Laurie Lewis' personal tribute to the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, on the 100th anniversary of his birth, the CD mixes songs from bluegrass repertoire, contemporary writers, and Laurie's original songs. In turns lively, exciting, deep, and heartfelt, the songs feature Laurie's expressive vocals and instrumentation by Grammy-award-winning bassist Todd Phillips, the legendary Craig Smith on banjo, and mandolinist/vocalist Tom Rozum.  Linda Ronstadt is among the special guests.''Bill Monroe was not a follower of styles, but steadfastly played his singular music through the good times and the tough, inspiring me with his example to be free to explore my own musical path. Performed with a ''traditional'' bluegrass band (fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar, and bass), all of the harmony singing stems directly from the school of Bill Monroe. This collection is an installment on those student loans and a warm thank-you to Big Mon.''  - Laurie Lewis (from the liner notes)