The New Grass Revival evolved around the fiddle talents of Sam Bush and bass player John Cowan, who, somewhat surprisingly, contributed soaring R&B-styled vocals to an acoustic band. The group, originally formed in 1971, recorded several albums for Flying Fish Records which, while essentially bluegrass, also featured elements of jazz, rock, and soul. With new members Bela Fleck and Pat Flynn, the new line-up made its debut for Sugar Hill with ON THE BOULEVARD (1984). The quartet enjoyed even more success with EMI Records, earning a Grammy nomination in 1987 for Fleck’s DEVEN BY SEVEN. Shortly after registering their first Top 40 hit, "Callin’ Baton Rouge," Bush left to work as musical director for Emmylou Harris and the band opted to split.