Bluegrass legend Dan Tyminski is coming to CoMMA

O Brother, thou art in Morganton. Dan Tyminski is coming to town.

An icon of modern-day bluegrass, whose voice famously accompanies George Clooney’s performance of the classic song “I’m A Man of Constant Sorrow” in the film “O Brother, Where Art Thou,” Tyminski will perform at the City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium (CoMMA) on Friday, Jan. 31.

The Morganton concert is only the second engagement on Tyminski’s upcoming tour, which also includes stops in Kentucky, Colorado, California, and Connecticut, among other places. He said he’s looking forward to opening the road trip in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

“We’re so excited to get it started in what I consider bluegrass country,” Tyminski noted. “I’ve been traveling the roads for a lifetime, and North Carolina has always been one of my favorite places to play.”

According to the Vermont native, while he enjoys recording tunes in the studio, nothing beats performing in front of an audience.

“When you’re in the studio recording, there’s a wonderful feeling that you know you’re going to have something preserved, and that you’ll be able to pass that down to others, to create something of a legacy in that way with your recordings,” he explained. “But there’s a beauty in live music that, to me, you cannot match anywhere.”

Tyminski said a connection with his audiences is vital.

“I really enjoy the aspect of entertaining,” he said. “I love to make people laugh and smile. In fact, it’s as important to me to make people laugh during the show as it is to just play the good music, because they should feel a connection.

“That’s a huge part of what I do,” Tyminski added. “I mean, to have the audience respond to our music is amazing.”

The musician is also known for his vocal collaboration with Swedish DJ Avicii on the song “Hey, Brother,” a global smash, that has been streamed more than 1 billion times to date.

But the singer/songwriter/musician’s story is much richer than his well-known contribution to the widely acclaimed movie and Avicii’s smash hit.

During a career spanning more than three decades, Tyminski has developed an impressive resume. Honored with 14 Grammy awards and named Male Vocalist of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association on four occasions, Tyminski was also recognized as 2004’s Male Vocalist of the Year by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America.

He has collaborated with a star-studded list of some of country and pop music’s greatest artists.

Tyminski contributed guitar and/or harmony to projects by Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, Aaron Lewis, and Rob Thomas, to name a few. In addition to his highly successful solo career, Tyminski has played guitar and mandolin for Alison Krauss and Union Station since 1994. His unmatched instrumental skills and burnished, soulful tenor voice have been key components of the band.

The audience at the Morganton show will be treated to a variety of selections from Tyminski’s musical catalog, including older hits as well as songs from his latest album, “Live from the Ryman,” recorded at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium, the “Mother Church” for country music and former home of the Grand Ole Opry.

“We’ll be playing new stuff that people hopefully haven’t heard before,” Tyminski said. “But I’ve had a pretty long career that has been pretty diverse, and I don’t think there’s any way for me to tour and just work off of one project.

“We try to touch on a little bit of everything I’ve done through the career,” he said, “and we’ll absolutely hit on the new album as well.”

Tyminski said the cross-generation, cross-genre success of “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” manifested a change in his audiences.

“There is no doubt in my mind that that movie influenced a league of people that would have probably skipped right by bluegrass,” he said. “I remember seeing our demographic change after that movie.

“I mean, we were used to seeing a certain demographic of people in the audience, and after ‘O Brother,’ all of a sudden, we just didn’t have the crowd we were used to seeing,” Tyminski stated.

“We had younger people and older people. We had rock ’n’ roll T-shirts and spiked hair, and we had people with jewelry in their faces,” he said. “You know, people from all walks, who obviously weren’t, you know, hardcore bluegrass fans.

“Watching how a project like that can influence the world is, really, the word amazing doesn’t cover it,” he explained.

“It was mind blowing to watch that movie affect everyone,” Tyminski said. “And of course it changed my life. Changed the way I listened to music, the way I look for music. I mean, it was so profound in so many ways that I will be honoring ‘O Brother’ till the day I die.”

CoMMA Director Sharon Jablonski said booking Tyminski for the local venue was an easy decision.

“Dan is a great fit for our area because of our deep roots in bluegrass music,” Jablonski stated, “not to mention, who doesn’t love the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” making famous his song “Man of Constant Sorrow.”

“If you’re wondering, ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ we’re going to be in Morganton, North Carolina,” Tyminski quipped. “So, people won’t have to wonder anymore.”

The Dan Tyminski Band includes Gaven Largent (Dobro), Maddie Denton (fiddle), Jason Davis (banjo), Grace Davis (bass), and Harry Clark (mandolin).

The band will take the stage at CoMMA on Friday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m. Visit commaonline.org for tickets. Limited floor seats and several balcony seats are still available as The Paper goes to press.