Bluegrass Bios

Blue Highway

BLUE HIGHWAY From Johnson City, Tennessee First gig: 12/31/94 (New Year’s Eve). Band members: Tim Stafford (guitar), Wayne Taylor (bass), Shawn Lane (mandolin), Jason Burleson (banjo), Rob Ickes (Dobro™). When the band formed, Tony Bro

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Boohers, The

THE BOOHERS (THE BOOHER FAMILY) From Johnson City,Tennessee. Formed in 2000. Gary Booher (banjo) and his wife Lora (guitar) lead the band with sons Jamie (bass) and Joe (mandolin). 2005, released album on Lonesome Day Records, recorded in T

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Merle Monroe

MERLE MONROE / THE TIM RAYBON BAND From Nashville. Formed in 2018 by Tim Raybon (guitar) and Daniel Grindstaff (banjo). Band members include: Jayd Raines (bass), Stephen Burwell (fiddle), Eli Johnston (bass), Nick Chandler (mandolin), Gar

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Grandpa Jones

GRANDPA JONES Born Louis Marshall Jones in Niagra, Kentucky. Began professional career at age 11. A guitar player first, then learned banjo in his early twenties. Learned banjo from Cousin Emmy, a flamboyant female performer of the 1930’s.

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Monroe, James

JAMES MONROE (AND THE MIDNIGHT RAMBLERS) From Rosine, Kentucky. Son of Bill Monroe. Began his musical career as bass player for the Blue Grass Boys in 1964. Became lead singer and guitarist in 1969. 1971, formed his own band, The Midnight R

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Front Range

FRONT RANGE Formed in 1984 in Denver, Colorado, but only two band members ever lived there (Mike Lantz, Ron Lynam). Dick and Amos live in Pennsylvania and Vermont respectively. The name “Front Range” comes from the name given to the eastern slo

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Grascals, The

THE GRASCALS From Nashville. Formed in 2004 by Terry Eldridge (guitar), Jimmy Mattingly (fiddle), David Talbot (banjo), Danny Roberts (mandolin), Jamie Johnson (guitar) and Terry Smith (bass). Eldridge, Talbot and Johnson appeared on a 200

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Stephenson, Larry

LARRY STEPHENSON From Fredericksburg, Virginia. Moved to Nashville in 1992. Began playing mandolin at age 5. First band: Larry Stephenson and New Grass (in high school) 1977, worked with Cliff Waldron and the New Shades of Grass. 197

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Lay, Linda

LINDA LAY (AND SPRINGFIELD EXIT) From Stephens City, Virginia. 1984-2001, she was lead singer and bassist with the group Appalachian Trail. She also performed under the name Linda Barker. 2000, toured with a show called “Masters of the Ste

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Solivan, Frank (and Dirty Kitchen)

FRANK SOLIVAN (AND DIRTY KITCHEN) From Modesto, California. Lives in Alexandria, Virginia. Began playing fiddle and banjo as a youngster. In high school studied the cello and was second chair in the California All-State Honor Orchestra. 19

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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

Monroeville

MONROEVILLE From Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Formed in 2010. Most of this...

Ric-O-Chet

RIC-O-CHET From Boone, North Carolina. Formed in 1993 by Jimmy...

Crooked Jades, The

THE CROOKED JADES From the San Francisco Bay area. Formed...

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!