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OBrien, Tim

Posted on by LJ

TIM O’BRIEN

  • From Wheeling, West Virginia. Lives in Nashville.
  • A singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (primarily mandolin and fiddle) who rose to prominence with the Colorado-based group Hot Rize (1979-1990). Since then, he has performed as a solo artist and with his band The O’Boys. He has also toured and recorded with his sister Mollie O’Brien, Darrell Scott, New Grange, the Earls of Leicester and several other ensembles.
  • Early years: had a group in high school called the Northern Valley Boys (in high school). He also performed as a solo act in a pizza parlor in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and spent some time as a member of the The Hutchison Brothers, an Ohio group. After moving to Colorado, he worked with a group called Ophelia Swing Band.
  • He plays the role of Red Knuckles in the Hot Rize western band “Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers.”
  • 1984, released Hard Year Blues album (Flying Fish).
  • 1990, sang duo with Kathy Mattea on “The Battle Hymn of Love” a #1 record.
  • Has also sung and played on albums by Mary Chapin Carpenter.
  • 1990, signed by RCA Records but was subsequently dropped due to budget cuts by the label before his first album was released.
  • 1991, released Odd Man In album (Sugar Hill).
  • 1993, released Oh Boy! O’Boy! album (Sugar Hill).
  • 1995, his song “You Love Me, You Love Me Not” was recorded by country singer Hal Ketchum.
  • 1996, released an album of Bob Dylan songs Red On Blonde (Sugar Hill).
  • 1997, became the first artist to achieve three #1 albums on the Gavin “Americana” Charts.
  • 1997, released When No One’s Around album (Sugar Hill).
  • 1997, Garth Brooks recorded a song co-written by Tim called “When There’s No One Around.”
  • 1998, performed with Jeff White, Charlie Cushman, Mark Schatz and Jerry Douglas in a group called “The Flattheads.”
  • 1999, formed a group with Darol Anger, Mike Marshall and Alison Brown called New Grange.
  • 1999, released an album of Irish music The Crossing (Allulu).
  • 2000, began recording and touring as a duo with guitarist/songwriter Darrell Scott.
  • 2001, was appointed president of the IBMA. Resigned two years later.
  • 2002, released Two Journeys album (Sugar Hill).
  • 2003, released Traveler album (Sugar Hill).
  • 2006, won Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Recording.
  • 2006, won his second IBMA Award for Male Vocalist of the Year (also won in 1993).
  • 2005, released Real Time album with Darrell Scott (Full Skies).
  • 2005, released Fiddler’s Green album (Sugar Hill). He won a Grammy Award for this album in the categor “Best Traditional Folk Album.”
  • 2006, won IBMA award for Song of the Year (“Look Down that Lonesome Road”).
  • 2012, released We’re Usually A Lot Better Than This album with Darrell Scott (Full Skies).
  • 2013, was a founding member of the Earls of Leicester. He won a Grammy Award for the band’s self-titled album.
  • 2013 was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
  • 2013, released Memories & Moments album with Darrell Scott (Full Skies).
  • 2013, released new Hot Rize album When I’m Free and began touring once again with the group.
  • 2015, released Pompadour album (Howdy Skies).
  • 2017, released Where the River Meets the Road album (Howdy Skies).

Hackensaw Boys, The

Posted on by LJ

THE HACKENSAW BOYS

  • From Charlottesville, Virginia.
  • Formed in 1999, playing at the Blue Moon Diner in Charlottesville.
  • A young jamgrass band that performs all-original bluegrass/country/folk music with a cast of players that sometime runs a dozen strong.
  • Band member go by their nicknames: Pee Paw, Shiner, Mahlon, the Kooky-eyed Fox, Dante J. and Salvage.
  • 2001, started touring in a 1964 GMC touring bus called the Dirty Bird. There were 12 people in the group at that time.
  • 2002, toured with rockers Modest Mouse. Released Keep It Simple album (no label)
  • 2003, they were Charlie Louvin’s backup band on a national tour.
  • 2003, opened the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival (Manchester, Tennessee).
  • 2004, toured the Netherlands.
  • 2012, released Love What You Do album (Nettwerk).
  • 2013, released Look Out! album (Nettwerk)
  • 2016, released Charismo album (Free Dirt).

Waldron, Cliff

Posted on by WR

CLIFF WALDRON

  • From Northern Virginia; originally from Jolo, West Virginia.
  • 1964-66, played with a group called the Page Valley Boys.
  • 1967, began professional musical career with Bill Emerson. Emerson and Waldron recorded several albums for Rebel Records, and was the first to record the Manfred Mann song “Fox on the Run” in a bluegrass style.
  • Worked briefly with The Shenandoah Cutups before forming The New Shades of Grass (1968-74), a group that recorded seven albums for Rebel Records.
  • 1974, went to work for the National Park Service full time.
  • 1975, became a devout Christian and formed a gospel band.
  • 1985, had severe health problems which resulted in a kidney transplant.
  • 1996, retired from the National Park Service and returned to playing bluegrass music.
  • 2001, recorded a gospel album with Paul Williams called “Higher Ground.”
  • 2021, he was presented with the IBMA’s Distinguished Achievement Award.

Parmley, Don

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DON PARMLEY

  • From Monticello, Kentucky. Also lived in California and Virginia.
  • Began playing banjo at age 12. After learning the Scruggs style, he performed with several groups including Carl Story and Hylo Brown.
  • 1956, after his discharge from the Army (Korean war), he married and moved to Los Angeles, California.
  • 1963, worked with the Golden State Boys in Los Angeles with Vern and Rex Gosdin. The group was also called the Blue Diamond Boys and later, the Hillmen (with Chris Hillman on mandolin).
  • 1963, released “5 String Banjo with 12 String Guitar” album (Crescendo) with backing musicians Billy Strange, LeRoy McNees, Chris Hillman, Vern Gosdin, Rex Gosdin (bass) and Hal Blaine (drums).
  • 1964-1973, played banjo for the TV Series The Beverly Hillbillies.
  • 1974, formed The Bluegrass Cardinals with his 15-year-old son David (guitar), Randy Graham (mandolin) and Bill Bryson (bass). This group performed together in various configurations for 23 years.
  • 1997, retired from music.
  • 2016, passed away at age 83.

East Virginia

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EAST VIRGINIA

  • From Norfolk, Virginia.
  • Formed in 1974 by brothers Art and Joe McDonough.
  • The only bluegrass band to get its start in a barbershop. “Jack’s Barbershop” in Norfolk, Virginia held jam sessions on Friday nights. A bar owner across the street asked them to play (for free beer) and they came up with the name, based on one of the songs they had learned, “East Virginia Blues.”
  • 1977, released “The Winds of East Virginia” album (Major).
  • 1977, released “Sings of Witches and Whippoorwills” (Lark).
  • 1979, released “New Sounds, New Seasons” album (Rounder).
  • 1980, released “Pathways of Tradition” album (Rounder).
  • 1981, broke up but re-united in 1999 to record “Back Home in East Virginia” album (Copper Creek).

Davis, Chris

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CHRIS DAVIS

  • From Fairborn, Ohio. Lives in Russell, Kentucky.
  • Learned to play and sing bluegrass in his family band featuring his father, his grandfather and uncles “The Davis Brothers.”
  • 2011, joined Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice, playing mandolin.
  • 2013, joined Wildfire, playing mandolin and singing tenor.
  • 2014, worked with Diamond Rio, filling in for Gene Johnson during his absence from open heart surgery.
  • 2015, worked with Larry Sparks, Larry Cordle and Marty Raybon.
  • 2019, joined the Grascals, playing guitar, replacing Terry Eldredge.
  • His son Gibson plays banjo and has filled in for Grascals banjo player Kristin Scott Benson.
  • 2022, signed a record contract with RBR Entertainment and released his first single.
  • 2022, left the Grascals to join Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, playing mandolin.

Wilders, The

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THE WILDERS

  • From Kansas City, Missouri.
  • An alt-country band featuring Ike Shelton (guitar), Phil Wade (mandolin/dobro/banjo), Betse Ellis (fiddle), and Nate Gawron (bass).
  • Formed in 1996.
  • 2002, backed Iris DeMent on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion.”
  • 2006, performed at the Spiegeltent at Edinburgh Fringe Festival where they were honored with the Herald Angel Award.
  • 2008, released Someone’s Got to Pay album (Free Dirt).
  • 2011, released self titled album “The Wilders” (Free Dirt).

Van Meter, Sally

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SALLY VAN METER

  • From the San Francisco Bay area. Lives in Colorado.
  • One of the top Dobro™ players in bluegrass.
  • Original member of The Good Old Persons. She was also in the band Blue Rose.
  • 1991, released solo project All in Good Time (Sugar Hill).
  • 1993, formed her own band.
  • 1994, formed the Sally Van Meter/Tammy Fassaert Band (with vocalist Tammy Fassaert).
  • One of her recordings was used in the soundtrack of the hit TV series, Northern Exposure.
  • Has produced albums by the Yonder Mountain String Band and Open Road.

Verch, April

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APRIL VERCH

  • From Pembroke, Ontario, Canada.
  • Began step-dancing at age three; fiddling at age six.
  • As a high school student, recorded two albums.
  • Attended Boston’s Berklee School of Music.
  • Won the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Championship and Canadian Open Fiddle Championship.
  • Worked with Canadian country music star Tommy Hunter.
  • Her live show invariably includes a step-dancing demonstration.
  • 2003, released From Where I Stand album (Rounder).
  • 2006, released Take Me Back album (Rounder) produced by Dirk Powell.
  • 2009, released Verchuosity album (Rounder).
  • 2013, released Bright Like Gold album (no label).
  • 2015, released Newpart album (no label).
  • 2017, released Anthology album (Slab Town).

Thile, Chris

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CHRIS THILE

  • Originally from San Diego (CA) County. Born in Oceanside, lived in Idyllwild, California. Now lives in New York City.
  • Pronounced “Theé-lee” (like “really.”)
  • Took mandolin lessons from John Moore (of California and Bluegrass Etc.)
  • Hobby: baseball card collecting and playing baseball. He was a star little-league pitcher. His great-great-great-great uncle Sam Thompson is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
  • 1989, at age 9 formed the band Nickel Creek with friends Sean and Sara Watkins (guitar/fiddle) of Vista, California.
  • 1990, 1994, won the Arizona State Mandolin Championship.
  • 1993 (at age 12) won the National Mandolin Championship (the youngest winner ever.)
  • 1993, (at age 12) released first solo album Leading Off (Sugar Hill), produced by Peter Wernick.
  • 1994, worked with Richard Greene’s band “The Grass is Greener.”
  • 1994, released second solo album Stealing Second (Sugar Hill).
  • 1995, his family moved to Murray, Kentucky. His father Scott (original bass player with Nickel Creek) was employed by Murray State University as a musical instrument technician.
  • 1997, appeared on Grammy-winning album True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe (Sugar Hill).
  • 1999, recorded and toured with Dolly Parton.
  • 2000, with Nickel Creek, won IBMA award for Emerging Artist of the Year.
  • 2001, his performance of “Ode to a Butterfly” (from Nickel Creek album) was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Recording.
  • 2001, won the IBMA award for Mandolin Player of the Year. Nickel Creek also won the award for Instrumental Group of the Year.
  • 2001, released solo project Not All Who Wander Are Lost (Sugar Hill).
  • 2002, toured and recorded with Mike Marshall.
  • 2004, released solo project Deceiver (Sugar Hill).
  • 2006, recorded solo project How to Grow a Woman From the Ground (Sugar Hill).
    Began touring with his own band featuring Noam Pikelny (banjo), Gabe Witcher (fiddle) and Chris Eldridge (guitar) as the “Tensions Mountain Boys.” The band name was later changed to The Punch Brothers.
  • 2007, last Nickel Creek performance.
  • 2009, performed a concerto that he wrote for the mandolin with the World Youth Symphony Orchestra.
  • 2010, recorded and toured with Dierks Bentley.
  • 2011, recorded an album of duets with guitarist Michael Daves called “Sleep With One Eye Open.”
  • 2011, performed and recorded with Edgar Meyer, Stuart Duncan and Yo-Yo Ma as The Goat Rodeo Sessions.
  • 2012, received the McArthur Foundation “Genius Award” ($500,000).
  • 2013, released album of classical mandolin solos Bach: Sonatas & Partitas.
  • 2013, married actress Claire Coffee (of NBC’s Grimm).
  • 2014, recorded a new Nickel Creek album “A Dotted Line,” touring with the reunited group to celebrate their 25th anniversary.
  • 2014, released Bass & Mandolin album with bass virtuoso Edgar Meyer.
  • 2016, became the permanent host of “A Prairie Home Companion” radio program, replacing Garrison Keillor. In 2017, the show was re-named “Live From Here.”
  • 2018, was presented with a Distinguished Achievement Award by the IBMA.

Trampled by Turtles

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TRAMPLED BY TURTLES

  • From Duluth, Minnesota.
  • Formed in 2004.
  • Their music has been described as “Bluegrass Thrash.”
  • Members of the band: Dave Simonett (guitar), Tim Saxhaug (bass), Dave Carroll (banjo), Erik Berry (mandolin) and Ryan Young (fiddle).
  • 2004, released Songs from a Ghost Town album (Banjodad).
  • 2010, released Duluth album (Banjodad).
  • 2010, released Palomino album (Banjodad).
  • 2012, released Stars and Satellites album (Banjodad).
  • 2014, released Wild Animals album (Banjodad).
  • 2018, released Life is Good on the Open Road album (Banjodad).
  • 2019, released Sigourney Fever album (Banjodad).
  • 2022, released Alpenglow album (Banjodad).

Sideline

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SIDELINE

  • From North Carolina.
  • Formed by Steve Dilling in 2010 as a part-time band to perform during open dates when his full-time band IIIrd Tyme Out was not touring. Original band: Dilling (banjo), Darrell Webb (mandolin, lead vocals) who fronts his own band, Skip Cherryholmes (guitar) who performs with Lou Reid and Carolina and is also Dilling’s son-in-law, Jason Moore (bass) who is a member of Mountain Heart, and Justin Haynes (fiddle) who is also in IIIrd Tyme Out. Haynes was later replaced by Greg Luck.
  • 2013, released first album called Session 1 (Mountain Fever Records.)
  • 2013, Dilling announced his retirement from IIIrd Tyme Out, making Sideline his primary musical outlet.
  • 2014, Webb and Luck left the band. Dilling decided to make Sideline a full-time band (rather than just a “sideline”) so he hired musicians (and brothers) Brian Aldridge (mandolin) and Nathan Aldridge (fiddle) later in the year.
  • 2015 lineup: Dilling (banjo), Cherryholmes (guitar), Moore (bass), Brian Aldridge (mandolin), Nathan Aldridge (fiddle), Brad Hudson (Dobro™).
  • 2015, released second album Session 2 (Mountain Fever).
  • 2016, Brian Aldridge left the group. He was replaced by Troy Boone.
  • 2016, released Colors and Crossroads album (Mountain Fever).
  • 2017, Hudson (reso guitar/vocals) left the group to pursue a solo career. Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Bailey Coe (guitar) took his place. Coe was formerly a member of the Grass Cats.
  • 2018, Nathan Aldridge (fiddle) left the band to join Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out. He was replaced by fiddler Daniel Greeson.
  • 2018, released Front and Center album (Mountain Fever).
  • 2019, Zack Arnold (mandolin; formerly with Claybank) replaced Troy Boone. Jamie Harper (fiddle; formerly with Junior Sisk) replaced Greeson.
  • 2019, won the IBMA Award for Song of the Year (“Thunder Dan”).
  • 2021, Nick Goad replaced Zack Arnold (mandolin). 2020 lineup: Dilling (banjo), Cherryholmes (guitar), Moore (bass), Goad (mandolin), Harper (fiddle) and Jacob Greer (guitar; formerly with Claybank).
  • 2021, released Ups, Downs and No Name Towns album (Mountain Fever).
  • 2021, bass player Jason Moore died at the age of 48 (heart attack).
  • 2021, Greer left the band. New lineup: Dilling (banjo), Cherryholmes (guitar), Kyle Windbeck (bass), Goad (mandolin), Harper (fiddle) and Andy Buckner (guitar).
  • 2023, stopped touring as a band but have continued to record.

Harris, Bob

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BOB HARRIS

    • Originally from Illinois. Lives in Flemington, New Jersey.
    • Was member of New Jersey bluegrass band “Rank Strangers.”
    • Fronted his own band “Razin’ Cane.”
    • 1993, Guitar Player magazine gave him the award for “Acoustic Pickstyle” Guitar Player of the Year.
    • 1990-2005 worked with Vassar Clements.
    • Owns 2 recording studios and produces all kinds of acoustic music.
    • 2010, played some dates with BuddyMerriam.
    • 2012, began hosting an interactive website called “Amazing Acoustic Guitar Videos.”

Sparks, Larry

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LARRY SPARKS

  • From southern Ohio. Lives in Greensburg, Indiana.
  • Began singing and playing bluegrass when he was 5 years old, learning the guitar from his sister Bernice.
  • 1965, first professional job (at age 18): guitarist with the Stanley Brothers, replacing George Shuffler. After Carter died (December 1966) he took over the lead singing duties. He was the first lead singer with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys.
  • 1969, formed his band The Lonesome Ramblers, which has undergone numerous and frequent personnel changes over the years.
  • 2004, released 40 album (Rebel), celebrating his 40 years in bluegrass music.
  • 2004, 2005, won IBMA Award for Male Vocalist of the Year.
  • 2005, won two IBMA Awards for Album of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year, both for his album 40.
  • 2014, released Lonesome & Then Some album (Rebel), celebrating his 50 years in bluegrass music
  • 2014, was inducted into the IBMA’s Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, introduced by Alison Krauss.
  • 2019, released “New Moon Over My Shoulder” album (Rebel).

RECOMMENDED ALBUMS:

Stanley, Kristi

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KRISTI STANLEY

  • From Pikeville, Kentucky.
  • She is the wife of Ralph Stanley II.
  • She began singing as a teenager and performed with a country band called Sandy River, later opening for Kenny Chesney, Billy Ray Cyrus and other country acts.
  • 2001, appeared on Dr. Ralph Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Sweethearts album (Rebel).
  • After marrying Dr. Ralph’s son (Ralph Stanley II), she put her singing career on hold to raise their two children, Taylor and Ralph Stanley III.
  • 2017, returned to her singing with the release of her first album “Heart Wide Open” (Union House).
  • Her band is called Running Blind.

Stover, Don

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DON STOVER

  • From Ameagle, West Virginia. Also lived in Boston and in the Baltimore, MD area.
  • An early banjo player who influenced Bill Keith, Tony Trischka, Bela Fleck, Danny Barnes, many others.
  • Began learning to play 3-finger style banjo after hearing Earl Scruggs in 1945.
  • He was a coal miner when he began performing with the Lilly Brothers (Everett and Bea) who were also from West Virginia. He was a featured artist with the Lilly Brothers for many years. They appeared together as The Lilly Brothers with Don Stover.
  • First band: The Coal River Boys.
  • 1952, began an 18-year stint with the Lilly Brothers at Hillbilly Ranch in downtown Boston, playing seven nights a week. They were originally called the Confederate Mountaineers.
  • 1965, worked also with Bill Harrell and the Virginians.
  • 1968, worked dates with Doc Watson and Tex Logan. Performed with them at the Olympics in Mexico City.
  • 1970, moved back to West Virginia.
  • 1972, released Things in Life album (Rounder). Don is composer of the song Things in Life, which has been covered by numerous bluegrass artists.
  • 1978-1990, worked with Bill Clifton, Red Rector, Jimmy Gaudreau and other musicians. Played the World’s Fair in Knoxville in 1982.
  • 1994, had surgery for a cancerous brain tumor.
  • 1996, died at the age of 68.
  • 2008, was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.

Rowan, Peter

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PETER ROWAN

  • From Wayland, Massachusetts.
  • Performs a variety of musical styles including bluegrass, rock, Tex-Mex, Irish, country, rockabilly, folk and reggae.
  • Began performing in junior high school with a rockabilly group called the Cupids, playing mostly Buddy Holly material.
  • 1963, began his professional career with Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys.
  • 1967, formed a rock group with David Grisman called Earth Opera. Toured with The Doors, other bands.
  • 1969, joined a California country-rock group called Sea Train.
  • 1973, performed with Old and In the Way with Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead and David Nelson of New Riders of the Purple Sage.
  • 1974, worked with Richard Greene, Bill Keith, Clarence White and David Grisman in Muleskinner.
  • 1975-1978, performed with his brothers Chris and Lorin as the Rowan Brothers. Recorded three albums including Tree On A Hill (Asylum). They reunited in 1992 for several shows.
  • 1978, released Peter Rowan album (Flying Fish).
  • 1978, formed two Tex-Mex groups: The Green Grass Gringos and the Mexican Air Force.
  • 1982, released The Walls Of Time album (Sugar Hill). Band included Ricky Skaggs, Alan O’Bryant, Eddie Adcock, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, others.
  • 1983, formed the Wild Stallions in Nashville.
  • 1984, formed The Free Mexican Air Force which at times included Tony Rice on guitar.
  • 1988, released New Moon Rising album with the Nashville Bluegrass Band (Sugar Hill).
  • 1990, released Dust Bowl Children album (Sugar Hill).
  • 1990, released The First Whipporwill album (Sugar Hill). Band included Bill Keith, Richard Greene, Sam Bush, Alan O’Bryant, Buddy Spicher.
  • 1991, released All On A Rising Day album (Sugar Hill).
  • 1995, released With The Red Hot Pickers album (Sugar Hill). Band included Tony Trischka, Richard Greene, Andy Statman, Roger Mason.
  • 1996, released Bluegrass Boy album (Sugar Hill). Band included Mike Munford, Charles Sawtelle, Laurie Lewis, Richard Greene, Roy Huskey Jr., Buell Neidlinger.
  • 1996, released Yonder album with Jerry Douglas (Sugar Hill).
  • 2004, released You Were There For Me album with Tony Rice (Rounder).
  • 2006, formed The Peter Rowan & Tony Rice Quartet. Original group included Sharon Gilchrist and Bryn Davies (Bright). Mike Bub and Rickie Simpkins also played with this band.
  • 2007, released Quartet album (Rounder) featuring the Peter Rowan and Tony Rice Quartet.
  • 2007, formed The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band with Keith Little and Jody Stecher.
  • Hobby: studying and painting Asian art. He is a devotee of Tibetan Buddhism.
  • 2010, released Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band: Legacy album (Compass).
  • 2013, released The Old School album (Compass) with guests Del McCoury, Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds, others.
  • 2018, had to cancel several months of touring to recover from exhaustion.
  • 2018, released Carter Stanley’s Eyes album (Rebel).
  • Recent band configurations: the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Peter Rowan’s Big Twang Theory (rockabilly), Peter Rowan’s Twang and Groove (Rhythm and Blues), Peter Rowan and Crucial Reggae (Reggae) and The Free Mexican Air Force (Tex Mex).

Run C&W

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RUN C&W

  • From Nashville.
  • A comedy act (1992-1995) specializing in bluegrass adaptations of Motown and classic rock songs.
  • The brainchild of Bernie Leadon, founding member of The Eagles.
  • Name is a take-off on the name of the popular rap group, Run DMC.
  • According to the story line of their first album (1993), Run C&W is a band featuring The Burns Brothers, a family of bluegrass pickers who migrated from the backwoods of Kentucky to Detroit, Michigan, where they learned to play “that good old soul music—the way God intended for it to be played—bluegrass style.”
  • First gained recognition when they played at the CMA’s Fan Fair in Nashville and did a spoof of Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart” called “Itchy Twitchy Spot.” What started out as a joke turned into a full-fledged album project.
  • Members of Run C&W: Rug Burns is Russell Smith (formerly with the Amazing Rhythm Aces.) Crashen Burns is Bernie Leadon (formerly with the Eagles.) G.W. “Wash” Burns is Vince Melamed (a.k.a. Dan Fogelberg), and Side Burns is Jim Photoglo (a Nashville songwriter). Their fictional father was known as Dad Burns.
  • 1993, released Into The Twangy-First Century album (MCA).
  • 1994, released Row Vs. Wade album (MCA).

Phoenix

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PHOENIX

  • From Charlottesville, Virginia.
  • Formed in 2000.
  • Members: David Coffey (guitar), Eddie King (mandolin), Randy Driskill (banjo), Jim Green (bass).
  • 2001, released “Rising from the Ashes” album.
  • 2002, released “Blue Ridge Frame of Mind” album.
  • 2003, released “A Place Called Home” album.
  • 2005, released “His Amazing Love” album.
  • 2006, released “Tailor Made” album.
  • 2010, disbanded. Coffey formed a gospel group called David Coffey and Gospel Blend. He is also a pastor.

Open Road

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OPEN ROAD

  • From Longmont, Colorado.
  • Call themselves “young traditionalists.”
  • Formed in 1999 by guitarist Brad Folk and mandolinist Caleb Roberts. Banjo player Jim Rummels joined in 2000.
  • Band name comes from a particular kind of Stetson Hat.
  • Lead singer Brad Folk is an actual cowboy.
  • 2000, released first album produced by Sally Van Meter.
  • 2002, released Cold Wind album (Rounder).
  • 2004, released In The Life album (Rounder).
  • 2005, released Lucky Drive album (Rounder).
  • 2012, Folk moved to Nashville and began performing as Bradford Lee Folk and the Bluegrass Playboys. He showcased at IBMA the following year.

Nickel Creek

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NICKEL CREEK

  • From Vista, California (near San Diego).
  • First appearance: 1989 at the San Diego Bluegrass Festival (Lake Henshaw, CA). They also began making regular appearances at “That Pizza Place” in Carlsbad, CA).
  • They began as a “kid band” featuring Sean and Sara Watkins (brother and sister on guitar and fiddle), Chris and Scott Thile (father and son on bass and mandolin). The three kids were all under 12 at the time.
  • They were mentored and taught by John Moore and Dennis Caplinger of Bluegrass Etc.
  • Their band name came from a tune on one of Byron Berline’s fiddle albums. Nickel Creek is actually a ranch in Texas where Byron wrote the tune. When the ranch owner found out about the Nickel Creek band, he invited them to perform there—their first out-of-state gig.
  • 1991, released first album on cassette “Nickel Creek” (no label). Sean was 14 years old; Chris and Sara were both 10 years old.
  • 1994, released second album on cassette “Little Cowpoke” (no label).
  • First DJ to play Nickel Creek on the radio: Wayne Rice, KSON-FM San Diego!
  • 1995, group was split geographically when the Thiles moved to Murray, Kentucky.
  • 1997, released “Here to There” album (no label).
  • 1997, got first national TV exposure on the Statler Brothers Show (TNN).
  • 1999, recorded Nickel Creek album, produced by Alison Krauss.
  • 2000, had a hit video on CMT. Signed by the William Morris Agency.
  • 2000, won IBMA award for Emerging Artist of the Year.
  • 2001, received two Grammy nominations: Country Instrumental Performance and Bluegrass Album.
  • 2001, worked several shows with Dolly Parton.
  • 2001, won the IBMA award for Instrumental Group of the Year. Chris also won award for Mandolin Player of the Year.
  • 2001, were featured in a double-page photo spread and article in TIME magazine as one of the top 100 “Innovators of the Year.”
  • 2001, was nominated for Vocal Group of the Year and the Horizon Award at the CMA Awards. Performed on the show.
  • 2003, won Grammy Award for This Side album (Best Contemporary Folk Album)
  • 2004, “This Side” album was certified Gold.
  • 2004, did a “Mutual Admiration Society” tour with Glenn Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello) and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).
  • 2007, did their farewell tour before disbanding.
  • 2007, Chris Thile formed a bluegrass band called the Tensions Mountain Boys, which later became the Punch Brothers.
  • Since the band breakup: Sara and Sean Watkins have been performing and recording as a duo, as solo artists, as The Watkins Family Hour and The Fiction Family. Sara has appeared on, and guest-hosted Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion radio broadcast. She is also a member of I’m With Her (with Aoife O’Donovan and Sarah Jarosz). Chris has recorded solo projects as well as with the Punch Brothers and became full-time host of NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion (later called Live from Here with Chris Thile).
  • 2014, Nickel Creek reunited to record A Dotted Line album and to tour in support of it, celebrating their 25th anniversary as a band.

Lindley Creek

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LINDLEY CREEK

  • From Buffalo, Missouri (about 30 miles north of Springfield).
  • A family band, formerly known as the Greer Family.
  • Formed in 2005 by John (bass) and Kathie Greer (guitar) and their children: Katie Greer (mandolin), Tate Greer (banjo) and Jase Greer (fiddle). Katie Greer (Hutson) is the lead singer on most songs.
  • They re-named their group Lindley Creek–after an actual creek near where John grew up.
  • 2016, released Lonely Old Guitar album (no label).
  • 2017, Tate (banj0) left the group to pursue a new career and start a family.
  • 2020, released Freedom, Love and the Open Road album (Pinecastle), produced by Jim Van Cleve.

Lonesome River Band, The

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THE LONESOME RIVER BAND

  • From Ferrum, Virginia.
  • Formed in 1983 by Tim Austin and Jerry McMillan. Current and former members of the band include Adam Steffey, Dan Tyminski, Dale Perry, Kenny Smith, Ricky Simpkons, Sammy Shelor, Ronnie Bowman, Don Rigsby, Darrell Webb, Jeff Parker and Brandon Rickman.
  • 1995, founding member Tim Austin (guitar) left the band to develop his own recording studio and label, Doobie Shea Records. He is a top sound engineer for the Grand Ole Opry and touring country music shows.
  • 1996 line-up: Ronnie Bowman (bass, lead vocals), Sammy Shelor (banjo), Kenny Smith (guitar), Don Rigsby (mandolin).
  • 1998, all four members of the band won IBMA awards: Bowman (Male Vocalist), Shelor (Banjo Player), Smith (Guitar Player), and Rigsby (Recorded Event, Song of the Year for his work with “Longview”).
  • 2000, Ricky Simpkins joined the band.
  • 2001, Bowman, Smith, Rigsby and Simpkins departed en masse. Shelor acquired the band name and re-organized the group with new members: Brandon Rickman (guitar), Jeff Parker (mandolin), Barry Berrier (bass) and Mike Hartgrove (fiddle). Irl Hees soon replaced Berrier.
  • 2011, Shelor received the Steve Martin prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass.
  • 2012, won the IBMA Award for Instrumental Recording of the Year (for “Angeline the Baker” from Life Goes On album featuring various artists (Musicians Against Childhood Cancer).
  • 2012, Shelor won the IBMA Award for Banjo Player of the Year.
  • 2014 lineup: Shelor (banjo), Rickman (guitar), Hartgrove (fiddle), Barry Reed (bass) and Randy Jones (mandolin.)
  • 2015, Jesse Smathers (mandolin) joined the group, replacing Randy Jones.
  • 2017, Smathers won the IBMA Momentum Award for Vocalist of the Year.
  • 2021, Brandon Rickman (guitar) departed and was replaced by Adam Miller (mandolin). Smathers switched from mandolin to guitar. Also, Barry Reed (bass) was replaced by Kameron Keller.

RECOMMENDED ALBUMS

Jones, Chris

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CHRIS JONES (AND THE NIGHT DRIVERS)

  • From Pomona, New York (near Buffalo). Lives in Franklin, Tennessee.
  • During his teen years, played oboe in the school orchestra.
  • He and Ron Block (of Union Station, and a former bandmate in Weary Hearts) are married to sisters from Canada.
  • Because he sings in a lower range, his music has been called “the low lonesome sound.”
  • His wife Sally also performed and recorded with her own band, the Sidewinders.
  • 1978, at age 18, formed a band in New York called Horse Country.
  • 1981-1985, joined The Special Consensus.
  • 1985-1995, he worked with Dave Evans, Whetstone Run, Weary Hearts, The Lynn Morris Band and The Vassar Clements Band. He also worked with the McCarter Sisters, a country act.
  • 1995, formed his band the Night Drivers, named for the night driving that bluegrass bands typically do to get from one gig to another.
  • 1995, released Blinded by the Rose album (Strictly Country).
  • 1997, released No One But You album (Rebel).
  • 1998, released Follow Your Heart album (Rebel)
  • 2000, broke his collarbone in a traffic accident in Canada.
  • 2001, released Just a Drifter album (Rebel).
  • 2001, became a full-time announcer for Sirius/XM Satellite Radio’s bluegrass music channel. He had previously hosted a bluegrass radio program in Franklin, Tennessee.
  • 2002, released A Few Words album (Rebel).
  • 2003, toured with the Chieftains and formed a new band called the Chris Jones Coalition with Jeremy and Glen Garrett (formerly of the Grasshoppers).
  • 2005, changed his band name back to Chris Jones & the Night Drivers.
  • 2007, won the IBMA award for Broadcast Personality of the Year as well as the IBMA award for Song of the Year (for “Fork in the Road” which he co-wrote with John Pennell and was recorded by the Infamous Stringdusters.)
  • 2009, released Cloud of Dust album (GSM).
  • 2011, began writing a regular column for Bluegrass Today (online news journal).
  • 2012, released Lost Souls & Free Spirits album (Rebel).
  • 2013, released Lonely Comes Easy album (Rebel).
  • 2014, released Live At the Old Feed Store album (GSM).
  • 2015, released Run Away Tonight album (Mountain Home).
  • 2015, won IBMA Award for Broadcast Personality of the Year (for his work on Sirius/XM Radio).
  • 2017, released Made to Move album (Mountain Home).
  • 2019, released The Choosing Road album (Mountain Home).
  • 2021, released Make Each Second Last album (Mountain Home).
  • 2023, won IBMA Award for Writer of the Year for the second time (also won in 2014).

Jordan, Tresa

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TRESA JORDAN

  • From Melrose, Florida (central Florida).
  • Moved to Nashville at age 19 to pursue a career in country music, her career was put on hold when she married and had children. Seven years later, after her divorce, she re-married and resumed her singing career.
  • 2006, won a Momentum Award for Country Artist of the Year from Indiehaven.com (a popular Christian music music web community).

Hot Rize

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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 (bass). Sawtelle then switched from bass to guitar.
  • Prior to the formation of Hot Rize (1976), Wernick and Sawtelle had a Colorado band called the Drifting Ramblers or the Rambling Drifters (they couldn’t make up their mind.)
  • About the name: Hot Rize is the so-called secret ingredient in Martha White flour, a long-time advertiser on the Grand Ole Opry and for many years sponsor of the Flatt and Scruggs radio show on WSM, Nashville.
  • The Hot Rize show usually featured an appearance by their alter-ego band, Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers, a western-swing group supposedly from Wyoming that traveled with Hot Rize in the back of the bus. Even though Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers was actually Hot Rize in disguise, the group became very popular in their own right and recorded several albums. (Trailblazer fans were called “Knuckleheads”).
  • 1990, won IBMA Award for Entertainer of the Year and broke up. The played their last show together as a full time band at Merlefest.
  • 1991, a year after they broke up, their recording of “Colleen Malone” won the IBMA award for Song of the Year.
  • Following their break-up, each of the band members pursued their own musical careers: Pete Wernick (also known as “Dr. Banjo” performed with his own band The Live Five and served for several years as president of the IBMA. Tim O’Brien put together his own band called the O’Boys and had success as a songrwriter and solo artist. Nick Forster hosted a live PBS radio show called “E-Town.” Charles Sawtelle built a recording studio and did session work.
  • 1999, guitarist Charles Sawtelle died of cancer (leukemia).
  • 2001, Tim O’Brien became the second member of this band to become president of the IBMA, succeeding his bandmate Peter Wernick.
  • 2007, reunited (with Bryan Sutton playing guitar) to perform at actor/comedian Steve Martin’s wedding.
  • 2009, co-hosted the IBMA Awards show with Kathy Mattea.
  • 2010, performed at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.
  • 2014, reunited to record a new album When I’m Free and perform a six-week tour.
  • 2018, released 40th Anniversary Bash live album (Ten in Hand), recorded at the Boulder (Colorado) Theater.

RECOMMENDED ALBUMS:

Folk, Bradford Lee

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BRADFORD LEE FOLK

  • Born in Louisiana, raised in Missouri. Currently lives in Nashville.
  • After high school, moved to Colorado and formed a band called Open Road.
  • 2012, moved to Nashville and formed Bradford Lee Folk and the Bluegrass Playboys.
  • He has a small organic farm in Nashville.
  • 2014, released Somewhere Far Away album (Five of Diamonds).
  • 2015, reorganized his band with Jake Stargel (guitar), Cory Walker (banjo), Jarrod Walker (mandolin), Daniel Hyberger (bass) and Christian Ward (fiddle).

Forbes Family, The

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THE FORBES FAMILY

  • From Littlestown, Pennsylvania (near Gettysburg). They have also lived in Greenville, Tennessee and Mt. Airy, North Carolina.
  • A family gospel group consisting of four brothers and sisters: Homer Forbes (banjo), Jay Forbes (mandolin), Lisa Forbes Roberts (vocals), Lori Forbes Slate (bass). They grew up singing at the Free Will Baptist Church in Littlestown, Pennsylvania.
  • 1982, recorded their debut album “I Am Looking For that City” (Lifeline).
  • 1983, released “Gleams of that Golden Morning” album (Rebel).
  • 1985, released “I Am a Pilgrim” album (Rebel).
  • 1986, released “Outside the Gate” album with David Marshall of the Marshall Family (Rebel).
  • 1988, released “Farewell” album and disbanded so that they could raise their families.
  • 1993, began performing again.
  • 1995, released I’ll Look to Him album and showcased at IBMA in Owensboro, Kentucky. Ron Block (of Alison Krauss and Union Station) heard them and was so impressed he produced their next album.
  • 1996, released In the Shadow of Your Wings (Rebel Records), produced by Ron Block.

RECOMMENDED:

Ekstein, Rudi

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RUDI EKSTEIN

  • From Asheville, NC. He was born in Kansas and lived most of his life in southern California (Los Angeles).
  • The son of Austian immigrants, his surname Ekstein is translated “Cornerstone” in English.
  • 1970’s, began learning all the bluegrass instruments: banjo, mandolin, guitar, and later, upright bass and Dobro™. Played in several southern California bands with good friend and banjo player Billy Constable.
  • 1987, recorded, engineered and produced his first band project featuring his band Foxfire.
  • 1990, founded Foxfire Recording studio in Van Nuys, Calif. where he produced and/or engineered numerous albums for such labels as CMH, Rounder, and Sugar Hill. Artists recorded included Tony Rice, Larry Rice, Chris Hillman, the Laurel Canyon Ramblers, Steve Spurgin, Josh Graves, David Grisman, Gabe Witcher, Richard Greene, Bill Keith, David Grier, Dennis Caplinger, Gene Libbea, Leroy Mack, Patrick Sauber, Herb Pedersen, Bill Bryson, and many others. He was also producer and artist on several albums in the CMH “Pickin’ On” series.
  • 1990, played mandolin with the LA-based band Liberty. They recorded one album “Cornerstone” that was released in 1995.
  • 2004-2006 played with the southern California band Silverado.
  • 2009, moved to Asheville, NC to play with old friend Billy Constable and build a new recording studio.
  • 2012-2015, worked with the Bobby Hicks band and Blue Wheel Drive.
  • 2015, produced an album for Blue Wheel Drive called Hard Driving Bluegrass (Foxfire).
  • 2018, released a solo project Carolina Chimes (Foxfire) featuring his original instrumentals with supporting musicians Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Mark Schatz (bass), Jeff Autry (guitar), Patrick Sauber (banjo) and others.

Crucial Smith

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CRUCIAL SMITH

  • From Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Formed in 1996 by Kyle Wood (mandolin), Tim May (guitar), Michael McLain (banjo), and Dave ‘Doc’ Holladay (bass). McLain was replaced by Chris Joslin (banjo).
  • Original name of the band was “Sam Hill,” but they discovered that the name was already in use.
  • The name Crucial Smith’s connection to bluegrass: Smith is Bill Monroe’s middle name.
  • 1997, recorded first album, produced by former New Grass Revival guitarist Pat Flynn.
  • 1999, released Morning Light album (no label), also produced by Pat Flynn.
  • Mandolinist Kyle Wood was a graphic artist and a former member of Eddie Rabbitt’s Hare Trigger Band. He also edited “Lost in Space,” a science fiction magazine. After Crucial Smith, he recorded a solo project with his own band “The Kyle Wood Project.”
  • Bass player Dave Holladay was band leader with Geraldo Rivera. He is also an optometrist.
  • Guitarist Tim May also worked with Eddie Rabbit and The Jim Buchanan System.
  • Banjo player Chris Joslin formerly performed with the Rutherford County Square Dancers, Free Wheelin’, and The Neverly Brothers. He later became curator of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame and Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky.
  • 2001, added fiddle player Gretchen Priest, who is married to Tim May. They released a project together called Plaidgrass, a mix of bluegrass and Celtic music.
  • 2003, disbanded after recording a third album that was never released.
  • 2010, guitarist Tim May teamed with fiddle player Fred Carpenter (formerly of the Tony Rice Unit) to form a duo called “Carpenter and May.”
  • 2016, Kyle Wood joined Ray Cardwell and Tennessee Moon.
  • 2021, Kyle Wood died at the age of 55.

Bentley, Dierks

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DIERKS BENTLEY

  • From Phoenix Arizona. Lives in Nashville.
  • 2003, signed with Capitol Records. launching a very successful country music career.
  • 2004, his first two albums went platinum (two million copies sold).
  • Hit singles include: “What Was I Thinkin'”, as well as “Come a Little Closer”, “Settle for a Slowdown”, “Every Mile a Memory”, “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)”, “Feel That Fire” and “Sideways.”
  • 2010, released Up on the Ridge album, a tribute to his bluegrass roots with Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers, Sam Bush, Bryan Sutton, the Del McCoury Band, Tim O’Brien and other well known bluegrass artists and sidemen.
  • Bentley says, “I fell in love with bluegrass music the first time I walked into the Station Inn with a fake ID at 19 years old. … After that I never missed a Tuesday night there in almost 8 years. Bluegrass music is my foundation.”

Armsworthy, Jay (and Eastern Tradition)

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JAY ARMSWORTHY (and EASTERN TRADITION)

  • From California, Maryland (south of Washington DC).
  • A guitarist and singer who began his career playing with Ernie Bradley and Grassy Ridge. Later formed his own band Eastern Tradition.
  • 1995, worked with David Davis and the The Warrior River Boys.
  • For seven years, he hosted a radio program called “Bluegrass on the Bay” on WMDM and WPTX in Lexington, Maryland. He  also has hosted a radio show on World Wide Bluegrass.com, WNNT (VA), and WWSM (PA).
  • 2005, released Making Memories album (no label).
  • 2011, released I Couldn’t Make It Without Him album (Blue Circle), produced by Greg Luck.
  • 2020, released My Best Friend album (Patuxent).

VW Boys, The

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THE VW BOYS

  • From Blountville, Tennessee.
  • Formed by Tim White and Dave Vaught in 1997. Larry McPeak of the McPeak Brothers joined them about a year later.
  • A bluegrass band that features magic and comedy “to provide a complete entertainment experience. They perform at amusement parks like Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN and have worked with Jerry Clower and Don Knotts.
  • 2005, released Snappy Lunch album (Fat Dog).
  • 2007, released Retroactive album (Fat Dog)
  • 2009, Larry McPeak was replaced by “Fat Albert” Blackburn. McPeak has had ongoing health problems.
  • 2010, released VW Boys Greatest Hits album (Fat Dog).
  • 2011, released Big Fat Earl album (Fat Dog).