Bluegrass Bios

Pardue, Rick

RICK PARDUE From State Road, North Carolina. 1975, played banjo in a North Carolina band called the Sugarloaf Ramblers. Left the music scene in the mid-80’s and took up flying airplanes. 1990-1995, had a band called Point Blank. 1995, for

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Gangstagrass

GANGSTAGRASS From Brooklyn, New York. Formed in 2006 by record-producer and guitarist Rench (Oscar Owens) who combined bluegrass with hip-hop to record the theme song for the FX television network’s show “Justified.” 2014, released Rappala

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Grindstaff, David

DAVID GRINDSTAFF From North Carolina. In high school, played in a band called Highway Bound. As a student in the Bluegrass, Country and Old Time Music program at East Tennessee State University, played with a band called the Troubadours. Sang

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Hensley, Corey

COREY HENSLEY From Sod, West Virginia. He is a tenor singer and bass player (although he can play all the bluegrass instruments). Worked with Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver for four years. Wrote several songs recorded by Doyle Lawson including

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Lynn, Christie

CHRISTIE LYNN From Samson, Alabama 1995, met Porter Wagoner at Opryland USA. He auditioned her and she sang with him until 2002. 2002, began performing southern rock with Brave New South and the Southern Rock Allstars, bands made up of former

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Williams, Roger

ROGER WILLIAMS Grew up in Danville, NH; lives in Glastonbury, CT. He was born in Presque Isle, Maine. He is a well-known northeastern Dobro™ player. 1975-1976, worked with Don Stover and the White Oak Mountain Boys. 1977, joined The L

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Hayseed Dixie

HAYSEED DIXIE From “Deer Lick Holler” (Nashville, Tennessee). Formed by Barley Scotch and Enus and Talcum, the Younger Brothers — Dale and Don Wayne Reno in real life. 2001, recorded a bluegrass album of AC/DC songs. Original name of t

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Thomas, Steve

STEVE THOMAS From Vernon, Connecticut. Lives in Nashville. 1981, won the Virginia State Fiddle Championship.1982, won the World’s Fair Fiddle Contest in Knoxville. 1982, joined Del McCoury’s band, The Dixie Pals. 1983, an original member of

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Sparkman, Steve

STEVE SPARKMAN From Harlan, Kentucky. Has the distinction of being only the second banjo player to perform as a member of the Clinch Mountain Boys (Ralph Stanley being the first.) 1994, at the age of 22, he filled in for Ralph Stanley when Ra

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High Plains Tradition

HIGH PLAINS TRADITION From Denver, Colorado. Formed in 1988. Band members: Doug Elrick (mandolin), Kenny Pabst (bass), Bobby Vickery (fiddle), Mark Leslie ( banjo), Steve Gilmore (guitar). 1995, won first place at Denver’s Mile-High Bluegra

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Find an Artist

This web site contains short profiles of the best-known bluegrass artists and bands.

Use the Search Band or Artist function located at the top of the sidebar on the right to find an artist by name.
Or, utilize the Artist List drop-down below the search function in the right sidebar to search by the first letter of their last name if an individual – or – the first letter of a band name.

Check Out These Artists

Trending Today

Emmit, Drew

DREW EMMITT From Boulder, Colorado. Plays mandolin. Influenced heavily by...

Clark, Marvin

MARVIN CLARK From Beverly, Ohio. A singer/songwriter/guitarist who founded the...

New Road

NEW ROAD From Knoxville, Tennessee. A gospel group that performed...

Access the Bluegrass Calendar

In the navigation at the top of the website, choose a month and then scroll through the days.

Programming Suggestions

Need some music for holidays and other special occasions? Look to the right, I where you’ll find the occasion and some song suggestions to meet your programming needs.

Some Background

A great big howdy to ya, I’m Wayne Rice, a bluegrass radio programmer from San Diego, California. I began compiling this material in 1988 for DJ’s like myself who want to at least sound knowledgeable about bluegrass music on the air. Originally I published Bluegrass Bios® in a three-ring binder and sold it to DJs around the country … but now it’s here on the web and it’s free! Use it for your show prep, or just enjoy learning more about the amazing artists who play and sing bluegrass music. If you find errors or wish to make a suggestion, please contact me. Thanks!