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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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).…
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),…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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)…
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 MARTIN From Collinsville, Virginia. Was born in Roanoke. 1968, (at age 10), joined Dennis Hall and the Hilltoppers, playing banjo. 1971 (at age 13),…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
BRYAN MCDOWELL From Baltimore, Maryland. A multi-instrumentalist who has worked with Claire Lynch, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, Mark Schatz and many others. 2009, won both…
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…
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,…
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…
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)…
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).…