on us but on other musicians and other people. Just, the way they lived, the way they shared their kindness, their generous spirit. And their appreciation and love of the music, and the region,” explained Ruth.
Executive director Jessica Blankenship said that the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame has held an induction ceremony every other year since 2002 except during the pandemic. She said this year there were more than 130 nominees and 12 inductees. Blankenship lists a few of this year’s inductees including Gary Stewart, Sturgill Simpson, and The McLain Family Band. She said the McLain’s grew up in Hindman, Kentucky. She describes the well-known musicians as a multigenerational family.
“Multigenerational family that has performed throughout the world and has really been ambassadors to Kentucky music,” reported Blankenship.
Five people currently travel in the band. They include Raymond McLain, his sisters, Ruth and Alice, Alice’s husband, Al White, and Daxson Lewis.
Ruth said at one time her younger sister and brother, Nancy Ann and Michael also played with the band. Ruth recalls their early days.
‘We consider the beginning of the McLain Family Band in 1968 when we started our television series at the TV station in Hazard, Kentucky. I was 10, Alice was 12 and Raymond was 14,” said Ruth.
The award-winning McLain Family Band has appeared at venues like Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Kennedy Center, and the Grand Ole Opry.
Raymond McLain said he was inspired by his father Raymond Kane McLain who believed music changed the spirit in a room and could bring people together.
“He wrote a song once, called Kentucky Wind and we were traveling far from home. And we were young and we were lonesome. We were homesick. And Daddy said, you know the wind that’s blowing across your face right now, that wind at one time blew in Kentucky. So, he and I wrote a song together. He wrote the words, and I wrote the music called Kentucky Wind. And it became one of most requested songs. And I think people can relate to that. After all, we all share the same wind,” said Raymond.
The induction ceremony is scheduled to be held Saturday at The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame at Renfro Valley.
Raymond McLain of the McLain Family Band talks with Cheri Lawson about the band and its induction into The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame...
Ruth McLain of the McLain Family Band talks with Cheri Lawson about the band and its induction into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame...
** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.
CL
