Ladin, Evie
EVIE LADIN From Oakland, California (has also lived in New Jersey, Baltimore and Nigeria). Plays banjo (clawhammer style), sings, step-dances. Performs solo as well as with the San Francisco-based group The Stairwell Sisters. 2010, released
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Silver, Chris
CHRIS SILVER From River Falls, Wisconsin. 1987-1992, played guitar and mandolin with Stoney Lonesome. Mid-1990's, toured with Kate McKenzie. 1993, released solo project "Over Time." Late-1990's, formed two bands: Tangled Roots (bluegrass)
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Nickerson, Ross
ROSS NICKERSON From Baltimore, Maryland. Also has a home in Tucson, Arizona. Best known as a banjo teacher and writer of banjo instruction books. Own a studio in Baltimore called "The Banjo School." Twice won the Telluride Banjo Contest. 20
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Sowell, The Family
THE FAMILY SOWELL From Knoxville, Tennessee. A family band featuring the Sowell siblings: Jacob (banjo), Joshua (guitar), Naomi (bass), Abigail (mandolin), John-Mark (fiddle) and Justus (guitar). They range in age from 11 to 21 (2018). Their
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Southern Blend
SOUTHERN BLEND From Clay City, Kentucky. Formed in 1987. The band included Ricky Wasson (guitar), Wayne Fields (banjo), Shayne Bartley (mandolin). 1987, released "Spend Some Time with Southern Blend" album on Old Homestead Records. 1988,
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Kaufman, Steve
STEVE KAUFMAN From New York City. Lives in Maryville, Tennessee. Three-time winner of National Flatpick Guitar Championship in Winfield, Kansas (1978, 1984, 1986). Writes guitar instruction books for Mel Bay Publications and instruction video
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Welch, Gillian
GILLIAN WELCH (AND DAVID RAWLINGS) From New York City; grew up in West Los Angeles; moved to Nashville in 1992. Her parents were writers for the Carol Burnett TV series. 1988, attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. While in Boston, sh
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Lester, Emory
EMORY LESTER From Gainesville, Virginia. Currently lives in Ontario, Canada. Had his own group for several years called The Emory Lester Set. Also had bands called "Grassworks" (bluegrass) and Earthen Sky (new age/soft rock). Has also worke
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Saffell, Tom
TOM SAFFELL From Nashville (Antioch), Tennessee. Mid-1990's, was the banjo player with the Jim Buchanon System, the Bob Smiley Band. Also performs as a solo artist. "A cross between Bela Fleck and Alison Brown" –Bluegrass Unlimited. Plays
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Three Ring Circle
THREE RING CIRCLE From Nashville. An acoustic trio featuring Rob Ickes (Dobro™), Andy Leftwich (mandolin) and Dave Pomeroy (electric upright bass. They create their own style of music with combines elements of jazz and bluegrass. Ickes is a
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Davis, Christian
CHRISTIAN DAVIS From Nashville, Tennessee. He is primarily known as a bass singer, perhaps the first full-time bass singer in bluegrass music. 1998, began singing professionally with The Sounds of Liberty (at Liberty University). He also performed in Dr. Jerry Falwell’s Old Time Gospel Hour Quartet. He has also performed with several other gospel quartets […]Read More »Jorgenson, John
JOHN JORGENSON From Redlands, California. Began playing bass as a youngster, then gravitated to mandolin and guitar. He is well-known as one of the top guitarists in the world, and an authority on “Gypsy Jazz” music. He has worked with such artists as Earl Scruggs, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, Bob Dylan and many others. 1985, […]Read More »Chosen Road
CHOSEN ROAD From Princeton, West Virginia. A bluegrass gospel group formed in 2009 by Jonathan Buckner (guitar). The band is sometimes billed as Jonathan Buckner and Chosen Road. Other band members include (or have included) Jonathan Campbell (bass), Zack Alvis (mandolin), Brandon Green (banjo), Chris Stackwell (Reso-guitar), Tyler Robertson (banjo), Jason Wheeler (banjo), Max Silverstein […]Read More »Morris, Luke
LUKE MORRIS From Galax, Virginia. Plays mandolin with a group called Shadowgrass. Has been a student in the bluegrass music program at East Tennessee State University. Teaches at the Galax JAM program at Chestnut Creek School of the Arts. 2018, at age 18 released his first solo project “Further Down the Line” (no label).Read More »Muller, Damian
DAMIAN MULLER From Richmond, Virginia. He is a singer/songwriter whose songs have been recorded by a variety of bluegrass bands including Southern Rail. He specializes in songs of “faith, family and fun.” 2018, released solo project You’ve Still Got It (Thornrose Music).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.
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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!