Bluegrass Bios

Camp, Shawn

SHAWN CAMP From Arkansas. A songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Garth Brooks (“Two Pina Coladas”), Brooks and Dunn (“How Long Gone”), George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Josh Turner, Patty Loveless, Randy Travis, Del McCoury

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Osborne, Bobby

BOBBY OSBORNE AND THE ROCKY TOP XPRESS From Hyden, Kentucky (Lives in Portland, Tennessee) The elder of the Osborne Brothers, he formed his own band The Rocky Top Xpress, after brother Sonny retired in 2004. He is the only bluegrass artist

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Vincent, Rhonda

RHONDA VINCENT From Kirksville, Missouri. Grew up performing with her family band, The Sally Mountain Show. She appeared on their weekly TV show and recorded 11 albums before embarking on a solo career. She began singing professionally and pl

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Lewis Family, The

THE LEWIS FAMILY From Lincolnton, Georgia. They were known as “The First Family of Bluegrass Gospel Music.” 1950, they were first known as the Lewis Brothers: Talmadge, Esley and Wallace, along with Dad (Roy) and Miggie. In the mid-fift

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Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, The

THE LONESOME PINE FIDDLERS Originally from Balsden, West Virginia (coal mining region). A hillbilly string band founded in 1937 by brothers Ned, Ray and Ezra Cline. 1942, Ned died in the Normandy Invasion (D-Day, WW II). 1949, Scruggs-style

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Davis, Hubert (and the Season Travelers)

HUBERT DAVIS (AND THE SEASON TRAVELERS) From Shelby, North Carolina (same hometown as Earl Scruggs; they grew up together.) Former banjo player for Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. Originally learned to play banjo left-handed; then switched to

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Joines, Danny

DANNY JOINES From Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Lives and works in Nashville. 1992, won the Kentucky State Harmonica Championship. He also has won numerous fiddle contests and plays all the bluegrass instruments plus many others (piano, saxoph

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Benson, Kristin Scott

KRISTIN SCOTT BENSON From Union, South Carolina. Lives in Boiling Springs, SC with her husband Wayne (of IIIrd Tyme Out) Began playing mandolin at age 5, learned banjo at age 13. 1995-1999, played banjo with the Larry Stephenson Band while att

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Watkins, Allen

ALLEN WATKINS From Alabama. 1976, formed the Homemade String Band at age 16. Won the North Alabama Banjo Championship. 1978, joined the Front Porch String Band and performed on their landmark debut album (1980). Has also worked with the Lon

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Isaacs, The

THE ISAACS From La Follete, Tennessee. 1988, formed by Joe Isaacs, his wife Lily and three children Ben, Becky and Sonya. Lily was born in Germany after WW2. Her parents were Jewish survivors of the Holocaust. John Bowman (formerly with

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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

Southern Rail

SOUTHERN RAIL From Watertown, Massachusetts. Formed in 1979. Personnel: Jim...

Deeper Shade of Blue

DEEPER SHADE OF BLUE From Charlotte, North Carolina. Formed in...

Strength in Numbers

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS From Nashville, Tennessee. A bluegrass/jazz supergroup that...

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!