When the late, great bluegrass legend Bobby Osborne passed away in 2023, his mentee and Po’ Ramblin’ Boys’ mandolin star C.J. Lewandowski was not only mourning the loss of a dear friend, but he was also unsure of what to do with the material he’d been recording with Osborne just months before. One night, sitting alone on his porch in the Smoky Mountains, Lewandowski felt as if Osborne was sitting next to him, telling him, “I gave you something, now do what you want with it.” While Lewandowski couldn’t make this album with Osborne anymore, he could absolutely finish it for him. And so became the brand new album: Bobby Osborne, C.J. Lewandowski, & Friends’ Keep On Keepin’ On.
Featuring the last few tracks ever recorded by the 91-year-old member of The Osborne Brothers and later, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Keep On Keepin’ On finds a whole host of folks who loved Osborne—both personally and musically—paying their respects in a way that adds one more jewel to Osborne’s Bluegrass crown. For the remaining songs featuring Osborne only in inspiration, the all-star cast includes members of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame, stars of Osborne’s beloved Grand Ole Opry, Grammy award-winners, members of The Rocky Top X-Press, Osborne’s sons, and many other friends and fans of Bobby Osborne.
Keep On Keepin’ On is out now on Turnberry Records and can be streamed or purchased right here. Physical CDs will be available at The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys’ shows and online at www.turnberryrecords.com. For more information, please visit www.turnberryrecords.com and follow the label on Facebook and Instagram.
Keep On Keepin’ On’s 9th track, “Cora Is Gone,” was recently nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Collaborative Recording of the Year. Performed by Osborne and Lewandowski, “Cora Is Gone” features Rob McCoury on banjo and Billy Strings on guitar and vocals. Tune in to the IBMA Awards in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on September 18th.
Keep On Keepin’ On Tracklist:
“Keep On Keepin’ On” - Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (feat. Sam Bush)
“Lonesome Feeling” - C.J. Lewandowski & Vince Gill (feat. A.J. Lee and The Rocky Top X-Press)
“Where The Soul Never Dies” - Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski
“Rosie Bokay” - C.J. Lewandowski & Paul Brewster (feat. Wyatt Ellis and John Meador)
“Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong” - Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (feat. Molly Tuttle and The Osborne Boys)
“She’s No Angel” - C.J. Lewandowski & Del McCoury (feat. Ronnie McCoury)
“Don’t Know Why” - Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (feat. Wyatt Ellis)
“Fern Branch” - C.J. Lewandowski & Wyatt Ellis (feat. Del McCoury and Ronnie McCoury)
“Cora Is Gone” - Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (feat. Rob McCoury and Billy Strings)
“Blue Heartache” - C.J. Lewandowski & Jaelee Roberts (feat. The Po' Ramblin' Boys)
“Rank Stranger” - Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (feat. Wyatt Ellis)
“Rocky Top” - Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (feat Wyatt Ellis and The Osborne Boys)
“Too Old to Die Young” - Bobby Osborne & C.J.Lewandowski
Recording Credits:
Produced by: C.J. Lewandowski
Executive Producer: Keith Barnacastle
Recorded and Mixed by: Ben Surratt • Ben’s Place - Nashville, TN
Recording and Editing by: Dave Maggard • Sound Biscuit Productions - Sevierville, TN
Mastering by: Dave Polster • Well Made Music - Bristol, VA
About C.J. Lewandowski: C.J. Lewandowski is a GRAMMY-nominated mandolin player and the founder of the bluegrass ensemble, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. Lewandowski’s contributions to bluegrass music were recently highlighted in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “American Currents: State of the Music” exhibition in 2024, where his artifacts were displayed alongside those of his mentor, Bobby Osborne.
About Turnberry Records: Founded with a passion for preserving the rich traditions of roots music while embracing contemporary sounds, Turnberry Records works with both seasoned artists and emerging talent to bring authentic and timeless music to a wider audience. Turnberry Records prides itself on being a home for music that resonates with the heart and soul — where tradition meets innovation, and the spirit of bluegrass lives on.
