Monroeville
MONROEVILLE From Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Formed in 2010. Most of this band had been the nucleus of Barry Scott's band "Second Wind." Original band: Matt (AKA "Scooter") Munsey (mandolin), Daniel Salyer (bass), Travis Houck (resonator guitar),
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Smith, Dick and Mike O'Reilly Band
DICK SMITH & MIKE O'REILLY BAND From Alexandria, Virginia. Dick Smith (banjo) has also worked with The Country Store, The Del McCoury Band, The Country Gentlemen, The Lynn Morris Band, and Bill Clifton. Mike O'Reilly (guitar), a Canadian,
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Livewire
LIVEWIRE From Kentucky, North Carolina, Nashville. A band formed in 1989 by Scott Vestal (banjo) following his stint with Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. Bandmates included Wayne Benson (mandolin), Robert Hale (guitar) and Ernie Sykes (bass). T
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Toner, Niall
NIALL TONER From Dublin, Ireland. Lives in Bunclody, County Wexford. Since the 1960's, one of Ireland's best known folk and bluegrass performers. He also had a long-running radio program in Ireland called "Country Heartland." Plays mandolin a
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Shelton, Allen
ALLEN SHELTON From Reidsville, North Carolina. Legendary banjo player who began his career with Mac Wiseman in the early fifties, also with Jim Eanes and the Shenandoah Valley Boys. Best known for his work with Jim and Jesse and the Virginia
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Starling, John
JOHN STARLING From Alabama. Lives in Fredericksburg, VA. One of the founding members of the Seldom Scene. Left the Seldom Scene in 1988 to devote himself full-time to his medical practice. He is a surgeon, specializing in ear, nose and throat
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Greeson, Daniel
DANIEL GREESON From Greensboro, North Carolina. Began playing fiddle at age 6. He has won numerous fiddle contest, both in youth and adult competitions at the Galax and Mt. Airy Fiddler's Conventions and many others. He has performed and re
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Elkville String Band, The
THE ELKVILLE STRING BAND From Wilkes County, North Carolina Formed in 2001 by Jerry Lankford. They take their name from the Wilkes County town of Elkville - now known as Ferguson - where Tom Dooley was born. Band members: Drake Walsh (fidd
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Due West
DUE WEST From the San Francisco area. 1992, released album "Due West." 2003, released "These Boots" album. Band members: Bill Evans (banjo), Jim Nunally (guitar), Erik Thomas (mandolin), Chad Manning (fiddle) and Cindy Browne (bass).
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Clark, Bobby
BOBBY CLARK From Oklahoma. Won the national mandolin championship in Winfield, Kansas. Early bands: The Bluegrass Revue with Vince Gill. Also worked with Vassar Clements, Peter Rowan, Larry McNeeley, Jim Lauderdale and the Bluegrass Cardinals
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Fireside Collective
FIRESIDE COLLECTIVE From Asheville, NC. Formed in 2014 by Jesse Iaquinto (mandolin). Band members: Tommy Maher (Dobro™), Carson White (bass) and Joe Cicero (guitar). They are students (or former students) of East Tennessee State University, where they met in the school’s music program. 2015, released Shadows and Dreams album (no label) 2016, won the MerleFest Band […]Read More »Old Salt Union
OLD SALT UNION From Belleville, IL (a suburb of St. Louis, MO). Formed in 2012 by Ryan Murphey (banjo) and Dustin Eiskant (guitar). Other members: Justin Wallace (mandolin), John Brighton (fiddle), Jesse Farrar (bass). Eiskant was later replaced by guitarist Rob Kindle. Banjo player Murphey is also a horticulturist. Farrar is a hip-hop producer and […]Read More »Twisted Pine
TWISTED PINE From Boston, MA. Formed in 2013 by Berklee College of Music students: Kathleen Parks (fiddle), Dan Bui (mandolin), Ricky Mier (banjo), Chris Sartori (bass) and Rachel Sumner (guitar). 2014, won band contests at the Freshgrass and Thomas Point Beach Festivals. They played weekly at a club called the Cantab Lounge in Cambridge, MA. […]Read More »Salt and Light
SALT AND LIGHT From Graham, North Carolina. A family band (the Moore Family) featuring siblings Kyndal (mandolin), Morgan (guitar), Parker (banjo), Daniel (fiddle), Norah (fiddle) and Garrett (bass). 2017, they ranged in age from 11 (Norah) to 21 (Parker). They began performing together as a band in 2014. While they are not exclusively a gospel-singing […]Read More »Johnson, Billie Renee'
BILLIE RENEE’ JOHNSON From Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. She grew up singing with her family gospel group. 1996, graduated from college with a degree in criminology. 1997, formed her own band Billie Renee’ and Cumberland Gap. 2006, won the band competition at SPBGMA. 2017, released Songs from the Heart album (Truegrass).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!