Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Dakota Midday: Adkins & Loudermilk Coming To Black Hills Bluegrass Festival

Hope River Entertainment

After playing in other bands and their own impressive solo careers,Dave Adkins and Edgar Loudermilk  formed a new group together two years ago. It wasn’t anything they planned, though. They just started writing together and enjoyed the chemistry that resulted. Their debut album, Adkins and Loudermilk, was released in March.

Dave Adkins is from Kentucky and has the gruffer voice of the two. Edgar Loudermilk has a more traditional bluegrass tenor and lives in Georgia. Adkins and Loudermilk are headliners at this weekend’s Black Hills Bluegrass Festival at Elkview Campground near Sturgis.

Adkins joined Dakota Midday and discussed the music he creates with Loudermilk.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.
Related Content