Mike O'Roark (1948-2008) was a popular regional bluegrass bandleader and multi-instrumentalist from the greater Kansas City area. He formed his own band, the Freeborn Men, in the late 1960s while just nineteen years old, with backing by his younger brother Mitch, on bass... O'Roark served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, then returned to the Midwest to re-form the band, going on to record several albums and singles, some of which are listed here.
Mike O'Roark & The Free Born Men "How Do You Like It So Far?" (Big K Records, 1973-?) (LP)
(Produced by Mike O'Roark & Charlie Kellogg)
The brothers are joined by Don Hoglen on fiddle and mandolin, Gary Myers on bass and banjo plunker Howard Rash. The repertoire falls squarely in the "progressive" bluegrass camp, with strong stylistic debts to groups such as the Country Gentlemen, mixing traditional material with covers of rock, country and folk material. This was, I believe, their first LP. Don Hoglen was a veteran picker who had worked for Porter Wagoner as well as bluegrass icon Mac Wiseman, and played with the O'Roarks for a few years early on...
Mike O'Roark & The Free Born Men "Pickin' With Feelin' " (King Bluegrass, 1975) (LP)
Mike O'Roark & The Free Born Men "Go My Way" (King Bluegrass, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Mike O'Roark & Charlie Kellogg)
Almost the same lineup on this album, though for some strange reason they couldn't get Ricky Skaggs to back them again... So this time the lineup was Mike and Mitch O'Roark, Tommy Burroughs on fiddle and mandolin, Dennis Stout playing banjo, and Ferrell Stowe on dobro. The set list includes several Gordon Lightfoot songs (including the title track), a cover of the Marshall Tucker Band's "Fire On The Mountain," a Doug Dillard tune, Country Joe McDonald's eco-folk anthem, "Save The Whales," and one more Dennis Stout original, "Road Musician."
Mike O'Roark & The Free Born Men "Somewhere In-Between" (King Bluegrass, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Mike O'Roark & Cecil Jones)
Mike O'Roark & Mitch O'Roark "Live" (Programme Audio, 1978) (LP)
This concert album has plenty of standard bluegrass fare, with some progressive/outlaw influences, "East Bound And Down," "Good Hearted Woman," "July You're A Woman" as well as chestnuts such as "Orange Blossom Special," "Reuben James" and "Tennessee Stud." Banjo picker Jody Wisecup rounds out the trio; Mitch O'Roark retunrs the favor on a solo album of Wisecup's that came out around the same time (see below).
Mike O'Roark "Color Me Bluegrass" (King Bluegrass, 1978-?) (LP)
No date on this one, but '78 seems like a good guess, since banjo player Jody Wisecup is on here, and tht seems to be the time frame he was working with the O'Roark brothers...
The O'Roark Brothers "Long Time Comin' " (King Bluegrass, 1982) (LP)
(Produced by Patty Parker & Jim Williamson)
Jody Wisecup "Natural Energy" (1978) (LP)
Banjo plunker Jody Wisecup played on a couple of the O'Roarks' records around this time; Mitch O'Roark returns the favor, playing guitar and bass on this album. Also on board are fiddler Tommy Burroughs, Brent Kenser (guitar), Bill McCullough (bass) and Jeff Scott on dobro.
