“If You’re Ever Gonna Love Me,” a Tribute to the Kentucky Colonels

In 2022, the Museum celebrated the opening of its major exhibition "Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock," presented by City National Bank, with a concert featuring an all-star lineup. For the first time, that concert, is available to stream. In this clip, John Jorgenson, Sara Watkins, Sean Watkins, Mark Fain, Alison Brown, and Rob Ickes perform "If You're Ever Gonna Love Me," a tribute to the Kentucky Colonels.

One of the earliest acts that would figure crucially in L.A. country rock was the Three Little Country Boys, started in 1954 by siblings Clarence, Roland, and Eric White Jr. Their group became the Kentucky Colonels and realigned the traditional bluegrass lineup of fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and guitar through Clarence's acoustic guitar mastery, pushing the instrument front and center, and out of its traditional accompaniment role.

The Kentucky Colonels began reimagining the possibilities for bluegrass instrumentation in the sixties, and in the audience at various times to hear them were artists including Bernie Leadon, Jerry Garcia, and Chris Hillman. In later years, Hillman would bring Clarence into the Byrds as their lead guitarist.

Made possible in part by exhibit travel partner American Airlines.

Watch the full concert and visit the exhibit, open now through September 1, 2025: https://www.countrymusichalloffame.or…