Pensacola native Dolio the Sleuth, known as Lawrence Durant, is celebrating a significant milestone as a member of Gangstagrass, whose album “The Blackest Thing on the Menu” has reached No. 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart. The title is inspired by a special Juneteenth menu item at Pensacola’s Five Sisters Blues Café, where Blackened Shrimp and Grits were featured.
Durant, who graduated from Pensacola High School International Baccalaureate in 1994 and later earned a mechanical engineering degree from MIT, reflects on his roots as the group claims the top spot from bluegrass sensation Billy Strings. The band came to Pensacola to perform at Vinyl Music Hall during the Juneteenth celebration, and the memorable dining experience led to the album’s title.
“We were just there having dinner, and I was introducing the band around,” Dolio recalled. He also shared a nostalgic connection to the area, noting that Five Sisters now occupies the former location of Gussie’s Records, where he used to buy his records. “When I go to Five Sisters, I still call it Gussie’s,” he added.
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