Bluegrass Bios

Wise, Chubby

CHUBBY WISE From Lake City, Florida. Real name: Robert Russell Dees. He was adopted by his father’s sister, whose husband’s name was Wise. Has been called “The Dean of Bluegrass Fiddlers” and “The Original Bluegrass Fiddler.” Co

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Baldassari, Butch

BUTCH BALDASSARI (See also WEARY HEARTS, NASHVILLE MANDOLIN ENSEMBLE) From Scranton, Pennsylvania. Lives in Nashville. A mandolinist who grew up listening to the music of Frank Sinatra, Louis Prima and other classic pop stars. He was converted

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Newton, Mark

MARK NEWTON Originally from Padukah, Kentucky and lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia for many years. Moved to Nashville in 2004. At age 14, played in his father’s band, called Frog Newton and the Tadpoles. Mid-70’s, put together his first band

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Cooke, Jack

JACK COOKE From Norton, Virginia. (In 1963, he served a half-term as Mayor of Norton.) 1955, joined the Stanley Brothers, playing bass. 1956-1960, joined Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys, playing guitar, singing lead. 1960, formed his ow

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Taylor, Earl

EARL TAYLOR (AND THE STONEY MOUNTAIN BOYS) From Virginia. A legendary mandolin player and singer who for most of his career led a band called the Stoney Mountain Boys in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. 1955-57, worked with Jimmy Martin’s Sunny Mou

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Kilby, Cody

CODY KILBY From Nashville, Tennessee Two time Juvenile National Banjo, Guitar and Mandolin Champion. Signed an endorsement contract with Gibson at age ten.As a teenager, won the Kentucky State Banjo Championship, the Georgia State Banjo Champ

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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 artist

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Magness, Tommy

TOMMY MAGNESS (AND HIS TENNESSEE BUDDIES) From Roanoke, Virginia. A fiddler who worked in the late 1930’s with Roy Hall and His Blue Ridge Entertainers (with whom he made the very first recording of the Orange Blossom Special.) 1940, joined B

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Jordan, Tresa

TRESA JORDAN From Melrose, Florida (central Florida). Moved to Nashville at age 19 to pursue a career in country music, her career was put on hold when she married and had children. Seven years later, after her divorce, she re-married and resum

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Cumberland Gap Connection

CUMBERLAND GAP CONNECTION From Pike County, Kentucky. Band members are from both Kentucky and Tennessee. Formed in 2004 by Mike Bentley (guitar and lead vocals). Other band members: Rod Smith (banjo), Clint Hurd (mandolin), Bryan Russell (bas

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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

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Anderson, Bill

BILL ANDERSON From Columbia, South Carolina (lives in Nashville) Primarily...

No One You Know

NO ONE YOU KNOW From Jackson County, West Virginia Band...

Bailey, Caleb

CALEB BAILEY From Grottoes, Virginia (Shenandoah Valley) Mid-2000’s, played in...

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!