JIM EANES From Martinsville, Virginia. Nickname: “Smilin’ Jim Eanes” (His given name is Homer—but chose his stage name, “Smilin’ Jim” in 1939.) A pioneer of…
CACHE VALLEY DRIFTERS From Santa Barbara, California. Formed 1972, broke up 1983. Re-united 1992. Original members: Wally Barnick (bass), Bill Griffin (mandolin), David West (guitar,…
JOE VAL From New England. Was born in Everett, Massachusetts. Real name: Joseph Valiante. His last name was shortened to Val by fiddler Tex Logan.…
THE HACKENSAW BOYS From Charlottesville, Virginia. Formed in 1999, playing at the Blue Moon Diner in Charlottesville. A young jamgrass band that performs all-original bluegrass/country/folk…
RADIO FLYER From Springfield, Missouri. Formed in 1984 by David Wilson (mandolin/fiddle) and Dudley Murphey (guitar). Won “Best New Bluegrass Band of 1985” at the…
JIM AND VALERIE GABEHEART From Hamlin, West Virginia. A husband-wife duo. Jim plays banjo, Valerie plays guitar. They married in 1981. Jim is a five-time…
RICK PARDUE From State Road, North Carolina. 1975, played banjo in a North Carolina band called the Sugarloaf Ramblers. Left the music scene in the…
TIM O’BRIEN From Wheeling, West Virginia. Lives in Nashville. A singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (primarily mandolin and fiddle) who rose to prominence with the Colorado-based group…
CLIFF WAGNER From Los Angeles, California. Wagner was born and raised in Mississippi. Attended the Berklee College of Music (Boston). 1999, lived and played bluegrass…
UNCLE DAVE MACON From Murfreesboro, Tennessee. One of the Grand Ole Opry’s first superstars. 1926, joined the Opry at the age of 56. His last…
JAMIE DAILEY From Gainesboro, Tennessee. He was born in Corbin, Kentucky. Began singing with his family at age 3. Age 9, began playing bass with…
SI KAHN From Charlotte, North Carolina. A folksinger/songwriter who is also a social activist in the South. He is executive director of Grassroots Leadership, an…
RAYMOND FAIRCHILD From Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Called “King of the Smoky Mountain Banjo.” Born on an Indian reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina. Performed regularly…
THE BAD LIVERS Originally from Austin, Texas. A fusion of Tex-Mex, cajun, reggae, rock, blues, country and bluegrass. Band includes an accordion, drums and a…
ROB ICKES From Millbrae, California. Lives in Nashville. Ickes is pronounced the same as “likes.” First band: “Heartland” with Tony Furtado; also had a band…
BILL YATES From Washington, DC. Played bass with the Country Gentlemen from 1969 to 1989. 2005, formed a new band “Bill Yates and Friends” to…
THE ABRAMS BROTHERS From Kingston, Ontario, Canada. John Abrams (born 1990) performs on fiddle, mandolin and guitar. James Abrams (born 1993) performs on fiddle, mandolin…
DAVID TALBOT From Canada. Moved to Nashville in 1997. 1998-2003, played banjo with Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time. Has also worked with Marty Raybon,…
RADIM ZENKL From Czechoslavakia (defected to the U.S. four months before the fall of Communism). Lives in Oakland, California. Billed as “The only musician in…
MIKE NADOLSON From Lake Elsinore, California (LA area). 1980, 1981 won the Four Corners Regional Flatpicking Championship in Wickenburg, Arizona. Has performed with several Southern…
ERIC UGLUM From Apple Valley, California (born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky). 1986, a founding member of Weary Hearts, with Ron Block, Butch Baldassari and Mike…
STEEL STRING SESSION From Ducktown, Tennessee. Formed in 2003 under the name Ducktown Station. Their music is described as “Cosmic Rockin’ Boogie Grass.” Their original…
PLAYING ON THE PLANET From Ducktown, Tennessee. Formed in 2003 under the name Ducktown Station. Their music is described as “Cosmic Rockin’ Boogie Grass.” Their…
DUCKTOWN STATION From Ducktown, Tennessee. Formed in 2003 under the name Ducktown Station. Their music is described as “Cosmic Rockin’ Boogie Grass.” Their original music…