DAVE ADKINS
- From Elkhorn City, Kentucky.
- Adkins began performing at age 8.
- 1993-1995, played country music at Dollywood theme park. Fans call him the Ray Charles of bluegrass (for his soulful singing).
- After his time at Dollywood, he played briefly with a Chicago-based rock band, then moved to Nashville and began performing as a country artist, doing solo shows. He was signed by Atlantic Records, but no recordings were ever released.
- 1996, he was made an official Kentucky Colonel, the highest honor you can receive from the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
- For several years, he worked as a country radio DJ. He was known as “Brave Dave Adkins, the Original Midnight Cowboy” at WBHR in Pikeville, Kentucky.
- 2010, returned to his bluegrass roots by forming a band called Republik Steele with Kenny O’Quinn (mandolin), Danny Ray Stiltner (bass), Matthew Cruby (banjo), Wesley Wolfe (lead guitar). The band name was a tribute to miners. Several of the band members’ fathers & grandfathers worked for Republic Steel, a large mining company.
- 2013, released first album That’s Just The Way I Roll
(Rural Rhythm).
- 2013, his band Republik Steele dissolved and he formed a new partnership with Edgar Loudermilk — Adkins and Loudermilk. They released a project together in 2015.
- 2014, released first solo project Nothing To Lose
(Mountain Fever).
- 2017, released gospel album Turn to Jesus (Mountain Fever) as The Dave Adkins Trio.
- 2018, released Right or Wrong album (Mountain Fever).
- 2019, released Better Days album (Mountain Fever).
- 2024, released What I’m For album (Billy Blue).