Atkins, Bobby (and the Countrymen)
BOBBY ATKINS (AND THE COUNTRYMEN) From Summerfield, North Carolina Plays banjo and leads band, “The Countrymen” 1953, worked and recorded with Jim Eanes 1953, 1958, 1961, worked with Bill Monroe (3 separate stints). 1956, worked with
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Ellis, Wyatt
WYATT ELLIS From Maryville, Tennessee. He began playing mandolin at age 10. 2020 (age 11), he was selected for a Tennessee Folklife apprenticeship under the tutelage of Sierra Hull. 2022 (age 12), he performed at the IBMA Awards show wi
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Freight Hoppers, The
THE FREIGHT HOPPERS From Bryson City, North Carolina. Formed in 1993. Appeared on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” after entering his “Talent from Towns Under 2000” contest and being selected from 492 entrants. A traditional st
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McMillan , Roy
ROY MCMILLAN (AND THE HIGH COUNTRY BOYS) From Lewisville, North Carolina (originally from Carroll County, Virginia) Learned to play mandolin from age 8. 1950, moved to Winston-Salem, NC and worked as a cook and auto repairman. 1960, joi
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Harris, Emmylou
EMMYLOU HARRIS From Birmingham, Alabama. Lives in Nashville. Was a “hippie-hillbilly” singer and waitress, working in Washington D.C. when she was discovered by Chris Hillman, who introduced her to Gram Parsons (Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers).
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Railroad Earth
RAILROAD EARTH From Stillwater, New Jersey. Formed in 2001 by Andy Groessling (banjo), Tim Carbone (fiddle), John Skehan (mandolin), Carey Harmon (percussion), Dave Von Dollen (bass), Todd Schaeffer (guitar). They are a jam band specializing
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Legere, Ray
RAY LEGERE From Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada. Has won numerous awards at the Eastern Canadian Bluegrass Music Awards, including Mandolin, Fiddle, and Guitar Player of the Year. Holds the distinction of being the only mandolin player to work w
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Bruce, Steve
STEVE BRUCE From LaFollette, Tennessee. He is pastor of the Faith Way Assembly Of God Church (since 1991). He also plays the banjo and has played in a variety of bluegrass gospel groups since the early 1980’s. His father was a banjo-pla
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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
Toner, Niall
NIALL TONER From Dublin, Ireland. Lives in Bunclody, County Wexford....
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Waldrep, Gary
GARY WALDREP BAND From Kilpatrick, Alabama. Formed in 1998. 1981-1989,...
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Brown, Jeff (and Still Lonesome)
JEFF BROWN (AND STILL LONESOME) From Cedar Bluff, Virginia. Guitarist...
Read MoreAccess 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!
