Carl Jarrell, Jr., “CJ the DJ”, is no stranger to country and bluegrass music. This popular Eastern Kentucky radio personality is not only a familiar voice on the local and regional airwaves, he’s also a gifted and talented singer, songwriter, musician and recording artist.   When C.J. is not busy with his afternoon drive show on Radio Station WSIP New Country 98.9 FM in Paintsville, Kentucky, you’ll find him performing at various bluegrass festivals and special events around the area.

 C.J.’s newest recording project is a 12-song country/bluegrass album appropriately titled “Music Among Friends”.  The album was recorded at Big Appal Studios in Paintsville, KY (The Heart of Appalachia) and produced by Danny Huff on the Big Appal Music label.  Plans for major distribution are in the works. Sample copies have already been sent to local and regional radio stations and the response has been tremendous.

  “Bluer”, one of the songs from the new album, is gaining quite a bit of attention in Eastern Kentucky.  This selection, co-written by C. J. and his producer Danny Huff, has a haunting bluesy, bluegrass feel.   Other cuts also starting to gain momentum are “On My Way Back to the Old Home” and “Sweet Kentucky Memories.”

  “This is a country album with a bluegrass feel,” says C.J. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I’ve got several duets on the album with some of my long-time country and bluegrass friends, including Ralph Stanley, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Dave Evans, Jack Greene and Melvin Goins. Also a few original songs are included on the album.”

C.J. grew up near Prestonsburg in Floyd County, Kentucky. “I was raised on Slick Rock, just off old Route 23…up in the head of the holler,” says C.J.  “We lived so far back up in the holler, the only way to get out was to wade across the creek.” 

“I started singing at age four,” C.J. recalls.  “When I was growing up, we always had music around the house. We had an old floor-model record player back in the 70’s, and my mom always had bluegrass and country music playing. We’d have Ralph Stanley for breakfast and Loretta Lynn for supper.”  Other musical influences in his career (aside from family members) were Vern Gosdin, Keith Whitley and Tom.T. Hall.

  “I’ve traced my family lineage and found that our family was related to the famous Carter Family and Stanley Brothers,” continues C.J.  “Most all my relatives, uncles and cousins in the Boyd family (on my mom’s side of the family) could play and sing.  On summer evenings, you could hear the banjos ring off the hillsides.”

C.J. is celebrating his 20th year in the broadcasting business. He started working for WXKZ in Prestonsburg, Kentucky in 1989.  He later worked at WMDJ in Martin, KY. After two years, he took a huge leap into major market radio and moved to Detroit, Michigan.  Five years in the big city was long enough for this country boy. He returned to the hills of Kentucky in 1996.  He started working at WSIP in Paintsville and has been there ever since.  He’s a graduate of Betsy Layne High School in Betsy Layne, Kentucky and still lives in Floyd County.

To hear sample cuts from the album, go to  http://www.myspace/cjthedjeastkentuckyrain    For album sales information, call 606-434-5964.