This website contains short profiles of the best-known bluegrass artists and bands. I began compiling this material in 1988 for bluegrass radio announcers like myself who want to sound knowledgeable about the music they play. Initially, I published this material in a three-ring binder for a small fee, but now it’s conveniently located on the web and free.
I also wrote it because I love bluegrass music. Ever since that fateful day in 1964 when I heard the Dillards, I have been a fan of the music and even learned to play it myself. In the early 70s, I was a member of a group called Brush Arbor and played with several local San Diego bands.
Since 1976, I’ve been hosting a weekly radio program in San Diego, California, called “The Bluegrass Special” on two different country music stations. One of my goals has been to educate listeners about bluegrass music and entertain them. Since we are a long way from the heartland of bluegrass, people on the West Coast are not always familiar with the music and the musicians. So, having some interesting knowledge about the artists you can share on the radio is good.
BluegrassBios.com is not meant to be a complete history of bluegrass or a thorough biography of every bluegrass artist. It is a collection of essential tidbits about bluegrass artists that I hope other DJs can use to provide listeners with basic information about the artists they are hearing on the radio.
While I am offering disclaimers, here’s a couple more. This material was not extensively researched. While I know many artists personally and have interviewed many of them, most of the information in this book is second-hand, gleaned rather haphazardly over the years from magazine articles, album liner notes, and the like.
This website is always changing. I will continue to update and correct material on a regular basis. Please excuse any undoubtedly present errors. If you notice any, I’d appreciate hearing from you.
I would also like to apologize to all those artists who were omitted here. I compiled this material primarily based on recordings that have entered my radio program’s music library. Unfortunately, I don’t get everything that comes out. I have also limited entries (generally) to national rather than regional artists, and I have also limited entries to artists who have recorded albums or singles under their names. I have not included band members (sidemen) or other well-known people in the bluegrass music industry who are not primarily known for their recordings.
I hope you find this material helpful and that it makes a small contribution to the advancement of good bluegrass music on the radio.
Wayne Rice