Bluegrass Bios

Hall, Tom T.

TOM T. HALL From Olive Hill, Kentucky. Lives in Nashville. Nickname: “The Storyteller.” He is a member of the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. Began playing guitar at age 4; wrote his first song at age 9. Age 17, formed his first ba

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Hot Rize

HOT RIZE From Boulder, Colorado. Formed in 1978 by Pete Wernick (banjo), Tim O’Brien (mandolin/fiddle), Mike Scap (guitar) and Charles Sawtelle (bass). Three months after the band’s formation, Scap departed and was replaced by Nick Forster (b

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Carlini, John

JOHN CARLINI From Summit, New Jersey. Lives in Berkeley Heights, NJ. Banjo and guitar player who was at the forefront of the new acoustic music movement in California during the 1970’s. Graduate of Boston’s Berklee College of Music. 1979-87

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Locust Ridge

LOCUST RIDGE From Locust Ridge, Tennessee (east Tennessee). A gospel group featuring the Allen Brothers: Russell (guitar), Josh (mandolin) and Larry (bass). Also in the band, their close friend Andy Blalock (guitar). They all attend Evans Chape

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Pedersen, Herb

HERB PEDERSEN From Berkeley, California. Moved to Los Angeles (San Fernando Valley) in the 1960’s. Began career in Bay Area playing in a band called The Pine Valley Boys with David Nelson (who later played with the New Riders of the Purple Sa

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Reno, Don and Red Smiley

DON RENO, RED SMILEY (AND THE TENNESSEE CUT-UPS) One of the of the pioneering first-generation bluegrass bands. Very popular and influential throughout the 50’s and 60’s. Worked numerous radio and television shows across the south, including

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Appalachian Smoke

APPALACHIAN SMOKE From the region where Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina converge. Formed in 2021 by BJ Taylor (mandolin), Jamie Mason (guitar), Kenneth Rymer (Dobro™/reso-guitar), Mikel Laws (banjo), and Tim Williams (bass.) 2022,

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Hart Brothers, The

THE HART BROTHERS From Guysville, Ohio. A family band formed in 1979 by Myron “Pete” Hart (mandolin), Heamon “Tib” Hart (banjo) and Arman “Sam” Hart (guitar). Prior to that, they performed as Lester Young and the Hart Brothers (Young played fid

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Red, White and Blue(grass)

RED, WHITE AND BLUE(GRASS) Originally from Birmingham, Alabama. Worked for many years in Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1970 by Ginger Boatwright (vocals), Grant Boatwright (guitar), Dave Sebolt (bass) and Dale Whitcomb (banjo). Norman Blake (ma

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Traver Hollow

TRAVER HOLLOW From Columbia, Connecticut. Formed in 1980 by guitarist Paul Harvey and his wife Peggy Ann Harvey. Banjo player Dan Menzone was also in this band. They first jammed in a cabin on Traver Hollow Road in New York. They toured

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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

Bluegrass Reunion

BLUEGRASS REUNION (See PHIL ROSENTHAL)

Freight Hoppers, The

THE FREIGHT HOPPERS From Bryson City, North Carolina. Formed in...

Adams, Brandon Lee

BRANDON LEE ADAMS From Charleston, West Virginia. Lives in Webbville,...

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!