C.J. Lewandowski of The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys Honors Mentor Bobby Osborne’s Legacy with New Album External

C.J. Lewandowski Honors Late Mentor Bobby Osborne with Upcoming Tribute Album Keep On Keepin’ On

​Bluegrass traditionalist and mandolinist C.J. Lewandowski of The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys is set to release a powerful new tribute album, Keep On Keepin’ On, honoring the life, legacy, and enduring influence of his late mentor and bluegrass icon Bobby Osborne. The album, recorded as a collaborative effort between Osborne, Lewandowski, and a host of friends and admirers, includes some of Osborne’s final studio performances before his passing in 2023 at the age of 91.

“When Bobby passed, I was at a loss,” says Lewandowski. “We had just started working on this album together. I didn’t want to hear his voice—I even thought about walking away from music altogether.”

The turning point came one night on Lewandowski’s porch in the Smoky Mountains. He felt Osborne’s presence and heard a message: “I gave you something—now do what you want with it.” That moment inspired Lewandowski to finish what they had started—not just as an album, but as a final chapter in Osborne’s monumental career.

Keep On Keepin’ On features a remarkable ensemble of contributors, including members of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame, Grammy-winning artists, Grand Ole Opry performers, and musicians from Osborne’s own Rocky Top X-Press. The album spans generations, with over a dozen artists under 40 lending their talents, proving Osborne’s influence continues to shape the future of bluegrass music.

The album’s fourth single, a moving rendition of “She’s No Angel”, was just released, featuring Lewandowski alongside Del McCoury and Ronnie McCoury. The collaboration was born out of a backstage jam following a tribute performance at the 2023 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards. That moment of shared grief and spontaneous music led to the track’s creation, now one of the standout songs on the album.

The full lineup on “She’s No Angel” includes C.J. Lewandowski (vocals), Del McCoury (guitar, vocals), Ronnie McCoury (mandolin), Bobby Osborne Jr. (bass), Wynn Osborne (banjo), and Aynsley Porchak (fiddle).
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Keep On Keepin’ On will be released later this year and stands as a heartfelt celebration of Bobby Osborne’s unmatched contributions to American roots music—and the deep bond he shared with his protégé.
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​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 

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.