Shenandoah Blue
SHENANDOAH BLUE From Winchester, Virginia. Formed in 2002 by Scott Walker and Dave Probst. Walker (banjo) and Probst (mandolin) previously worked with Paul Adkins and the Borderline Band and Fastest Grass Alive. Probst (leader/mandolin) for
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Blue Sky Boys, The
THE BLUE SKY BOYS A "brothers duet" from Hickory, North Carolina featuring Bill and Earl Bolick. One of the most popular and durable country music acts of the 1930's and 1940's. Influenced by the Monroe Brothers, The Delmore Brothers and the
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Roys, The
THE ROYS From Fitchburg, Massachusetts and also lived in Coal Branch, New Brunswick, Canada. Now live in Nashville. A brother/sister duo featuring Lee and Elaine Roy. 2009, 2010, won Inspirational Country Music (ICM) Award for Duo of the Year
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Kimmel, Dick
DICK KIMMEL (AND COMPANY) From Southcentral Minnesota. Has played bluegrass music since the 1950's with groups like Mountain Grass, Flint Hill Special, F&W String Band, Wild Turkey String Band, Southern Sounds of Grass, Kimmel, Rosenstein &
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Cluster Pluckers, The
THE CLUSTER PLUCKERS From Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in 1988 by vocalists Margaret Archer Bailey and Kris Ballinger (who began singing together in 1979 in Vassar Clements' Hillbilly Jazz Band). Kris' husband Dale played bass. They were regu
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Johnson, Mark
MARK JOHNSON From Garrison, New York. Lives in Crystal River, Florida. Plays clawhammer-style banjo. Calls his music "Clawgrass" and also named his backup group (formed in 1996) Clawgrass. Took up the banjo in 1971, learned from fiddler Jay
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Lauderdale, Jim
JIM LAUDERDALE From Troutman, North Carolina. Lives in Nashville. A successful Nashville singer/songwriter who has written hits for Patty Loveless, Mark Chesnutt, Kathy Mattea, George Strait and many others. Lived in New York City for several
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Dillard, Doug
DOUG DILLARD From Salem, Missouri. Lived in Los Angeles and Nashville during most of his career. An influential banjo player who was an original member of the Dillards (1962-1968) Before becoming a professional musician, he was an accountant.
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Southern Raised
SOUTHERN RAISED From Crane, Missouri. A family band featuring four siblings: Lindsay Reith (bass), Sarah Reith (banjo), Emily Reith (fiddle/mandolin) and Matthew Reith (guitar). They specialize in bluegrass gospel music and perform regul
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Gray, J.T.
J. T. GRAY From Corinth, Mississippi. Lives in Nashville. He is the owner of the Station Inn (Nashville bluegrass and acoustic music venue). As a performer, he has recorded and toured with many bands including Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain Bo
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Roberts, Chris
CHRIS ROBERTS From Montana. He has also lived in New York City. He is a singer/songwriter now living in Nashville. He has appeared in several Broadway plays and musical productions, including The Civil War with Larry Gatlin, who became a friend and mentor. 2008, was a member of the group One Flew South and recorded […]Read More »Deeper Shade of Blue
DEEPER SHADE OF BLUE From Charlotte, North Carolina. Formed in 2000 by Jim Fraley (banjo), Jason Fraley (mandolin) and Brian Hinson (bass). Jim and Jason Fraley are father and son. Other members of the band are Troy Pope (guitar) and Frank Poindexter (Dobro™). Poindexter is the uncle of the Rice Brothers (Tony, Larry and Wyatt) […]Read More »King James Boys
THE KING JAMES BOYS From Cowpens, South Carolina (near Spartanburg). Formed in 1994 at their home church, Mountain View Baptist Church. They became known as the King James 1611 Boys, named after the King James edition of the Bible that was first published in 1611 (which is still widely used today.) They later dropped the “1611” […]Read More »Southern Raised
SOUTHERN RAISED From Crane, Missouri. A family band featuring four siblings: Lindsay Reith (bass), Sarah Reith (banjo), Emily Reith (fiddle/mandolin) and Matthew Reith (guitar). They specialize in bluegrass gospel music and perform regularly in churches and Christian concerts. 2017, released Another World album (Provident).Read More »Commonwealth Bluegrass
COMMONWEALTH BLUEGRASS BAND From Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 2013 by Randy Cook (mandolin), Malcolm Pulley (banjo), Jason Owens (guitar), Lance Seal (bass), and Wally Hughes (fiddle). Other band members have included Jim Green (bass), Glenn Waller (guitar), Mike Bailiff (guitar) and Joe Currence (bass). The group began as Randy Cook and the Commonwealth Bluegrass Band […]Read More »Find an artist
This web site contains short profiles of the best known bluegrass artists and bands. Click on the A to Z listing above and scroll to the artist you are looking for.
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
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 DJ’s 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!