As bluegrass continues to experience a renaissance in the U.S., the genre’s influence has expanded far beyond Appalachia and Nashville, finding its way into the most unexpected places. The tradition’s global reach is exemplified by Chinese bluegrass musician Eric Shi and his band’s moving cover of George Strait’s country classic “Amarillo By Morning”. While the song has long been associated with Texas honky-tonk culture, Shi’s version infuses it with a global flair, bringing together traditional American bluegrass instruments and the distinctive sounds of Chinese folk music.
The increasing popularity of bluegrass across the globe isn’t exactly surprising, especially as young artists like Billy Strings have brought the genre back into the spotlight in the U.S. Strings’ trailblazing career has reinvigorated bluegrass with his electrifying live shows and virtuosic guitar work, capturing the hearts of both longtime fans and a new generation of listeners. In fact, Strings recently made history with his latest release, Highway Prayers, which became the first bluegrass album to top the Billboard Album Sales chart in more than 20 years, a feat last accomplished by the 2002 soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou?, which just so happens to be the theme of his upcoming Halloween run.
It’s no wonder that this momentum has carried the music across oceans, catching the attention of musicians like Shi. His ensemble, rooted in bluegrass tradition, features all the hallmarks of the genre—banjo, mandolin, bass, and guitar (played by ten-year-old multi-instrumentalist Shi Rang)—but with a unique Chinese twist. Rather than relying on a fiddle, Shi’s group incorporates the erhu, often referred to as the Chinese fiddle, which adds a haunting, ethereal quality to the familiar twang of bluegrass. The blending of these instruments creates a rich, cross-cultural soundscape that pays homage to bluegrass while reflecting Shi’s own heritage.
In his rendition of “Amarillo By Morning”, Shi’s soft yet poignant vocals are backed by plucked banjo strings and the delicate weeping of the erhu, creating an emotional depth that resonates far beyond the borders of Texas. His interpretation is a testament to the versatility of bluegrass and its ability to adapt and thrive in different cultural contexts.
As bluegrass continues to gain traction with global audiences, artists like Eric Shi are helping to show that its heart and soul can resonate in places far removed from the Appalachian Mountains. It’s a new chapter in bluegrass history, one where the sounds of American tradition meet the rhythms and textures of world music, and where artists on opposite sides of the globe share in the universal language of song.
Watch Eric Shi and his band’s cover of “Amarillo By Morning” by George Straight, and scroll down to hear him explain a bit about his background and how he learned to play bluegrass music.
Eric Shi – “Amarillo By Morning” (George Straight)
Eric Shi Dicsusse How He Learned To Play Bluegrass