Evans, Bill

BILL EVANS

  • From Charlottesville, Virginia. Has lived in California, New Mexico, Kentucky, recently moved back to Virginia.
  • Has degrees in anthropology and music from University of Virginia and a Ph.D in Ethno-musicology from UC Berkeley.
  • 1980-1986, played banjo with Cloud Valley (a Virginia band).
  • 1993-1997, played banjo with the Dry Branch Fire Squad.
  • 1994-5, served as the curator of the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro.
  • 1995, released solo album Native and Fine (Rounder Records).
  • 1996, was elected to the IBMA Board of Directors.
  • 1997, left the Dry Branch Fire Squad to perform solo and to work on his Ph.D.
  • 1997, began performing a one-man show called “The Banjo in America: A Musical and Cultural History.”
  • 2001, started his own record label (Native and Fine Records). Released Bill Evans Plays Banjo album.
  • In addition to his solo performances, he is a member of two bands: The Bluegrass Intentions and Due West. He also tours extensively with banjo player Alan Munde.
  • 2008, formed a duo with fiddler Megan Lynch and recorded a CD with her titled Let’s Do Something (Native and Fine).
  • 2012, released In Good Company album with a variety of guest musicians (Native and Fine).
  • 2013, recorded an album with fiddler Fletcher Bright Fine Times At Fletcher’s House: Fiddle and Banjo Music from Lookout Mountain, Tennessee (Native and Fine).
  • 2022, was awarded the Steve Martin Banjo Prize.
  • 2024, was inducted into the American Banjo Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.