TOM SAFFELL From Nashville (Antioch), Tennessee. Mid-1990’s, was the banjo player with the Jim Buchanon System, the Bob Smiley Band. Also performs as a solo…
LEROY MACK From Los Angeles, California. Given name: LeRoy McNees. Former Dobro™ player with the Kentucky Colonels (early 1960’s). He appeared on the Andy Griffith…
KATE MACKENZIE From Minneapolis, Minnesota. Born in Mason City, Iowa. Grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 1981-1995, performed with her band Stoney Lonesome. She made…
G2 From Stockholm, Sweden. Formed in 2006 by Christoffer Olsson (guitar), Jens Koch (banjo), Erik Igelström (mandolin), Tobias Strömberg (Dobro™), and Jimmy Sunnebrandt (bass). 2007,…
DANNY PAISLEY (AND THE SOUTHERN GRASS) From Landenburg, Pennsylvania—about fifty miles southwest of Philadelphia. Danny’s father Bob Paisley formed the Southern Grass in 1979. Prior…
JOSHUA PALMER From Owls Hollow, Alabama. Plays mandolin with an Alabama group called Valley Road. He previously worked with a gospel group called Canaan’s Crossing.…
CADILLAC SKY From Fort Worth, TX Formed in 2002 by Bryan Simpson (mandolin, fiddle, lead vocals), Matt Menefee (banjo), Mike Jump (guitar), Clint Sturgeon (bass),…
RAGGED UNION From Golden, Colorado. Formed in 2013 by Geoff Union (guitar) and his wife Christina (vocals). Other band members: Jordan Ramsey (mandolin), Chris Elliott…
CALIFORNIA Southern California-based band featuring Byron Berline, Dan Crary, John Moore, John Hickman and Steve Spurgin. Formed in 1991. They were formerly called B-C-H (Berline,…
JEFF PARKER From Renfro Valley, Kentucky. Began playing guitar at age six. Age 12, began performing with his family band Sounds of Gospel at the…
I DRAW SLOW From Dublin, Ireland. Formed in 2007. A celtic/Americana group featuring siblings Dave and Louise Holden (guitar, vocals), Adrian Hart (fiddle), Colin Derham…
BOBBY MACKEY From Wilder, Kentucky (near Cincinnati). Since 1978, has owned a night club called “Bobby Mackey’s” where he performs and hosts other country acts.…
PAM GADD From Independence, Kentucky. Lives in Nashville. First band: “East of Denver” (in high school). 1983, joined the New Coon Creek Girls. 1987, formed…
SHAWN CAMP From Perryville, Arkansas. A songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose songs have been recorded by Garth Brooks (“Two Pina Coladas”), Brooks and Dunn (“How Long…
DAVID PARMLEY (AND CARDINAL TRADITION) From Nashville (White House, Tennessee), but grew up in Los Angeles, California. 1974, began playing bluegrass professionally at age 17…
JIMMY CAMPBELL From Detroit, Michigan. 1987, moved to Nashville to play fiddle with Jim and Jesse. 1990, played fiddle with Bill Monroe and the Blue…
JOHNNY CAMPBELL AND THE BLUEGRASS DRIFTERS From Nashville, Tennessee. Originally from Detroit. A third generation fiddler, he is brother to the late Jimmy Campbell, who…
APPALACHIAN SMOKE From the region where Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina converge. Formed in 2021 by BJ Taylor (mandolin), Jamie Mason (guitar), Kenneth Rymer (Dobro™/reso-guitar),…
SALAMANDER CROSSING From Northampton, Massachusetts. Play “Amphibious Bluegrass,” a blend of bluegrass, folk and rock. Formed in 1991 by Andrew Kinsey (guitar), Rani Arbo (fiddle),…
ROSE MADDOX From Boaz, Alabama. Full name: Roselea Arbana Maddox. Moved with her family to California in 1933 in search of a better life. They…
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…
WALDEN DAHL From Norco, California (LA area). Plays mandolin, guitar, fiddle. Songwriter: his songs have been recorded by Ralph Stanley and Alison Krauss (“So Long,…
RAILROAD EARTH From Stillwater, New Jersey. Formed in 2001 by Andy Groessling (banjo), Tim Carbone (fiddle), John Skehan (mandolin), Carey Harmon (percussion), Dave Von Dollen…
JONATHAN KAHN From Hollywood, California. He also goes by the name Jon David Kahn. He is not the same John Kahn who played bass with…
EVIE LADIN From Oakland, California (has also lived in New Jersey, Baltimore and Nigeria). Plays banjo (clawhammer style), sings, step-dances. Performs solo as well as…
PHIL SALAZAR (AND THE KINFOLK) From Ventura, California. A veteran Southern California fiddler who has been a performer and studio musician since the early 1970’s.…
THE EARL BROTHERS Based in the San Francisco area (although band members are from Virginia, Florida and New York City.) Formed in 2000 by banjo…
THE RAILROADERS From the Virginia-North Carolina-Kentucky-Maryland region. Formed in 2016 by four bluegrass music veterans: Shayne Bartley (mandolin), Darren Beachley (bass), Greg Luck (guitar) and…
THE RAILSPLITTERS From Boulder, Colorado. Formed in 2012 by Lauren Stovall (guitar/lead vocals), Dusty Rider (banjo), Peter Sharpe (mandolin), and Leslie Ziegler (bass). Ziegler was…
DOLLY PARTON From Locust Ridge, Tennessee. Began her singing career at age 11. Moved to Nashville in 1964 after graduating from high school. Was introduced…
BACKLINE From Spartanburg, South Carolina. Formed in 2016 by Katelyn Ingardia (guitar/lead vocals), Travis Tucker (Dobro™), Louise Hughes (mandolin), Zachary Carter (banjo) and Jason Belue…
THE ABEELS From Disputanta, Virginia. A family band featuring Jack and Anne Abeel and their two daughters Amanda and Charity. Jack and Anne are graphic…
HAGAR’S MOUNTAIN BOYS From Roxboro, North Carolina. Formed in 2006. Members: Ricky Stroud (mandolin), Blake Johnson (bass), Mike Johnson (guitar), Cliff Smith (banjo), David Nance…
TRISHA GAGNON From Chlliwack, BC, Canada. Sings and plays bass with John Reischmann and the Jaybirds. Formerly performed with a group called Tumbleweed. 2010, released…
ROBERT HALE From Jolo, West Virginia Began performing at the age of 9, playing mandolin in his father’s band “Clayton Hale and the Bluegrass Mountaineers.”…
TIM AND MOLLIE O’BRIEN From Wheeling, West Virginia. Brother and sister duo; have sung together since childhood. 1967, won a talent contest in Wheeling performing…
ALAN O’BRYANT From Reidsville, North Carolina. Lives in Pegram, Tennessee (near Nashville). Grew up with cousins Billy and Terry Smith who also lived in Reidsville.…
JERRY SALLEY From Chillicothe, Ohio. Lives in Nashville. Began his music career in Nashville working at Opryland USA doing impressions of country stars like Roy…
FRANK WAKEFIELD From Emory Gap, Tennessee, near Knoxville. Lives in Upstate New York. Full name: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Wakefield. Known for his technical virtuosity on…
JACKSON HOLLOW From British Columbia (Canada). A band featuring the lead vocals of Tianna Lefebvre. Other members of the group include Mike Sanyshyn (fiddle, mandolin),…
FAIRVIEW AVENUE From Albany, New York. Formed in 2006 by Scott and Elizabeth Hopkins (banjo/bass). Other members: Tony Califano (mandolin) and Morrie Safford (guitar), Brig…
MISSY RAINES From Short Gap, West Virginia. Lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Real name: Melissa Kay Raines Surratt (also plays a Kay bass!) Has played bass…
BRITTANY BAILEY From Junction City (near Eugene), Oregon. At age 12, performed on stage with Alison Krauss and Union Station. 1996, sang with an Oregon…
CARL JACKSON From Philadelphia, Mississippi. Lives in Nashville. Best known for his virtuosity on banjo and guitar, he is also a very successful vocalist, songwriter…
CALEB BAILEY From Grottoes, Virginia (Shenandoah Valley) Mid-2000’s, played in a band called Allegheny Blue. Grew up in a musical family. His great uncle played…
THE SALLY MOUNTAIN SHOW From Kirksville, Missouri. Stage name used by the Vincent family bluegrass band: Johnny Vincent (banjo), Carolyn (bass); sons Darrin and Brian…
TIM LAKE From New York City. Lives in Lexington, Kentucky. Plays bluegrass, jazz, pop, country and rock, all on the banjo. 1991, earned his doctorate…
DAILEY & VINCENT From Nashville. Formed in 2007 by Jamie Dailey (a former member of Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver) and Darrin Vincent (a former member…
GARY WALDREP BAND From Kilpatrick, Alabama. Formed in 1998. 1981-1989, Waldrep performed with the Warrior River Boys (plays banjo). 1989, helped form the Sand Mountain…
STEVE EARLE Born in Fort Monroe, Virginia; grew up in the San Antonio, Texas area. 1974, moved to Nashville to write songs. Mid-80’s, recorded for…
MARK O’CONNOR From Seattle, Washington. Has lived in Nashville and San Diego, California. Currently lives in New York City. He was a child prodigy. He…
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…
BARRY ABERNATHY From Georgia. A banjo player with a remarkable ability to play Scruggs-style banjo despite a birth defect which left him with no fingers…
TOMMY MAGNESS (AND HIS TENNESSEE BUDDIES) From Roanoke, Virginia. A fiddler who worked in the late 1930’s with Roy Hall and His Blue Ridge Entertainers…
MAGNOLIA DRIVE From Hattiesburg, Mississippi Formed in 2010 by Don Robinson (banjo/guitar), Steve Nowell (bass), Mike Nowell (guitar) and Cory Burton (mandolin). Their name comes…
LAKESIDE From Madisonville, Tennessee. Began as a family band in 1995 called The Gospel Bluegrass Boys. In 2007, after some band member changes, the name…
BARRY AND HOLLY TASHIAN From Nashville. A husband-and-wife duo who perform old-time country duets. 1964, Barry formed a rock band called Barry and the Remains,…
THE EARLS OF LEICESTER From Nashville, Tennessee. Pronounced “The Earls of Lester.” A bluegrass supergroup formed by Jerry Douglas to pay tribute to the music…
THE RAMBLING ROOKS (See BAND OF RUHKS) A part-time band formed in 2012 by Ronnie Bowman (bass), Don Rigsby (mandolin) and Kenny Smith (guitar). 1995-2001,…
SALT AND LIGHT From Graham, North Carolina. A family band (the Moore Family) featuring siblings Kyndal (mandolin), Morgan (guitar), Parker (banjo), Daniel (fiddle), Norah (fiddle)…
ANDY FALCO Lives in Nashville. 1996-1999, played guitar and sang lead with The Water Street Blues Band (later WaterStreet) combining Blues, Funk, Jazz, R&B, Country,…
PATENT PENDING From the Washington, DC area. Formed in 1979 by Eldred Hill, Jim Steptoe, Rusty Williams, Leigh Taylor. 1980, began playing Wednesday nights at…
THE EAST COAST BLUEGRASS BAND From Virginia. Formed in 1985 to compete in the East Coast Bluegrass Band Championship in Crimora, Virginia. After winning the…
THE JACKTOWN RAMBLERS From Morganton, North Carolina. Formed in 2019 by Gabriel Wiseman (mandolin), Shanon Leasure (Guitar), Brett Setzer (banjo) and Mike Ramsey (bass). They…
JAKE LEG From Lyons, Colorado. Formed in the fall of 2021 by Eric Wiggs (vocals/guitar), Dylan McCarthy (mandolin/vocals), Justin Hoffenberg (fiddle) and Troy Robey (bass).…
EAST NASH GRASS From Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in 2017 as a pick-up band to play dates at Nashville’s Station Inn and eventually became a full-time…
JIM VAN CLEVE Born/raised in Sarasota, Florida. Grew up in Haywood County, North Carolina. Resides in Nashville. Began playing fiddle at age 7. As a…
AMY GALLATIN (and STILLWATERS) From Glastonbury, Connecticut; grew up in Louisiana. 1993, moved to Connecticut and formed Stillwaters with Kevin Lynch and Matt Nozzolio. 1994,…
BARBARA LAMB From Seattle, Washington. Played fiddle with the “cowgirl” band, Ranch Romance. Was Mark O’Connor’s first fiddle teacher. He was only eleven years old…
BILL HALL (AND NORTHWIND BLUEGRASS) From North Scituate, Rhode Island. Full name: Roger William Hall. Played banjo in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s with the…
SAM HILL From Portland, Oregon. Formed in 1993 by mandolinist Jeff Smith (originally from California) who wrote much of the band’s original material. 1995, released…
MERLE HAGGARD From Bakersfield, California. Not primarily known as a bluegrass artist, but recorded an album called “The Bluegrass Sessions” in 2007. Bluegrass legend Ronnie…
JAMES BAILEY From Keysville, Virginia. 1974, 1976-1979, 1986-1988, played banjo with the Country Gentlemen. Has also worked with Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury, Doyle Lawson, U.S.…
BRADLEY WALKER From Athens, Alabama. Confined to a wheel chair since childhood, he was born with Muscular Dystrophy. Began singing as a child. At age…
JACK SANBOWER (AND THE NO LEEWAY BAND) From Smithsburg, Maryland. Jack Sanbower played banjo with several Baltimore-Washington DC area bands, including CC and Company, Chestnut…
RICHARD BAILEY From Memphis. Lives in Nashville. First band: The Tennessee Gentlemen (Memphis). As a sideman, he has performed with Bill Monroe, Roland White, Vassar…
JESSIE BAKER From Martinsville, Indiana. Lives in Georgetown, Kentucky. At age 11, learned banjo and began performing with his brother Taylor (mandolin) as The Baker…
THE SAND MOUNTAIN BOYS Originally from Alabama; relocated to Milton, Florida. Formed in 1989. Sand Mountain is a large plateau in northeastern Alabama. For years,…
EDDIE SANDERS From McAlester, Oklahoma. A singer/songwriter, he played guitar for many years with a band called Signal Mountain. Bandmates included Shawn Camp, Tim and…
DEAN SAPP (AND THE HARFORD EXPRESS) From Aberdeen, Maryland. 1980, formed his band The Harford Express. Sapp’s uncle (Sonny Miller) played fiddle for Del McCoury.…
THE RARELY HERD From Athens, Ohio. Formed in 1989 by Jeff Weaver (guitar) and Jim and Alan Stack (guitar and mandolin). Other original members: Dan…
ANDY HALL From Binghamton, New York. Lives now in Nashville. One of the top Dobro™ players in bluegrass music. Early musical career, was a member…
MICKEY GALYEAN AND CULLEN’S BRIDGE From Low Gap, North Carolina. Galyean (pronouned Galleon, like the ship) is the son of Cullen Galyean, a legendary bluegrass…
BEN JAMES From North Carolina; resides in Nashville. 2019, joined Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, singing high tenor vocals until Doyle’s retirement. 2021, joined Dailey &…
THE BAKER BOYS From Martinsville, Indiana. Features brothers Jessie (banjo) and Taylor (mandolin) Baker. Taylor is 2 years older than Jessie. Began performing in 2002…
TASTY LICKS From New England. Formed in 1975 by Jack Tottle (mandolin), Robin Kincaid (guitar), Paul Kahn (bass), Bela Fleck (banjo) and Stacy Phillips (Dobro™).…
JOHN MAILANDER From San Diego, California. A graduate of the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Has played fiddle with Chris Stuart and BackCountry,…
THE CANA RAMBLERS From Cana, Virginia. A family band featuring three siblings: Will Jones (guitar), Laura Leigh Jones (mandolin), Ashley Jones (bass), dad Phillip Jones…
WADE MAINER From Weaverville, North Carolina. Lived most of his life in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A country music pioneer whose mountain string band music of…
MO CANADA From Courtland, Virginia. Lives in Windsor, Virginia. Began playing guitar at age 13. Primary influences: Tony Rice, Jimmy Herring, Scott Miller, Bela Fleck,…
THE SAUCEMAN BROTHERS From Bright Hope, Tennessee (eastern Tennessee, near Greenville) Featured Carl and John Paul (J.P.) Sauceman. In the mid-forties, Carl had a band…
KENNY BAKER From Jenkins, Kentucky. During much of his career, he lived in Gallatin, Tennessee. 1957-1984, played fiddle with Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass…
ZEKE SAUNDERS (AND THE BLADES OF GRASS) From Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Harold K. (“Zeke”) Saunders was a former pilot and Senior Vice President of Piedmont…
CHARLIE DANIELS From Wilmington, North Carolina. As a teenager, played mandolin and fiddle with a North Carolina bluegrass band called the Misty Mountain Boys. 1972,…
LUBOS MALINA From the Czech Republic. Pronounced LEW-Bosch Ma-LEEN-a. He is the co-founder and banjo player for the Czech bluegrass band Druha Trava (Second Grass).…
KANE’S RIVER From Belgrade, Montana. Formed in 1995 as “Deep River” by John Lowell and Nancy Padilla, formerly with Wheel Hoss. Lowell also worked with…
CANDLEWYCK From Charlotte, North Carolina. A newgrass band formed in 1999 featuring Ty Bennett (guitar) and Chris Emerson (mandolin), who also perform together in a…
SAWMILL ROAD Based in Carson City, NV. Formed in 2006 by Steve Spurgin (bass and lead vocals), Mark Miracle (mandolin), Dick Brown (banjo), Charles Edsall…
LAWRENCE LANE AND THE KENTUCKY GRASS From Columbus Ohio. Formed in 1973 by Lawrence Lane (guitar), Keith Lane (mandolin), Radford Vance (banjo) and Ray Sonaugle…
SHAWN LANE Born & raised in Fort Blackmore, Virginia. Lives in Walhalla, South Carolina. An original member of Blue Highway. Plays mandolin. 1990, worked with…
MAN ABOUT A HORSE From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2014 by Matt Thomas (bass) and Matt “Roy” Royles (guitar). Other band members: Dan Whitener (banjo),…
CANE MILL ROAD From Deep Gap, North Carolina. Formed in 2015 by teens Liam Purcell (mandolin) and Tray Wellington (banjo) who are both from Deep…
MANDOLIN ORANGE (WATCHHOUSE) From Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Formed in 2009 by Andrew Marlin (mandolin, guitar, banjo) and Emily Frantz (fiddle, guitar). They are married.…
ACOUSTIC BLUE From Springfield, Massachusetts. Formed in 2003. Band members: Corey Zink (mandolin), T. Shaun Batho (guitar), Larry Neu (banjo), Ray Evans (bass). 2012, released…
CANEY CREEK From Ohio. Formed in 2008 by Stacy Wilcox (banjo), Chris Smith (guitar) and Dave Prater (mandolin). In 2014, Joe Robinson (bass) joined the…
BUTCH BALDASSARI (See also WEARY HEARTS, NASHVILLE MANDOLIN ENSEMBLE) From Scranton, Pennsylvania. Lives in Nashville. A mandolinist who grew up listening to the music of…
LEE MARCUS From Westminster, South Carolina. Has played banjo with Mercy Tree, Legacy Drive, and Blue Streek. Blue Streek won first place at the Georgia…
CORY AND JARROD WALKER From Lithia, Florida (near Tampa) They are brothers who began performing together in their teens. Cory plays banjo, guitar and resonator…
MARTY FALLE From Nashville. He has lived in Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia and South Carolina. He owns a farm in Kentucky. His name is pronounced “Falley”…
BEPPE GAMBETTA From Genoa, Italy. Now living in New Jersey. Beppe is pronounced Bay-pay. He was trained as a classical musician, but after hearing bluegrass,…
AARON RAMSEY From Morganton, North Carolina. Began playing mandolin when he was 12 years old in a Gospel bluegrass band called Damascus Road. His father…
RICK LANG From Kingston, New Hampshire. A singer/songwriter, known best for his gospel songs. His song “Listen to the Word of God” appeared on the…
COREY ZINK (ZINK & COMPANY) From Massachusetts; now lives in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. 2003-2012, played mandolin with a Massachusetts band called Acoustic Blue. Left to…
THE LARKINS From Church Hill, Tennessee. A duo featuring sisters Shaunna (fiddle) and Tina (mandolin) Larkin. They began performing together as children in their family…
WIL MARING From Waterloo, Iowa. Grew up in Makanda, Illinois. Given name: Lillian Maring (Wil is a nickname acquired in grade school). She has a…
JIM LAUDERDALE From Troutman, North Carolina. Lives in Nashville. A successful Nashville singer/songwriter who has written hits for Patty Loveless, Mark Chesnutt, Kathy Mattea, George…
MELONIE CANNON From Nashville. Born in Jackson, Tennessee. Daughter of legendary country music songwriter & producer Buddy Cannon (Kenny Chesney, Reba McIntyre, Mel Tillis, George…
THE MARKSMEN QUARTET From Murrayville, Georgia. A gospel quartet that formed in the early 1970’s. Members: Earle Wheeler (bass), his son Mark Wheeler (guitar/banjo), Darrin…
LARRY WALLACE (THE LARRY WALLACE BAND) From Starkville, Mississippi Wallace played banjo with Jimmy Martin’s Sunny Mountain Boys for 10 years (1990-2000) 2002, formed the…
DAVID NANCE From Oak Ridge, North Carolina (lives in Reidsville, NC). Early in his career, he played Dobro™ with his father in a band called…
THE DAPPLED GRAYS From Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 2001 by Michael Smith (mandolin) and Casey Cook (guitar). Won “Best Bluegrass Band” in Atlanta’s “Creative Loafing”…
BARRY BALES From Kingsport, Tennessee. A bass player who is best known for his tenure with Alison Krauss and Union Station (since 1990). He was…
SARA JAROSZ From Wimberley, Texas (near Austin). Began singing at two, playing piano at six, took up the mandolin at ten. She also plays plays…
CHAD DAROU From Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. Began playing music at age 8. He is an elite Dobro™ (resonator guitar) player, but he plays all the bluegrass…
THE FAREWELL DRIFTERS From Nashville. Formed in 2006 by Zach Bevill (guitar), Joshua Britt (mandolin), Trevor Brandt (banjo), and Ryan Pennington (bass). They describe their…
TAD MARKS From Cooksville, Maryland. 1990-1992, played fiddle for the Del McCoury Band. 1992-1993, the Lynn Morris Band. 1994, the Kate McKenzie Band. 1995-1997, the…
THE CANTRELLS Husband-wife folk duo from Helena, Montana. Have sung together since 1983. Had a band called “The Tractors.” Emily is originally from Nankipoo, Tennessee;…
DENNIS CAPLINGER From Vista, California (near San Diego). Lives in Murietta, California (Riverside County). Since 1980, plays banjo and fiddle with John Moore in the…
CHARLES SAWTELLE From Boulder Colorado. Played guitar for the group Hot Rize. After the group disbanded in 1990, he built “Rancho De Ville” a vintage…
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.…
RAY CARDWELL AND TENNESSEE MOON From Springfield, Missouri. 1975, began singing with his family band The Cardwell Family (with his sisters Nancy and Susan). Nancy…
MARTY MARRONE (AND TANGLED ROOTS) From St. Paul, Minnesota, originally from Pennsylvania. Marrone is a guitarist and singer who began playing bluegrass in high school.…
JOHN CARLINI From Summit, New Jersey. Lives in Berkeley Heights, NJ. Banjo and guitar player who was at the forefront of the new acoustic music…
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…
THE CALEB DAUGHERTY BAND From Connersville, Indiana. Began singing and playing guitar at age 7. 2016, appeared with Rhonda Vincent on the Grand Ole Opry.…
JEFF AND VIDA From Nashville (by way of New York City and New Orleans). 1997, Jeff Burke (mandolin) and Vida Wakeman (guitar) met in New…
JUSTIN CARBONE From Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Lives in Nashville. Plays both banjo and guitar. Got a banjo on his 12th birthday. 1998, formed a band…
MIKE MARSHALL From the San Francisco Bay area. He is of Italian descent; his family name is Marciarelli, which was shortened to Marshall. 1979, was…
BENNY MARTIN From Sparta, Tennessee. Full name: Benny Edward Martin, Sr. John Hartford called him “The World’s Greatest Unknown Fiddle Player.” 1944, began musical career…
THE BALOS FAMILY From Buchanan, Michigan. A family of nine who travel the country singing and playing gospel music. Michael (dad on guitar) and Ramona…
BALSAM RANGE From Clyde, North Carolina. Formed in 2007 by Marc Pruett (banjo), Caleb Smith (guitar), Darren Nicholson (mandolin), Tim Surrett (bass and resonator guitar)…
CAROLINA BLUE From Brevard, North Carolina. Formed in 2007 after the release of the album “Nothing So Blue” (no label) by Bobby Powell (guitar) and…
PATHWAY From Mt. Airy, North Carolina. Formed in 2007 by three brothers: Mitchell (bass), Mark (banjo), and Scott (fiddle) Freeman. Also in the band: Mark’s…
ACOUSTIC ENDEAVORS Based in Jonesboro, Tennessee (later Nashville and most recently, Roanoke, Virginia) Formed in 1994 by Warren Amberson (bass) and Kelly Green (guitar). Amberson…
JIMMY MARTIN (AND THE SUNNY MOUNTAIN BOYS) From Sneedville, Tennessee. Nicknames: “Mr. Good ‘n Country” and “The King of Bluegrass Music.” 1949, auditioned for Bill…
HERB PEDERSEN From Berkeley, California. Moved to Los Angeles (San Fernando Valley) in the 1960’s. Began career in Bay Area playing in a band called…
PENN CENTRAL From Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Formed in 1981 by Mark Rickert (guitar) and Steve Huber (banjo). Other members of the band included Todd Clewell…
MAC MARTIN (AND THE DIXIE TRAVELERS) From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His first band: the Pike County Boys (1948). He played mandolin. His real name: William (Bill)…
THE SAWTOOTH MOUNTAIN BOYS From Monmouth (Willamette Valley), Oregon. Oregon’s “original bluegrass band.” Formed in 1970 by Steve Waller (mandolin) and Mike Eisler (banjo). Before…
TOM T. HALL From Olive Hill, Kentucky. Lives in Nashville. Nickname: “The Storyteller.” He is a member of the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. Began…
CLARENCE “TATER” TATE From Gate City, Virginia. A pioneering bluegrass fiddler. Began his career in country music in the late 40’s, and was introduced to…
CARPENTER AND MAY From Nashville. A duo featuring Fred Carpenter on fiddle (formerly with Tony Rice Unit, the Dillards, Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time)…
JEFF AND SHERI EASTER From Lincolnton, Georgia. Sheri is the daughter of Polly Lewis (Williamson) of the Lewis Family and Jeff is the son of…
THE DAUPHINAIS BROTHERS From Asheville, North Carolina. Originally from New Hampshire. Brothers Nick and Lucas Dauphinais (pronounced DAH-FIN-AE) are of French ancestry. Nick plays guitar,…
MATT WALLACE From Knoxville, Tennessee. Began playing bass at age 10. Has played bass with David Parmley and Continental Divide, Audie Blaylock and Redline, Pine…
HAMILTON COUNTY RAMBLERS From Chattanooga, Tennessee (which is in Hamilton County). Members: James Boulware (fiddle), James Kee (mandolin), Josh Hixson (bass), Roy Curry (guitar), Jim…
EARL TAYLOR (AND THE STONEY MOUNTAIN BOYS) From Virginia. A legendary mandolin player and singer who for most of his career led a band called…
ROY ACUFF (AND THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN BOYS) From Maynardsville, Tennessee. Known as “The King of Country Music.” Originally called “The King of the Hillbillies.” A…
GANGSTAGRASS From Brooklyn, New York. Formed in 2006 by record-producer and guitarist Rench (Oscar Owens) who combined bluegrass with hip-hop to record the theme song…
THE SCHANKMAN TWINS From Calabasas, California (San Fernando Valley). A bluegrass/country duo featuring Identical twins Dana (banjo) and Lauren (fiddle). They both played the role…
MARK SCHATZ From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts (near Boston). Has also lived in Maryland, Nashville, Berkeley, California. Best known as one of…
LARRY PERKINS Originally from Grant County, Indiana. Lived for many years in Nashville (rented a house from Earl Scruggs). Currently lives in North Carolina. A…
OFF THE RAILS From Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in 2023 by Cory Chubb (guitar), Ben Hill (mandolin), Taylor Gerber (bass), Lucas White (guitar), Cody Bauer (fiddle),…
HAMMERTOWNE From East Kentucky. Formed in 2011 by Scott Tackett (guitar), father and son Dave and Chaston Carroll (guitar and mandolin), Brent Pack (banjo) and…
EDDY RAVEN From LaFayette, Louisiana. Real name: Edward Garvin Futch. In 1962 he changed his name to Eddy Raven when he released his first single…
JOE CARR From Dallas, Texas. Lived and worked in Levelland, Texas. 1974, formed Texas band called Roanoke. 1977-1982, worked with The Country Gazette (with Alan…
THE CARROLL COUNTY RAMBLERS From Carroll County in north central Maryland. Formed in 1961 by husband and wife Leroy and Dottie Eyler. LeRoy died in…
THE DAVIDSON BROTHERS From Yinnar, Victoria, Australia (just east of Melbourne). Features brothers Hamish (banjo/fiddle) and Lachlan (mandolin/fiddle) Davidson. They began performing together as teenagers.…
KATHY KALLICK From the San Francisco Bay Area (She is originally from the Chicago area. Her Mom was a prominent folksinger there. She moved to…
PETER SCHWIMMER From New York. Lived several years in Colorado before moving to Portland, Oregon. Has played with several bluegrass bands from New York to…
RUSS CARSON From Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Plays banjo. 2009-10, worked with Gold Heart. 2010, joined Audie Blaylock and Redline. 2011, released solo project Last Chance on…
BAND OF RUHKS From Nashville. Formed in 2013 as “The Rambling Rooks” by Ronnie Bowman (bass), Don Rigsby (mandolin) and Kenny Smith (guitar). The three…
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,…
BECKY SCHLEGEL From St. Paul, Minnesota. Began performing in high school in central South Dakota, performing at VFW and American Legion Halls. She also spent…
MARTY RAYBON (AND FULL CIRCLE) From Tuscumbia, Alabama. Best known as the lead singer for the successful country band Shenandoah (1984-1997). 1991, won ACM Vocal…
JASON CARTER From Greenup County, Kentucky. Lives in Nashville. While in high school, played guitar with a group called Idle Times. After high school, played…
THE BANKESTERS From Carbondale, Illinois. Began performing as a family band in 2004. The original band featured mom and dad Dorene (guitar) and Phil (guitar)…
THE BARBED WIRE CUTTERS From Bellingham, Washington. Members of the band: Korby Lenker (guitar), Bruce Shaw (mandolin), Adam Carp (banjo), Josh Brahinsky (fiddle) and Christopher…
JUNIOR BARBER From Plattsburgh, New York. He played drums and electric guitar in rock bands before eventually turning to the Dobro™ guitar. 1993-2002, worked for…
ARTHUR HANCOCK From Paris, Kentucky. Breeds and raises race horses in Kentucky. His “Stone Farm” produced Sunday Silence, winner of the 1989 Kentucky Derby, the…
MICHAEL DAVES From Atlanta, Georgia. Lives in Brooklyn, New York. Pronounced DAVE’S (not Davis or Davies). Grew up in a musical family with bluegrass and…
THE CARTER FAMILY From Bristol, Tennessee. Original group: A.P. (Alvin Pleasant), Sara and Maybelle Carter. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970.…
RANDY WALLER From Washington, D.C. Lives in Richmond, Virginia. Son of Charlie Waller (Country Gentlemen). When Randy was four years old, his father made a…
HAND PICKED BLUEGRASS From Tomahawk, Wisconsin. Band Members: Joe Cronick (mandolin, guitar, banjo), Sue Cronick (guitar, fiddle), Brian Cate (bass), Robin Mileham (bass). Cronick is…
JAMES REAMS (AND THE BARNSTORMERS) From southeast Kentucky. Moved to Brooklyn, New York and also has a home in Phoenix, Arizona. A guitarist and vocalist,…
STEVE MARTIN From Los Angeles, California. Born in Waco, Texas; grew up in Garden Grove, California. He is an Emmy and Grammy-award winning comedian, writer,…
TIM CARTER (THE CARTER BROTHERS) From North Carolina; lives in Nashville. Plays banjo, mandolin and guitar. 1980, formed The Carter Brothers with his brother Danny,…
THE FARIS FAMILY From Ozawkie, Kansas. Band included Bob and Michelle Faris (banjo, fiddle and bass) and their four sons, James (fiddle and bass), Richard…
TOM OHMSEN From Salem, Virginia. A recording engineer/producer by occupation and owner of Flat Five Studios. He is also an accomplished mandolin player. Has worked…
BARRY SCOTT From Ellijay, Georgia. Began singing and playing bass with his family band (The Scott Family Band) at age 7. At age 11, he…
TUT TAYLOR Born in Possum Trot, Georgia. Lived in Milledgeville, Georgia. Moved to Nashville in 1970. Real name: Robert Arthur Taylor. He was nicknamed “Tut”…
DARRELL SCOTT Born in London, Kentucky. Grew up in the Chicago area. Lives in Nashville. A successful songwriter: “Long Time Gone” and “Heartbreak Town” (Dixie…
KATIE LAUR Native of Paris, Tennessee. Lived in Cincinnatti, Ohio. 1975, formed The Katie Laur Band. She was one of the first female lead singers…
RED RECTOR Originally from Marshall, North Carolina. Real name: William Eugene Rector. One of first mandolin players in bluegrass to have a style distinguishable from…
DEWITT “SNUFFY” JENKINS Born 1908 in Harris, North Carolina. He is credited as being the first country musician to play banjo using the three-finger style…
NASH STREET (HANALENA) From Starkville, Mississippi. Formed in 1996 as a kid band called The Goat Ropers. The group featured the vocals of sisters Hannah…
RICK FARIS Grew up in Arkansas (the Ozarks) and Kansas. Began playing music professionally at age 7 with his family band The Faris Family (1998).…
TIM MARTIN From Collinsville, Virginia. Was born in Roanoke. 1968, (at age 10), joined Dennis Hall and the Hilltoppers, playing banjo. 1971 (at age 13),…
DAVID BENEDICT From Cambridge, Massachusetts (originally from Clemson, South Carolina). 2013, graduated from Bryan College (Chattanooga, TN) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mandolin…
JOE K. WALSH From Portland, Maine. A mandolinist who has worked with The Gibson Brothers, Joy Kills Sorrow, Mr. Sun, Jonathan Edwards, Darol Anger, Scott…
BILLY PERRY From Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A banjo player who is a member of an Oklahoma band called Mountain Smoke. Vince Gill was also in…
MARTY WARBURTON (AND HOME GIRLS) From Las Vegas, Nevada. Plays banjo and guitar. Was a member of Dry & Dusty (with Butch Baldassari) and Sagegrass.…
RED CAMEL COLLECTIVE From Walnut Cove, North Carolina. Formed in 2023 by Tony Mabe (banjo), Heather Berry Mabe (guitar/lead vocals), Johnathan Dillon (mandolin) and Curt…
RYAN CAVANAUGH From North Carolina. A child prodigy, he began playing the banjo at age 5 and performed as a child with Doc Watson, Doug…
THE LAUREL CANYON RAMBLERS From Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1994 by Herb Pedersen and Bill Bryson (who worked together in the Desert Rose Band).…
EVAN WARD From Fountain City, Indiana. Began playing banjo at age 11. 2000, joined first band at age 12, an Ohio group called Simple Tymes.…
JERRY GARCIA Founder and leader of the legendary rock group The Grateful Dead. 1962, played banjo with two bands—the Wild Wood Boys and Sleepy Hollow…
DAVE YATES From Johnson City, Tennessee. A multi-instrumentalist who has performed on recordings by Merle Haggard, Tim Stafford, Rhonda Vincent, Adam Steffey, Barry Bales, John…
THE NASHVILLE BLUEGRASS BAND From Nashville, Tennessee. 1984, the band was formed by Alan O’Bryant (banjo) and Pat Enright (guitar). They put together the band…
CHRIS WARNER From Red Lion, Pennsylvania. 1966, played banjo with Del McCoury, who was a neighbor at the time. 1967-1969, joined Jimmy Martin’s Sunny Mountain…
PERT NEAR SANDSTONE From Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. Formed in 2004 along the sandstone bluffs of St. Paul, Minnesota by Justin Bruhn (bass), Kevin Kniebel (banjo),…
CEDAR HILL From Hillboro, Missouri (in the Missouri Ozarks). Formed in 1967 by Frank Ray and his uncle Richard Orchard. The original name of the…
JOHNNY WARREN AND CHARLIE CUSHMAN From Nashville, Tennessee. Warren (fiddle) is the son of former Foggy Mountain Boy Paul Warren. Cushman (banjo) is a celebrated…
BRAD DAVIS From Fort Worth, Texas. Began playing classical guitar at age 5. 1978, he and his brother formed a bluegrass band called Ten Degrees.…
THE GILLIS BROTHERS (AND HARD DRIVING BLUEGRASS) From Soperton, Georgia. Call their music “Mountain Style Bluegrass from the Georgia Swamplands.” Brothers: Larry (banjo) and John…
MARY AND MARS From Santa Fe, New Mexico. An acoustic trio formed in 2002 to explore the outer limits of bluegrass. They played everything from…
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…
JOHN LAWLESS From Roanoke, Virginia. Banjo player and founder (in 1994) of AcuTab Publishing Company, publisher of instrumental instruction books and recordings by well-known bluegrass…
THE FARM HANDS (BLUEGRASS QUARTET) From Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in 2011 by Daryl Mosely (bass), Tim Graves (Dobro™), Bennie Boling (banjo) and Kevin Williamson (guitar).…
WAYNE TAYLOR (SEE ALSO BLUE HIGHWAY) From Richmond, Virginia. Grew up in Ohio. Late 80’s, early 90’s, worked with several East Tennessee bands: The Richlands…
CEDAR HILL From Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1976. They perform primarily in Atlanta’s night club district, with a high energy bluegrass, comedy and variety show.…
MIKE SCOTT From Wautaga, Tennessee. Lives in Gallatin, Tennessee. 1972-1973, formed his first band at the age of 10, the Rocky Mountain Boys. 1974-1977, played…
THE MASHVILLE BRIGADE From Nashville. Formed in 2007. Like the Sidemen before them, this group was formed to perform at Nashville’s Station Inn on Tuesday…
TAMMY FASSAERT From Vancouver, B.C., Canada. A singer/songwriter who plays guitar and bass. 1988-1990, worked with Laurie Lewis and Grant Street. 1989, formed “Tammy and…
THE SCOTTSVILLE SQUIRREL BARKERS From San Diego, California. Included Chris Hillman (who was still in high school), Larry Murray, Kenny Wertz, Ed Douglas and Gary…
STEVE KAUFMAN From New York City. Lives in Maryville, Tennessee. Three-time winner of National Flatpick Guitar Championship in Winfield, Kansas (1978, 1984, 1986). Writes guitar…
TOM NEAL From Hampstead, Maryland. A banjo player who has worked with Del McCoury, Bill Harrell, Cliff Waldron, Gary Ferguson, Leon Morris, and The Carroll…
FAST TRACK From Nashville. Formed in 2019 upon the retirement of David Parmley. His band Cardinal Tradition continued on without him, taking the new name…
JEFF SCROGGINS (AND COLORADO) From Oklahoma. Has also lived in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas and Canada (British Columbia). Grew up playing rock guitar in several…
THE RED CLAY RAMBLERS Formed in 1972 by Jim Watson (guitar), Tommy Thompson (banjo) and Bill Hicks (fiddle). Known as “America’s Favorite Whatzit Band.” They…
RED JUNE (See also Zoe and Cloyd) From Asheville, North Carolina. Formed in 2008 by Will Straughan (Dobro™ and guitar), Natalya Zoe Weinstein (fiddle), and…
PAUL WARREN From Hickman County, Tennessee. 1938, began playing fiddle professionally with Johnny Wright and His Tennessee Hillbillies. 1942, joined the Army and during WWII,…
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CHAIN STATION From Denver, Colorado Formed in 2006 by Alex Thoele (guitar) and Jon Pickett (guitar) in Estes Park, Colorado. They were later joined by…
TOM HANWAY From Larchmont, New York. Currently lives in Ireland. Began performing at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA in the early 1980’s. He was studying…
TINA ADAIR (THE ADAIRS, BLUEGRASS EDITION) From Haleyville, Alabama. Began singing at age 3 in her family band, Bluegrass Edition. They also recorded under the…
JACK LAWRENCE A guitarist from Charlotte, North Carolina. Lives in Harrisburg, North Carolina. 1970, got his first professional job with Carl Story. 1971, joined the…
JERUSALEM RIDGE From Edmonton, Alberta (Canada). Formed in 1989, they were once known as “The Undisputed Western Canadian Champions of Bluegrass.” 1991, released “North Wind”…
SLAVEK HANZLIK From Prague, Czechoslavakia (Czech Republic). Lives in Canada. Learned guitar as a child listening to smuggled-in Doc Watson albums. Defected to the United…
BUBBA CHANDLER Grew up in Alabama and Missouri, then moved to Virginia. Now lives in Hardy, Virginia. 1979-1983, played guitar with the Lost and Found.…
CHRISTIAN DAVIS From Nashville, Tennessee. He is primarily known as a bass singer, perhaps the first full-time bass singer in bluegrass music. 1998, began singing…
NICK CHANDLER AND DELIVERED From Weaverville, North Carolina. 2003, played mandolin in a band with Bobby Hicks (shortly after Bobby left Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky…
CARSON PETERS (AND IRON MOUNTAIN) From Piney Flats, Tennessee. Began playing fiddle at age 3. 2011, at age 8 made an appearance on The Tonight…
RED MOLLY From New York City. A female vocal trio specializing in folk/Americana with a bluegrassy feel (lots of Dobro™, occasional banjo). Formed in 2004…
EARL SCRUGGS From Shelby, North Carolina. Lived in Madison, Tennessee for most of his life. Full name: Earl Eugene Scruggs. He is credited with being…
DOYLE LAWSON (AND QUICKSILVER) From Kingsport, Tennessee. Lives in Bristol, Tennessee. His father was in an acapella gospel group called the Clinch Mountain Quartet. 1963,…
HARD RYDE From Ontario, Canada Formed in 1997. Members: Doug DeBoer (guitar), Sally Ryba (banjo), Nick McDonald (mandolin), Nancy MacLellan (bass), Wayne Ferguson (fiddle). Have…
CURLY SECKLER From China Grove, North Carolina.. Real name: John Ray Sechler. First band: The Yodeling Rangers, with his brothers (1935). 1939, was one of…
RED WINE From Genoa, Italy. Formed in 1978. One of Europe’s first professional bluegrass bands. Guitarist Beppe Gambetta was a founding member of this band.…
TRAVERS CHANDLER AND AVERY COUNTY From Baltimore, Maryland. Chandler was born in Roxboro, North Carolina. Chandler plays mandolin and sings lead. Before forming Avery County…
JEFF BARBRA AND SARAH PIRKLE From Walland, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. A husband and wife duo who perform primarily acoustic or Americana music…
MARO KAWABATA From Kyoto, Japan. At age 12, saw Bill Monroe on Japanese TV. Learned guitar and formed “The Riverside Brothers” with his brother Takaharu.…
WAYNE TAYLOR (AND APPALOOSA) From Conover, North Carolina. Began playing guitar at age 9. 1971-1973, first bluegrass band was called East Maiden Express. 1974-1978, his…
SARAH CHAPMAN From Northeast Alabama. Began singing as a young teen, received her first guitar at age 16. 2018, moved to Nashville at age 20.…
JEREMY GARRETT From Idaho. Began his musical career playing fiddle with his father Glen (guitar) in a group called The Grasshoppers. Honi Deaton (then Honi…
RUSS BARENBERG From southeast Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. Moved to Nashville in 1986. Guitarist who plays bluegrass laced with jazz, folk, cajun, celtic, carribean and latin…
RED, WHITE AND BLUE(GRASS) From Birmingham, Alabama. Formed in 1970 by Ginger Boatwright (vocals), Grant Boatwright (guitar), Dave Sebolt (bass) and Dale Whitcomb (banjo). Norman…
SECTION HOUSE From Nashville. A project band featuring top session musicians Gavin Largent (Dobro™), Aaron Ramsey (mandolin), Cory Walker (banjo), Bryan McDowell (fiddle), Jake Stargell…
GLENN LAWSON From Spencer County, Kentucky 1972, played guitar with the Bluegrass Alliance. 1975, played guitar and sang lead with J.D. Crowe and the New…
THE SELDOM SCENE From Washington, D.C. Formed in 1971 by John Duffey (mandolin), John Starling (guitar and lead vocals), Ben Eldridge (banjo), Mike Auldridge (Dobro™),…
FELLER AND HILL (AND THE BLUEGRASS BUCKAROOS) From Southern Indiana/Northern Kentucky. Formed in 2010. Describe their sound as “Buck Owens and Don Rich sing the…
JASON BARIE From Tampa, Florida. Lives in Portland, Tennessee. Began playing fiddle at age 10. 6-time winner of the Florida State Fiddle Championship. 2002-7, worked…
TATIANA HARGREAVES From Corvallis, Oregon. 2008, won first place at the Oregon State Old Time Fiddler’s contest, the youngest winner in the contest’s history (age…
RICKY WASSON From Clay City, Kentucky. Began playing bluegrass when he was four years old. He says that he never knew there was any other…
THE REELTIME TRAVELERS From Johnson City, Tennessee. Formed in 1999. Name: they play old-time (string band) music in a “real time” (modern) context. Members: Thomas…
DAVID PETERSON (AND 1946) From Nashville, Tennessee. Originally from Easton, Massachusetts. A historian of bluegrass and country music and has performed with several bluegrass bands…
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 DAUGHTERS OF BLUEGRASS The brainchild of Lorraine Jordan and Gena Britt, who decided in 2001 to record an album featuring many of the top…
GAIL DAVIES From Nashville, Tennessee. (Born in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.). Began performing at age 9 in a family band. Late sixties, moved to Los Angeles…
KATHY MATTEA From South Charleston, West Virginia. Lives in Nashville. 1976, while a student at WVU, she was a member of a bluegrass band called…
JIM GAUDET AND THE RAILROAD BOYS From Albany, New York. A flat-pick guitarist, best known as a singer/songwriter. Began playing bluegrass (mandolin) with a New…
TAYLOR’S GROVE From Kennebunk, Maine. A gospel and mountain music duo featuring veteran country singer Mac McHale and gospel singer Carolyn Hutton. They alternate on…
BULL HARMAN From Florissant, Missouri. (Originally from Alton, Illinois.) Began playing guitar at age 12. With his brother and sister formed “The Harman Trio,” recording…
JIMMY GAUDREAU From Rhode Island. Mandolinist who in 1969 replaced John Duffey in the Country Gentlemen. Other bands: Eddie Adcock and the IInd Generation, J.D.…
DALTON HARPER From Bunker, Missouri. He is a singer, guitarist and songwriter who grew up performing with his family group The Harper Family. 2019, joined…
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…
THE CHAPMANS From Springfield, Missouri. (Originally from Denver, Colorado) Formed in 1989 by Bill and Patti Chapman (dad and mom) and three sons, John, Jeremy…
FERGUSON AND FERGUSON From Fredericksburg, Virginia and Littlestown, Pennsylvania. Both members of this duo are named Gary Ferguson. They are not related. Gary Ferguson (Virginia)…
THE BARONS OF BLUEGRASS See Walter Hensley.
BRANDON LEE ADAMS From Charleston, West Virginia. Lives in Webbville, Kentucky. A flat-pick guitarist, singer and songwriter who began playing at age 8 in church.…
THE HARPER FAMILY From Bunker, Missouri. A gospel family bluegrass band featuring Gaylon and Katrina Harper (banjo and bass) and their three children Dalton (guitar),…
FRANK NECESSARY From Ruckersville, Virginia. He was born in Boone’s Camp, Kentucky and worked in the Baltimore/Washington DC area as well as in Ohio. Played…
LARRY KEEL (AND NATURAL BRIDGE) From Glasgow, Virginia. Keel is a 2-time winner of the Telluride Flatpick Guitar Championship (1993, 1995). Early days: had a…
TENNESSEE BLUEGRASS BAND From east Tennessee. Formed in 2020 by Aynsley Porchak (fiddle), Lincoln Hensley (banjo), John Meador (guitar), Gracie Meador (bass) and Tim Laughlin…
JIMMY MATTINGLY From Leitchfield, Kentucky. 1981, won the Grand Masters fiddle championship. 1981, joined Spectrum. Early 80’s, worked with the Forrester Sisters and Steve Wariner.…
DOC WATSON From Deep Gap, North Carolina. One of America’s best known folk singers and flat-pick guitarists. Real name: Arthel Lane Watson. 1960, he was…
JAMIE HARPER From Mocksville, North Carolina. He plays all the bluegrass instruments but is best known as a fiddle player. Began performing professionally at age…
BILL HARRELL From Marion, Virginia. Lived in Davidsonville, Maryland for many years. Began performing in the 1950’s. Formed his band The Virginians in the early…
THE GENTLEMEN OF BLUEGRASS From North Carolina. Band members: Danny Stanley (lead vocals/guitar), Julian (JC) Rowland (mandolin), Tom Langdon (resonator guitar), Greg Penny (bass), and…
THE TENNESSEE GENTLEMEN From Memphis, Tennessee. Formed in 1967 by mandolinist Troy Castleberry, a Memphis fireman. For 10 years, the group practiced and performed every…
JIM WATSON From North Carolina. A founding member of the Red Clay Ramblers. 1988, joined Robin and Linda Williams and Their Fine Group, playing bass.…
MICHAEL RENO HARRELL From East Tennessee (lives in North Carolina) A successful songwriter: has had songs recorded by Doug Stone, Perfect Stranger, others. Founding member…
DAVID DAVIS AND THE WARRIOR RIVER BOYS A traditional bluegrass band from Cullman, Alabama. Davis’s father and grandfather were both musicians, and his uncle Cleo…
MITCH HARRELL Lives in Annapolis, Maryland. Son of bluegrass pioneer Bill Harrell. For many years, he played guitar and sang tenor in his father’s band,…
DANNY BARNES See also THE BAD LIVERS. From Temple, Texas (between Dallas and Austin). Now lives in Washington State (Seattle/Puget Sound). A banjo virtuoso, he…
KEVIN MAUL From Round Lake, New York. 1990-2000, played Dobro™ with Robin and Linda Williams as part of their “Fine Group.” Previously played in a…
ALAN SENAUKE Guitarist and singer from Berkeley, California. Former editor of the Folk Music magazine “Sing Out!” 1978, formed a duo with Howie Tarnower (mandolin)…
MICHAEL BARNETT From Nashville, Tennessee. Learned to play violin at age 4. At age 15, joined Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys, playing fiddle. That…
JASON DAVIS From Ford, Virginia. Lives in Galax, Virginia. Began playing banjo professionally while still in high school. First bands: Michelle Nixon and Drive, Blue…
THE DAVID MAYFIELD PARADE From Kent/Akron, Ohio. Grew up playing bass in his family bluegrass band. He also plays guitar and mandolin. He is a…
SERENE GREEN From Pennsylvania. Formed in 2017 by Quentin Fisher (mandolin), Michael Johnson (guitar), Shane McGeehan (bass), and Steve Leonard (banjo). They play traditional bluegrass…
TREVOR WATSON From southwest Virginia. Plays banjo with Shannon Slaughter. After graduating from Virginia Tech, he became a cast member at the Carolina Opry (Myrtle…
THE BARTLEY BROTHERS (RICK AND SHAYNE) From Georgetown, Kentucky. Formed in 2010 by brothers Rick (banjo, mandolin, guitar) and Shayne (mandolin, guitar). Rick has worked…
GARY FERGUSON From Sandy Springs, Maryland. Lives in Littlestown, Pennsylvania (near Gettysburg). 1980, performed in a Baltimore area band called Bittersweet. Played in a rock…
THE WAYFARING STRANGERS From the New York/New England area. An eclectic group featuring Matt Glaser, Andy Statman, Tony Trischka, John McGann and Jim Whitney. A…
THE EASTER BROTHERS From Mount Airy, North Carolina. Formed in 1953 by brothers: James, Russell and Ed Easter. One of the first full-time bluegrass gospel…
THE ALEX LEACH BAND From Knoxville, Tennessee. Alex is not only a musician (he plays all the bluegrass instruments well) but he is also a…
IDA CLARE From Louisville, Kentucky. Formed in 2014 by Lea Cockrell (guitar/vocals) at her coffee shop, calling themselves “Total Strangers.” Other members: Robin Thixton (banjo),…
THE GIBSON BROTHERS From Ellenburg Depot, New York (in the Champlain Valley, upstate New York.) Eric (banjo) and Leigh (guitar) Gibson formed their band in…
FESCUE From Marian (Smyth County), Virginia. Formed in 1980 by “Fat Albert” Blackburn (plays bass). Fescue is a very resilient type of grass. Hence the…
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…
PATRICK MCAVINUE From Hereford, Maryland. Began playing fiddle at age 7. At age 12, formed first band “The Salem Bottom Boys.” Won the Delaware State…
BASHFUL BROTHER OSWALD Born and raised in Sevierville, Tennessee (Great Smoky Mountains). Lived in Madison, Tennessee most of his professional life. Real name: Beecher Ray…
CHARM CITY JUNCTION From Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore’s nickname is “Charm City.” The band consists of a bluegrass fiddler, an old time banjo picker, a Celtic…
JETT’S CREEK From Lebanon, Ohio. A family band featuring Adam McIntosh (guitar) and his sister Angie Young (vocals) and their father Jon McIntosh (guitar). Other…
THE BASS MOUNTAIN BOYS From Burlington, North Carolina. Formed in 1974. Band members: Mike Wilson (guitar), Mike Aldridge (mandolin), Mike Street (bass), Johnny Ridge (fiddle,…
LOU REID (AND CAROLINA) Born on a tobacco farm in Moore Springs, North Carolina. Real last name: Pyrtle. Birthday: September 13—same as Bill Monroe’s. Began…
KEITH SEWELL From Duncanville, Texas. Began playing fiddle at age 3. Also plays banjo and mandolin, but is best known as a guitarist and songwriter.…
EBBY JEWELL AND THE BLUEGRASS KINSMEN From Rosedale, Virginia. Formed in 1971 by brothers Shelby and Ebby Jewell and distant cousins Ervin Mullins, James Cole…
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,…
JIMMY YEARY From Hillsboro, Ohio; lives in Nashville. 1994, moved to Nashville after signing a record deal with Atlantic Records in 1994 but due to…
MONROE FIELDS From Berry, Alabama 1953-1963, played mandolin with Carl Sauceman and the Green Valley Boys. 1964, played bass with Jim and Jesse. 1971-1973, played…
DWIGHT MCCALL From Cincinnati, Ohio (born in Maryland). Began playing mandolin as a teenager. First pro job: Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass. 1992-1995, had a band…
CHATHAM COUNTY LINE From Raleigh, North Carolina. Formed in 1996 by guitarist/songwriter Dave Wilson. Other members: John Teer (fiddle/mandolin), Chandler Holt (banjo), and Greg Reading…
PHIL LEADBETTER From Knoxville, Tennessee. One of the top Dobro™ players in bluegrass. He was widely known as “Uncle Phil.” At age 14, performed before…
IDLETYMES From Pt. Pleasant, West Virginia. Formed in 1985. Band members: Chris Long (guitar), Craig Jarvis (bass), Ron Seebaugh (banjo), Glenn Jarvis (fiddle), Bruce Jones…
CHRIS SEXTON From Manassas, Virginia. Graduated from Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA with a degree in music performance. Plays classical violin (in orchestras) as well…
THE TENNESSEE MAFIA JUG BAND From Goodlettsville, Tennessee. An old-time/country/comedy string band formed by Lester and Mike Armistead (father/son), Leroy Troy and Kent Blanton. They…
DEL MCCOURY (THE DEL MCCOURY BAND) From York, Pennsylvania. Currently lives in Nashville. Began playing banjo at age 14. 1963, played banjo with a Baltimore…
WEARY HEARTS From Arizona. Formed in 1985 by Ron Block (banjo), Eric Uglum (guitar/mandolin), Butch Baldassari (mandolin) and Mike Bub (bass). In 1988, Chris Jones…
ROBERT EARL KEEN From Houston, Texas. He is one of the founding fathers of the Americana music movement. He is best known as a singer-songwriter…
TOM ADAMS From Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. A civil war buff, he lives in a pre-civil war house. As a teen, played in a family band called…
PETTICOAT JUNCTION From Nashville, Tennessee. An all-female band formed in 1988 by Andrea Campbell (Roberts) who had previously worked with Wendy Smith and Blue Velvet,…
TERRY BAUCOM (AND THE DUKES OF DRIVE) From Monroe, North Carolina. He is known as one of the top Scruggs-style banjo players in bluegrass music. …
KEITH TEW (THE TEWS) From Hialeah, Florida. Moved to Nashville in 1998. Keith formerly performed with the Florida-based band, Highstrung. Also performed at Disney World…
GLENN GIBSON From Louisville, Kentucky Has played Dobro™ with Gary Brewer, Karl Shifflett, Dale Ann Bradley, Michael Cleveland. Has also spent time playing with Louisville-area…
VINCE GILL From Norman, Oklahoma. Seriously considered golf as a profession, but decided to play bluegrass instead. First band: Mountain Smoke (in high school). This…
EMMYLOU HARRIS From Birmingham, Alabama. Lives in Nashville. Was a “hippie-hillbilly” singer and waitress, working in Washington D.C. when she was discovered by Chris Hillman,…
ROD MCCORMACK From Australia (New South Wales, Central Coast). He is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, studio musician and producer. He owns his own recording studio called…
EDDIE (AND MARTHA) ADCOCK From Scottsville, Virginia. Lives in Lebanon, Tennessee. Full name: Edward Windsor Adcock. A member of the IBMA’s Bluegrass Music Hall of…
JOHN REISCHMAN (AND THE JAYBIRDS) From Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Originally from Ukia, California. Was inspired to play mandolin by David Grisman. Owns (and plays) a…
DONNA ULISSE From Hampton, Virginia Name is pronounced “You-liss-ee.” Began singing at age 3 by wandering onstage with a bluegrass band at a family Bar-B-Q…
JAKE EDDY From Parkersburg, West Virginia. Plays all the bluegrass instruments but his specialty is flat-pick and gypsy-jazz style guitar. 2014, while in middle school,…
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…
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.”…
NEFESH MOUNTAIN From New Jersey. A husband-wife duo: Eric Lindberg (banjo, mandolin, guitar) and Doni Zasloff (vocals). Their band has included Alan Grubner (fiddle), Tim…
THE MCCORMICK BROTHERS From Westmoreland, Tennessee. A family band that began performing together in 1945 (they ranged in age from 7 to 19 at that…
DARRELL WEBB From Knoxville, Tennessee. 1993, began his pro career at age 19 playing mandolin with the Lonesome River Band (replacing Dan Tyminski). 1997, joined…
REMEDY TREE From St. Augustine, Florida. Formed in 2015 by husband and wife Gabriel (guitar/fiddle) and Abigail Acevedo (bass). Also in the band: Bryce Griffin…
STEVE DAY From Caneyville, Kentucky. Lives in Bowling Green, KY. Began playing fiddle professionally at age 13. Won the Kentucky State Fiddling Championship. 1987, joined…
ZOE AND CLOYD (See also Red June) From Asheville, North Carolina. Zoe is Natalya Zoe Weinstein (fiddle) and Cloyd is John Cloyd Miller (guitar and…
DWIGHT YOAKAM From Pikeville, Kentucky. Was raised in Columbus, Ohio. 1977, moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. 1985, released his debut…
THE YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND From Nederland, Colorado. Called “The Original JamGrass Band.” They have been known to “jam” on one tune for more than…
THE YOUNG ACOUSTIC ALL STARS A group of teen bluegrass musicians that formed in 1994, evolving from Pete Wernick’s “Bluegrass Youth Allstars,” a group he…
ADRIENNE YOUNG (AND LITTLE SADIE) From Tallahassee, Florida. Lives in Nashville. A singer, songwriter who plays guitar, fiddle and banjo. Her grandfather had a Florida…
DEMPSEY YOUNG From Rocky Mount, Virginia. Originally from Richmond, Virginia. He was a very influential mandolin player for more than three decades (70’s, 80’s and…
TOMMY WEBB From Langley, Kentucky (Floyd County). Sings lead and tenor vocals, plays guitar and clawhammer banjo. Began performing in high school with The Pine…
ERIC WEISSBERG From New York City. Began performing as a 10-year-old on radio station WNYC. He plays all the bluegrass instruments including Dobro™ and steel…
JON WEISBERGER From Nashville. Grew up in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Plays bass (currently with Chris Jones and the Night Drivers) and has released several solo…
GILLIAN WELCH (AND DAVID RAWLINGS) From New York City; grew up in West Los Angeles; moved to Nashville in 1992. Her parents were writers for…
TRAY WELLINGTON From Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Given name: Trajan Wellington. Began playing banjo at age 13. He grew up on Flint Hill Road. 2015, formed…
GREGG WELTY From Raleigh, North Carolina. Grew up in Western New York; lives in Pittsburgh, PA. He is a banjo player, son of Eric Welty,…
MISSY WERNER From Hamilton, Ohio (near Cincinnati) Plays mandolin and leads The Missy Werner Band. 1990’s, had a band called Next in Line. Performs at…
WESTWEND From Knoxville, Tennessee. A duo featuring Wendy Crowe (vocals) and Jonathan Maness (vocals, guitar and mandolin). Jonathan and Wendy were married in 2013. Their…
WHEELER From Weber City, Virginia Band members: Kevin Wheeler (bass), Tiffany Wheeler (lead vocals), Mark Jackson (mandolin), Justin Salyer (guitar), Steven Mounts (banjo). 2009, released…
PETER WERNICK From New York City. Lives in Niwot, Colorado. Known as “Dr. Banjo” because of a best-selling banjo instruction book he authored (over 200,000…
THE WHITES From Wichita Falls, Texas. Moved to Nashville in 1971. 1976, began performing in Fort Smith, Arkansas as a family band as Buck White…
CLARENCE WHITE (See also THE KENTUCKY COLONELS) From Los Angeles (Burbank), California (although he was born in Lewiston, Maine). He began playing the guitar at…
JEFF WHITE From Syracuse, NY; grew up in Northern Indiana. 1979, formed first bluegrass band The Suburban Grass in Indiana with David and Melody Johnson.…
ROLAND WHITE From Maine. Grew up in California. Lives in Nashville. First band: The Country Boys with his brothers Clarence and Eric (began in Maine,…
WHITEWATER From Nashville. Formed in 1995 by guitarist Brad Davis who was working with Marty Stuart at the time. They appeared with Bill Monroe on…
TIM WHITE From Blountville, Tennessee. Originally from Roanoke, Virginia. A graphic artist by trade. Among his accomplishments: the painting of a huge mural in Bristol,…
KEITH WHITLEY From Sandy Hook, Kentucky. 1970, at age 15, began his professional musical career when he and his friend Ricky Skaggs worked with Ralph…
THE WHITSTEIN BROTHERS From Colfax, Louisiana. A brothers duet featuring Robert (guitar) and Charles (mandolin) Whitstein. Their style is reminiscent of the Louvin Brothers, the…
MARK WHITT (AND TRUE BLUEGRASS) From Xenia, Ohio (near Dayton) with roots in Sandy Hook, Kentucky. Plays guitar and mandolin; sings and writes traditional bluegrass…
JERRY WICENTOWSKI From Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Grew up in New York City. A singer, guitarist and orthodox Jew, his group Lucky Break performs bluegrass interpretations of…
MARSHALL WILBORN Originally from Austin, Texas. Best known as one of bluegrass music’s top bass players, although his first instrument is banjo. 1982, joined Whetstone…
WILD AND BLUE From White House, Tennessee. Formed in 1988 by David Harvey and his two sisters, Jan Harvey and Jill Snider. David Harvey (mandolin)…
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…
WILDFIRE From East Tennessee. Formed in 2000 by members of J.D. Crowe’s band The New South who worked in both bands until 2001 when they…
THE WILDWOOD GIRLS From Speedwell, Tennessee. Originally from Chicago. An all-female band. Formed in 1977 as The Wildwood Pickers by 16-year-old Kim Koskela (banjo), Robin…
THE WILDWOOD VALLEY BOYS From Milan, Indiana. Originally formed in 1992, then re-formed in 1997. They are the second generation of the The Boys from…
BLAKE WILLIAMS From Sparta, Tennessee (also the birthplace of Lester Flatt). 1972-1979, worked with Lester Flatt and the Nashville Grass. 1981-1991, played banjo for Bill…
JEANNETTE WILLIAMS From Danville, Virginia. Formed a group in 1989 called Clearwater. The band name was changed in 1996 to Jeannette Williams and Clearwater. For…
JOHNNY WILLIAMS From Danville, Virginia. A guitarist and songwriter, he is married to singer Jeannette Williams and performs with her band. His songs have been…
JOSH WILLIAMS From Benton, Kentucky. Lives in Dickson, Tennessee. Was one of bluegrass music’s child prodigies. Gained national recognition when he appeared on the 1993…
JUNIOR WILLIAMS From Irvine, Kentucky Plays banjo and guitar. 2001-2013, played banjo with Newfound Road. 2011-2019, formed NewTown with fiddler Katie Penn, whom he married.…
PAUL WILLIAMS From Wythe County, Virginia. Lives in Morristown, Tennessee. Real name: Paul Humphrey. 1951, joined the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers as a teenager. When he…
ROBIN AND LINDA WILLIAMS From Millbrook, Virginia (Shenandoah Valley). Gained national recognition while performing as regulars on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” on public…
ROGER WILLIAMS Grew up in Danville, NH; lives in Glastonbury, CT. He was born in Presque Isle, Maine. He is a well-known northeastern Dobro™ player.…
TYLER WILLIAMS (THE TYLER WILLIAMS BAND) From Central Ohio. He was born with Cerebral Palsy and became blind in infancy. Began playing piano and singing…
VERN WILLIAMS Originally from Newton County, Arkansas; moved to California in the 1950’s. Began playing bluegrass in northern California with fiddler/guitarist Ray Park. “Vern and…
KEVIN WILLIAMSON From Kenova, West Virginia. Lives in Nashville. Worked with Dave Evans, Redwing, Glen Duncan and Phoenix, other bands before striking out on his…
TONY AND GARY WILLIAMSON (THE WILLIAMSON BROTHERS) From Siler City, North Carolina. Tony is a well-known mandolin virtuoso, with several solo projects to his credit.…
WILSON BANJO COMPANY From Westminster, South Carolina. They are a band rather than a banjo making business, although founder and banjo-player Steve Wilson has experience…
CHUBBY WISE From Lake City, Florida. Real name: Robert Russell Dees. He was adopted by his father’s sister, whose husband’s name was Wise. Has been…
MAC WISEMAN From Crimora, Virginia. Lives on Percy Priest Lake, near Nashville. Was born in 1925, the same year the Grand Ole Opry started. Real…
THE WITCHER BROTHERS From Granada Hills, California. Formed in 1985 by Dennis Witcher (mandolin) and his son Gabe (fiddle), who was only six years old…
WOLFPEN BRANCH From Louisville, Kentucky. Formed in 2019-2020 by Arthur Hancock IV (guitar) and Chris Shouse (mandolin). They were later joined by Roddy Puckett (bass),…
JIM AND LYNNA WOOLSEY A husband and wife duo from Petersburg, Indiana. At age 15, Jim began playing with the Patoka Valley Boys. Soon thereafter,…
A.L. WOOD AND THE SMOKEY RIDGE BOYS (THE WOOD FAMILY TRADITION) From Statesville, North Carolina. Banjo player and singer A.L. (or Al) Wood began performing…
WOOD AND WIRE From Austin, Texas. Formed in 2010 by Tony Kamel (guitar), Matt Slusher (mandolin), Dom Fisher (bass) and Trevor Smith (banjo). They call…
WOOD BOX HEROES From Nashville. Formed in 2022 by Barry Bales (bass), Jenee Fleenor (fiddle), Seth Taylor (mandolin), Matt Menefee (banjo), and Josh Martin (guitar).…
THE WOOKS From Lexington, Kentucky. The Urban Dictionary defines a wook as: “a hippie without any ambition, motivation, or drive other than drugs and image.…
GENE WOOTEN From Franklinton, North Carolina. Moved to Nashville in 1977. Played Dobro™ with several bands including Wilma Lee Cooper and The Clinch Mountain Clan,…
JAKE WORKMAN From Draper, Utah. 2001, began playing guitar at age 13, when his parents gave him a guitar for Christmas. Formed a rock band…
CURTIS WRIGHT From Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. A singer, songwriter and guitarist, he began his career in a band called Country Generation. He also worked with Vern…
NORMAN WRIGHT AND KEVIN CHURCH From Virginia. 1991, both left The Country Gentlemen to form their own band. Wright has also worked with The Bluegrass…
DEDE WYLAND From Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Lives in Baltimore, Maryland. 1975, was lead singer for Wisconsin-based bluegrass band Grass, Food and Lodging. 1980, moved to New…
STUART WYRICK From Luttrell, Tennessee (“Tater Valley”) Began performing at age 8. 1995-2009, played banjo with the gospel group New Road. He also has a…
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…
VICKIE VAUGHN (THE VICKIE VAUGHN BAND) From Padukah, Kentucky 2014, joined High Fidelity, playing bass. 2015, after graduating from Belmont University, formed the Vickie Vaughn…
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…
VERN AND RAY From Stockton, California. Originally from Arkansas. A duo featuring Vern Williams (mandolin) and Ray Park (guitar). Ray also played fiddle. Met in…
SCOTT VESTAL From Duncan, Oklahoma. Lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Started playing banjo at age 13. At age 18, landed his first pro job with Larry…
MASON VIA From Danbury, North Carolina. Via is pronounced “Vie” (as in “die” or “sky”). A multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. 2016, released solo project Up,…
THE VILLAGE SINGERS From Fredericktown, Missouri. Originally called “The Gospel Tones.” Formed in 1972 by Harold and Kathy Goad. 1985, changed name to the Village…
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…
THE VIRGINIA RAMBLERS From Albermarle County, Virginia. Formed in 2004. Members: Charles Frazier (guitar, lead vocals), Donnie Shifflet (bass) and Jeff Vogelsong (mandolin), Zack Deming…
THE VIRGINIA SQUIRES From Virginia. Formed in 1983 by Rickie Simpkins (fiddle and mandolin), Ronnie Simpkins (bass), Mark Newton (guitar and lead vocals), and Sammy…
UNCLE EARL Formed in 1999 by K.C. Groves (guitar, mandolin) and Jo Serrapere (vocals). They were originally a duo backed by guest musicians such as…
JACOB UNDERWOOD From Illinois. Plays banjo with Bluegrass Express, a group that includes his father and grandfather, Gary and Greg. He began playing piano at…
UNION KUN-TREE From Arkansas. Began as the Chitlin Switch Road Runners in the mid-1950’s (performing on a radio station in El Dorado, Arkansas). They also…
GEOFF UNION (RAGGED UNION) From Fayetteville, North Carolina. Also has lived in Austin, Texas and Golden, Colorado. 2002-2009, played guitar with the Two High String…
UNLIMITED TRADITION From Wheelersburg, Ohio. Formed in 1993 by Ray Craft (guitar, lead vocals), John Lewis (banjo), Jason Hale (guitar) and Scottie Sparks (guitar) and…
UNSPOKEN TRADITION From Cherryville, North Carolina. Formed in 2011 by Lee Shuford (Dobro™), Audie McGinnis (guitar) and Zane McGinnis (banjo). Other band members include Matt…
ERNIE THACKER (AND ROUTE 23) From Cleveland, Ohio. Lived in Haysi, Virginia (near Ralph Stanley’s hometown of McClure). 1988-1994, sang lead and played both mandolin…
GEORGE THACKER Originally from San Antonio, Texas. Lived in Spring City, Tennessee where he served for many years as an elected county official. Has been…
THEO & BRENNA From Winchester, Kentucky. Theo (guitar) and Brenna (banjo) MacMillan are brother and sister, two of ten siblings in their family. They both…
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.”)…
IIIRD TYME OUT (RUSSELL MOORE AND IIIRD TYME OUT) Formed in 1991. Original group composed chiefly of former members of Doyle Lawson’s band Quicksilver: Russell…
DAVID THOM From Sonoma, California (San Francisco Bay Area) Plays guitar and fronts The David Thom Band. Also works with the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience.…
STEVE THOMAS From Vernon, Connecticut. Lives in Nashville. 1981, won the Virginia State Fiddle Championship.1982, won the World’s Fair Fiddle Contest in Knoxville. 1982, joined…
SUZANNE THOMAS From Hillsboro, Ohio. 1970-1989, was a member of the Hotmud Family. 1990-2000, the Dry Branch Fire Squad. 1998, released a solo album Dear…
BOBBY THOMPSON From Franklin, Tennessee. One of country music’s best known studio musicians of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. One of the first “chromatic” (or…
THREE RING CIRCLE From Nashville. An acoustic trio featuring Rob Ickes (Dobro™), Andy Leftwich (mandolin) and Dave Pomeroy (electric upright bass. They create their own…
THREE TALL PINES From Boston, Massachusetts. A bluegrass/Americana quartet featuring Joe Lurgio (mandolin), Dan Bourdeau (guitar), Nick DiSebastian (bass) and Conor Smith (fiddle). Named 2011…
JORDAN TICE From Annapolis, Maryland. Born in 1987, he began his professional career playing guitar with Marty Raybon, Mike Auldridge, Emory Lester and others. He…
TILLER’S FOLLY From Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. A folk/celtic/bluegrass trio featuring Bruce Coughlan (guitar), Laurence Knight (bass) and Nolan Murray (fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar). Formed…
GORDON TITCOMB From Torringtom, Connecticut. Since 2001, a member of Arlo Guthrie’s touring band. Plays pedal steel, mandolin, Dobro™, banjo and guitar. As a sideman,…
ILYA TOSHINSKIY From Moscow, Russia. Lives in Nashville. Pronounced “Eel-ee-yuh Toe-shin-skee.” Was a founding member of the Russian bluegrass/country band Bering Strait (also known as…
ALAN TOMPKINS Originally from Western Kentucky; moved to Texas in 1983. Lives in the Dallas area. He is a practicing attorney, managing legal affairs for…
JACK TOTTLE From Baltimore, Maryland. A mandolin player, record producer, and author of a best-selling mandolin instruction book (Bluegrass Mandolin, Oak Publications, 1976). First band:…
NIALL TONER From Dublin, Ireland. Lives in Bunclody, County Wexford. Since the 1960’s, one of Ireland’s best known folk and bluegrass performers. He also had…
ZACH TOP From Eastern Washington. Lives in Nashville. Began playing guitar at age five. He is a singer/songwriter and bandleader. At age seven, he and…
TOWN MOUNTAIN From Asheville, North Carolina Formed in 2005, won the band competition at the Rockygrass (Colorado) Bluegrass Festival. “Jimmy Martin, Hank Williams and the…
THE TRADITIONAL GRASS From Middletown, Ohio. Led by the late fiddler and radio personality Paul “Moon” Mullins. Other members: Mark Rader (guitar), Joe Mullins (banjo),…
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…
THE TRAVELERS From Virginia. Formed in 1998. From 1991-1997, they performed as the Norman Wright and Kevin Church band. The original band included three former…
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…
THE TRAVELING MCCOURYS From Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in 2009. A progressive spin-off of the Del McCoury band featuring everyone in the band except Del: Ronnie…
FRED TRAVERS From Huntingtown, Maryland (Washington D.C. area). One of the top Dobro™ players in bluegrass. Learned to play Dobro™ from Mike Auldridge. 1989-1995, worked…
BUCK TRENT From Spartanburg, South Carolina. Real name: Charles Wilburn Trent. He is best known as “Mr. Banjo,” a versatile Nashville musician who worked for…
TONY TRISCHKA From New York. Lives in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. 1963, began playing banjo at age 14. Inspired by the Kingston Trio’s “Charlie and…
TROUBLESOME HOLLOW From Hickory Tree (near Bristol), Tennessee. A comedy/bluegrass band formed by banjo player Tim White. This band specialized in songs about possums. In…
TROUT STEAK REVIVAL From Denver, Colorado (although most of the band members are originally from Wisconsin, Michigan and New York). Formed in 2008 by Steve…
LEROY TROY From Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Real name: Troy Lee Boswell. Performs in the style of his hero, Uncle Dave Macon. A National Old Time Banjo…
TRINITY RIVER BAND From Callahan, Florida. A family band consisting of dad and mom Mike and Lisa Harris (guitar and bass) plus kids Sarah (mandolin),…
TRUE BLUE From Berkeley, California. Formed in 2002 by Del Williams, Avram Seigal, Ed Neff and Allison Fisher. Not to be confused with (1) a…
TRUE NORTH From Salem, Oregon An “indie-grass quartet” featuring Dan Wetzel (mandolin/guitar), Dale Adkins (guitar), Suanne Pearce (bass) and Kristen Grainger (vocals). Grainger is the…
TUGALO HOLLER From Westminster, South Carolina. Tugalo is pronounced “Two-ga-lou.” The Tugalo is a river near Westminster, SC. Formed in 2001 by Stephen Hudson (Lead…
TURNING GROUND From Salyersville, Kentucky. Formed in January 2013 by Nathan Arnett (lead vocals, guitar), Jonathon Arnett (mandolin), Ralph Adams (guitar), Mike Daniels (banjo) and…
MOLLY TUTTLE From Palo Alto, California. She is a guitarist, banjoist, vocalist and songwriter who began performing at age 11 with her family band The…
THE TUTTLES (WITH A.J. LEE) From Palo Alto, California. A family band formed in 2008 by Jack Tuttle (fiddle & bass) and his three children…
THE 23 STRING BAND From Eastern Kentucky. 2011, won the RockyGrass Band Competition. Members: Chris Shouse (guitar), Curtis Wilson (banjo), Dave Howard (mandolin), Scott Moore…
TWISTED PINE From Boston, MA. Formed in 2013 by Berklee College of Music students: Kathleen Parks (fiddle), Dan Bui (mandolin), Ricky Mier (banjo), Chris Sartori…
TWO HIGH STRING BAND From Austin, Texas. Formed in 2005. Core of the band: Billy Bright (mandolin), Brian Smith (guitar) and Geoff Union (guitar). Alan…
ALLEN SHADD From Middleburg, Florida. Played guitar with the Front Porch String Band, Mark Johnson and Clawgrass. 1997, won the National Guitar Championship at Winfield,…
THE SHADY GROVE BAND From Chapel Hill, North Carolina.. Formed in 1981 by Jerry Brown (guitar) and Charles Pettee (mandolin). Have toured Europe several times.…
PAUL SHELASKY From San Francisco. Fiddler who has worked with the Good Old Persons (12 years), John Reischmann, David Grisman, Jann Browne, Laurie Lewis and…
SAMMY SHELOR From Ferrum, Virginia. 1967, started playing banjo at age 5. First band: Posey Boyd family band at age 16. 1980-81, played with Interstate…
ALLEN SHELTON From Reidsville, North Carolina. Legendary banjo player who began his career with Mac Wiseman in the early fifties, also with Jim Eanes and…
EDDIE SHELTON From Temple, Texas. 1955 to 1963, played banjo with a Dallas group called the Country Cutups. 1965 to 1968, lived in Oklahoma City…
JAMES ALAN SHELTON From Gate City, Virginia. Made his home in Church Hill, Tennessee. Played guitar with such bands as the Bluegrass Travelers, the Larkin…
TIM SHELTON From Carlisle, Ohio. Began his career in gospel music. He worked at Renfro Valley with David Marshall (of the Marshall Family). Did a…
SHENANDOAH BLUE From Winchester, Virginia. Formed in 2002 by Scott Walker and Dave Probst. Walker (banjo) and Probst (mandolin) previously worked with Paul Adkins and…
SHOTGUN HOLLER From Kentucky. Formed in 2014 by Shawn Brock and Matt Jones. Band members: Shawn Brock (mandolin), Matt Jones (guitar), Rod Lunger (bass), Nathan…
GEORGE SHUFFLER From Valdese, North Carolina. Best known as the man who made the guitar solo an integral part of the “Stanley Sound” when he…
KARL SHIFLETT (AND BIG COUNTRY SHOW) From Longview, Texas. First group: Stringbean and His Mountain Playboys (in high school). Early career: he was a pipeline…
JIM SHUMATE From Hickory, North Carolina. Began playing fiddle at age 14. He is considered one of the pioneers of classic bluegrass fiddling. He is…
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…
THE SIDEMEN From Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in 1989 by a group of side musicians, most of whom worked regularly with other bands. They performed regularly…
SIDESADDLE From Saratoga, California (near San Jose). Formed in 1979. For 14 years, they were an all-female band. Went co-ed in 1993 and changed the…
CHRIS SILVER From River Falls, Wisconsin. 1987-1992, played guitar and mandolin with Stoney Lonesome. Mid-1990’s, toured with Kate McKenzie. 1993, released solo project “Over Time.”…
RICKIE SIMPKINS From Christiansburg, Virginia. Lives in Nashville. Learned fiddle at age six. Age 9, played fiddle on stage with Flatt and Scruggs in his…
STURGILL SIMPSON From Jackson, Kentucky; grew up in Lexington. Lives in Nashville. 2004, after serving in the U.S. Navy, he formed a country-rock band in…
BENNY SIMS From Johnson City, Tennessee. One of the pioneers of bluegrass fiddling. Began his career in the 1940’s with the Morris Brothers, Wiley and…
EMILY SINGLETON (AND CUMBERLAND PLATEAU) From Bell Buckle, Tennessee. A vocalist who performs with her band Cumberland Plateau. Her sister Teressa also sings with her.…
JUNIOR SISK (AND RAMBLER’S CHOICE) From Ferrum, Virginia (born in Arlington). Began performing at age 16, playing bass with local bands around Virginia. Eventually switched…
SISTER SADIE From Nashville and various locations in the bluegrass heartland. A all-female band that formed in 2012 after an impromptu jam session at the…
THE SITZE FAMILY From Fredericktown, Missouri. Formed in 1990. Denny (guitar) and Candy Sitze and their three sons: Dennijo (mandolin), Chad (banjo) and Andy (bass).…
CHARLIE SIZEMORE From Magoffin County, (eastern) Kentucky. 1976, began performing with his father in a local bluegrass band and also worked briefly with the Goins…
HERSCHEL SIZEMORE From Leighton, Alabama (near Muscle Shoals). Lives in Roanoke, Virginia. 1957-1965, played mandolin with the Alabama-based group, The Dixie Gentlemen (with Jake Landers…
RICKY SKAGGS (AND KENTUCKY THUNDER) From Brushy Creek (near Cordell), Kentucky. Learned to play mandolin at age 5. Age 7, performed on Lester Flatt and…
SKEETER AND THE SKIDMARKS From Virginia. Formed in 1992 by Willard Gayheart and his son-in-law, Scott Freeman. Performed both bluegrass and old-time music, featuring the…
SKIP, HOP AND WOBBLE A project band featuring Jerry Douglas (Dobro™), Russ Barenberg (guitar) and Edgar Meyer (bass). The name comes from the title of…
SKYLINE From New York City. Formed in 1980 by Tony Trischka (banjo), Larry Cohen (bass), Dede Wyland (vocals), Danny Weiss (guitar), and Barry Mitterhof (mandolin).…
SHANNON SLAUGHTER From Chiefland, Florida. 1992, began professional career playing guitar with the Lost and Found. 1992-1995, joined the Larry Stephenson Band. 2005-2007, joined the…
SCOTT SLAY (AND THE RAIL) From Denver Colorado. Originally from Pensacola, Florida. 2012, was in a band with Sammy Shelor (of the Lonesome River Band)…
THE SLEEPY MAN (BANJO BOYS) From Lebanon Township, Western New Jersey. Three brothers: Tommy (age 14, guitar), Robbie (age 13, fiddle) and Jonnie (age 9,…
THE SLOCAN RAMBLERS From Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Original members: Frank Evans (banjo), Adrian Gross (mandolin), Darryl Poulsen (guitar) and Alastair Whitehead (bass). Charles James replaced…
SLO-GRASS From central Massachusetts. Formed in 1989 by Mark Davis (guitar), Fran McConville (mandolin) and David DiBiasio (fiddle). Bob Dick (bass) joined them in 1993.…
JOSH SLONE AND COAL TOWN From Hindman, Kentucky (Coal mining region of East Kentucky). Formed his band Coal Town in 2007. Members: Josh Slone (guitar),…
JESSE SMATHERS From Eden, North Carolina. Lives in Floyd, VA. 2009, won the guitar championship from the Virginia Folk Music Association. 2010, after graduation from…
BILLY AND TERRY SMITH (THE SMITH BROTHERS) From Nashville, Tennessee (originally from Reidsville, North Carolina). Billy plays guitar, Terry plays bass. Terry played bass for…
CRAIG SMITH From San Bernardino, California. Lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. One of bluegrass music’s top session banjo players. 1976, played with a California group…
DICK SMITH & MIKE O’REILLY BAND From Alexandria, Virginia. Dick Smith (banjo) has also worked with The Country Store, The Del McCoury Band, The Country…
EMMA SMITH From Hindman, Kentucky. Began singing Gospel music and playing guitar while in her teens, influenced heavily by Molly O’Day and Loretta Lynn. Made…
FRED E. SMITH From Marshall, North Carolina. A legendary country comedian and guitarist who with his cousin Red Rector (mandolin) performed as “Red and Fred.”…
GERALD SMITH From Statesboro, Georgia. Has lived in Nashville since 1986. He is a singer/songwriter with several number one songs to his credit including “What…
KENNY AND AMANDA SMITH Kenny is from Nine Mile, Indiana. Amanda is from Davisville, West Virginia. They live in Meadows of Dan, Virginia. 1992, Kenny…
TIM SMITH From Kernersville, North Carolina. Began playing fiddle at age 10. Had a group in high school called The Country Five and The Teenage…
VALERIE SMITH (AND LIBERTY PIKE) From Holt, Missouri. Lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Began performing at age 11 at the Gas Station Garage in her hometown.…
JIM SMOAK From Walterboro, South Carolina. Currently lives in Pekin, Indiana (near Louisville.) Learned to play banjo from listening to the original three-finger style banjo…
SMOKEY RIVER BOYS From Nashville. A “trademarked” recording group that has been the property of MCA (Decca) records since 1950. The original group included Lefty…
MIKE SNIDER From Gleason, Tennessee. A member of the Grand Old Opry since 1990. He was a regular on the Hee Haw television show. 1983,…
THE SNYDER FAMILY BAND From Lexington, North Carolina. A family band featuring Bud Snyder (bass), his son Zeb (guitar and banjo) and daughter Samantha (fiddle).…
THE SOGGY BOTTOM BOYS A fictional trio that performed in the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou” in 2001. In the movie, the group was…
FRANK SOLIVAN (AND DIRTY KITCHEN) From Modesto, California. Lives in Alexandria, Virginia. Began playing fiddle and banjo as a youngster. In high school studied the…
SONGS FROM THE ROAD BAND From Asheville, North Carolina. A project band formed by bass player and songwriter Charles R. Humphrey III (formerly with the…
THE SONORAN DOGS From Tucson, Arizona. Formed in 2011 by Peter McLaughlin (guitar), Mark Miracle (mandolin), Tyler James (banjo) and Bryan Davies (bass). McLaughlin (guitar)…
THE SOUL PICKERS From Hazel Green, Alabama (near Huntsville) Formed in 2003. Members: Shane Norman (mandolin), Daniel Wiseman (guitar), Tyler Anderson (banjo), Wayne Clemons (bass).…
SOUTHERN BLEND From Clay City, Kentucky. Formed in 1984 by Ricky Wasson (guitar) and former members of John Cosby and the Bluegrass Drifters including Wayne…
SOUTHERN JUNCTION From Concord, North Carolina. Formed in 1990. Features Bob Shue (banjo) and his sons Terry (bass) and Todd (mandolin). Also in the band:…
SOUTHERN RAIL From Watertown, Massachusetts. Formed in 1979. Personnel: Jim Muller (guitar), Sharon Horovitch (bass), Rich Stillman (banjo), John Tibert (mandolin). Muller is originally from…
SOUTHERN RAISED From Crane, Missouri. A family band featuring four siblings: Lindsay Reith (bass), Sarah Reith (banjo), Emily Reith (fiddle/mandolin) and Matthew Reith (guitar). They…
GREG HARRIS From Los Angeles, California. Former member of Byron Berline’s “LA Fiddle Band” and The Flying Burrito Brothers. Plays all the bluegrass instruments (guitar,…
THE FAMILY SOWELL From Knoxville, Tennessee. Pronounced “Sow-(as in “cow”)-ell” A family band featuring the Sowell siblings: Jacob (banjo), Joshua (guitar), Naomi (bass), Abigail (mandolin),…
STEVE SPARKMAN From Harlan, Kentucky. Has the distinction of being only the second banjo player to perform as a member of the Clinch Mountain Boys…
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…
SCOTTIE SPARKS From eastern Kentucky. First band: The Wilson Brothers, playing guitar. Also played with Redwing and Unlimited Tradition. Performed on the award-winning “Stanley Tradition”…
RON SPEARS From West Valley City, Utah. 1970’s, played in a band called “Obadiah’s Organic Bluegrass Band.” 1976-1993, played rock and country music. 1990, had…
SPECIAL CONSENSUS From Chicago, Illinois. The name Special Consensus comes from the writings of Carlos Casteneda, an anthropologist who wrote about the mystical and spiritual…
SPECTRUM From Nashville. A band that included Glenn Lawson (guitar and lead vocals), Bela Fleck (banjo), Jimmy Gaudreau (mandolin), and Mark Schatz (bass.) Jimmy Mattingly…
SPILLWATER DRIVE From Arkansas/Missouri (the Ozarks). Formed in 2017 by Adam Ash (banjo), Samuel Cobb (mandolin), Gary Cook (bass) and Jake Stogdill (guitar). Stogdill is…
SPINNEY BROTHERS From Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada. Formed in 1992 as The Spinney Brothers and Close Company. Features brothers Allan (guitar) and Rick (banjo), born…
SPRING CREEK From Lyons, Colorado 2004, formed at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas where they studied music under Alan Munde and Joe Carr. Members:…
SPRINGFIELD EXIT From Virginia. Formed 2003 by Linda and David Lay (Appalachian Trail) and David McLaughlin (formerly with the Johnson Mountain Boys) to record a…
BLAINE SPROUSE From Martinsburg, West Virginia. Lived in Nashville for many years, then moved to California. Currently lives in Point Reyes, California. Has been a…
SPRUCE PINE From The Netherlands (Holland). Formed in 1977 by Dennis Schut, who played guitar with Charlie Moore on several European tours in the 1970’s.…
BILL KEITH From Brockton, Massachusetts, near Boston. Lived in Woodstock, New York. Popularized a melodic style of playing the banjo which came to be known…
ROGER SPRUNG From Newtown, Connecticut. He was originally from New York City. His father was a Manhattan lawyer. Began playing banjo in the early days…
STEVE SPURGIN From McKinney, Texas (near Dallas). Now living in Carson City, Nevada. Best known as the bass player and lead vocalist with the band…
JOHNNY STAATS (AND THE DELIVERY BOYS) From Jackson County, West Virginia. Lives on a 20 acre farm. Started playing mandolin at age seven. Also plays…
TIM STAFFORD From Kingsport, Tennessee. 1990-1993, played guitar with Alison Krauss and Union Station. Appeared on the Grammy winning album “Every Time You Say Goodbye.”…
ART STAMPER From Hindman, Kentucky. One of bluegrass music’s pioneering fiddle players. As a teen, he began professional career working with Jim and Jesse and…
THE STANLEY BROTHERS From McClure, Virginia. Carter and Ralph Stanley were among the most influential of the first-generation bluegrass bands. First began recording “hillbilly music”…
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…
NATHAN STANLEY From Coeburn, Virginia. He is the grandson of Ralph Stanley. He started touring with his grandfather at age 10. Released 7 solo albums…
RALPH STANLEY (AND THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS) Born in 1927 in Big Spraddle Creek, Virginia. His home was in McClure, Virginia. 1946, began performing with…
RALPH STANLEY II From McClure, Virginia. Son of Ralph Stanley, who in 1995 began performing full-time in his father’s band, playing guitar and singing lead…
STARLETT & BIG JOHN From Southampton County, Virginia (Big John) and Ruffin, North Carolina (Starlett). Starlett Boswell Austin grew up in Cascade, Virginia and began…
JOHN STARLING From Alabama. Lived in Fredericksburg, VA. One of the founding members of the Seldom Scene. Left the Seldom Scene in 1988 to devote…
STATEMENT From Christiansburg, Virginia. A gospel bluegrass band featuring the lead vocals of Ashlee Blankenship. Members: Josh Blankenship (mandolin), Ashlee Blankenship (vocals), Trent Cox (Guitar),…
ANDY STATMAN From Brooklyn, New York. 1965, at age 15, took mandolin lessons from David Grisman. Early 70’s, worked with Tony Trischka in two bands:…
JODY STECHER (AND KATE BRISLIN) A husband-wife duo from the San Francisco area. Stecher plays mandolin, guitar, fiddle, banjo and other instruments. He is originally…
THE STEELDRIVERS From Nashville. Formed in 2005 by veteran musicians Mike Henderson (mandolin), Richard Bailey (banjo), Tammy Rogers (fiddle), Chris Stapleton (guitar) and Mike Fleming…
STEEP CANYON RANGERS From western North Carolina (Asheville). Their name came from a Colorado beer called “Steep Canyon Stout.” Formed in 1998 by Lizzie Hamilton…
ADAM STEFFEY From Johnson City, Tennessee. Inspired to play mandolin by the Lost and Found’s Dempsey Young. First band (on graduation from high school) The…
JEREMY STEPHENS From Danville, Virginia. Began playing banjo at age four–a wooden banjo made by his father. At age nine, formed a band called Shallow…
LARRY STEPHENSON From Fredericksburg, Virginia. Moved to Nashville in 1992. Began playing mandolin at age 5. First band: Larry Stephenson and New Grass (in high…
STETSON AND CIA From Nashville. Stetson Adkinsson (guitar) and Cia Cherryholmes (banjo) formed a duo in 2011. Stetson is a singer/songwriter from Colorado. His family…
THE STETSON FAMILY From Melbourne, Australia. Formed in 2008 by Nadine Budge (guitar/vocals), John Bartholomeusz (guitar), Andrew Carswell (mandolin), Colin Swain (banjo), Luke Richardson (bass).…
THE STEVENS FAMILY BLUEGRASS BAND From Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. Began performing together as a bluegrass gospel band in 2007. The Stevens Family Bluegrass Band…
THE STEVENS SISTERS (BETH AND APRIL) From Hampton, Tennessee. Since they were children (Beth was 12, April was 8) they have been performing with their…
MIKE STEVENS From Bright’s Grove, Ontario, Canada. One of the few professional harmonica players in bluegrass. 1990, voted Central Canada’s Entertainer of the Year (Central…
ART STEVENSON (AND HIGH WATER) From Babcock, Wisconsin. Formed in 1994. Perform weekly at a club called Schmidt’s Corner Tavern, in central Wisconsin. Band features…
RONNIE STEWART From Paoli, Indiana. He has a ranch called Sleepy Valley Ranch. Began playing fiddle at age 3. Also learned to play guitar, banjo,…
MARK STOFFEL From Munich, Germany. Since 2001, has lived in Southern Illinois. 1979, asked his parents for a ukelele and was given a mandolin instead.…
BRADY STOGDILL From Heltonville, Indiana (originally from Bedford, Indiana). 1993, he was a member of the original “Bluegrass Youth All-Star Band” that performed at the…
THE STONEMANS (THE STONEMAN FAMILY) From Galax, Virginia. Earnest V. “Pop” Stoneman was one of the early pioneers of recorded country music (his first record…
STONEY CREEK From Martinsburg, West Virginia. Formed in the early 2000’s. 2015 lineup: Libby Files (bass), Brett Smeltzer (mandolin), Kenton Catlett (guitar), and Troy Stangle…
STONEY LONESOME From St. Paul, Minnesota. Formed in 1982 by by guitarist and lead singer Kate MacKenzie and banjo player Kevin Barnes. They were voted…
FERRELL STOWE From Lebanon, Missouri. Lives in Vanleer, Tennessee. Plays resonator guitar (Dobro™) with several bands: George Clark and Dixie Flyer, the James Price Band,…
CARL STORY From Lenoir, North Carolina. Formed the first version of his band “The Ramblin’ Mountaineers” in 1934. Rose to prominence on radio station WHKY…
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…
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS From Nashville, Tennessee. A bluegrass/jazz supergroup that included Sam Bush (mandolin), Bela Fleck (banjo), Mark O’Connor (fiddle/guitar), Edgar Meyer (bass) and Jerry…
BILLY STRINGS From Iona, Michigan. Also lived in Traverse City, Michigan. Moved to Nashville. Real name: William Apostol. While in middle school, he played in…
CHRIS STUART From San Diego, California. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida. Twice has won the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest, His songs have been recorded…
MARTY STUART From Philadelphia, Mississippi. Full name: John Martin Stuart. He was nicknamed Marty after country music legend Marty Robbins. Began in career in music…
SUGARBEAT Formed in 1992 by Tony Furtado (banjo), Matt Flinner (mandolin), Ben Demerath (guitar) and Sally Truitt (bass). 1992, won the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band…
JERRY AND TAMMY SULLIVAN From Wagarville, Alabama. Father and daughter duo. Began performing together in the late 70’s, when Tammy was only 14 years old.…
THE SULLIVAN FAMILY From St. Stephens, Alabama. The first band to use the term bluegrass gospel to describe their music. Originally included Arthur, Margie, Aubrey,…
SUMMERTOWN ROAD From Ashland, Kentucky. Formed in 2008 by Jack Hicks (banjo), John Rigsby (fiddle/mandolin), Bo Isaac (guitar) and Randy Thomas (bass). Hicks and Rigsby…
See MOUNTAIN FAITH From Sylva, North Carolina. They are a brother-sister duo, Summer Brooke McMahon and Braydon McMahon, formerly performing in their family band Mountain…
SUMMER WAGES From North Carolina. A band that was together from 1983-1988. Original band included Craig Smith (banjo), Barry Berrier (guitar), Rick Allred (mandolin), Garland…
TIM SURRETT From Canton, North Carolina. 1992, joined the Kingsmen, an award-winning gospel group from Asheville, NC. Sang lead and played bass. 1992, recorded a…
BRYAN SUTTON From Candler, North Carolina. Lives in Nashville. Began playing guitar at age 8. Heavily influenced by Doc Watson and Tony Rice. 1992, first…
SWEET POTATO PIE From North Carolina. An all-female bluegrass band featuring Sonya Stead (guitar), Missy Pyne (mandolin), Crystal Richardson (banjo), Ashley Davis (fiddle), Julie Brown…
SWIFT CREEK From Raleigh, North Carolina. Formed in 2010 by Kevin Brown (guitar, lead vocals), Casey Elder (mandolin), Dennis Hoyle (bass), Ashley Kovacs (fiddle) and…
REMINGTON RYDE From McClure, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2005 by Ryan Frankhouser (guitar, vocals). Other band members: Billy Lee Cox (banjo), Warren Blair (fiddle), Richard Egolf…
THE RENO BROTHERS From Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in 1984, broke up as a band (not as brothers) in 2001. Includes Dale, Don Wayne and Ronnie—the…
DON RENO From Spartanburg, South Carolina. One of the innovators and early masters of the bluegrass (three-finger style) banjo. Like Earl Scruggs, learned to play…
DON RENO, RED SMILEY (AND THE TENNESSEE CUT-UPS) One of the of the pioneering first-generation bluegrass bands. Very popular and influential throughout the 50’s and…
RONNIE RENO (AND THE RENO TRADITION) From Nashville. Oldest son of the late Don Reno. Began performing and recording with his father and Red Smiley…
RETRO 78 From Inman, South Carolina. Band members: Hunter Motts (banjo), Jacob Jackson (mandolin), Bill Turnbill (fiddle), Clint Groves (guitar), Brad Kaylor (bass), and Aaron…
SHANNON LEIGH REYNOLDS From Washington DC; originally from Georgia. She is a singer/songwriter/guitarist who performs bluegrass, classic country, and other folk styles of music. 2017,…
LARRY RICE Born in Danville, Virginia. Grew up in California. A mandolin player, vocalist and songwriter. The oldest of the Rice Brothers (Larry, Tony, Ronnie…
TONY RICE From Danville, Virginia. Grew up in southern California, near L.A. Considered one of the greatest flatpick guitar players of all time. Until he…
WYATT RICE (AND SANTA CRUZ) Born in California. Grew up in Florida. Lives in Ferrum, Virginia. Like his brother Tony, he is an accomplished flat-pick…
RICH IN TRADITION From Low Gap, North Carolina. Formed in 2008 by Mickey Galyean (guitar), Greg Jones (mandolin), Brad Hiatt (bass), Tim Martin (fiddle), Jay…
DEANIE RICHARDSON From Kingston Springs, Tennessee, near Nashville. An award-winning fiddler, she has worked with country and bluegrass artists such as Vince Gill, Patty Loveless,…
KEVIN RICHARDSON (AND CUTTIN’ EDGE) From Seagrove, North Carolina. 2002, joined Lou Reid and Carolina. 2008, joined the Larry Stephenson Band. 2012, formed his own…
BRANDON RICKMAN From Purdy, Missouri. Lives in Nashville. 1999, joined The New Tradition playing upright bass. 2001, joined Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time. 2002,…
RIC-O-CHET From Boone, North Carolina. Formed in 1993 by Jimmy Trivette (bass), Steve Lewis (banjo), Randy Greer (guitar) and David Pendley (mandolin.) 1994, released Ricochet…
THE RIGNEYS From Nashville, Tennessee. A family band featuring Mark Rigney (banjo), Melissa Rigney (bass) and their two sons Andrew (guitar, mandolin, banjo) and Grant…
DON RIGSBY From Isonville, Kentucky. One of the best known tenor singers in bluegrass music. Plays mandolin. Began professional career as a member of the…
JOHN RIGSBY From Sandy Hook, Kentucky. Began his career with Dwight Whitley and the Sideroads while in high school. 1995, joined Ralph Stanley and the…
RIVERBEND From St. Louis, Missouri. Formed in 2015 by Aaron Muskopf (guitar), Andy Novara (mandolin), Will Miskall (bass), Kris Shewmake (banjo), Blake Korte (Dobro™). They…
CHRIS ROBERTS From Montana. He has also lived in New York City. He is a singer/songwriter now living in Nashville. He has appeared in several…
DANNY ROBERTS From Leitchfield, Kentucky. Lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Began playing guitar at age 13, mandolin a few years later. 1988, formed The New Tradition,…
JAELEE ROBERTS From Nashville, Tennessee. She grew up around bluegrass music; her father is Danny Roberts (of the Grascals) and her mother is Andrea Roberts…
TAMMY JONES ROBINETTE From Middlesboro, Kentucky. She and her husband Jim currently live in Northeast Ohio in the Lake Erie region. Grew up as part…
BUTCH ROBINS From Lebanon, Virginia. Lives in Pulaski, Virginia. Real name: Joseph Calvin Robins. 1967, won banjo contest at Union Grove Festival. Shortly thereafter, worked…
KIM ROBINS From Bloomington, Indiana. Lives in Nashville, TN. Began singing at an early age but postponed her music career for 40 years. Worked as…
ROCK COUNTY From various parts of Kentucky. Formed in 2001 by Don Rigsby (formerly with the Lonesome River Band). Members included Rigsby (mandolin), Glen Duncan…
ROCK HEARTS From New England (Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut/New York). Formed in 2013 by Alex McLeod (guitar), Billy Thibodeau (mandolin), Joe Deetz (banjo), Danny Musher (fiddle) and…
ROCKIN ACOUSTIC CIRCUS From Tulsa, Oklahoma. A band featuring five teen musicians and one adult who founded the band in 2005. Rick Morton. Morton is…
THE ROE FAMILY SINGERS From Kirkwood Hollow, Minnesota. Formed in 2005 by husband and wife duo Kim Roe (autoharp) and Quillan Roe (banjo/guitar). Other members…
TONY ROOK From North Carolina. Currently lives in Minnesota. Started playing rock music as a teenager, then turned to folk music. In his early 20’s…
IVAN ROSENBERG From Portland, Oregon. A Dobro™ (resophonic guitar) player who has worked with Chris Stuart and Backcountry, Evie Laden, Chris Jones and others. He…
PHIL ROSENTHAL From Guilford, Connecticut. 1970-75, played with a New England band called Apple Country. 1976-77, had a band with his wife Beth called “Old…
JOE ROSS (AND COLD THUNDER) From Roseburg, Oregon. He was born in Virginia but grew up in Japan and heard his first bluegrass there on…
JOHN ROSSBACH (AND CHESTNUT GROVE) From Elkins, West Virginia. Has also lived in Syracuse, New York. 1987, formed his band Chestnut Grove. They recorded and…
SANDY ROTHMAN From Berkeley, California (born in Oakland). A banjo, guitar and Dobro™ player who was a close friend of the late Jerry Garcia (of…
ROUTE 3 From Purdy, Missouri. Formed in 2018 by Jason Jordan (guitar), Doug Clifton (bass), Gaylon Harper (banjo) and Roy Bond (mandolin). They chose their…
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…
ROXBORO CONNECTION From Roxboro, North Carolina. Formed in 2021 by Ricky Stroud (mandolin), Cliff Waddell (guitar), Ronald Smith (banjo), David Nance (Dobro™) and Adam Poindexter…
THE ROYS From Fitchburg, Massachusetts and also lived in Coal Branch, New Brunswick, Canada. Now live in Nashville. A brother/sister duo featuring Lee and Elaine…
TOM ROZUM From Waterbury, Connecticut. Best known as the singing partner of Laurie Lewis. He plays a rare 1924 Gibson Lloyd Loar F-5 mandolin. 1974,…
RUN BOY RUN From Tucson, Arizona. Band members include brother and sister Matt Rolland (fiddle, guitar) and Grace Rolland (cello, vocals) and sisters Bekah Sandoval…
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…
BILL RUNKLE & SMITH HOLLOW From Brogue, Pennsylvania. A banjo player who worked with Del McCoury’s Dixie Pals from 1969-1977. He played banjo on McCoury’s…
NO Q IN BLUEGRASS? So far, no bluegrass bands or artists have made the “Q” category. Maybe the closest would be Rhonda Vincent who sometimes…
LEWIS PHILLIPS From Lincolnton, Georgia. Son of Earl and Janis Phillips (Janis was a member of the gospel singing group, The Lewis Family,). 1972, at…
TODD PHILLIPS From the San Francisco Bay area (born in San Jose). Now lives in Nashville. One of the top bass players in bluegrass music.…
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…
CORY PIATT From Winston-Salem, NC. Currently lives in Nashville. Began playing the mandolin at age 7 performing at contests and festivals with his family group,…
NOAM PIKELNY From Champaign, Illinois. A banjo player who was inspired as a teen by Bela Fleck. 2002, played in a college jam band called…
PINE MOUNTAIN RAILROAD From Knoxville, Tennessee. Formed in 1998 by guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Jimbo Whaley and banjo player Kipper Stitt. Other band members have…
THE PINNACLE BOYS From Knoxville, Tennessee. A band featuring Bud Brewster (guitar), Larry Mathis (banjo), Jim Smith (mandolin), Randall Collins (fiddle), Jerry Moore (fiddle) and…
MO PITNEY From Cherry Valley, Illinois. Lives in Nashville. Real name: Morgan Daniel Pitney. As a teenager, he played in a bluegrass band with his…
THE PLATE SCRAPERS From Virginia and Western Maryland. Formed in 2014 by Derek Kretzer (banjo), Andrew Jordan (guitar), Brett Kretzer (mandolin), Jody Mosser (dobro, lap…
WOODY PLATT From Brevard, North Carolina. 1998-2022, played guitar and sang lead vocals for the Steep Canyon Rangers. As a member of that group, he…
PO’ RAMBLIN’ BOYS From Sevierville, Tennessee. Formed in 2014 by C.J. Lewandowski (mandolin), Josh Rinkel (guitar), Jereme Brown (banjo) and Jasper Lorentzen (bass). Lewandowski (mandolin)…
FRANK POINDEXTER From Monroe, North Carolina. A Dobro™ player, uncle to the Rice Brothers (Tony, Larry, Wyatt and Ron.) Has toured and recorded with the…
THOMAS PORTER From Phoenix, Arizona Plays guitar and mandolin. A man of many talents, he is also a licensed massage therapist, a web designer, graphic…
PRAIRIE WILDFIRE (SAGE AND PRAIRIE WILDFIRE) From Buffalo, Wyoming. Formed in 2015 by Morgan Blaney (bass), Sage Palser (mandolin) and Tessa Taylor (banjo, guitar). 2023,…
THE KEVIN PRATER BAND From Belcher, Kentucky. Formed in 2009 by Kevin Prater (mandolin) and Tom Timberlake (banjo). Prater formerly worked with the James King…
MICHAEL PREWITT From Williamsburg, Kentucky. A vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, specializing in mandolin. 2021-2024, played mandolin with Special Consensus. 2024, released two solo projects, The Peerless…
BILL PRICE From Monroe, North Carolina. He owned a farm and studio there called “Bluegrass Hill.” Began musical career in 1954. Recorded two albums for…
JAMES PRICE From Uneeda, West Virginia. Lives in Parkersburg, WV. Began pro career as fiddler with the Goins Brothers Band. 1994, released “The Old Mountaineer”…
THE PRICE SISTERS From Sardis (Monroe County), Ohio. A duo featuring twin sisters Lauren Price (mandolin) and Leanna Price (fiddle). They began singing at the…
THE PRIMITIVE QUARTET From Candler, North Carolina. They perform bluegrass and Southern gospel music in churches and other gospel-music venues. Formed in 1973 by two…
MARC PRUETT From Haywood County, North Carolina. 1972-74, worked with James Monroe. Worked at a music store in Asheville, NC teaching banjo for many years,…
THE PUNCH BROTHERS From Nashville, relocated to New York City in 2008. Formed in 2007 by mandolinist Chris Thile (formerly of Nickel Creek), enlisting the…
PSYCHOGRASS A project band featuring Darol Anger (fiddle), David Grier (guitar), Mike Marshall (mandolin), Todd Phillips (bass), and Tony Trischka (banjo). 1993, released Psychograss album…
OLD AND IN THE WAY From San Francisco, California. Formed in 1973 featuring featuring Jerry Garcia (of the Grateful Dead) on banjo, David Grisman on…
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW Began in Ithica, New York. 1998, began as buskers (street musicians) playing “pre-war jug band music.” The busked their way west…
OLD GROWTH QUARTET From the Pacific Northwest (Seattle, Washington and Sisters, Oregon). Formed in 2017 by Dale Adkins (guitar, banjo, mandolin), Paul Elliott (fiddle), Don…
OLD SALT UNION From Belleville, IL (a suburb of St. Louis, MO). Formed in 2012 by Ryan Murphey (banjo) and Dustin Eiskant (guitar). Other members:…
OLD SCHOOL FREIGHT TRAIN From Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 2001 at the College of William and Mary (Williamsburg). Played a mix of bluegrass, jazz, Americana…
OLIVIA JO From Stuart, Virginia. Began singing as a youngster and released her first two bluegrass albums before the age of 12. At age 16,…
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…
LAURA ORSHAW From northeastern Pennsylvania. Now lives in Nashville. Grew up in a musical family. Her father Mark Orshaw played guitar in a bluegrass band…
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 OSBORNE BROTHERS From Hyden, Kentucky but lived most of their career in Nashville. Bobby played mandolin; Sonny played banjo. Bobby was six years older…
DEAN OSBORNE From Lexington, Kentucky. Sonny and Bobby Osborne are cousins. His grandfather is their uncle. Besides music, his passion is training and showing Tennessee…
WYNN OSBORNE From Nashville, Tennessee. Lives in Ocala, Florida. He is the son of Bobby Osborne (of the Osborne Brothers). Learned banjo from Earl Scruggs…
PETER OSTROUSHKO From Minneapolis, Minnesota. Best known as an accomplished mandolin and fiddle player. His family is from the Ukraine. Has toured regularly with Robin…
AKIRA OTSUKA From Japan; lives in the Washington DC area. Best known as the impressive mandolin player with The Bluegrass 45, a legendary bluegrass band…
THE OVERALL BROTHERS From Nashville. Formed in 2004 by Danny Barnes, Elmer Burchett, Jr., Kevin Harper, Wesley Probst and Kim Gardner. Barnes (mandolin) is from…
ANDY OWENS Born in Louisville, Kentucky. For many years lived in Dallas, Texas. Now living in North Carolina. Sings, writes songs and plays all the…
THE NEW COON CREEK GIRLS From Renfro Valley, Kentucky. Formed in 1980 by John Lair of the Renfro Valley Barn Dance to carry on the…
NEW GRANGE From Nashville. An Americana band featuring Tim O’Brien, Mike Marshall, Alison Brown, Darol Anger, Todd Phillips and pianist Philip Aaberg. 1998, the group…
NEW GRASS REVIVAL From Louisville, Kentucky. Formed in 1971 by 19-year-old Sam Bush. Original members: Sam Bush (mandolin), Courtney Johnson (banjo), Curtis Burch (guitar and…
THE NEW QUICKSILVER A short-lived group formed in 1986 featuring Terry Baucom (banjo), Jimmy Haley (guitar), Randy Graham (bass) and Alan Bibey (mandolin). Baucom, Graham…
NEW RIVER LINE From Flatgap, Kentucky. Formed in 2002 by Dave Carroll (guitar) and Ron King (mandolin). Carroll has written songs for the Lonesome River…
NEW ROAD From Knoxville, Tennessee. A gospel group that performed primarily in churches throughout the southeast. Formed in 1995 by Stuart Wyrick (banjo), Randall Massengill…
THE NEW TRADITION From Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in 1988 and won “best band” at the SPBGMA awards show. This led to a record contract with…
NEW VINTAGE From Cary, North Carolina. Formed in 1989 by Russell Johnson (mandolin) and Earl Lewellyn (guitar). 1993, won first place at the Pizza Hut…
NEWFOUND ROAD From Franklin, Ohio. The group formed in 2001 as a gospel group featuring vocalist Tim Shelton who had recorded previously as a solo…
THE GARRETT NEWTON BAND From Benson, North Carolina. Began playing the banjo at age 10. Took lessons from Steve Dilling. 2016, at age 16 formed…
MARK NEWTON Originally from Padukah, Kentucky and lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia for many years. Moved to Nashville in 2004. At age 14, played in his…
NEWTOWN From Lexington, Kentucky Formed originally as the Kati Penn Band. They changed their name to NewTown in 2011. Band members: Kati Penn-Williams (fiddle), Junior…
DARREN NICHOLSON From Western North Carolina. 2007, was a founding member of Balsam Range (playing mandolin). He previously worked with the Alecia Nugent Band, Audie…
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…
ROSS NICKERSON From Baltimore, Maryland. Also has a home in Tucson, Arizona. Best known as a banjo teacher and writer of banjo instruction books. Own…
NIGHTFLYER From Southwest Ohio. Formed in 2010 by Richard Propps (guitar), Rick Hayes (mandolin), Tony Kakaris (bass), Tim Jackson (Dobro™) and Ronnie Stewart (banjo). Nightflyer’s…
THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND From Los Angeles, California. Also called “The Dirt Band.” Formed in 1966 by John McEuen, Jimmy Fadden, Jeff Hanna, Jimmy…
NIXON, BLEVINS AND GAGE From Raleigh, North Carolina. An acoustic trio featuring Larry Nixon (guitar), David Blevins (guitar) and Steven Gage (bass). Nixon is an…
MICHELLE NIXON AND DRIVE From Goochland, Virginia. Nixon learned to sing in church. Began singing with country bands at age 14. 1989, she and husband…
NO GRASS LIMIT From Minneapolis, Minnesota. Formed in 2011. Members: Chuck and Sandi Millar (fiddle and guitar, husband and wife), Clint Birtzer (guitar), Mike Hedding…
NO ONE YOU KNOW From Jackson County, West Virginia Band members: Don Anderson (bass), Ramie Bennett (banjo), Lance Gainer (guitar), Bruce Jones (Dobro™), Rachel Burge…
NO TIME FLATT From Humboldt, Tennesee (between Nashville and Memphis). Formed in 2015 by Patrick Cupples (bass), Steve Moore (banjo,guitar), Kevin Wright (guitar), Becky Weaver…
THE NOB HILL BOYS From Madison, Wisconsin. Formed in 1998. There is a place called Nob Hill in Madison, but none of the band actually…
HOLLY NORMAN From Powell, Tennessee (near Knoxville). A singer/songwriter who performed for many years as a cast member at Dollywood Theme Park in Pigeon Forge,…
THE KODY NORRIS SHOW From Mountain City, Tennessee. Band members: Kody Norris (guitar), Mary Rachel Nalley (fiddle), Josiah Tyree (banjo) and Charlie Lowman (bass). Formed…
NORTHERN LIGHTS From Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 1975. Founding members: Taylor Armerding (mandolin), Bill Henry (guitar) and Bob Emery (bass). Alison Brown was a member…
NORTHERN PACIFIC From Woodinville, Washington. Band members: Rich Jones (guitar); Joseph Wilmhoff (bass); Nick Hornbuckle (banjo), John Tubbs (mandolin). Jones previously worked with Kenny Baker…
NOTHIN’ FANCY From Buena Vista, Virginia (Shenandoah Valley). Formed in 1994. Several members of this group were previously in The East Coast Bluegrass Band. Members:…
NU-BLU From Siler City, North Carolina. Formed in 2003 by a husband-wife duo Carolyn and Daniel Routh (bass and guitar). Other band members: Levi Austin…
ALECIA NUGENT From Hickory Grove, Louisiana. 1988, began her professional singing career at age 13 with her family band Southland Bluegrass (AKA The Nugent Family…
JIM NUNALLY From the San Francisco Bay area. A guitarist and vocalist who performs with many bands: John Reischman and the Jaybirds, The David Grisman…
AARON MCDARIS From Hartsville, Missouri. Began playing banjo at age 12. At age 14, began performing with a regional band called Second Exit. 1997, joined…
JOHN MCEUEN From Orange County, California. Lives in Aspen, Colorado. Founding member of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Began his show-business career at age 16…
JOHN MCGANN From Boston; born in Morristown, New Jersey. Founding member of the Beacon Hillbillies, a Boston band (1991-1995). Plays guitar and mandolin. 1982, played…
ADAM MCINTOSH From Lebanon, Ohio. Began performing at age 18 with various bluegrass bands. While he is primarily known as a guitarist, he plays all…
THE JAMES & ANGELA MCKINNEY BAND From Dallas, Texas. James is originally from Ft. Payne, Alabama. Age 15, James won the Southern States Banjo Championship.…
THE MCKRELLS From Saratoga Springs, New York. Founded by guitarist and vocalist Kevin McKrell (formerly with Donnybrook Fair). A regional band, they blended Irish/Celtic music…
THE MCLAIN FAMILY BAND From Berea Kentucky. Performed together as a family from 1972 through 1989. Were associated with the armed forces which took them…
DONAL BAYLOR From Capital City, Canberra, Australia. 1985-6, won the Australian National Fiddle Contest. He also was a runner-up in the National Flat-pick Guitar Championship.…
MICHAEL AND JENNIFER MCLAIN BAND (THE BANJOCATS) From Nashville, Tennessee. Michael plays banjo, Jennifer plays mandolin (although Jennifer is also an award-winning banjo player). A…
RAYMOND W. MCLAIN From Berea, Kentucky. 1969-1989 performed with his family, The McLain Family Band. 1990-1997, played banjo with Jim and Jesse McReynolds. 1992, released…
DAVID MCLAUGHLIN From the Washington D.C. area; lives in Winchester, Virginia. Known as one of the top Monroe-style mandolin players in bluegrass. He is the…
PETER MCLAUGHLIN From the Washington D.C. area; lives in Tucson, Arizona. A guitarist, he is the older brother of former Johnson Mountain Boy, David McLaughlin.…
ROY MCMILLAN (AND THE HIGH COUNTRY BOYS) From Lewisville, North Carolina (originally from Carroll County, Virginia) Learned to play mandolin from age 8. 1950, moved…
JOSH MCMURRAY From Church Hill, Tennessee; lives in Nashville. Began playing banjo at age 13. 1998, joined Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers (age 18…
THE MCPEAK BROTHERS From Wytheville, Virginia. Original band formed in 1963, with Udell, Larry and Dewey McPeak. Udell dropped out in 1966 and the youngest…
LARRY MCNEELY From LaFayette, Indiana. Began his career playing banjo with Charlie Collins and the original Pinnacle Mountain Boys, a Tennessee group. Age 17, he…
CURTISS MCPEAKE From Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. He was born in Scotts Hill, Tennessee. Best known as an early banjo virtuoso who played with Bill Monroe,…
JESSE MCREYNOLDS (See JIM AND JESSE)
MEADOW MOUNTAIN From Denver, Colorado. Formed in 2015 by Summers Baker (guitar), Jack Dunlevie (mandolin), Ian Parker (fiddle), George Guthrie (banjo) and Wilson Luallen (bass).…
SHELBY MEANS Grew up in Wyoming; lives in Charleston, South Carolina. 2012, joined Della Mae, playing bass. She and her husband Joel Timmons perform together…
KEN MELLONS From Nashville. Born in Kingsport, Tennessee. 1993, signed with Epic Records and had a hit single “Jukebox Junkie.” Later recorded for Curb Records.…
BUDDY MELTON From Haywood County, North Carolina. Began playing fiddle while in college (Western Carolina University). 1995, played with a gospel group called Rock Springs…
DAN MENZONE From Dudley, Massachusetts. A banjo player who spent 19 years with Traver Hollow (1983-2002). He refers to his banjo style as “crackling banjo.”…
MERLE MONROE / THE TIM RAYBON BAND From Nashville. Formed in 2018 by Tim Raybon (guitar) and Daniel Grindstaff (banjo). Band members include: Jayd Raines…
BUDDY MERRIAM (AND BACK ROADS) From Sound Beach, New York (Long Island). A musical instrument repairman by trade. (Has a college degree in Musical Instrument…
J. D. MESSER & SANCTIFIED From Kermit, West Virginia. A gospel group featuring John D. Messer (mandolin), Kenny Stanley (guitar), Jerry Sturgell (resophonic guitar), Brent…
MEYER BAND (JOHNNY MEYER) From Sheldon, Missouri (near Joplin); moved to Nashville in 2014. A family band featuring four siblings, Johnny (banjo), David (guitar), Mary…
LIZ MEYER From Washington D.C. For more than a decade (70’s and 80’s) she was a very popular Washington D.C. area bluegrass, folk and country…
WALT MICHAEL From Westminster, Maryland. Formerly performed with Bottle Hill. One of the top hammered dulcimer players in the U.S. His band Walt Michael and…
MIDDLE SPUNK CREEK BOYS From Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. There actually is a Middle Spunk Creek near Minneapolis, after which the band was named. Formed in…
MIDNIGHT SKYRACER From England and Northern Ireland. An Anglo-Irish, all-female band formed in 2017 by Leanne Thorose (mandolin), Charlotte Carrivick (guitar), Laura Carrivick (fiddle and…
MIGHTY POPLAR From Nashville & other locations. A band formed in 2020 by Noam Pikelny (banjo), Chris Eldridge (guitar), Greg Garrison (bass), Andrew Marlin (mandolin)…
THE MILBILLIES From Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Formed in 2018 by Joe Wais (fiddle), Eben Flood (guitar), Matt Brey (mandolin), Dan Shaw (banjo) and Pat Zimmer (bass.)…
MILE TWELVE From Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 2014 by Evan Murphy (guitar), Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (fiddle), Nate Sabat (bass), BB Bowness (banjo) and David Benedict (mandolin).…
JOSH MILLER From Spring City, Tennessee. A multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter who has worked with several bands and as a solo artist. 2004-2005, played banjo…
BILL AND WILMA MILLSAPS From Robbinsville, North Carolina. Bill is a distant relative of Daniel Boone. He previously worked with Carl Story, Kenny Baker and…
MILAN MILLER From Waynesville, North Carolina. Moved to Nashville in 1999. A multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. Songwriting credits include Caney Fork River and Papertown by Balsam…
JIM MILLS From Raleigh, North Carolina. Has been playing banjo all his life (says he can’t remember not playing the banjo.) After high school, joined…
TOM MINDTE From Washington, D.C. Plays mandolin with a group called Patuxent Partners. He is the owner of Patuxent Records. As a mandolin player, he…
MIPSO From Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Formed in 2010 by Jacob Sharp (mandolin), Joseph Terrell (guitar) and Wood Robinson (bass). All three are graduates of…
THE MISTY MOUNTAIN STRING BAND From Louisville, Kentucky. Formed in 2012. An old-time string band featuring Neal Green (fiddle), Derek Harris (bass, vocals), Paul Martin…
MIKE MITCHELL From Floyd, Virginia; He was born in Canada. He is a singer, songwriter and music teacher who performs as a solo artist and…
PATTY MITCHELL From Perrin, Texas (moved to Nashville in 1999). Began singing and recording at age seven. Early 1990’s, played bass and mandolin with the…
BARRY MITTERHOFF From New York City. Lives in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Began playing bluegrass while at Rutgers University. Formed a band called Bottle Hill.…
KATSUYUKI MIYAZAKI From Kyoto, Japan. Most people call him “Katsu.” One of Japan’s top mandolin players. Has won many awards in Japan for his playing,…
MOLASSES CREEK From North Carolina. Formed in 1993. Live on a tiny island 23 miles off the coast of North Carolina (Ocracoke Island). They own…
BRUCE MOLSKY From Ithica, New York. Began playing guitar at age 10. Added banjo and fiddle to his repertoire during his teen years. He is…
MONROE CROSSING From the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul), Minnesota. Formed in 2000 by members of “The Pretty Good Bluegrass Band”, “Big Skyota” and “The Deadly…
BILL MONROE (AND THE BLUE GRASS BOYS) From Rosine, Kentucky. Born September 13, 1911. Died September 9, 1996. Full name: William Smith Monroe. He is…
CHARLIE MONROE From Rosine, Kentucky. The older brother of Bill Monroe. (According to Sam Bush, that makes him the “uncle” of bluegrass.) 1934-1938, Bill and…
JAMES MONROE (AND THE MIDNIGHT RAMBLERS) From Rosine, Kentucky. Son of Bill Monroe. Began his musical career as bass player for the Blue Grass Boys…
MONROEVILLE From Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Formed in 2010. Most of this band had been the nucleus of Barry Scott’s band “Second Wind.” Original band: Matt (AKA…
FRANCES MOONEY From Northern Georgia 1975, played bass in The Bluegrass Generation,” a Louisville, Kentucky band. 1978, formed Cherokee Rose, an all-female bluegrass band. 1981,…
CHARLIE MOORE (AND HIS DIXIE PARTNERS) From Piedmont, South Carolina; later, Richmond, Virginia. Began performing at age 17 (1952) with his group The Dixie Partners…
JOHN MOORE From Vista, California (near San Diego). He lived for several years on Palomar Mountain, near the famous Observatory. In 1997, he moved to…
NANCY MOORE From Crawfordville, Florida. In high school, she played flute and oboe in her school band and was a drum major and band director.…
RUSSELL MOORE (AND IIIRD TYME OUT) From Pasadena, Texas. Lives in Cumming, Georgia. First band: the Bluegrass Ramblers in Cleveland, Texas. 1983, formed Southern Connection…
WAYNE MOORE Born in Livingston, Kentucky but spent most of his musical career in Southern California. Now lives in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. A journeyman…
CRAIG MORRIS From Alabama. Also lived in Spring Hill, Tennessee. A banjo player, he had a recording studio and a band called Flashpoint. 1976-1984, played…
LEON MORRIS From the Washington DC area (Rockville, MD); originally from Canada. Began performing in 1947. Plays all the bluegrass instruments and sings traditional bluegrass.…
LUKE MORRIS From Galax, Virginia. Plays mandolin with a group called Shadowgrass. Has been a student in the bluegrass music program at East Tennessee State…
LYNN MORRIS From Lamesa, Texas. Lives in Winchester, Virginia. Learned to play guitar at age 12 from the same man who taught Buddy Holly to…
HAROLD MORRISON From High Lonesome, Missouri, near Springfield. One of a long line of country performers to combine banjo virtuosity and country humor. He was…
JUSTIN MOSES From Madisonville, Tennessee. Lives in Nashville. Plays all the bluegrass instruments. After high school, played with a band called Kentucky Wind. 2000, formed…
DARYL MOSLEY From Waverly, Tennessee. A singer/songwriter whose songs have been recorded by many bluegrass and country artists. 1988-2000, was a founding member of The…
STEPHEN MOUGIN From Joelton, Tennessee. Has been playing bluegrass since the age of 6. Has a degree in Vocal Music Education from the University of…
MOUNTAIN FAITH (SUMMER AND BRAY) From Sylva, North Carolina. A family bluegrass-gospel band featuring Summer McMahan (fiddle & lead vocals), Brayden McMahan (banjo), and their…
MOUNTAIN HEART Formed in 1998 by Adam Steffey, Steve Gulley, Barry Abernathy, Jim Van Cleve and Johnny Dowdle after having worked with Doyle Lawson and…
SETH MULDER (AND MIDNIGHT RUN) From East Tennessee. Mulder is originally from Hillsboro, North Dakota. 2011, graduated from the Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional…
DAMIAN MULLER From Richmond, Virginia. He is a singer/songwriter whose songs have been recorded by a variety of bluegrass bands including Southern Rail. He specializes…
JOE MULLINS (AND THE RADIO RAMBLERS) From Southwestern Ohio. Mullins previously played banjo with the Traditional Grass. He also was a founding member of the…
ALAN MUNDE From Norman, Oklahoma. Has lived in Nashville, Los Angeles, Levelland and Wimberly Texas, Oklahoma City. 1969, began playing banjo professionally at age 22…
C. W. MUNDY From Indianapolis, Indiana. Full name is Charles Warren Mundy. Plays banjo with a group called the Disco Mountain Boys but is best…
MIKE MUNFORD From Baltimore (lives in Glen Rock, Maryland). He was born in St. Louis, MO. A banjo player since age 15, he has worked…
THE GILLIAMS From Keysville, Virginia. A family band featuring Spider Gilliam his wife Bonnie and daughters Cheryl and Julie. Spider Gilliam has worked with the…
MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY From Dallas, Texas (born in Oak Cliff, Texas). Lives in Colorado. 1964, formed first band with Michael Nesmith (later of the Monkees)…
NATE LEATH From Bethlehem, North Carolina; lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. Was a fiddle child prodigy, playing in front of audiences at age 8. 1996, at…
A. J. LEE (AND BLUE SUMMIT) From Tracy, California. 2005, she began performing at age seven with the Tuttles, a family band that featured Jack…
NATE LEE From Ovilla, Texas. Now living in Nashville. A multi-instrumentalist, he is best known as a mandolin player. He also plays fiddle, guitar and…
LEFTOVER SALMON From Boulder, Colorado. Formed in 1989. The name came from combining the names of two of the members previous bands: “The Left Hand…
ANDY LEFTWICH From White House, Tennessee. Began playing fiddle at age 6. Won the Tennessee State Fiddle Championship (for beginners) at age 9. Also played…
RAY LEGERE From Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada. Has won numerous awards at the Eastern Canadian Bluegrass Music Awards, including Mandolin, Fiddle, and Guitar Player of…
EMORY LESTER From Gainesville, Virginia. Currently lives in Ontario, Canada. Had his own group for several years called The Emory Lester Set. Also had bands…
JENNY LESTER From Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada). Began performing with her family band The Driftwood Canyon Family Band at age 7. Sings and plays fiddle…
ASHLEY LEWIS From Sandwich, Illinois. Plays mandolin. She began singing and performing at age 7 in her family band. Formed her own group at age…
LAURIE LEWIS From Berkeley, California. Early 60’s, she heard the Dillards and got hooked on bluegrass. She is a two-time winner of the California State…
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…
WAYNE LEWIS From Sandy Hook, Kentucky. 1973-4, was a member of Ralph Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Boys. 1975, worked with Lillimae and the Dixie Gospelaires. 1976-1986,…
THE LIL’ SMOKIES From Missoula, Montana. Formed in 2010. Band members: Andy Dunnigan (dobro), Scott Parker (upright bass), Matt Cornette (banjo), Jake Simpson (fiddle) and…
THE LILLY BROTHERS From Boston, Massachusetts. Originally from Clear Creek, West Virginia. Two brothers: Everett and Michel (an odd spelling of “Michael” that was often…
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…
LINDSAY LOU (AND THE FLATBELLYS) From Lansing, Michigan. The Flatbellys were formed in 2008 by several college students who were jamming at a local festival.…
KEITH LITTLE From Sonora, California. Lives in Lincoln, Oregon. Plays banjo and guitar. 1974-1989, worked with the Vern Williams Band. 1980-1985, worked with Rose Maddox;…
LIVEWIRE From Kentucky, North Carolina, Nashville. A band formed in 1989 by Scott Vestal (banjo) following his stint with Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. Bandmates included…
LOAFER’S GLORY From Los Angeles, CA. Formed in 2010 by Herb Pederson (guitar), Bill Bryson (bass), Tom Sauber (fiddle) and Pat Sauber (banjo). Pederson and…
LOCUST RIDGE From Locust Ridge, Tennessee (east Tennessee). A gospel group featuring the Allen Brothers: Russell (guitar), Josh (mandolin) and Larry (bass). Also in the…
THE LONELY HEARTSTRING BAND From Boston, Massachusetts. Members: George Clements (guitar, lead vocals), Patrick M’Gonigle (fiddle), Matt Witler (mandolin), Gabe Hirshfeld (banjo) and Charles Clements…
LONESOME HIGHWAY From Romney, West Virginia. Formed in 1996. Members (2011): John Arnold (banjo), Jimmy Kountz (mandolin), Buddy Dunlap (guitar), Mason Wright (fiddle) and Cody…
LONESOME MEADOW From Westerville, Ohio (near Columbus). A family band featuring three siblings: Anne Marie Jackson (fiddle), John Jackson (guitar), Gary Jackson (banjo) and their…
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…
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…
THE LONESOME TRIO From New York City. A trio formed in 1993 at Oberlin College by Ed Helms (banjo/guitar), Ian Riggs (bass) and Jacob Tilove…
DAVID LONG From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A Monroe-style mandolin player, influenced by Frank Wakefield and Mike Compton. 2001, joined The Wildwood Valley Boys. 2003, worked with…
LIZZY LONG (LITTLE ROY AND LIZZY SHOW) From Lincolnton, Georgia. Lizzy is short for Elizabeth. Sings and plays all the bluegrass instruments and piano. She…
REBEKAH LONG (SPEER) From Lincolnton, Georgia. She is the twin sister to Lizzy Long. 2002-2009, played bass with Lizzy Long and Little Roy Lewis. 2008,…
LONG ROAD HOME From Boulder, Colorado Formed by Justin Hoffenberg (fiddle) and Martin Gilmore (guitar) in 2005. Band also includes Pete Wernick (banjo), Jordan Ramsey…
LONGVIEW A project band made up of musicians who at the time were performing with other bands: Dudley Connell (Seldom Scene), James King (The James…
THE LOOSE STRINGS BAND From Galax, Virginia. Formed in 2005 as an all-girl kid band. 2012, released Next Chapter album (no label). 2013, released Everlasting…
LOOSE TIES From Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Formed in 1985 by Phil Round (guitar/bass), Ben Winship (mandolin) and Ted Wells (banjo). They previously performed together in…
LOST & FOUND From Ferrum, Virginia. Formed in 1973. Original members: Allen Mills (bass, lead vocals), Gene Parker (banjo), Roger Handy (guitar) and Dempsey Young…
LOST HIGHWAY From Southern California (Riverside County). 1974, the original band was formed by Dave Dickey (guitar), Walden Dahl (mandolin), Pat Brayer (fiddle), Nick Haney…
EDGAR LOUDERMILK From Eastanolee, Georgia. Has been playing the bass since age 9. He is related to the Louvin Brothers (their given names are Ira…
THE LOUVIN BROTHERS From Henegar, Alabama (on Sand Mountain). Brothers Ira and Charlie Loudermilk began singing together as teenagers in the 1940’s. They later changed…
LOVE CANON From Charlottesville, Virginia. Formed in 2010 by Jesse Harper (guitar) and Adam Larabee (banjo). They were joined by Andy Thacker (mandolin), Darrell Muller…
PATTY LOVELESS From Pikeville, Kentucky (lives in Nashville.) Began her professional music career as a teenager singing with the Wilburn Brothers. Her name was Patricia…
THE LOVELL SISTERS From Calhoun, Georgia. Three sisters: (ages in 2009) Jessica, fiddle (23), Megan, Dobro™(19) and Rebecca, mandolin (18). They have often been compared…
LOWCOUNTRY BOIL BLUEGRASS BAND From Bluffton, South Carolina (the “lowcountry” of South Carolina, near Hilton Head). Formed in 1998 by members of a rock band…
ANDY LOWE From Apex, North Carolina. He has performed with a number of bands including the Rockford Express, the Loose Cannons, and the Jeannette Williams…
JOHN LOWELL From Livingston, Montana. He is a singer/songwriter who has been a member of numerous bands: Medicine Wheel, Wheel Hoss, Deep River, Kane’s River,…
NED LUBERECKI From Baltimore, Maryland; lives in Nashville. Nickname: “Nedski.” Has played banjo with Tony Trischka’s Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular Band, The Rarely Herd, Larry…
GREG LUCK From Pinehurst, North Carolina. A multi-instrumentalist, he learned to play all the bluegrass instruments at a very high level as a teenager. He…
LYNWOOD LUNSFORD From Axton, Virginia. 1978-1983, played banjo with the Country Cousins (with his father and two cousins). 1984-1985, Stoney Run with Kim Gardner 1985-1987,…
TED LUNDY (AND THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN BOYS) From Wilmington, Delaware, near the Pennsylvania border; originally from Galax, Virginia. A renowned banjo player and band leader…
CHRIS LUQUETTE From Seattle, Washington. Lives in Brooklyn, NY. A multi-instrumentalist who plays all the bluegrass instruments. He is best known for his guitar playing.…
BRONWYN KEITH-HYNES From Charlottesville, Virginia. Lives in Nashville. Began playing fiddle at age 3. 2014, won the National Fiddle Championship at Winfield, Kansas. 2014, was…
CLAIRE LYNCH Originally from Kingston, New York. Moved to Alabama at age 12. 1974, formed The Front Porch String Band in Birmingham, Alabama with husband…
IRENE KELLEY From Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Lives in the Nashville area. A prolific songwriter, her songs have been recorded by such artists as Alan Jackson, Trisha…
JEANNIE KENDALL From St. Louis, Missouri. 1969, began performing with her father Royce in a popular country duo called “The Kendalls.” 1977, scored first number…
THE KENTUCKY COLONELS A legendary California bluegrass band of the 1960’s featuring the White Brothers—Roland, Eric and Clarence. The White brothers were born in Maine…
THE KENTUCKY GENTLEMEN From Kentucky. Formed in 1973 by Marvin Davis (mandolin), Dennis Barret (guitar, lead vocals), Ralph King (banjo), Avery Gabbard (bass) and Roger…
KENTUCKY JUST US From Glasgow, Kentucky. A family band including brother and sister Kacey and Caleb O’Neal (fiddle/mandolin), mom Shelane O’Neal (bass) and dad Terry…
KICKIN’ GRASS From Raleigh, North Carolina. Members: Lynda Dawson (guitar), Jamie Dawson (mandolin), Ben Walters (banjo), Patrick Walsh (bass), Matt Hooper (fiddle). Formed in 2000,…
CODY KILBY From Nashville, Tennessee Two time Juvenile National Banjo, Guitar and Mandolin Champion. Signed an endorsement contract with Gibson at age ten.As a teenager,…
JACKIE KINCAID From Meadowbrook, West Virginia. Plays mandolin with the Cumberland Highlanders TV Show. Has also worked with Larry Sparks, Mac Wiseman, Wayne Lewis, Tom…
DICK KIMMEL (AND COMPANY) From Southcentral Minnesota. Has played bluegrass music since the 1950’s with groups like Mountain Grass, Flint Hill Special, F&W String Band,…
JAMES KING From Cana, Virginia but lived most of his life in Amelia, Virginia at the foot of Fancy Gap Mountain. Started playing rock music…
THE KING JAMES BOYS From Cowpens, South Carolina (near Spartanburg). Formed in 1994 at their home church, Mountain View Baptist Church. They became known as…
LORI KING (AND JUNCTION 63) From Bloomfield, Iowa. 1993, began performing (singing and playing bass) with a group called Bluegrass Addiction. Her husband Joe was…
KING WILKIE From Charlottesville, Virginia (although no one in the band is actually from Virginia. Individually, the original band members are from Ohio, Wisconsin, New…
JODY KING From North Carolina. Has played banjo with the Lost and Found, After Five, Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time, New Vintage, other bands.…
BILL KNOPF From Van Nuys, California. Banjo player of many styles: bluegrass, swing, jazz, pop, rock and ragtime. 1977, released Bill Knopf on Banjo with…
THE KNOXVILLE GRASS From Knoxville, Tennessee. Formed in 1976. Early members were Jimmy Millsapps (banjo), Glenn Laney (guitar & banjo), Paul Brewster (guitar), Darryl Wolfe…
RANDY KOHRS From New Virginia, Iowa. Lives in Nashville. Began performing at age 8. Plays all the bluegrass instruments but is best known as a…
ALISON KRAUSS (AND UNION STATION) From Champaign, Illinois. Lives in Nashville. Full name: Alison Maria Krauss. Began playing country music when she was ten years…
THE KRÜGER BROTHERS From Switzerland; Currently live in North Carolina. Billed as “Americana from the Heart of Europe.” The brothers are Uwe (guitar) and Jens…
KUKURUZA From Moscow, Russia. The group formed in 1975 as a Russian folk band. Their first exposure to bluegrass was an early eighties tour of…
TAKEHARU KUNIMOTO (AND THE LAST FRONTIER) From Tokyo, Japan. Plays the a Japanese stringed instrument called the “Shami-sen” which resembles the banjo. Studied bluegrass music…
JIGJAM From Central Ireland (Tullamore, which is about halfway between Dublin on the east coast and Galway on the west coast). Formed in 2013 by…
JIM AND JESSE (AND THE VIRGINIA BOYS) From Coeburn, Virginia. They recorded more than 50 albums for Capitol, Columbia, Epic, Kentucky, CMH, Rounder, Opryland Old…
BILLIE RENEE’ JOHNSON From Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. She grew up singing with her family gospel group. 1996, graduated from college with a degree in criminology.…
BOB JOHNSON From Chattanooga, Tennessee. An innovative banjo player who recorded two popular banjo albums in the 1960’s: “Twelve Shades of Bluegrass” (Parkway) and “New…
THE JOHNSON MOUNTAIN BOYS From Washington, D.C. area (Gaithersburg, Maryland). Formed in 1975 as a duet featuring Dudley Connell on banjo and Ron Welch on…
DAVID JOHNSON From Purlear (near Wilkesboro), North Carolina. A multi-instrumentalist and studio musician who performs primarily gospel music. 1981, formed a band called Dixie Dawn.…
MARK JOHNSON From Garrison, New York. Lives in Crystal River, Florida. Plays clawhammer-style banjo. Calls his music “Clawgrass” and also named his backup group (formed…
MERL JOHNSON From Woodbridge, Virginia. Lives in Asheville, North Carolina. Plays all the bluegrass instruments but is best known as a mandolin/fiddle player with Travers…
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…
AL JONES (AND THE SPRUCE MOUNTAIN BOYS) From Whitetop, Virginia. Early 1960’s, played guitar with Earl Taylor’s Stoney Mountain Boys. 1965, teamed up with banjo…
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…
CLAY JONES From Mocksville, North Carolina (near Winston-Salem). First public performance: at the Snuffy Jenkins Festival with a band called The Carolina Bluegrass Band 1991,…
CURTIS JONES From Dahlonega, Georgia. “Known worldwide as the fastest acoustic guitarist alive.” (from his website). He also plays j 1993, toured with the Schankman…
SALLY JONES (AND THE SIDEWINDERS) From Alberta, Canada. Lives in Franklin, Tennessee. After graduating from Trinity Western University in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, she married Chris…
LORRAINE JORDAN (AND CAROLINA ROAD) From Garner, North Carolina. Plays mandolin with her band Carolina Road. Owns Lorraine’s Coffee House in Garner, North Carolina, featuring…
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…
VIC JORDAN From Washington, D.C. 1962, played banjo with a group called the Delta Ramblers in Lake Charles, Louisiana. 1964, moved to Nashville and worked…
JOHN JORGENSON From Redlands, California. Began playing bass as a youngster, then gravitated to mandolin and guitar. He is well-known as one of the top…
THOMM JUTZ From Buehl, Germany. Lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Jutz is pronounced “Yootz.” He learned guitar as a teenager and began performing country music in…
KAZUHIRO INABA From Osaka, Japan. Began playing banjo at age 15, made first U.S. tour in 1982. 1983, won banjo contest at Galax Fiddle Convention,…
INDIGO ROOTS From Nashville. A family band (siblings) featuring Bethany (fiddle), Victoria (mandolin), and Daniel (bass) Kelley. They previously performed and recorded under other names:…
THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS Originally based in Nashville. Now Charlottesville, Virginia. Formed in 2005 by guitarist Chris Eldridge (son of Seldom Scene banjo player Ben Eldridge).…
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…
IRON HORSE From Muscle Shoals, Alabama Formed in 2000. Members: Tony Robertson (mandolin), Ricky Rogers (bass), Anthony Richardson (banjo), Vance Henry (guitar). Several members had…
BO ISAAC From Wheelwright (Floyd County), Kentucky. Began performing at the Kentucky Opry at age 5. Has worked with Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time,…
JOE ISAACS From Big Hill, Kentucky. 1988, formed (with his wife Lily) The Isaacs. Before forming The Isaacs, Joe worked with Larry Sparks, The Stanley…
MICKEY HARRIS From Leanna, Tennessee. Plays the upright bass. Grew up in a musical family. As a child, he performed on his uncle’s TV Show…
R. C. HARRIS (AND BLUE DENIM) From Statesville, North Carolina. Lives in Gallatin, Tennessee. Began musical career at age 13 (Ole Mountain Opry). 1971, played…
JOHN HARTFORD From St. Louis, Missouri. He was a musician, songwriter, steamboat pilot, author, artist, disc jockey, calligrapher, dancer, folklorist, father, and historian. Began his…
THE HART BROTHERS From Guysville, Ohio. A family band formed in 1979 by Myron “Pete” Hart (mandolin), Heamon “Tib” Hart (banjo) and Arman “Sam” Hart…
HARVEST WIND From Statesville, North Carolina. They perform bluegrass gospel music. Features lead vocals and fiddling of Revonda Roberts. Other band members: Lonnie Roberts (mandolin),…
CARRIE HASSLER From Pikeville, Tennessee. Grew up singing in church. She was heavily influence by Southern Gospel music. 2003, began performing bluegrass music for the…
HAYDE BLUEGRASS ORCHESTRA From Oslo, Norway. Formed in 2013 after hearing music from the Oscar-nominated Belgian movie “The Broken Circle Breakdown.” They began rehearsing and…
AUBREY HAYNIE From Tampa, Florida. Lives in Nashville. One of Nashville’s top session musicians (fiddle, mandolin). At age 11, joined a Florida group called the…
HAYSEED DIXIE From “Deer Lick Holler” (Nashville, Tennessee). Formed by Barley Scotch and Enus and Talcum, the Younger Brothers — Dale and Don Wayne Reno…
HEAD FOR THE HILLS From Colorado. Formed in 2003 while they were students at Colorado State University. The describe their music as “modern acoustic.” Voted…
HEARTSTRINGS All-female band from Nashville. Formed in 2001 Members: Bo Jamison (guitar), Marilyn Barclay (bass), Karen Pendley (fiddle), Chris Lewis (mandolin), Sally Wingate (banjo). Jamison…
IRL HEES From Tuscumbia, Missouri. Pronounced “Earl Hess.” 1976, began playing bass in a regional bluegrass band. 1984, joined Lost Highway (California). 1985, formed Missouri…
JIMMY HEFFERNAN From Haddon Heights, New Jersey. Lived in Nashville for many years. Best known as a sideman specializing in Dobro™ (reso guitar). 1974, played…
HEIDI & RYAN From Somerset, Kentucky. A husband and wife duo, Heidi & Ryan Greer. Features the lead vocals of Heidi Greer. They specialize in…
THE HEIGHTS OF GRASS From Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1975 by Don Grubb (guitar), with Charles Bishop (banjo), Denny Williams (bass) and Kenny Tackett (mandolin).…
WAYNE HENDERSON From Sugar Grove, Virginia. A legendary luthier and guitarist. Has recorded albums with Doc Watkins, Butch Robins, Steve Kaufman and others. As a…
THE HENHOUSE PROWLERS From Chicago, Illinois Formed in 2004, went full-time in 2007. Original members: Eric Lambert (guitar), Jon Goldfine (bass), Ben Wright (banjo), Grant…
BILL HENRY (See also NORTHERN LIGHTS) From North Stonington, Connecticut. Plays guitar with Northern Lights (since 1981). Attended the Berklee College of Music. 2002, recorded…
CHRIS HENRY (AND THE HARDCORE GRASS) From Frederick County, Virginia. Lives in Padukah, Kentucky. Son of bluegrass musicians Red and Murphy Henry, brother of Casey…
CASEY HENRY From Frederick County, Virginia. Lives in Nashville. Grew up playing bass with her family group Red and Murphy and their Excellent Children. Casey’s…
RED HENRY From Winchester, Virginia. Began playing mandolin in 1967. Married to Murphy Henry, well-known for her banjo-instruction books and videos, also a columnist for…
RICHARD D. HENRY From Houston, Texas (grew up in South Carolina). Began performing with a family band on the radio at age 14. A prolific…
COREY HENSLEY From Sod, West Virginia. He is a tenor singer and bass player (although he can play all the bluegrass instruments). Worked with Doyle…
TIM HENSLEY From Cincinnatti, Ohio. Moved to Nashville in 1986. He played all the bluegrass instruments, spending most of his career working as a sideman.…
TREY HENSLEY From Jonesborough, Tennessee. Lives in Nashville. A country singer and guitarist with roots in bluegrass music. 2002, appeared on the Grand Ole Opry…
WALTER HENSLEY From Baltimore, Maryland (Born in Grundy, Virginia). Called “The Banjo Baron of Baltimore. 1952, worked with Hobo Jack Adkins and the Kentucky Pals…
JOHN HERALD (See also THE GREENBRIAR BOYS) From New York City. Lived in Woodstock, New York. 1958-1966, was founder and lead singer of The Greenbriar…
HERE TODAY A “project band” featuring Vince Gill, Herb Pederson, David Grisman, Jim Buchanan and Emory Gordy, Jr. Formed in January 1982 and recorded one…
CLAY HESS From Blue Creek, Ohio. 1983, age 12, had a band called Orange Mountain Special. 1990, joined True Blue, performing at Dollywood in Pigeon…
RAY HESSON A banjo player from Bowie, Maryland. Performs extensively around the Washington, D.C. area. Has taught music since he was in high school. One…
JOHN HICKMAN From Columbus, Ohio. Lived in Southern California for more than 30 years and then moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma. An influential banjo player who…
HICKORY HILL From Avinger, Texas (east Texas). Formed in 1978. Members: Ronny Singley (mandolin), Bob Stegall (bass), Don Eaves (banjo), John Early (lead guitar). Founding…
BOBBY HICKS From Newton, North Carolina. Lived in Asheville, North Carolina. Began playing the fiddle at age nine. 1954-1960, played fiddle for Bill Monroe’s Blue…
THE HIGH 48’S From the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota area. Formed in 2006. Their band name came from the world of trains. The 48 was a…
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…
HIGH FIDELITY From Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in 2014 by Jeremy Stephens (banjo/guitar), Corrina Rose Logston (fiddle), Kurt Stephenson (banjo), Vickie Vaughn (bass) and Daniel Amick…
HIGH PLAINS TRADITION From Denver, Colorado. Formed in 1988. Band members: Doug Elrick (mandolin), Kenny Pabst (bass), Bobby Vickery (fiddle), Mark Leslie ( banjo), Steve…
THE HIGHLAND TRAVELERS From Johnson City, Tennessee, Citico, Tennessee & Galax, Virginia. Formed in January, 2018 by Adam Steffey (mandolin), Keith Garrett (guitar), Gary Hultman…
HIGHSTRUNG From Orlando, Florida. Formed in 1989 by Jerry Nettuno as a trio, playing primarily at Disney World, Florida. Members: Keith Tew (guitar, lead vocals),…
HIGH WINDY From Asheville, North Carolina. Formed in 2004. Named for a sweeping ridgeline near Asheville. Members: Patrick McDougall (banjo), Shane Lail (guitar), Ty Gilpin…
BYRON HILL From Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Moved to Nashville in 1978. He is best known as a songwriter with more than 900 songs recorded and…
THE HILLBENDERS From Springfield, Missouri. Formed in 2008. The name Hillbenders is a derivative of “Hellbender,” a native Ozark amphibian. Band members include Mark Cassidy…
THE HILLBILLY GYPSIES From West Virginia. Formed in 2001. Members: Dave Asti (banjo/mandolin), Trae Buckner (guitar, clawhammer banjo), Jamie Lynn Buckner (lead and harmony vocals),…
HILLBILLY WATER From New Jersey. Formed in 1993 by Ed Rainey (guitar/Dobro™), Lou Demayo (mandolin), Rich Rainey (banjo), Rob Clores (piano). 2007, released Have a…
CHRIS HILLMAN From Rancho Santa Fe (San Diego) California. Lives in the Ventura, California area. Early-sixties, played mandolin in the San Diego-based bluegrass group, The…
THE HILLMEN From Los Angeles, California. Formed in the early 1960’s by Don Parmley (banjo), Vern Gosdin (guitar) and Rex Gosdin (bass). Chris Hillman (mandolin)…
HINDSIGHT BLUEGRASS From central North Carolina. Band members: Scott Hancock (guitar), Stan Brown (banjo), Al McCanless (fiddle), Jim Boren (Dobro™) and Julie Brown (bass). The…
HIT AND RUN BLUEGRASS From Boulder, Colorado Formed in 2001 by husband and wife Rebecca Frazier (then Rebecca Hoggan, guitar) and John Frazier (mandolin). Other…
RYAN HOLLADAY From Camden, Tennessee A child prodigy who made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry at age five. By age six, had…
LEONARD HOLLIFIELD From Weaverville, North Carolina. Began playing guitar at age 12. He is a World War II veteran and former high school teacher. He…
HOLLOW GROUND BLUEGRASS BAND From Nickelsville, Virginia. Band members: Mike Adams (bass), Jason Blankenship (fiddle), Robert Edwards (guitar), Millard Edwards (banjo), David Holtsclaw (mandolin), Brian…
DAVID HOLT From Garland, Texas. Former host of the Nashville Network’s “Fire on the Mountain” TV show, which was the network’s highest-rated show in 1985.…
MARK HOLT From Seattle, Washington. Lives in Weippe, Idaho. Plays guitar, banjo, mandolin and performs with his sister Kimberly as an “acoustic duo” doing mostly…
WES HOMNER From New Castle, Pennsylvania. Mandolinist and composer of gospel songs. He is the son of a preacher. Several of his songs have been…
PAUL HOPKINS From Kentucky. Grew up in southwest Virginia. Lives in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Began playing banjo at age 5. While a teenager, he performed and…
BILLY GILMAN From Hope Valley, Rhode Island. Began singing when he was seven years old. He was discovered by Ray Benson of Asleep at the…
SCOTT HOPKINS From Albany, New York. Plays banjo in a New York band called Beartracks. Also works with Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys. 2013,…
LONNIE HOPPERS From Urbana, Missouri (Kansas City area). Began playing banjo professionally at age 17 with the “Ozark Opry” at Lake of the Ozarks. 1957-1963,…
BRUCE HORNSBY From Williamsburg, Virginia. A pianist and singer/songwriter who has recorded several bluegrass-flavored songs and albums and won the 2nd-ever Bluegrass Grammy. 1986, released…
KENNY RAY HORTON From Rocky Comfort, Missouri. 2008, joined the U.S. Navy Band Country Current as lead vocalist, guitarist and emcee. Worked in Nashville as…
HOT BUTTERED RUM From the San Francisco Bay Area. A string band (or jam band) playing music dubbed “high altitude California bluegrass.” Members: Nat Keefe…
THE HOTMUD FAMILY From Spring Valley, Ohio. Formed in the early 1970’s by Dave and Suzanne Edmundson (guitar/banjo/mandolin); also Rick Good (banjo/guitar/steel guitar). Lead vocalist…
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 HOT STRINGS From Pagosa Springs, Colorado. 1995, began as a “kid band” featuring Josiah Payne (mandolin), Jared Payne (guitar) and Carson Park (fiddle). At…
JOE HOTT From Winchester, Virginia. Grew up in Augusta, West Virginia. Moved to Nashville in 2017. Began performing as a child after hearing the Lewis…
MARK HOUSER (AND BLUEGRASS DRIVE) From Livingston, Tennessee. A singer/songwriter who has written or co-written more than 500 songs which have been recorded by numerous…
RANDY HOWARD Originally from Milledgeville, Georgia. Lived in Nashville for most of his career. 1979, at age 18, won the World Fiddling Championship at Union…
ANTHONY HOWELL From Zama, Mississippi. Began playing mandolin at age 11. Since then, he has learned to play all the bluegrass instruments. 2015, played banjo…
STEVE HUBER From Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Lives in Gallatin, Tennessee. 1981-1991, played banjo with Penn Central. 1985-1991, played banjo with Bob Paisley and Southern Grass. 1991-1992,…
BRAD HUDSON From Seymour, Tennessee. Grew up in eastern North Carolina. A multi-instrumentalist and singer who has performed with The Larkins, Randy Parton, Lorraine Jordan…
DONNA HUGHES From Trinity, North Carolina. A singer/songwriter who began performing as a youngster at her church, Webster Baptist. She became the church pianist. 1999,…
SIERRA HULL (AND HIGHWAY 111) From Byrdtown, Tennessee. Considered a prodigy on the mandolin, she recorded her first album at age 10 (2001). 2003, began…
THE HUNGER MOUNTAIN BOYS From the Great Barrington/Monterey, Massachusetts area. An old-time country duet featuring Kip Beacco (mandolin/fiddle/guitar) and Ted Weber (guitar/dobro). Weber is also…
JIM HURST Born in Middlesboro, Kentucky; grew up in Toledo, Ohio. Lives in Nashville. Best known as a guitarist, but also plays banjo, mandolin, Dobro™,…
ROY HUSKEY, JR. From Nashville, Tennessee. A legendary bass player (session musician), son of Junior Huskey, who played bass with Flatt and Scruggs and many…
BILLY HURT From Boonesville, Virginia. A fiddler who has worked with David Parmley and Continental Divide, The Bluegrass Brothers, Acoustic Endeavors and other bands. Chief…
HUTCHINSON BROTHERS From Athens (Southeastern) Ohio. Formed in 1975 by brothers John “J.D.” Hutchinson (guitar) and Bob “Zeke” Hutchinson (banjo) with Greg Dearth (fiddle), Tom…
JOHN CURTISS GOAD From Kingsport, Tennessee. Began performing with his family band The Hawkins County Grass when he was 12 years old (playing bass). 2009,…
PETE GOBLE Grew up in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. Later moved to Detroit, Michigan. Best known as a writer of bluegrass songs. His songs have been recorded…
THE GOINS BROTHERS From Bramwell, West Virginia. 1951, brothers Melvin Goins (guitar) and Ray Goins (banjo) began performing on a Saturday morning radio program in…
GOLD HEART From Northern Virginia. A family band that formed in 2005. They began singing in church. Features the Gold sisters: Analise (mandolin), Jocelyn (or…
WES GOLDING From Lambsburg, Virginia. Lives in Advance, North Carolina—near Winston-Salem. Began performing at age 8 in a group called the Twin County Partners with…
GOLDWING EXPRESS From Okmulgee, Oklahoma. A bluegrass/comedy group consisting of three native American brothers and their father. The father’s name: Bob Baldridge (mandolin). The Baldridge…
THE GOODFELLERS From Pinnacle, North Carolina. Formed in 2011 by Ralph McGee (mandolin) and Teddy Barneycastle (guitar). Other members have included Hersie McMillan (banjo), Tim…
SCOTT HOLSTEIN From Madison (Boone County), West Virginia. Lives in Nashville. A singer/songwriter who grew up in the coal mining region of West Virginia. Almost…
THE GOODWIN BROTHERS From East Kentucky A trio featuring brothers Jonathan (banjo/guitar) and William (mandolin) Goodwin with vocalist Kenneth Chase Bush and other backing musicians.…
THE GOOD OL’ PERSONS From the San Francisco Bay Area. Formed in 1975 as an all-girl bluegrass band by Kathy Kallick and Laurie Lewis. They…
THE GORDONS From Sparta, Illinois. They live on a nature preserve. A husband/wife duo: Gary and Roberta Gordon. Gary plays guitar and Dobro™; Roberta plays…
THE GOSPEL PLOWBOYS From Salisbury, North Carolina. A gospel bluegrass band formed in 2012 by David Murph (mandolin). Other members: John Goodson (banjo), Michael Jenkins…
RANDY GRAHAM From Chino, California (near Los Angeles). Moved east with the Bluegrass Cardinals. 1972, an original member of the Bluegrass Cardinals. Helped create “The…
GRANDPA JONES Born Louis Marshall Jones in Niagra, Kentucky. Began professional career at age 11. A guitar player first, then learned banjo in his early…
BILL GRANT AND DELIA BELL From Hugo, Oklahoma. 1960, Bill Grant and Delia Bell began singing together on a Hugo radio program called The Dixie…
TYLER GRANT From San Diego, California. 2003, won the Rockygrass Bluegrass Festival guitar contest. 2003, moved to Nashville and joined the Adrienne Young Band. 2004,…
THE GRASCALS From Nashville. Formed in 2004 by Terry Eldredge (guitar), Jimmy Mattingly (fiddle), David Talbot (banjo), Danny Roberts (mandolin), Jamie Johnson (guitar) and Terry…
THE GRASS CATS From North Carolina. Formed in 1997 by Greg Miller (guitar) , Russell Johnson (mandolin), Tim Woodall (banjo), Chris Hill (fiddle) and Jerome…
GRASS FOOD AND LODGING From Milwaukee, Wisconsin Formed in 1977 by Dede Wyland (Guitar), Ken Finkel (Banjo), Jim Price (Mandolin), Jimmy Driskell (Bass), Peter Knupfer…
THE GRASSHOPPERS From Caldwell, Idaho. Formed in 1994. 1999, won the International Pizza Hut Bluegrass Showdown and the Rocky Grass Festival band contest. Original members:…
THE GRASSIFIEDS From Walkertown, North Carolina. Formed in 2006 by Jim Grubbs (mandolin) and brothers Greg (guitar) and Joel Barnett (banjo). Other members of the…
THE GRASS IS GREENER From Los Angeles, California. An instrumental group formed in 1993 by fiddler Richard Greene. Eventually became “Richard Greene and the Grass…
GRASSTOWNE (ALAN BIBEY & GRASSTOWNE) From Knoxville, Tennessee. Formed in 2006 by Phil Leadbetter (formerly with Wildfire), Steve Gulley (formerly with Mountain Heart) and Alan…
BUCK “UNCLE JOSH” GRAVES From Tellico Plains, Tennessee. Real name: Burkett Howard Graves. Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper called him Buck. Upon joining Flatt and…
TIM GRAVES From Telleco Plains, Tennessee. Lives in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. “Uncle Josh” Graves is in fact his uncle. His father Dick and Josh are…
J. T. GRAY From Corinth, Mississippi. Lived in Nashville. He was best known as the owner of the Station Inn (Nashville bluegrass and acoustic music…
CATHY FINK (AND MARCY MARXER) A folk-singing duo from the Washington DC area. Specialize in folk music for children. Have been performing together since 1987.…
SHANNON GRAYSON (AND THE GOLDEN VALLEY BOYS) From Sunshine, North Carolina. A banjo player who began his career working with Bill Carlisle in the 1930’s.…
GREASY BEANS From Asheville, North Carolina Formed at Warren Wilson College in 1994 by Josh Haddix (guitar and vocals) and Charley Brophey (mandolin and vocals).…
TODD GREBE (AND COLD COUNTRY) From Anchorage, Alaska. 2003, played with an Alaskan band called Well Strung. 2008, formed his own band Cold Country, 2009,…
GREEN ON THE VYNE From Nashville. Formed in 2009 and performed together for about two years. At the time, the oldest members of the group…
GREEN RIVER REVUE From Nashville. Formed in 2021 by Kelsey Crews (banjo), David Mansfield III (fiddle), James Seliga (banjo), David Freeman (mandolin), and Landy Ewing…
THE GREENBRIAR BOYS From New York City. Formed in 1958 by John Herald (guitar), Bob Yellin (banjo), Eric Weissberg (bass) and Ralph Rinzler (mandolin). They…
THE GREENCARDS From Australia and Great Britain. Living in Austin, Texas. A trio that specializes in “high-energy acoustic music deeply rooted in bluegrass.” Features vocals…
BUDDY GREENE From Macon, Georgia. Lives in Brentwood, Tennessee. A singer, songwriter, and popular session musician (plays harmonica and guitar). Well-known in southern gospel music.…
RICHARD GREENE From Los Angeles. An influential fiddler who worked with Bill Monroe (1966-67) and the short-lived Muleskinner band with Clarence White, Bill Keith and…
SMOKEY GREENE From Rutland, Vermont. Lives in Florida. 1946, began performing at age 16. Was a popular country music singer around New York and Vermont…
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS From Kalamazoo, Michigan (original home of Gibson Instruments). Formed in 2004 by Paul Hoffman (mandolin), Michael Arden Bont (banjo), Michael Devol (bass) and…
GREENWOOD RYE From Nashville, Tennessee. A “modern jam-grass” band formed in 2021 as the house band for the Nashville bluegrass supper club Jane’s Hideaway. Members…
THE GREERS From Oregon, now living in O’Fallon, Illinois (near St. Louis, MO. Formed in 1986. Features sisters Marla (bass) and Carla (guitar) Greer. Specialize…
DANIEL GREESON From Greensboro, North Carolina. Began playing fiddle at age 6. He has won numerous fiddle contest, both in youth and adult competitions at…
CLINTON GREGORY From Martinsville, Virginia. Lives in Nashville. As a country singer, he had several songs on the Billboard Top 100 charts including “If It…
DAVID GRIER From Laurel, Maryland. Lives in Nashville, Tennessee. An award-winning flat-pick guitarist who has performed with The Doug Dillard Band, The Big Dogs (with…
ANGELICA GRIM From Northern California. Began singing at age 13 at the CBA Grass Valley (California) bluegrass festival in the “Kids on Bluegrass” program. Was…
DANIEL GRINDSTAFF From Elizabethton, Tennessee. Began playing banjo at age 12. His father played banjo with Carl Story’s Rambling Mountaineers. 2001-2004, at age 18 joined…
DAVID GRINDSTAFF From North Carolina. In high school, played in a band called Highway Bound. As a student in the Bluegrass, Country and Old Time…
DAVID GRISMAN From Mill Valley, California. Originally from Hackensack, New York Called “The Paganini of the Mandolin” by the New York Times. Bill Monroe once…
GROOVEGRASS (THE GROOVEGRASS BOYZ) From Nashville. A short-lived recording ensemble that has included the Del McCoury Band, Mac Wiseman, Doc Watson, Terry Eldridge, Wilma Lee…
K. C. GROVES From Northville, Michigan (near Ann Arbor). She lives in Lyons, Colorado. Began playing guitar and writing songs in 1991. Also learned mandolin…
NATE GROWER Grew up in Western New York; lives in Delaware. A fiddle player who has worked with the David Bromberg Angel Band, Chester River…
STACY GRUBB From McDowell County, West Virginia. She began singing and playing wth her father’s bluegrass band, Alan Johnston and Highway 52. 2009, released “Hurricane”…
FINNDERS AND YOUNGBERG (FY5) From Fort Collins, Colorado. Band members: Mike Finders (guitar), Erin Youngberg (bass), Ryan Drickey (fiddle), Rich Zimmerman (mandolin), Aaron Youngberg (banjo…
FIRESIDE COLLECTIVE From Asheville, NC. Formed in 2014 by Jesse Iaquinto (mandolin). Band members: Tommy Maher (Dobro™), Carson White (bass) and Joe Cicero (guitar). They…
FIVE FOR THE GOSPEL From Louisa, Kentucky. Formed in 1991 by Rick May (guitar), Pat Holbrook (bass) and Johnny Branham (banjo). 1995, signed with Hay…
ANITA FISHER From Cedarville, West Virginia. Began her career performing with a family band called Fisher and Company. 2005, appeared on the CD “Daughters of…
TIM FLANNERY From San Diego, California. (Was born in Athens, Kentucky.) A professional baseball player and coach (San Diego Padres 1979-1989 as an infielder, 1992-2002…
FLASHBACK From Tennessee/Kentucky. Formed in 2015 as a 20-year reunion of the version of J.D. Crowe and his New South band that recorded the album…
FLATT & SCRUGGS (LESTER FLATT, EARL SCRUGGS AND THE FOGGY MOUNTAIN BOYS) From Nashville. Considered by many to be the most important bluegrass band in…
LESTER FLATT (AND THE NASHVILLE GRASS) From Sparta, Tennessee. After working with Bill Monroe (1945-1948) and Earl Scruggs (1948-1969), formed his own band “Lester Flatt…
FLATT LONESOME From Callahan, Florida (near Jacksonville). Began as a gospel-singing family band called Sandy Creek Revival, led by Dolton Robertson, who pastors Liberty Baptist…
BELA FLECK From New York City. Of Hungarian descent. He was named after the composer Bela Bartok. His brother Ludwig was named after Beethoven. First…
MATT FLINNER From Salt Lake City. 1990, won the National Banjo Championship in Winfield, Kansas. 1991, won the National Mandolin Championship. From that point on,…
PAT FLYNN From Thousand Oaks, California. Lives in Nashville. 1981-1990, played guitar with the New Grass Revival. During his tenure with NGR, won Frets Magazine…
DOUG FLOWERS From Hephzibah, Georgia (near Augusta). Plays mandolin and has performed mostly as a sideman with such Georgia-based bands as Betty Fisher and the…
DAN FOGELBERG From Peoria, Illinois. A country-rock singer and guitarist who had numerous Gold and Platinum albums including Souvenirs (1974), Captured Angel (1975), Nether Lands…
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…
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…
40 HORSE MULE From Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in 2016, the brainchild of Bennie Boling (bass). Also in the band: Billy Troy (guitar and vocals) and…
AARON “FROSTY” FOSTER From Wells Bridge, New York. Now lives in Tennessee. Began playing guitar at age 10. 2010, while studying business at ETSU, he…
BILLY JOE FOSTER (AND SPECIAL EDITION) From Duncan, Oklahoma. A multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who spent time as a sideman with such bands as Bill Monroe…
THE FOX FAMILY (3 FOX DRIVE, THE KIM FOX BAND) From Old Forge, New York (the Adirondack Mountains). Now live in Nashville. A brother and…
FRAGMENT From Bratislava, Slovak Republic (former Czechoslovakia.) Formed in 1983 as a newgrass group by Heinrich Novak (Dobro™) and other musicians. 1993, reformed with Novak,…
ASHBY FRANK From Lexington, North Carolina. Mandolin prodigy. Began playing guitar, then turned to mandolin at age 10. 1994, performed with Bill Monroe at the…
RANDALL “RANDY” FRANKS From Chamblee, Georgia. Lives in Atlanta. Began performing at the age of eight. Musical career includes singing, songwriting and producing. Plays guitar,…
JOHN FRAZIER (FRAZIER BAND) From Nashville. Originally from Boulder Colorado. He is a multi-instrumentalist (guitar/mandolin/fiddle) who with his wife Rebecca Frazier fronted the group Hit…
REBECCA FRAZIER Originally from Virginia. Maiden name: Rebecca Hoggan. 2002, while living in Boulder, Colorado, she co-founded Hit and Run Bluegrass with her husband John…
THE FREIGHT HOPPERS From Bryson City, North Carolina. Formed in 1993. Appeared on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” after entering his “Talent from Towns…
JANIE FRICKE From Nashville (grew up in Indiana). One of the top “pop-country” artists of the 1980’s. 1982, won the CMA award for Female Vocalist…
THE FRITTS FAMILY BAND From Rogersville, Tennessee. Formed in 1986. Features Larry Fritts (banjo/guitar) who began playing bluegrass when he was 12 years old. Band…
FRONT COUNTRY From the San Francisco (CA) Bay area. Formed in 2011 by Adam Roszkiewicz (mandolin), Jacob Groopman (guitar), Jordan Klein (banjo), Leif Karlstrom (fiddle),…
THE FRONT PORCH STRING BAND From Hazel Green, Alabama. Formed in 1974 by Larry and Claire Lynch on the campus of the University of Alabama…
FRONT RANGE Formed in 1984 in Denver, Colorado, but only two band members ever lived there (Mike Lantz, Ron Lynam). Dick and Amos live in…
TRAVIS FRYE AND BLUE MOUNTAIN From Mt Airy, North Carolina. Band includes Travis Frye (guitar), Hunter Motts (banjo), Henry Mabe (fiddle), Tim Frye (mandolin) and…
ROBBIE FULKS From York, Pennsylvania. Grew up in the Blue Ridge of Virginia. 1983, moved to Chicago and joined Special Consensus, playing guitar. 1984-1992, taught…
JUDITH EDELMAN From New York City. Has lived in Idaho, Jackson Hole, Nashville. 1993-1995, sang lead with a Crested Butte, Colorado band called Ryestraw. 1996,…
RAY EDWARDS (AND HARD ROCK MOUNTAIN) From Arcadia, North Carolina. A bluegrass multi-instrumentalist, he won the banjo championships at Carlton Haney’s Camp Springs Bluegrass Festival…
LARRY EFAW AND THE BLUEGRASS MOUNTAINEERS From New Franklin, Ohio (near Akron). Began playing mandolin at age 7 and performed with his father’s band The…
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…
TERRY ELDREDGE From Terre Haute, Indiana. Lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Nickname: “Bo-Bo Batelbe” 1978, while still in high school, played bass with Louie Popejoy and…
THE ELKVILLE STRING BAND From Wilkes County, North Carolina Formed in 2001 by Jerry Lankford. They take their name from the Wilkes County town of…
TONY ELLIS From Silva, North Carolina. Lives in Ohio. Began playing banjo at age 14. Early bands: The Virginia Mountaineers and the Shady Valley Boys.…
WYATT ELLIS From Maryville, Tennessee. He began playing mandolin at age 10. 2020 (age 11), he was selected for a Tennessee Folklife apprenticeship under the…
BILL EMERSON (AND SWEET DIXIE) From Washington, D.C. He is considered of the most influential five-string banjo players in bluegrass music. 1955, first pro job:…
DREW EMMITT From Boulder, Colorado. Plays mandolin. Influenced heavily by Sam Bush. 1984, formed the Left Hand String Band. 1992, formed Leftover Salmon. 2002, released…
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…
PAT ENRIGHT Originally from Indiana. Lived in the San Francisco bay area in the early 70’s. Now resides in Nashville. 1976, formed a San Francisco…
BILL EVANS From Charlottesville, Virginia. Has lived in California, New Mexico, Kentucky, recently moved back to Virginia. Has degrees in anthropology and music from University…
DAVE EVANS (AND RIVER BEND) From Portsmouth, Ohio. Lived in Olive Hill, Kentucky. His given name is actually William, but he became known as “Dave.”…
GERALD EVANS AND PARADISE From Cincinnati, Ohio. Before forming Paradise, Evans played fiddle and mandolin with the Traditional Grass, Dave Evans and Riverbend, and the…
BOB EVERHART From Anita, Iowa. A multi-instrumentalist and singer, best-known as the founder and president of the National Traditional Country Music Association (NTCMA). 1975, he…
TOM EWING From Columbus, Ohio. Lives in Gallatin, Tennessee. Was the final lead singer and guitarist with Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys (from…
THE EXPEDITION SHOW From Nashville. Formed in 2002 by banjo player Blake Williams and mandolin player Bobby Clark as The Williams and Clark Expedition. Also…
THE DEAD SOUTH From Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Formed in 2012 by Nate Hilts (guitar), Scott Pringle (mandolin), Danny Kenyon (cello) and Colton Crawford (banjo). They…
THE DEADLY GENTLEMEN From Boston, Massachusetts. Became a full-time band in 2011. Members: Greg Liszt (banjo), Mike Barnett (fiddle), Sam Grisman (bass), Dominick Leslie (mandolin),…
HONI DEATON (AND DREAM) From Suwannee, Georgia. Originally from Irving, Texas. While in high school, she had a group called Soul and Country. Also DJ’d…
DEEPER SHADE OF BLUE From Charlotte, North Carolina. Formed in 2000 by Jim Fraley (banjo), Jason Fraley (mandolin) and Brian Hinson (bass). Jim and Jason…
DEER CREEK BOYS From Amherst, Virginia. Formed in 1999 by brothers Justin Tomlin (guitar) and Jason “Tater” Tomlin (bass) and their childhood friend Cason Ogden…
DEHLIA LOW From Asheville, North Carolina Formed in 2007 by Anya Hinkle (fiddle), Stacy Claude (guitar), Aaron Ballance (Dobro), Bryan Clendenin (mandolin) and Greg Stiglets…
MARK DELANEY From the Washington DC area. 1980, began playing banjo at age 11; learned from his Kentucky-born grandfather. Performed for many years with Arnold…
DELLA MAE From Boston, Massachusetts. An all-female band featuring Celia Woodsmith (guitar, lead vocals), Kimber Ludiker (fiddle), Jenni Lyn Gardner (mandolin), Amanda Kowalski (bass), Courtney…
DELTA REIGN From Mobile, Alabama. Formed in 2004 by husband and wife Pat and Benita Murphy (banjo and guitar, respectively). Other band members: George Mason…
IRIS DEMENT Born in Paragould, Arkansas. Grew up in Southern California. Lives in Kansas City, Missouri. Youngest of 14 children. Her family was deeply religious.…
MADDIE DENTON From Murfreesboro, Tennessee She began playing the fiddle at age 5. She is a member of several bands including the Dan Tyminski Band,…
DETOUR From Michigan. Features the lead singing of Missy Armstrong (guitar) with Peter Knupfer (fiddle), Scott Zylstra (guitar), Jeff Rose (mandolin), Jeremy Darrow (bass) and…
BETHANY DICK (BETHANY DICK-OLDS) From Belgrade, Montana. Lives in Nashville. A singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist specializing in bluegrass, country and contemporary Christian music. Began playing…
BOB DICK From Waterbury, Connecticut. Lives in Massachusetts. At age 15, played bass with the Greater Boston Youth Symphony. 1987, attended Berklee College of Music…
HAZEL DICKENS From Mercer County, West Virginia. For many years lived in Georgetown, Washington D.C. Daughter of a Primitive Baptist preacher who hauled timber for…
JOE DIFFIE From Tulsa, Oklahoma Began his career in the late seventies with an Oklahoma bluegrass band called The Special Edition, which also included Billy…
THE DILLARD AND CLARK EXPEDITION A short-lived group (1968-1970) featuring Doug Dillard, formerly of the Dillards, and guitarist Gene Clark, formerly of the Byrds. One…
DOUG DILLARD (DOUG DILLARD BAND) From Salem, Missouri. Lived in Los Angeles and Nashville during most of his career. Full name: Douglas Flint Dillard. He…
FULL CORD From Grand Haven, Michigan. Formed in 2008 by Eric Langejans (guitar) and Todd Kirchner (bass). Other members: Grant Flick (fiddle), Brian Oberlin (mandolin)…
THE DILLARDS From Salem, Missouri although for most of their career together as a band they lived in Los Angeles, California. Rodney Dillard (guitar) and…
DEREK DILLMAN From Peru, Indiana. Began playing the banjo at age 4. 1998, released first album at age 15. 2000, joined Jimmy Martin’s Sunny Mountain…
THE DIRTY RIVER RAMBLERS From Omaha, Nebraska. They are a genre-bending band, playing “from oldtime to jam-rock.” Members: Josh Krohn (fiddle/banjo), Kustin Kephart (mandolin), Mace…
THE DISMEMBERED TENNESSEANS From Chattanooga, Tennessee. A group that formed in 1945 by fiddler Fletcher Bright and other students from the McCallie Private Boys School…
THE DIXIE BEE-LINERS From Southwest Virginia Features singer/songwriter Brandi Hart, a Kentucky native who began singing in church at age 2. Also features guitarist Buddy…
THE CHICKS (FORMERLY THE DIXIE CHICKS) From Dallas, Texas. 1989, original group The Dixie Chicks debuted on a street corner in Dallas. At the time…
THE DIXIE GENTLEMEN From Alabama. Formed in 1956 as the Country Gentlemen but changed their name when they learned that another band had that name.…
THE DOERFELS From Buffalo, New York. A family band whose members are: TJ (banjo), Kim (fiddle), Eddy (mandolin), Ben (guitar), and Joe (bass). They range…
JERRY DOUGLAS From Warren, Ohio. Lives in Nashville. Nickname: “Flux”, which means “to become fluid” (Websters). Grew up in a musical family; his father played…
THE DOWDY BROTHERS From Catawba, Virginia. Formed in 2019 by Steven Dowdy (bass) and Donald Dowdy (mandolin). Their father Victor Dowdy was one half of…
THE DREADFUL SNAKES From Nashville. A studio band featuring Bela Fleck (banjo), Jerry Douglas (Dobro™), Blaine Sprouse (fiddle), Roland White (mandolin), Pat Enright (guitar) and…
DR. ELMO From Novato, California, near San Francisco. 1979, had a big hit with “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” recorded as a duet…
CASEY DRIESSEN From Chicago, Illinois. Started playing fiddle at age 6. Attended Berklee College of Music; taught by Matt Glaser. 1999, toured with Steve Earle…
DRIVEN From Kansas and Utah. Formed in 2010 by Jimmy Campbell (banjo/Dobro™), Blake McLemore (bass), Brandon McLemore (mandolin), Jake Workman (guitar) and Rebekah Workman (fiddle).…
BILLY DROZE From LaFayette, Louisiana. Grew up in Alabama. Currently lives in Nashville. He is the 10th of 12 children, son of country singer Bob…
MARIJA DROZE From Lithuania. Lives in Nashville. Her name is pronounced MAR-EE-A (the “j” is silent). 2009, met singer Billy Droze at a music festival…
DRUHA TRAVA From the Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslavakia). Formed in 1991 by singer/songwriter Robert Krestan and banjo player Lubos Malina. Krestan and banjo player Lubos…
THE DRY BRANCH FIRE SQUAD From Springfield, Ohio. Formed in 1976 by mandolinist Ron Thomason. The band is known for playing a raw style of…
DUE WEST From the San Francisco area. 1992, released album “Due West.” 2003, released “These Boots” album. Band members: Bill Evans (banjo), Jim Nunally (guitar),…
JOHN DUFFEY From Washington, D.C. 1957, co-founded The Country Gentlemen. 1969, quit the Country Gentlemen so that he could stay home more and pursue his…
NICK DUMAS From Brier, Washington. Lives in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. At age 12, played fiddle in his family band The Three Generations, which included his…
BILL DUNCAN From Liberty, West Virginia. 1954, formed a band called the Harmony Mountain Boys. He played guitar and sang lead vocals. They worked a…
GLEN DUNCAN From Columbus, Indiana. As a band member, he has played fiddle with The Kendalls, Larry Sparks, Bill Monroe, Jim & Jesse, The Osborne…
STUART DUNCAN Grew up in Santa Paula and Vista, California (near San Diego). Lives in Nashville. One of the top fiddle players in bluegrass music.…
DUNLAP & MABE From the Washington DC area. Formed in 2021 by Jack Dunlap (guitar) and Robert Mabe (banjo). Other band members: Alex Kimble (bass),…
CHRISTIE LYNN From Samson, Alabama 1995, met Porter Wagoner at Opryland USA. He auditioned her and she sang with him until 2002. 2002, began performing…
CHE APALACHE From Buenos Aires, Argentina Band members are from Argentina, Mexico and the USA. They call their music “latin-grass.” Formed in 2013 by North…
CHERRYHOLMES From Northeastern Arizona. Originally from Southern California (Bell, CA). A family band: Jere (Pop) plays bass. Sandy Lee (Mom) plays mandolin. The kids: Daughters…
CHESAPEAKE From the Washington, DC area. Formed in 1993 by Mike Auldridge, Moondi Klein and T. Michael Coleman (who were all performing with the Seldom…
THE CHESTNUT GROVE QUARTET From Washington County (southwestern), Virginia. Formed shortly after World War II at the Chestnut Grove Methodist Church. An acapella gospel quartet…
KATHY CHIAVOLA From Nashville, Tennessee. Pronounced Kee-ávola Has a master’s degree in voice from Oberlin Conservatory of Music. As a Nashville session musician, she has…
THE CHIEFTAINS From Dublin, Ireland. Formed in 1963 by Paddy Maloney, an uillean piper. Went full-time in 1975. Became Ireland’s best known performers of traditional…
THE CHIGGER HILL BOYS AND TERRI From Hendersonville, Tennessee (Nashville area). Formed in 2001. They specialize in bluegrass gospel music. Band members: Mike Richards (mandolin/guitar),…
CHOPPED LIVER BLUEGRASS BAND From Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Formed in 2018 by Andrew Ivens (guitar), Adam Vrankulj (bass) and Victor Vrankulj (banjo). 2020, released first…
CHOSEN ROAD From Princeton, West Virginia. A bluegrass gospel group formed in 2009 by Jonathan Buckner (guitar). The band is sometimes billed as Jonathan Buckner…
THE CHRISTIAN QUARTET From Ennis, North Carolina. A gospel bluegrass band featuring three brothers: Jay (guitar), Ray (mandolin) and Alvin (bass) Shaw. Other members of…
BRIAN CHRISTIANSON From Nashville. A fiddle player and luthier. 2000, received his degree in String Instrument Repair, Violin Specialty from the Minnesota State Technical College…
RAMONA CHURCH From North Wilkesboro, North Carolina Formerly played banjo with the New Coon Creek Girls. Won the Kentucky State Banjo Championship three years in…
THE CHURCHMEN A gospel bluegrass band from Collinsville, Virginia. Formed June 8, 1989 by original members Freddy Rakes (banjo), Keith Clark (guitar), Jeff Mills (bass)…
THE CHURCH SISTERS From Galax, Virginia. A band featuring the vocals of twin sisters Savannah and Sarah Church. Band members include Savannah (fiddle, lead vocals),…
RICHARD CIFERSKÝ From Pezinok, Slovakia (Slovak Republic). Began playing banjo at age 15. 1998-2002, formed a band called 29 Strings. 1999, co-founded the Slovak Bluegrass…
CINDY G From McKeesport, Pennsylvania. A singer/songwriter who has performed rhythm and blues and rock music during the bulk of her career. Her first band…
CIRCA BLUE From Martinsburg, West Virginia. Formed in 2010 by Steve Harris (guitar). Other members: Steve’s brother Dave Harris (bass), Ron Webb (mandolin), Jon Glik…
CIRCUIT RIDERS From North Carolina. Formed in 2004 by Darin Aldridge, Greg Corbett, Billy Gee, Jaret Carter and Greg Luck. Several members of this band…
CIRCUS NO. 9 From East Tennessee. A progressive bluegrass band described as “John Hartford meets John Coltrane.” Formed in 2016 by Matthew Davis (banjo), Thomas…
BOBBY CLARK From Oklahoma. Won the national mandolin championship in Winfield, Kansas. Early bands: The Bluegrass Revue with Vince Gill. Also worked with Vassar Clements,…
THE CLARK BROTHERS / SONS OF SYLVIA From Rocky Mount, Virginia Originally a gospel group formed by Freddy and Sylvia Clark and their nine children…
MARVIN CLARK From Beverly, Ohio. A singer/songwriter/guitarist who founded the Ohio Valley Opry, an old-time music venue on McConnelsville, Ohio. He performs there regularly. His…
ROY CLARK From Meherrin, Virginia. Lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As a boy, played bluegrass with his father, Hester Clark, and other members of his family…
WILL CLARK From Pickens, South Carolina. Plays all the bluegrass instruments but focuses primarily on mandolin. 2012, joined the James King Band. He also worked…
CLAYBANK From West Jefferson, North Carolina. Formed in 2015 by 15-year old Zack Arnold (mandolin), 17-year old Jacob Greer (guitar), Tyler Thompson (banjo) and Gary…
VASSAR CLEMENTS From Kissimmee, Florida. Began playing the fiddle when he was five years old. Called “The Father of Hillbilly Jazz.” 1949-1956, at age 21…
MICHAEL CLEVELAND (AND FLAMEKEEPER) From Louisville, Kentucky. He was born in Henryville, Indiana. Blind from birth, he began playing fiddle at age 4. 1993, gained…
THE CLEVERLYS From Cane Spur, Arkansas, a fictional Ozark town. On stage, they portray a family bluegrass band: Digger Cleverly (guitar), Ricky Lloyd Cleverly (bass),…
BILL CLIFTON Native of Baltimore (Lutherville), Maryland. Lives in Mendota, Virginia. Real name: William Marburg. Changed his name in 1950 to avoid embarrassing his family.…
CHARLIE CLINE From Baisden, West Virginia. Late 1940’s, he joined the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers with brothers Curly Ray and Ezra. 1952-55, was a member of…
CURLY RAY CLINE From Pike County, Kentucky. Best known as the long-time fiddler with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. 1938, at age 15…
THE CLUMSY LOVERS From Vancouver, B.C., Canada Formed in 2001. Began playing pubs in the Vancouver area. They call their music “raging bluegrass Celtic rock.”…
THE CLUSTER PLUCKERS From Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in 1988 by vocalists Margaret Archer Bailey and Kris Ballinger (who began singing together in 1979 in Vassar…
COALTOWN DIXIE From east Kentucky. Described as “High Heeled Bluegrass,” they were formed in 2009 by Kris Bailey Preston (mandolin), Kalyn Bradford (guitar), Stephanie May…
THE COCKMAN FAMILY A gospel group from Sherrills Ford, North Carolina. The Cockman Family include four brothers, their sister and their father. John Cockman Sr.…
THE CODY SISTERS From Parker, Colorado A group featuring sisters Megan Cody (guitar, mandolin, age 15 in 2018) and Maddie Cody (guitar, banjo, age 13…
DAVID COFFEY From Waynesboro, Virginia. A multi-instrumentalist who plays all the bluegrass instruments. Age 16, toured with a gospel group called The Crestmen. Worked for…
COLEBROOK ROAD From Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2008 by Jesse Eisenbise (guitar, lead vocals) and Wade Yankey (mandolin). Other members: Jeff Campbell (bass), Mark Rast…
GINA FURTADO From Winchester, Virginia. Began playing piano as a child but switched to banjo at age 11. Took lessons from Murphy Henry and Mike…
COMMON STRINGS From Blairsville, Georgia Formed in 2003 when Darron and Vanessa Nichols (now married) first met. Vanessa is from Kentucky. Play a blend of…
COMMONWEALTH BLUEGRASS BAND From Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 2013 by Randy Cook (mandolin), Malcolm Pulley (banjo), Jason Owens (guitar), Lance Seal (bass), and Wally Hughes…
MIKE COMPTON Native of Meridian, Missisippi (the homeplace of Jimmie Rodgers). He is a master of the “Monroe-style” mandolin. He has been a member of…
DUDLEY CONNELL From the Washington, D.C. area. 1975, founded the Johnson Mountain Boys, playing guitar and singing lead. Led this group until the band’s final…
CONNIE AND BABE AND THE BACKWOODS BOYS From middle Tennessee. Connie Gately (guitar) and Babe Lofton (guitar). Band members included Thayer Washer (vocals), Red Roberts…
AMANDA COOK From Pace, Florida (near Pensacola on the Gulf Coast). 2007, formed a bluegrass group with her banjo-playing father called High Cotton. 2013, released…
JACK COOKE From Norton, Virginia. (In 1963, he served a half-term as Mayor of Norton.) 1955, joined the Stanley Brothers, playing bass. 1956-1960, joined Bill…
WILMA LEE (AND STONEY) COOPER From Valley Head, West Virginia. Wilma Lee, her parents and two sisters had a gospel group in the 1930’s called…
TOM CORBETT From Encino (San Fernando Valley), California (born and raised in Columbus, Ohio). Was a member of the Acousticats and the Disneyland Bluegrass Band.…
LARRY CORDLE (AND LONESOME STANDARD TIME) From Cordell, Kentucky (named after his ancestors). Ricky Skaggs is also from Cordell. They were neighbors. Lives in Nashville.…
CORNERSTONE From Ithaca, (upstate) New York. Formed in 1990. 1991, won the Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival band contest. Banjo player Chris Stuart has written several songs…
SHARON CORT (AND NEW RIVER RANCH) From Southern California. Lives in Nashville. In California she performed regularly at The Venice Beach Sidewalk Cafe, the Palomino…
PETE CORUM (AND RISING SUN) From Burlington, North Carolina. Real name is Jervis Corum. Pete is a nickname. 1975, played bass with Lester Flatt and…
COUNTRY COOKING From Ithaca, New York. Formed in 1970, one of the first bands to mix jazz and rock stylings with traditional bluegrass. Featured several…
COUNTRY CURRENT (U.S. NAVY BAND) Based in Annapolis, Maryland. Formed in 1973 by banjo player Bill Emerson. He remained with the group until 1993. The…
THE COUNTRY GAZETTE From Levelland, Texas. They were called “America’s Bluegrass Band.” Formed in 1970 in Los Angeles featuring Byron Berline (fiddle), Alan Munde (banjo),…
THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN From Washington, DC. How they formed: In July of 1957, Buzz Busby and the Bayou Boys were performing at the Admiral Grill…
THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN SHOW From Washington, D.C. area. Formed in 2005 as Bill Yates and Friends by Bill Yates, a 20-year member of the Country…
COUNTRY GRASS From Virginia. Formed in 1974 by Wes Golding (guitar) and Herschel Sizemore (mandolin). Other band members: Wayne Golding (bass) and Tom McKinney (banjo).…
COUNTRY HAM An old-time string band from the Washington DC area. Formed in 1975 by Carl and Judy Pagter. The Pagters had homes in both…
THE COUNTRY STORE From Virginia. Formed in 1973 by Keith Whitley (guitar), Jimmy Gaudreau (mandolin), Carl Jackson (banjo) and Bill Rawlings (bass). Later, Jackson was…
JOHN COWAN From Louisville. Lives in Nashville. Often called “Johnny C.” He is also known as the Voice of Newgrass. Began his musical career playing…
THE COX FAMILY From Cotton Valley, (Northeast) Louisiana. Formed as a family band in 1974 by father Willard Cox (fiddle) and his children: Suzanne Cox…
KRISTY COX From Adelaide, South Australia. Moved to Nashville in 2013. 2013, won Australian Independent Artist of the Year at the Australian Independent Country Music…
DANIEL CRABTREE From Greenbriar, Tennessee. Learned to play guitar and sing at age 15. Formed a group at his church called the Lights Chapel Boys,…
PAUL CRAFT From Nashville. Originally from Memphis. Best known as a songwriter. His songs were recorded by many top artists, including Linda Ronstadt, the Eagles,…
CRANDALL CREEK From Moundsville, West Virginia Formed in 2015 by Jerry Andrews (guitar). Kathy Wigman Lesnock (guitar), Dustin Terpenning (mandolin/banjo). Other band members: Lilli Gadd…
DAN CRARY Native of Kansas City, Missouri. Lives in Placerville, CA. Also known as “Deacon Dan Crary.” He is regarded as one of the top…
ANDREW CRAWFORD From Greenfield, South Carolina. A singer, songwriter, guitarist (also plays banjo), instructor and recording artist. He often records with his wife Brandi Colt.…
CREEK BEND From Buffalo, New York. Formed in 1978 by Ted Lambert. Original members: Ted Lambert (banjo), Ted Lambert Sr. (bass) and Rich Schaefer (guitar).…
CRICKET TELL THE WEATHER From Brooklyn, New York. A string band featuring fiddler and songwriter Andrea Asprelli, originally from Colorado. A classical violinist, she discovered…
NED CRISP (AND BOTTOMLINE) From Worthington, Kentucky. Band formed in 2002. Original members: Ned Crisp (banjo), John Manifold (guitar), Don Rambo (bass). 2012, released Taking…
THE CROOKED JADES From the San Francisco Bay area. Formed in 1994 by guitarist Jeff Kazor. Other members: Tom Lucas (fiddle/banjo), Stephanie Prausnitz (fiddle), Lisa…
CROOKED STILL From Boston, Massachusetts. 2001, formed at the New England Conservatory of Music (Boston) at a jam session. Original members: Aoife O’Donovan (vocals), Rushad…
CROSSPOINT From southeast Kentucky/east Tennessee, near Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. Formed in 2008. A gospel group featuring Alan Powers (banjo), Gary Kidwell (guitar), Steve Partin (mandolin),…
TIM CROUCH From Batesville, Arkansas He began playing fiddle and mandolin at the age of 7. Tim grew up playing in a bluegrass trio with…
DAVID CROW From Florida. Began musical career at age seven on guitar. Recorded first fiddle album at age 15. First band: “Beachville Bluegrass” (while in…
THE CROWE BROTHERS From Nebo, North Carolina. They are originally from Clayton, Georgia. Featured brothers Wallace (guitar) and Wayne (bass). They both go by their…
J.D. CROWE (AND THE NEW SOUTH) From Lexington, Kentucky. 1955, began his career as a member of Mac Wiseman’s band. 1956, joined Jimmy Martin’s band,…
CRUCIAL SMITH From Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in the late eighties by Kyle Wood (mandolin), Tim May (guitar), Michael McLain (banjo), and Dave ‘Doc’ Holladay (bass).…
CRYING UNCLE BLUEGRASS BAND From Alameda, California. Formed in 2016 as the Crying Uncle Duo by brothers Miles Quale (fiddle) and Teo Quale (mandolin), who…
CUMBERLAND GAP CONNECTION From Pike County, Kentucky. Band members are from both Kentucky and Tennessee. Formed in 2004 by Mike Bentley (guitar and lead vocals).…
THE CUMBERLAND HIGHLANDERS From Rosine, Kentucky (Bill Monroe’s birthplace). Called “America’s Mountain Music Show.” Formed in 1986 by Campbell Mercer (who now serves as Executive…
CUMBERLAND RIVER From Harlan County, Kentucky. Formed in 2009 by James Dean (banjo), Joseph Jones (bass), Dustin Middleton (mandolin) and Andy Buckner (guitar). Jamie Stewart…
CURLY DAN AND WILMA ANN Originally from Clay, West Virginia. Moved to Detroit, Michigan and performed there for most of their career. Later moved to…
DENNIS CYPORYN Banjo virtuoso from Detroit, Michigan. Pronounced Sigh-por-in. A writer: his “Bluegrass Songbook” was published by MacMillan, the first of its kind for a…
THE BE GOOD TANYAS From Vancouver, BC, Canada. Band members met while working as tree planters in BC’s Kootenay Mountains. Formed the band in 1999.…
DARREN BEACHLEY From Brunswick, Maryland. 1988, first pro band: South Central Bluegrass 1991, played Dobro™ with Bill Harrell and the Virginians. 1998, joined Norman Wright’s…
THE BEACON HILLBILLIES From Boston, Massachusetts. A string band formed in 1994 by mandolinist Jim (Jimmy) Ryan. Also in the band: John McGann (winner of…
BEARFOOT From Anchorage, Alaska. 2000, formed by a group of young music camp counselors who were drawn to bluegrass and traditional music. For several years…
JANET BEAZLEY From San Juan Capistrano, California. Originally from Bakersfield. Plays banjo with Chris Stuart and Backcountry and performs in a duo with Chris Stuart…
MAC BENFORD (AND THE WOODSHED ALL-STARS) From Ithica, New York. A banjo player who played in the traditional clawhammer style. 1967, moved to San Francisco…
RICHARD BENNETT From Johnson City, Tennessee. Age 11, played guitar on the Martha White Caravan for the Rose Brothers. Age 15, played guitar with fiddler…
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…
WAYNE BENSON From Charlotte, NC. Lives in Boiling Springs, SC. Full name: John Wayne Benson. He is married to Kristin Scott Benson. Started playing mandolin…
CARL BENTLEY Originally from McDowell, Ky. Currently lives in Indiana. Started singing in church at age 5. Learned guitar and wrote first song at age…
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…
TOTTE BERGSTROM From Sweden. Pronounced “Totty.” 1969, performed with a group called Country Express. 1970’s, had a bluegrass group called The New Strangers. Was influenced…
BYRON BERLINE From Caldwell, Kansas. Currently lives in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Three-time national fiddle champion (the Weiser Old Time Fiddle Championships). Began playing fiddle at age…
BARRY BERRIER From Mt. Airy, North Carolina. First band: “Interstate Exchange” with friends Sammy Shelor and Alan Bibey. Early 80’s, formed “Summer Wages” with Craig…
HEATHER BERRY (THE HEATHER BERRY AND TONY MABE SHOW) From Sherando, Virginia (Shenandoah Valley). Began singing in church at age 5. First instrument: autoharp. Performed…
JOHN BERRY From Nashville, Tennessee. He was born in South Carolina and raised in Georgia. 1992-1995, had several hit country records including ” Your Love…
HUNTER BERRY From Elizabethton, Tennessee. Learned fiddle at age 4. Taught by Benny Sims and David Yates. 2001, joined Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver at age…
CARROLL BEST From Haywood County, North Carolina One of the earliest “melodic” or “chromatic” style banjo players, who began playing fiddle tunes note-for-note on the…
AARON BIBELHAUSER (THE BIBELHAUSER BROTHERS) From Louisville, Kentucky. Name is pronounced “Bee-bull-how-zer.” A singer/songwriter/guitarist who has written songs recorded by Balsam Range, Del McCoury, Michael…
ALAN BIBEY (AND GRASSTOWNE) Mandolin player from North Carolina. 1982, won the mandolin championship at the World’s Fair in Knoxville. 1983, played with Wes Golding’s…
BIG COUNTRY BLUEGRASS From Independence, Virginia. Formed by Tommy and Teresa Sells in 1987. Perform what some call “Galax” or “Mt. Airy” bluegrass: a very…
BIG HILLBILLY BLUEGRASS From the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area. Formed by guitarist Bob Perilla. Band has included Mike Munford (banjo) and Tad Marks (fiddle). For years,…
THE BILLS From Victoria, B.C., Canada Formed in 1996 as the Bill Hilly Band. Original members Marc Atkinson and Scott White (guitar, mandolin, fiddle) had…
THE BISCUIT BURNERS From Asheville,North Carolina. Formed in 2002 by Lizzie Hamilton (fiddle), Shannon Whitworth (guitar), Rocky Whittington (banjo) and Mary Lucey (bass). Hamilton had…
LAWRENCE BISHOP From Monroe, Ohio. He is the founding pastor of the Solid Rock Church in Monroe. He played mandolin and wrote numerous bluegrass/country gospel…
THE BLACK MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS BOYS From Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Formed in 1969 by Richard Hefner (banjo), Bill Hefner (guitar/mandolin), Harley Carpenter (guitar), Glen Irvine…
CURTIS BLACKWELL AND THE DIXIE BLUEGRASS BOYS From Long Creek, South Carolina. Formed in 1960 when seventeen-year-old guitarist/singer Curtis Blackwell with his brother Haskell (bass)…
THE BLADERUNNERS From Riverside County, California. Formed in 1998. 1999, released Introducing the BladeRunners album (no label) 2000, represented Southern California in the Pizza Hut…
GREG BLAKE From Kansas City, Missouri. He has also has lived in Colorado, West Virgina, South Carolina. A singer and guitarist who has performed with…
NORMAN BLAKE From Chattanooga, Tennessee but grew up in Sulphur Springs and Rising Fawn, Georgia. Best known as a guitarist and mandolinist. He plays all…
ASHLEY BLANKENSHIP (AND BLADES OF BLUE) From Floyd, Virginia 2005, joined a local band called Statement, singing lead vocals. 2010, formed new band Blades of…
AUDIE BLAYLOCK AND REDLINE Born in El Paso, Texas; grew up in Lansing, Michigan. Lived in Garrett, Indiana. 1983, first pro gig: playing mandolin with…
THE BLIND CORN LIQUOR PICKERS From Lexington, Kentucky. A “slam-grass” band featuring Joel Serdenis (mandolin), Todd Anderson (bass), Tom Fassas (guitar), Travis Young (banjo). Motto:…
THE BLINKY MOON BOYS From Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia (band members commute to performances). Formed in 1989 at the Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival (New York). Perform…
RON BLOCK From Torrance, California. Lives in Nashville His father owned a music store (Hogan’s Music) in Southern California. He grew up literally surrounded by…
BLUE AND LONESOME From the San Francisco Bay area (Petaluma, CA). A traditional band formed in 2007 by mandolin player Ed Neff. Also includes Mike…
THE BLUEGRASS 45 From Kobe, Japan A legendary band from Japan that formed in 1967 and made its American debut in 1971 at Bill Monroe’s…
THE BLUEGRASS BAND Formed originally in 1972 by Joseph “Butch” Robins, a former member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys (banjo). Other members: Alan O”Bryant…
THE BLUEGRASS ALBUM BAND A recording band featuring Tony Rice, guitar; J.D. Crowe, banjo; Doyle Lawson, mandolin; Bobby Hicks, fiddle; Todd Phillips, bass; Jerry Douglas,…
THE BLUEGRASS ALLIANCE From Louisville, Kentucky. Formed in 1968 by Dan Crary (guitar), Wayne Stewart (mandolin), Buddy Spurlock (banjo), Lonnie Peerce (fiddle) and Harry Shealor…
THE BLUEGRASS BROTHERS From the Salem/Roanoke, Virginia area. Formed in 1992 by brothers Robert (banjo) and Victor Dowdy (bass). They were later joined by Victor’s…
THE BLUEGRASS CARDINALS (See also DAVID PARMLEY) Originally from Los Angeles, California. Moved to Virginia in 1976. Formed in 1974. Original members: Don Parmley and…
BLUEGRASS ETC Formed in San Diego, California in 1980 A trio featuring John Moore (guitar, mandolin) and Dennis Caplinger (banjo, fiddle). Other members of the…
BLUEGRASS EXPRESS From Custer Park, Illinois. Formed in 1980 by Gary and Greg Underwood (guitar and bass, father and son, respectively). Later Greg’s son Jacob…
THE BLUEGRASS INTENTIONS From Northern California. Formed in 2001 as a project band. Features Eric and Suzy Thompson (guitar, fiddle), Alan Senauke (guitar) and Bill…
THE BLUEGRASS OUTLAWS From Sevierville, Tennessee. Formed in 2016 by Chris Monk (banjo) and his wife Becky Webb Monk (bass). Becky is sister to Darrell…
THE BLUEGRASS MARTINS From Jefferson City, Missouri. A family band featuring the Martin siblings Anne (bass), Dale (guitar), Janice (banjo), Lee (mandolin), Jeana (fiddle) and…
THE BLUEGRASS PATRIOTS From Fort Collins, Colorado. Formed in 1980 by banjo player Ken Seaman with Glenn Zankey (guitar), Dan Rogers (bass), Dan Mitchell (fiddle)…
THE BLUEGRASS REGULATORS From Portland, Oregon. Formed in 2009 by Luke Dewhirst (banjo), Martin Stevens (fiddle/mandolin), Molly Adkins (guitar), Jake Dewhirst (guitar) and Josh Adkins…
THE BLUEGRASS THOROUGHBREDS From Winchester, Kentucky. A family band featuring the Malicote Family: James, his wife Marcie, daughter Marcie Kaye. They work on a horse…
BLUE HIGHWAY From Johnson City, Tennessee First gig: 12/31/94 (New Year’s Eve). Band members: Tim Stafford (guitar), Wayne Taylor (bass), Shawn Lane (mandolin), Jason Burleson…
BLUE MAFIA From Eaton, Indiana. Formed in 2011 by husband/wife team Dara mandolin) and Tony Wray (guitar). Other members: Cody Looper (banjo), Mike Gregory (bass),…
BLUE MOON RISING From East Tennessee. Formed in 2000 by Chris West. 2002, released first album Where Wood Meets Steel (no label). Members (2005): Randall…
BLUE MULE From Roanoke, Virginia. Formed in 2003. Took their name from the Peter Rowan song “Blue Mule” (which he recorded with Muleskinner and Old…
BLUE MULE (Canada) From Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Formed in 1980 by Peter Deachman and Geoff Somers. 1992, won the Winterhawk band contest. 1993, Deachman was…
BLUERIDGE From North Carolina. Formed in 1998 by Terry Baucom, Alan Bibey, Randy Graham and Jimmy Haley. Nucleus of the group formed in 1985 as…
BLUE ROSE From the San Francisco, CA area. An all-female folk group featuring Laurie Lewis, Cathy Fink, Sally Van Meter, Molly Mason and Marcy Marxer.…
THE BLUE SKY BOYS A “brothers duet” from Hickory, North Carolina featuring Bill and Earl Bolick. One of the most popular and durable country music…
GINGER BOATWRIGHT Born in Columbus, Mississippi; grew up in Palmetto, Alabama. Lived in Nashville for 26 years, then moved to Chugiak, Alaska. 1969, she was…
CINDY BOEHLER From Limon, Colorado. Lives in Nebraska. A singer/songwriter who after raising her children began a career in bluegrass music with the release of…
DAN BONER From Elizabethton, Tennessee. He is originally from New Jersey. At age 11, he performed with a group called “The Strings of Gospel.” A…
TROY BOONE From Erwin, Tennessee. Began performing bluegrass music as a teenager. Began playing banjo, then guitar, then chose mandolin as his primary instrument. 2013,…
BOONE & FOSTER From east Tennessee. A duo featuring Troy Boone (mandolin) and Aaron “Frosty” Foster (guitar). They began playing together at the Ole Smokey…
BOONE CREEK Formed in 1975 by Ricky Skaggs (mandolin/fiddle) and Jerry Douglas (Dobro™). Other members: Terry Baucom (banjo) and Wes Golding (guitar). 1977, released Boone…
THE BOOHERS (THE BOOHER FAMILY) From Johnson City,Tennessee. Formed in 2000. Gary Booher (banjo) and his wife Lora (guitar) lead the band with sons Jamie…
BORROWED TYME From Indiana (south of Indianapolis). Formed in 2015 by Roger Brown (Mandolin), Josh Woods (Banjo), Caleb Garrett (Bass) and Joey Coppage (Guitar). Garrett…
BRYAN BOWERS From Yorktown, Virginia. Moved to Seattle, Washington in 1971. Learned to play autoharp after hearing Mike Seeger of the New Lost City Ramblers.…
JIMMY BOWEN (AND SANTA FE) From Charlotte, North Carolina. Lives in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee Began performing at the age of 8 Has a degree in…
JOHN R. BOWMAN From Mt. Airy, North Carolina; lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee Plays all the bluegrass instruments: banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bass 1991, joined Doyle…
RONNIE BOWMAN From King, North Carolina. Lives in Bassett, Virginia. Real name: William Franklin Bowman. First band: “The Carolina Travelers.” Also performed with his parents…
BOWREGARD From Boulder, Colorado. Formed in 2018 by Max Kabat (guitar), James Armington (banjo), Colleen Heine (fiddle) and Zachary Smith (bass). Justin Konrad (Dobro™) joined…
THE BOXCARS Members of this band are from East Tennessee, East Kentucky, Virginia. Formed in 2010 after the dissolution of the Dan Tyminski Band (of…
FURMAN BOYCE (AND THE HARMONY EXPRESS) From Greer, South Carolina. Plays guitar and mandolin. Early in his career, he worked with Carl Story and Charlie…
KATHY BOYD AND PHOENIX RISING From Taulatin, Oregon. Features Kathy Boyd (bass, lead vocals), Tim Crosby (mandolin, fiddle, and guitar), Tom Tower (banjo and Dobro™)…
THE BOYS FROM INDIANA From Sunman, Indiana. Formed in 1973 by three brothers—Aubrey, Tom and Jerry Holt and their uncle Harley Gabbard. Tom and Jerry…
DALE ANN BRADLEY From Pineville, Kentucky. Her father was a coal miner and a Baptist minister. Began performing at age 14 with a group called…
BRAND NEW STRINGS From East Tennessee. Formed in 2008 by Randall Massengill (guitar), Tim Tipton (bass), Mike Ramsey (mandolin), Stuart Wyrick (banjo) and Matt Leadbetter…
BRANDED BLUEGRASS From Kokomo, Indiana. Formed in 1986. Band members: Larry Norfleet (guitar and mandolin), Tristen Norfleet (mandolin, bass, guitar), Jesse Norfleet (dobro, banjo), Derek…
LOUISA BRANSCOMB Originally from upstate New York. Has also lived in the state of Alabama, Washington and at her farm “Woodsong” in Northern Georgia. She…
CHRIS BRASHEAR (AND THE PERFECT STRANGERS) From Pelham, Massachusetts. Grew up in Ozark, Missouri. 1988, moved to Oregon and played fiddle with Kentucky Rose. 1992,…
BREAKAWAY From Burlington, Vermont. Formed in 1988 by banjo player Scott Hopkins. 1994, won first place in the band contest at Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival (NY).…
BREAKING GRASS From Booneville, Mississippi. Formed in 2010. Band members: Cody Farrar (guitar/lead vocals/songwriter), Tyler White (fiddle), Thelton Vanderford (banjo), Zach Wooten (mandolin), and Britt…
THE BRESSLER BROTHERS From Eminence, Missouri. Brothers Andy (guitar) and Alvin (vocals) Bressler. 1965, began performing on the Current River Opry in Summersville, MO. 2000,…
GARY BREWER (AND THE KENTUCKY RAMBLERS) From Louisville, Kentucky. Played rock music until “I got run over by a car,” he says. While in the…
PAUL BREWSTER From Knoxville, Tennessee. Lives in Nashville. First band: The Dixie Rebels (in Knoxville). 1976-1978, worked with the Knoxville Grass. 1978, joined the Pinnacle…
FLETCHER BRIGHT From Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. A fiddler who formed a band in 1945 called The Dismembered Tennesseans. They are still together. The band was…
GENA BRITT (TEW) From Bisco, North Carolina. Plays banjo and sings lead & harmony vocals. 1990, at age 18 moved to Nashville and worked with…
JESSE BROCK From Bowling Green, Kentucky. Began singing and playing mandolin at age 9 in his family’s band. First band: Stonewall Bluegrass. 1992, joined the…
DAVID BROMBERG From Philadelphia, PA grew up in New York City. Has also lived in San Francisco, Chicago and currently, Wilmington, Delaware. As a teenager,…
THE BROMBIES From Los Angeles, California. A bluegrass/folk duo featuring Jo Ellen and George Doering (guitar and mandolin). Formed in the late 1980’s. They named…
THE BROTHER BOYS From Johnson City, Tennessee. A duo featuring Eugene Wolf and Ed Snodderly. Snodderly is a musician, songwriter, actor and owner of one…
THE BROTHERS BARTON From Bakersfield, CA. Paul and Loren Barton are brothers who play mandolin and guitar respectively. 1996, Paul won “instrumentalist of the year”…
ALISON BROWN Native of Connecticut; grew up in La Jolla, California. Lives in Nashville. A graduate of Harvard University; has an MBA in finance from…
DEWEY AND LESLIE BROWN (AND THE CAROLINA GENTLEMEN) From Burlington, North Carolina. A husband and wife duo. They were married in 2007. Dewey Brown was…
HYLO BROWN From River, Kentucky. Recorded for Capitol Records (1954-1961). Band: the Timberliners. Also had a band at one time called “The Buckskins” (named after…
JEFF BROWN (AND STILL LONESOME) From Cedar Bluff, Virginia. Guitarist and vocalist Brown began playing as a youngster in a band with his brother called…
TOMMY BROWN (AND THE COUNTY LINE GRASS) From Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Brown plays banjo and sings lead vocals with his band the County Line Grass (formed…
STEVE BRUCE From LaFollette, Tennessee. He is pastor of the Faith Way Assembly Of God Church (since 1991). He also plays the banjo and has…
BRUSH ARBOR From San Diego, California. Had success in the early 1970’s with several top-40 country songs like “Proud Mary” and “Brush Arbor Meeting” (Capitol…
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.…
JIM BUCHANAN From North Carolina. Lives in Nashville. A dynamic fiddler best known for his work with Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys. He…
BUFFALO GALS From Syracuse, New York. Formed in 1972 by Martha Trachtenberg (guitar), Nancy Josephson (bass), Susie Monick (banjo), Carol Siegel (mandolin) and Sue Raines…
THE BULLAS (LUKE AND JENNY ANNE BULLA) Originally from Grants Pass, Oregon; 1998, moved to Nashville. A family band featuring parents Brad and Carol Bulla,…
BECKY BULLER From St. James, Minnesota. She began performing at age 10 with her parents in a band called Prairie Grass. 1996, she won the…
CURTIS BURCH From Montgomery, Alabama. Lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky. 1971, a founding member of the New Grass Revival (left the group in 1981). Played…
AARON BURDETT From Saluda, North Carolina. A singer/songwriter who blends Americana, country, blues, bluegrass, and folk. He has won numerous songwriting competitions and was listed…
RACHEL BURGE AND BLUE DAWNING From West Virginia. Majored in music at Glenville State College and played mandolin in the GSC Bluegrass Band. After college,…
THE BURNETT SISTERS BAND From Boone, North Carolina A family band featuring sisters Kathleen (guitar), Anissa (fiddle), Anneli (fiddle/mandolin) and Sophia (bass) Burnett. Multi-instrumentalist Colin…
CHRIS BURTON From Roanoke, Virginia. A banjo player and songwriter who performs with a regional band called Exit 109. 2006, released solo project Way I…
BUZZ BUSBY (AND THE BAYOU BOYS) From Eros, Louisiana. Moved to Washington D.C. Real name: Bernard Busbice He was one of the first to popularize…
SAM BUSH (See also NEW GRASS REVIVAL) From Bowling Green, Kentucky. Lives in Nashville. Leader of The New Grass Revival for twenty years. Dubbed “the…
EDDIE RAY BUZZINI From Mooresville, North Carolina. His given name is Ettore Buzzini. Born in 2007 into a multi-lingual family. His father is Swiss-Italian and…
PAUL ADKINS (AND THE BORDERLINE BAND) From Wayne, West Virginia; lives in Middletown MD. 1972, first band: The Bluegrass Gospel Four. 1978, led a West…
AGES PAST From western North Carolina. Formed in the early 1990’s by guitarist Randy Gallion. The group included such musicians as Jason Burleson and Tony…
DAVID AKEMAN (“STRINGBEAN”) Native of Annville, Kentucky. The first banjo player in Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys (1942-1945). Played “clawhammer” style. Was replaced in Bill…
DARIN AND BROOKE ALDRIDGE; See also CIRCUIT RIDERS From Cherryville, North Carolina. Darin is a multi-instrumentalist and music teacher. 1995, Darin played with an Americana…
ALL 4 HYM From Front Royal, Virginia. A family band featuring Chester Kreitzer (guitar), Terri Kreitzer (vocals) and Cory Kreitzer (mandolin). Formed in 1997. Play…
HARLEY ALLEN (THE ALLEN BROTHERS) From Dayton, Ohio. Lived in Nashville. Youngest son of bluegrass Hall 0f Famer Red Allen. 1968, began performing at age…
RED ALLEN (AND THE KENTUCKIANS) From Pigeon Roost, Kentucky. Lived in Dayton, Ohio for most of his career. Given name: Harley Allen. Formed his band…
ALTERNATE ROOTS From Jefferson, North Carolina. Formed in 1997. Members included Scott Freeman (mandolin), Willard Gayheart (guitar), Katy Taylor (lead vocals), Randy Pasley (resophonic guitar),…
TRAVIS ALLTOP From Grafton, Ohio. Lives in Stanford, Kentucky. Began playing guitar at age 6. 1997, released first album “Two Different Worlds” (no label). 1998,…
BOB AMOS (SEE ALSO FRONT RANGE) From St. Johnsbury, Vermont. 1988-2004, fronted a Colorado-based band called Front Range. He recorded 7 albums with this band.…
AMERICAN DRIVE From Ohio/Eastern Kentucky area. Formed in 2012 by former members of J.D.Crowe’s band “The New South” (after Crowe retired.) Original members: Ricky Wasson…
THE AMANDA AND SCOTT ANDERSON BAND From Palatka, Florida. A father-daughter duo. Scott plays bass and banjo; Amanda plays fiddle and sings. 1989, Scott played…
BILL ANDERSON From Columbia, South Carolina (lives in Nashville) Primarily a country singer and songwriter, known to millions as “Whisperin’ Bill.” Has been a member…
LYNN ANDERSON Born in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Grew up in Sacramento, California. Her mother, Liz Anderson, wrote several hit songs for Merle Haggard. 1967,…
MIKE ANDES From Timberville, Virginia. Lives in Pataskala, Ohio. Began playing mandolin and singing at age 14. 1983, joined the East Coast Bluegrass Band. 1994,…
DAROL ANGER From Oakland, California. Lives in Arlington, Massachusetts. An award-winning, genre-crossing violinist, fiddler and composer. Plays what he calls “Chambergrass.” 1982-1985, won “Best Jazz…
ANTIQUE PERSUASION From Nashville. A project band/vocal trio featuring Brandon Rickman (guitar), Jenee Fleenor (guitar, mandolin, fiddle) and Brennan Leigh (guitar, mandolin). Rickman was a…
APPALACHIAN ROAD SHOW From east Tennessee. Formed in 2018 by Barry Abernathy (banjo) and Darrell Webb (guitar/mandolin). The band includes Jim Van Cleve (fiddle), Todd…
APPALACHIAN TRAIL From Bristol, Virginia. Formed in 1984 by Ricky and Linda Barker. Featuring the lead vocals of Linda Barker, the group eventually became known…
ARKANSAUCE From Fayetteville, Arkansas. Formed in 2010 by Zac Archuleta (guitar) and Ethan Bush (mandolin). Others members: Tom Andersen (bass) and Adams Collins (banjo). They…
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…
KEITH ARNESON (SEE ALSO COUNTRY CURRENT) From Waldorf, Maryland. 1977, learned guitar and banjo as a teenager and formed his first band called Classic Grass.…
JIMMY ARNOLD From Fries, Virginia. A gifted multi-instumentalist (guitar, banjo, fiddle). Bluegrass Unlimited magazine called him “Don Reno, Bill Keith and Earl Scruggs rolled into…
CARLEY ARROWOOD From Forest City, North Carolina. Learned to play violin (classical) and then fiddle. Formed her own band at age 10 (in 2006). 2011,…
ASH & W From Winston-Salem, North Carolina. A short-lived band (1989-1991) featuring Vernon Allred (bass), Craig Smith (banjo), Scott Huffman (guitar) and Tony Williamson (mandolin).…
ASH BREEZE From Moore County, North Carolina. Formerly known as The Smith Family Band, featuring dad Allen Smith (bass) and his four kids: Nellie (vocals…
BOBBY ATKINS (AND THE COUNTRYMEN) From Summerfield, North Carolina Plays banjo and leads band, “The Countrymen” 1953, worked and recorded with Jim Eanes 1953, 1958,…
MIKE AULDRIDGE From Washington, D.C. One of bluegrass music’s best known and most influential Dobro™ (resophonic guitar) players. Besides his work with the Seldom Scene…
THE AUSTIN LOUNGE LIZARDS From Austin, Texas. Known as the most laughable band in bluegrass, they perform original satirical music in clubs in and around…
AUTHENTIC UNLIMITED From East Tennessee. Formed in 2022. The core of this band was the final configuration of Doyle Lawson’s band Quicksilver when he retired…
ANDREA ZONN From Champaign, Illinois. Lives in Nashville. She and Alison Krauss are from the same town, and were good friends growing up. They competed…
VERN YOUNG From Lamar, Missouri. Originally from Rochester, New York. Began performing at age 12. His real name is Guy Lewis Young. While working at…
THOMAS WYWROT From Dryden, Ontario, Canada; Lives in Nashville. As a teenager, played guitar with a family band called the Muddy River Boys. 2005, played…
VOLUME FIVE From Mississippi. Formed in 2009. Original members: Glen Harrell (fiddle & lead vocals), Patton Wages (banjo), Chris Williamson (bass), Jesse Daniel (mandolin), Adam…
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…
THE URBAN MONROES From Spokane, Washington Band members: Fran Kent (guitar and vocals), Matt Gray (banjo), Jeff Shippy (fiddle) and Jason Mellow (bass). 2008, released…
DAN TYMINSKI From Rutland, Vermont. Lives in Ferrum, Virginia and Nashville. First band: played banjo with Green Mountain Bluegrass. Older brother Stan played mandolin. 1988,…
BILLY SWINSON From Richlands, North Carolina. Lives in Jacksonville, FL. At age 15 (early 90’s), began playing mandolin with several regional North Carolina bands. 1996…
JOHNNY RUSSELL From Sunflower County, Mississippi. Grew up in Fresno, California. Billed himself as “the biggest act in country music” because of his large size.…
DALE PYATT From Viburnern, Missouri (in the Ozarks). Grew up in Columbia, Missouri. A singer/songwriter who co-wrote the song “Life Goes On,” from the award-winning…
CAROLINE OWENS (AND NEW COMPANY) From Denton, North Carolina. Began singing at the age of 2. Decided to become a bluegrass singer at age 13.…
SCOTT NYGAARD From the San Francisco Bay area. Originally from Athens, Ohio. A highly regarded flat-pick guitarist. 1988-1991, worked with Laurie Lewis and Grant Street.…
MUSTERED COURAGE From Melbourne, Australia. A Newgrass quartet formed in 2010 by Nick Keeling (banjo), Julian Abrahams (guitar), Paddy Montgomery (mandolin) and Josh Bridges (bass).…
JEFF AUTRY From Buford, Georgia. Considered one of the top flatpick guitarists in bluegrass music. As a A-list studio musician and sideman, he has worked…
SENATOR ROBERT BYRD From Sophia, West Virginia. He was born in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Served as U.S. Senator from West Virginia for 41 years. He…
EZRA From Oberlin, Ohio. Founded by multi-instrumentalist Jesse Jones (guitar/piano). Also Jacob Joliff (mandolin), Max Allard (banj0) and Craig Butterfield (bass). They describe themselves as…
TONY FURTADO From the San Franciso Bay area. Moved to Colorado. Now lives in Portland, Oregon. Began his pro career playing banjo with Laurie Lewis…
STEVE GULLEY (AND NEW PINNACLE) From East Tennessee. Began his professional career as musical director and performer at Renfro Valley Barn Dance (Renfro Valley, Kentucky).…
RANDALL HYLTON From Old Hickory, Tennessee. Grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Learned to play guitar at age 5. Best known as a songwriter.…
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…
From Asheville, North Carolina. His last name is pronounced KIR-ken-dall. He is not related to Pete or Kitsy Kuykendall (of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine.) Kuykendall is…
JUSSI SYREN (AND THE GROUNDBREAKERS) From Finland. Syren plays mandolin and sings lead with his band The Groundbreakers. Other band members include Tauri Oksalas (banjo),…
PYTHAGORAS From Johnson City, Tennessee Formed in 2023 by Grant Dresnok (guitar), Gracie Mae Grossman (fiddle), Joe Henson (mandolin), Gabriel Hebert (banjo) and Lexi Wagnitz…