McKinney, James and Angela

McKinney, James and Angela

THE JAMES & ANGELA MCKINNEY BAND From Dallas, Texas. James is originally from Ft. Payne, Alabama. Age 15, James won the Southern States Banjo Championship. Age 19, he moved to Nashville and directed Opryland’s bluegrass show. Also w

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Ingram, Kenny

Ingram, Kenny

KENNY INGRAM From Dickson, Tennessee. One of the top Scruggs-style banjo players. 1971, at age 19 joined James Monroe and the Midnight Ramblers. 1972, joined Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys. 1973, joined Lester Flatt and the

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Laughlin, Tim

Laughlin, Tim

TIM LAUGHLIN From Bristol, Tennessee. Began playing guitar at age 8; switched to mandolin at age 11. Has worked with Larry Sparks, Hazel Dickens, Appalachian Trail, The McPeak Brothers and the Lynn Morris Band, to name a few. 1985, form

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Naiditch, David

Naiditch, David

DAVID NAIDITCH From Los Angeles, California. Has played harmonica around the L.A. area since the 1960’s (he taught harmonica at the famed Ash Grove). 2011, released Bluegrass Harmonica album (no label), the first ever bluegrass album featurin

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High Country

High Country

HIGH COUNTRY From the San Francisco Bay area. Formed in 1968. Only remaining original member: mandolinist Butch Waller, who founded the group. 1971, they were the first west coast band to be invited to Bill Monroe’s Bean Blossom festiva

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Bub, Mike

Bub, Mike

MIKE BUB From Scottsdale, Arizona. Moved to Nashville in 1989. 1985, formed Weary Hearts band with Ron Block, Eric Uglum and Butch Baldassari. Played bass. 1991-1992, played banjo with Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time. 1992-2005,

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We Banjo 3

We Banjo 3

WE BANJO 3 From Galway, Ireland. Formed in 2011 by two sets of brothers: Enda Scahil (banjo) and Fergal Scahil (banjo, fiddle, viola, dobro, percussion, guitar, mandolin); and brothers Martin Howley (banjo, mandolin) and David Howley (lea

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Traver Hollow

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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Engle, Troy

Engle, Troy

TROY ENGLE (AND SOUTHERN SKIES) From Glen Rock, Pennsylvania He is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has worked as a sideman with Patty Loveless, Buddy Jewell, The Isaacs, Larry Sparks, Mark Newton, Leon Russell and others.

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Lay, Linda

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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Find an Artist

This web site contains short profiles of the best-known bluegrass artists and bands.

  1. Use the Search Band or Artist function located at the top of the sidebar on the right to find an artist by name.
  2. 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

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!