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, Reba McIntyre and Dolly Parton.
• One of Nashville’s “A-list” studio musicians.
• 2004, formed the Grascals with Terry Eldridge, Jamie Johnson, Jimmy Mattingly, Danny Roberts and Terry Smith.
• 2006, left the Grascals to work full-time with Dolly Parton.

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, a successful group that opened for the Beatles final U.S. tour.
• Became friends with the late Gram Parsons, fell in love with country music.
• 1970’s, Barry and Holly sang together in an electric country band called The Outskirts.
• 1980-89, Barry replaced Ricky Skaggs in Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band.
• Have performed on the Grand Ole Opry and Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” radio show.
• Barry and Holly grew up in Westport, Connecticut, went to the same high school and double-dated together—each dating someone else. They married in 1972.
• 1993, released Ready for Love album (Rounder).
• 1994, released Straw Into Gold album (Rounder).
• 1997, released Harmony album (Rounder).
• 2002, released At Home album (Copper Creek).
• 2008, released Long Story Short album (Rock-a-lot).

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™). Pat Enright (guitar) and Mark Schatz (bass) were later members of this band.
• 1978, released Tasty Licks album (Rounder).
• 1979, released “Anchored to the Shore” album (Rounder).
• Broke up in 1979.

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 bluegrass when he worked with Bill Monroe for eight months in 1956.
• Mid-60’s, worked with The Shenandoah Cutups—a group that backed the late Red Smiley on several albums.
• 1977-79, worked with Lester Flatt and the Nashville Grass.
• 1979-84, worked with Wilma Lee Cooper’s Clinch Mountain Clan.
• 1984, re-joined Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys playing bass.
• 1992, inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Died in 2007.

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 the Stoney Mountain Boys in the Cincinnati, Ohio area.
• 1955-57, worked with Jimmy Martin’s Sunny Mountain Boys.
• 1958, moved to Baltimore, Maryland and formed the Stoney Mountain Boys.
• 1959, his was the first bluegrass band to perform at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
• 1960, relocated to the Cincinnati, Ohio area and played in night clubs there for several years.
• 1963, released his landmark “Blue Grass Taylor-made” album (Capitol Records) with his new band The Blue Grass Mountaineers.
• 1964-1967, disbanded his group and worked with Jimmy Martin, the Stanley Brothers and Flatt and Scruggs.
• 1967, returned to the Cincinnati area and re-organized the Stoney Mountain Boys with guitarist Jim McCall. He recorded several albums in subsequent years for Rural Rhythm and Vetco Records.
• 1974, poor health and the death of his son led to his retirement from music for several years. He resumed performing in the early 80’s with banjo player Vernon McIntyre.
• Died of a heart attack in 1984.

RECOMMENDED ALBUMS:

• 20 Bluegrass Favorites (Rural Rhythm)
• 24 Bluegrass Favorites (Rural Rhythm)
• Blue Grass Taylor-Made (Capitol).

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” by his parents when he was a child.
• He was a studio musician, sideman, graphic artist and luthier, an acoustic music icon around Nashville for more than four decades.
• He was best known as a Dobro™ player, and was often called the “flat-picking Dobro man” because he used a flat pick rather than finger picks on the instrument.
• 1962, recorded an album called “12 String Dobro” with Glen Campbell and the Folkswingers.
• 1963, appeared on the Kentucky Colonels “Appalachian Swing” album featuring Clarence White.
• 1964, released “Dobro County” album.
• After moving to Nashville in 1970, he co-founded GTR Guitars with George Gruhn and Randy Wood (which later became Gruhn Guitars). He also owned Grammar Guitars and co-founded Rich and Taylor Banjo company.
• He was also a sign painter and luthier. He did some custom work for Gibson in Nashville.
• 1971, appeared on John Hartford’s landmark “Aereoplane” album.
• 1972, released Friar Tut album (recently reissued by Rounder Records).
• 1975, released Dobrolic Plectral Society album (Tacoma Records).
• 1995, won a Grammy award for his part on the Jerry Douglas album The Great Dobro Sessions (Sugar Hill Records).
• 1998, released Flash Flood album (Tutlee Records).
• 2007, released Shacktown Road album with Norman and Nancy Blake (no label)
• 2010, Jerry Douglas released Southern Filibuster: a Tribute to Tut Taylor (E1 Entertainment).
• 2015, died at the age of 91.

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 Bluegrass Boys, The Bluegrass Kinsmen, The Tim Laughlin Band.
• 1994, formed Blue Highway with Tim Stafford. He plays bass and sings lead. Has written many of the band’s signature songs.
• Has had a history of health problems: spent several years on crutches as a teenager. Heart attack in 2000. Colon cancer in 2002.
• 2012, released solo project It’s About Time (no label).
• 2016, was inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame.
• 2017, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Crab Orchard Museum at the Tazewell County Fiddlers Convention in SW Virginia.

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 first stint with the Navy. After his discharge, he finished his education, earning a degree in music therapy.
• 1987-2008, re-joined the Navy, sang lead and played guitar with the U.S. Navy Band Country Current (21 years).
• He has performed for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and George.W. Bush.
• 2007-8, recorded and performed with Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band.
• 2008, formed his own band, Appaloosa.
• 2017, released a country album”Wayne Taylor’s Great American Country Band” (Raincoe).

RECOMMENDED ALBUMS:

• Buffalo Shoals (Raincoe, 2005)
• Dear Mom (Raincoe, 2008)
• Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa (Raincoe, 2009)
• It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Day (Raincoe, 2011)
• Out in the Middle of Nowhere (Raincoe, 2012)
• Movin On (Raincoe, 2014)

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 guitar, mandolin, and banjo.
• The name “Taylor’s Grove” comes from the little North Carolina church where Carolyn Hutton grew up singing with her family.
• Mac McHale also performs with “The Radio Gang” and the Celtic/country duo “Two Old Friends” (with Emery Hutchins). He is a member of the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame and was inducted as a “Pioneer” of bluegrass music by the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky.

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 Friday night at The Bluegrass Shack in Memphis. It was a 100-year-old two-room schoolhouse which burned down on July 4, 1989.
• 1977, released “The Tennessee Gentlemen” album (Southern Tracks).
• 1980, won eleven awards out of eleven categories at the SPBGMA awards show in Lake Ozark, MO, including Best Band, Best Album, Best Mandolin Player, and Best Contemporary Male Vocalist.
• 1979, released “Just Us” album (no label).
• 1980, released “Sunday Morning” album (no label). Group at that time included Donny Catron (guitar), Richard Bailey (banj0) and Steve Gregory (bass).
• 1981, released “Hey Mr. Train” album (Ridge Runner).
• 1987, released “Heading West” album (Bluegrass Shack). The group at that time included Wayne Southards (guitar) and Stuart Brownlee (bass), along with Castleberry (mandolin) and Bailey (banjo).
• 2000, founder Castleberry died at the age of 71.
• 2003, a new version of the band was organized by former member Donny Catron.
• 2016, Catron died at the age of 60.

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 performed frequently at the Grand Ole Opry, often with Marty Stuart.
• 2003, recorded first album Barnyard Frolic (Spring Fed).
• 2011, released Poor Leroy’s Almanac album (Spring Fed).
• 2012, released Screams From The Holler album (Spring Fed).
• 2013, released Tales From Short Mountain album (Spring Fed).
• 2014, Lester Armistead died at the age of 71.

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 with a group called The Big Thunder Mountain Boys.
• Keith’s first band: The Bluegrass Little Bits (at age 12).
• 1996, married Danette and formed a duo. She is a singer/songwrite with a successful country album to her credit. She also works for Gaylord Entertainment (producers of the Grand Ole Opry).
• Before moving to Nashville, Keith drove a truck for 14 years.
• Keith and Danette wrote the song “Am I A Fool,” a hit for The Lonesome River Band.
• 1999, joined Rhonda Vincent and the Rage.
• 2014, joined The Farm Hands Quartet.

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 and guitar with Ralph Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Boys.
• At age 13, had a band called the Country Cousins. Two years later, a band called the Bluegrass Revelators.
• He has two sons named Keith and Whitley.
• 1994, left Stanley’s band to form a group with another Clinch Mountain Boy, Junior Blankenship.
• 1995, released Tennessee Blues album (Copper Creek).
• 1997, formed his own band called Route 23, named for a scenic highway in Virginia.
• 2002, released Chill of Lonesome album (Doobie Shea).
• 2006, was seriously injured in an auto accident, leaving him paralyzed. One of his legs was amputated.
• 2008, confined to a wheelchair, he recorded and released a new album Hangman (Pinecastle).
• 2018, after a long battle with various physical problems, he passed away on April 10.

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 called “The Master of the Bluegrass Harmonica.”
• Has worked with Mike Snider on the Grand Ole Opry
• 1994, released “Bluegrass Harmonica” album.
• 1995, released Blazing a New Trail album (Pinecastle).
• 2022, died in a South Carolina federal prison. He was serving a 33 month sentence for wire fraud.

CHRIS THILE

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

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 Moore (guitar, lead vocals), Ray Deaton (bass), Terry Baucom (banjo), Alan Bibey (mandolin) and Mike Hartgrove (fiddle). All but Bibey were Lawson alumni.
• Name was chosen because each band member had worked with two other bands previously. IIIrd Tyme Out was literally their “third time out.”
• 1991, released first album “IIIrd Tyme Out” (Rebel).
• 1992, Bibey left the band to be replaced by Lou Reid. Then, Lou Reid and Terry Baucom left to form their own band. Wayne Benson (mandolin) and Steve Dilling (banjo) replaced them.
• 1992, released Puttin New Roots Down album (Rebel).
• 1994, released “Across the Miles” album (New Haven).
• 1994, released “Grandpa’s Mandolin” album (Rebel).
• 1995, released Letter to Home album (Rounder).
• 1996, released Living On The Other Side album (Rounder).
• 1998, released Live At The MAC album (Rounder).
• 1999, released John & Mary album (Rounder).
• 2000, won their seventh consecutive IBMA award for Vocal Group of the Year (also won in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999).
• 2001, Hartgrove left the band to join the Lonesome River Band; was replaced by Greg Luck.
• 2001, released Back to the MAC album (Rounder).
• 2002, released Singing on Streets of Gold album (Chateau Music Group).
• 2004, Benson left the band to join the John Cowan Band; replaced by Alan Perdue (formerly with Mountain Heart).
• 2004, released Erase the Miles album (Rebel).
• 2004, released Best Durn Ride album (Chateau Music Group).
• 2005, Greg Luck left to work with the Circuit Riders. He was replaced by Justen Haynes.
• 2006, bass player Ray Deaton left to work with the Anita Fisher Band. He was replaced by Edgar Loudermilk.
• 2006, released “Round III at the MAC” album (Chateau Music Group).
• 2007, Wayne Benson returned to the band.
• 2007, changed the name of the band to “Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out.”
• 2008, released Footprints: A IIIrd Tyme Out Collection album (Rounder).
• 2009, released Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out album (Rural Rhythm).
• 2011, released Prime Tyme album (Rural Rhythm).
• 2012, released Bluegrassed: Timeless Hits From the Past album (Cracker Barrel).
• 2012, Russell Moore won his fifth IBMA award for Male Vocalist of the Year (also won in 1994, 1997, 2010 and 2011)
• 2013, Steve Dilling and Edgar Loudermilk left the band. They were replaced by Keith McKinnon (banjo) and Blake Johnson (bass.)
• 2015, released “It’s About Tyme” album (Break a String).
• 2015, Blake Johnson left the band for health reasons and was replaced by Jerry Cole (formerly with Pine Mountain Railroad). Johnson subsequently died of a heart attack (at age 33) in June of 2017.
• 2018, fiddler Justin Haynes left the band to start a family business (dog training, boarding & breeding) and was replaced by Nathan Aldridge. In late 2018, bass player Jerry Cole left the band and was replaced by Dustin Pyrtle (formerly with Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver).
• 2019, original bass player Ray Deaton died at the age of 66.
• 2021 band lineup: Moore (guitar), Benson (mandolin), Kevin McKinnon (bass), Keith McKinnon (banjo) and Nathan Aldridge (fiddle). The McKinnons are twin brothers.

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.
• 2000, released Plays Bluegrass album (no label).
• 2012, released album produced by Laurie Lewis titled That Old Familiar (Swollen).
• 2014, teamed up with Don Rigsby to record an album of duets.

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 Del McCoury’s band, The Dixie Pals.
• 1983, an original member of the Lonesome River Band (he came up with the name).
• 1984, Jim and Jesse.
• 1985, the Lost and Found.
• 1985-1988, The Whites.
• 1988-91, The Osborne Brothers.
• 2003, joined the Ronnie Bowman band.
• Has played fiddle with several bands in recent years including Jesse McReynolds, Aaron Tippin, Barbara Mandrell, Brooks and Dunn, LeeAnn Womack, Kenny Chesney, John Michael Montgomery and Lorrie Morgan. Has also produced recordings by The Crowe Brothers, Larry Cordle and Jesse McReynolds.
• 2013, formed a duo with Mark Newton. Released album Reborn (Pinecastle).
• 2013, a fire destroyed his Nashville home on New Year’s Eve.
• 2017, joined David Parmley and Cardinal Tradition.
• 2019, formed his own band The Time Machine; signed with Bonfire Records.

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 Friends & Gentle Hearts (Rounder) with special guests The Lonesome River Band, the Seldom Scene, IIIrd Tyme Out, others.

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 “melodic”) style banjo players. Influenced many others.
• Early 60’s, worked with Jim and Jesse.
• Was a member of the group Area Code 615.
• Played theme music to “Hee Haw,” “Smokey and the Bandit,” “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “Urban Cowboy,” many others.
• Played on hit songs by such artists as Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Jim & Jesse, Hank Snow, Tammy Wynette, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe, Dolly Parton, Perry Como, Eddy Arnold, Les Paul, Connie Smith, Merle Haggard, Trini Lopez, the Monkees, Olivia Newton-John, Melanie, Jimmy Buffett, Dr Hook, Leon Russell, Neil Young and many others.
• 1990, retired from music due to multiple sclerosis.
• Died in 2005.

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 style of music with combines elements of jazz and bluegrass.
• Ickes is a full-time member of Blue Highway.
• Leftwich is a full-time member of Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder.
• Pomeroy is an accomplished Nashville studio bassist who has appeared on more than 500 albums and six Grammy winning albums with artists such as Emmylou Harris, The Chieftains, Elton John, Earl Scruggs and Alison Krauss. He has performed live with dozens of well known artists including Duane Eddy, John Fogerty, Steve Winwood, and Mose Allison. He has been voted Studio Musician of The Year and Bassist of The Year at the Nashville Music Awards. He is currently president of the Musicians’ Union in Nashville.
• 2006, released Three Ring Circle album (Earwave).
• 2011, released Brothership album (ResoRevolution).

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 Bluegrass Band of the Year by the Motif Arts Magazine and winner of the Ossipee Valley Bluegrass Festival band competition.
• 2007, released Short While Ago album (no label).
• 2011, released second album All That’s Left (no label).
• 2014, released third album Taproot (no label).

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 studied jazz guitar performance and composition at Towson University.
• 2004, joined Gary Ferguson to form a duo.
• 2005, released first solo project No Place Better (Patuxent) at age 18.
• 2007, released “Corbett, Chrisman and Tice” album (no label) with Wes Corbett (banjo) and Simon Chrisman (hammered dulciner).
• 2009, released Long Story album (Patuxent) with Casey Driessen (fiddle), Noam Pikelny (banjo), Andy Hall (Dobro™), Mark MacGlshan (mandolin) and Mark Schatz (bass)
• 2012, released Secret History album (Patuxent) as The Jordan Tice Trio with Simon Chrisman (hammered dulcimer) and Paul Kowert (bass).
• 2015, began touring and recording with Paul Kowert, Brittany Haas and Dominick Leslie as Hawktail.
• 2014, released “You Got This” album (no label) as Hass, Kowert, Tice (with Brittany Haas and Paul Kowert).
• 2016, released Horse Country album (Patuxent).
• 2020, released Motivational Speakeasy album (Padiddie).

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 in 1996 by songwriter Bruce Coughlan.
• Describe their music as “Canadiana, Americana, Newgrass and beyond.”
• 2003, released Ripple in Time album (Knight).
• 2011, released Go the Road album (no label) featuring guests John Cowan, Josh Shilling, Del McCoury, Sam Bush, Cia Cherryholmes and others.
• 2015, released Stirring Up Ghosts 1 & 2 album (no label).

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, has worked with Paul Simon, Shawn Colvin, Travis Tritt, Dottie West, Hank Williams Jr., Peter Rowan and many others.
• 2005, released solo project The Last Train (Rising Son).

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 the Lamar Hunt Family (Unity Hunt, Inc.) and their affiliated entities including the Kansas City Chiefs and other professional sports franchises.
• He founded the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation which exists to preserve and advance bluegrass music worldwide.
• He co-founded the Frisco Bluegrass Festival in Frisco, Texas (with Gerald Jones).
• Plays bass, banjo and guitar.
• 2012, released solo album No Part of Nothin (no label) with guest artists Ron Stewart, Sam Bush, Randy Kohrs, Kenny & Amanda Smith and others.

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: a Washington, D.C. group called “The Lonesome River Boys” (1968-1970).
• 1975, released a solo project “Back Road Mandolin” (Rounder).
• 1975 formed Tasty Licks (with Pat Enright and Bela Fleck) in Boston.
• 1977-1982, was a member of The Payroll Boys of Letcher Country, Kentucky.
• 1982, founded the bluegrass music program at East Tennessee State University, which has produced many professional bluegrass musicians.
• 1999, released Bluegrass Sound album (Copper Creek) with guests Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Béla Fleck, Stuart Duncan, Ron Block, Ronnie and Del McCoury.
• Conducts seminars across the country on how to listen to bluegrass music.
• 2012, formed a band in Hawaii called Bluegrass Jack.

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 a long-running radio program in Ireland called “Country Heartland.”
• Plays mandolin and guitar.
• Early career, fronted several Irish folk/bluegrass bands including the Lee Valley String Band, the Sackville String Band and an electric band called Hank Halfhead and the Rambling Turkeys. They had a hit single in Ireland and played Adam Clayton’s (U2) birthday party.
• 1988-1997, was a resident performer at the Harcourt Hotel in Dublin.
• 1999, moved to County Wexford and formed the Niall Toner Band. Since then has recorded several albums of original songs.
• His songs have been recorded by Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones), Albert Lee, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, Special Consensus and numerous Irish artists.
• 2012, released his first American album Onwards & Upwards (Pinecastle).

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 Ramones had a baby. And its name is Town Mountain.” – from a review in the Charlotte Observer.
• Band members: Robert Greer (lead vocals, guitar), Jesse Langlais (banjo), Barrett Smith (bass), Phil Barker (mandolin).
• 2008, released Heroes and Heretics album (no label).
• 2011, released Steady Operator album (Pinecastle).
• 2012, released Leave the Bottle album (Pinecastle).
• 2014, released Live at the Isis album (no label).
• 2016, released “Southern Crescent” album (LoHi)

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), Gerald Evans, Jr. (mandolin) and Mike Clevenger (bass.)
• Formed in December of 1983, disbanded in 1995 (last show: September 17, 1995).
• Paul Mullins was the band’s direct link with tradition. In the 1950’s he played fiddle with the Stanley Brothers. He later formed the Boys from Indiana. As a popular radio personality (AKA “Moon Mullins”) He hosted a bluegrass radio program on WPFB in Middletown for more than 20 years. He won the IBMA award for Broadcaster of the Year in 2000.
• Since the band’s breakup, Joe Mullins has performed with Longview and with his own band Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers. He continues his father’s broadcasting legacy on several Ohio radio stations.

RECOMMENDED ALBUMS:

• The Blues Are Still the Blues (Rebel, 2015) A nice collection from the Rebel archives.
• Songs of Love & Life (Rebel, 1995)
• Just A Five String & Fiddle (Rebel, 1995) Gerald Evans and Joe Mullins instrumental album.
• I Believe in Old-Time Way (Rebel, 1993)
• 10th Anniversary Collection (Rebel, 1993)
• Howdy Neighbor Howdy (Rebel, 1992)

TRAMPLED BY TURTLES

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

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 members of the Country Gentlemen: Wright (mandolin), Church (banjo), and Spider Gillam (bass).
• 1999, Gillam was replaced by David Lewis.
• 2001, the group disbanded and both Wright and Church worked as sidemen in other bands.
• 2010, Wright worked with Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac
• 2011, Wright and Church reunited to begin performing together as The Travelers. Also in the band: John Miller (guitar/mandolin) and Mike Connor (bass).
• 2013, Miller was diagnosed with cancer on his tongue and missed four months with the band. Rejoined them in November.

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 this band.
• They first jammed in a cabin on Traver Hollow Road in New York.
• They toured Europe frequently and became especially popular in Holland.
• They hold the distinction of being the first American bluegrass band to appear on prime-time TV in Denmark.
• 1985, released “Genuine Acoustic Bluegrass” album.
• 1999, released final album “Lonesome Without You.”
• 2016, banjo player Menzone formed a band with guitarist Wyatt Rice called the Rice & Menzone Alliance.

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 with the Gary Ferguson Band; also with Paul Adkins and the Borderline Band.
• 1995, joined the Seldom Scene, replacing Mike Auldridge.
• Day job: a professional firefighter (now retired).

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 many years with Porter Wagoner and Roy Clark and was a cast member of the Hee Haw TV Show. He also recorded frequently with Dolly Parton and Marty Stuart.
• He is the inventor of the electric banjo. On many of Porter Wagoner’s records, he made the banjo mimic the sound of a steel guitar by using Scruggs D-tuners on all four tuning pegs.
• 1960-1961, played banjo with Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys.
• 1975, 1976, won the CMA Award for Instrumentalist of the Year.
• 1975, recorded an instrumental duet album with Roy Clark called “Pair of Fives” (MCA).
• 1977, released a solo album “Oh Yeah!” (ABC). “Oh Yeah” was his signature catch phrase.
• 1978, recorded a second instrumental duet album with Roy Clark called Banjo Bandits (MCA).
• 1976, released a solo album called “Bionic Banjo” (ABC).
• 1990, moved to Branson, Missouri where he performed regularly at Baldnobber’s Jamboree and opened for Mickey Gilley. He later began headlining his own morning show called “The Buck Trent Country Music Show” which aired on RFD-TV.
• 2023, he was inducted into the National Banjo Hall of Fame.
• 2023, died at the age of 85.

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 the MTA.”
• An innovative banjo player. One of the first to play jazz on the five-string banjo.
• Introduced Bela Fleck to the banjo and gave him his first banjo lessons.
• 1965-1971, played with a folk group called the Down City Ramblers.
• 1971, formed Country Cooking (with Peter Wernick). Made his recording debut with album “15 Bluegrass Instrumentals.”
• 1973, formed Breakfast Special.
• 1976, recorded “Banjoland” album.
• 1977, was musical director for a Broadway show called “The Robber Bridegroom.”
• 1978, played with a group called Monroe Doctrine.
• 1981, formed Skyline.
• 1985, released solo project Hill Country (Rounder).
• 1988, formed The Big Dogs with David Grier and Harley Allen; released “Live at the Birchmere” (Strictly Country).
• He has authored numerous banjo instruction books.
• 1992, performed and recorded with The Rounder Banjo Extravaganza, a collaboration with Tony Furtado, Tom Adams and David Grier.
• 1993, created a touring show (and album) called World Turning (Rounder) which traced the evolution of the banjo from West Africa (where the banjo was born) to the present and future.
• 1995, released a Christmas album Glory Shone Around: A Christmas Collection (Rounder).
• 2000, formed the Tony Trischka Band, a jazz group.
• 2001, performed and recorded with The Wayfaring Strangers.
• 2006, released Solo Banjo Works album with Bela Fleck (Rounder).
• 2007, released Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular album (Rounder) featuring duets with Earl Scruggs, Steve Martin, Bela Fleck, Alison Brown, Tom Adams and other banjo players of note. He and Steve Martin appeared together on the Late Show with David Letterman.
• 2007, won IBMA award for Banjo Player of the Year. Also won Instrumental Album of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year awards for Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular.
• 2008, released Territory album (Rounder).
• 2009, established The Tony Trischka School of Banjo, an interactive banjo instruction website.
• 2012, was awarded the United States Artists Friends Fellow in recognition of his achievements in music.
• 2014, released Great Big World album (Rounder).
• 2024, released Earl Jam album (Down the Road).

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 1993 they released an entire album of possum songs and include in their shows a six-foot possum called Seemore, who dances and hands out candy to the children in the audience.
• This band morphed into The VW Boys.

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 Champion. Began playing at age 12
• 1982, worked with the Bailes Brothers, playing bass.
• 1983-84, joined the cast of TV’s “Hee Haw.”
• Entertained on the General Jackson Showboat for three years (Nashville).
• 1988, first appeared on the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1994, released Son of the South album (no label).
• 1995, named “Best New Artist” by the Traditional Music Association.
• A collector of country music and Civil War memorabilia.
• 2002, began recording & performing with The Tennessee Mafia Jug Band.
• He often performs on Marty Stuart’s TV show.
• 2008, released The Old Grey Mare album (Rounder).
• 2011, released Poor Leroy’s Almanack album (Spring Fed) with the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band.
• 2014, released Barnyard Frolic album (Spring Fed) with the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band.

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 band of the same name that played Dollywood in the early nineties (2) a Canadian bluegrass band with the name True Blue, nor (3) Becky Schlegel’s band which also has the name “True Blue.”
• Williams is the son of Vern Williams (of Vern and Ray fame.) He played guitar and performed with his father in the Vern Williams Band for 15 years.
• Neff (fiddle/mandolin) is a former member of High Country and the Vern Williams Band.
• Siegel (banjo) most recently worked with the Kathy Kallick Band.
• 2003, released “Years Gone By” album

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 group’s primary vocalist and songwriter.
• 2005, released first album “Cobalt Miles of Sky.”
• 2014, released “elsebound” album.

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 Chad Gilbert (bass). A later incarnation of the band included Kyle Kleinman (mandolin), Jason Hale (bass) and Josh Hensley (banjo).
• Nathan Arnett formerly worked with Arnett Bros. and Co. and High Caliber Grass.
• 2013. released “March 2, 2012” album (no label). The date signifies the day a devastating tornado hit Kentucky.
• 2014, released “Cell of Mine” album (no label).
• 2018, released Old Country Store album (Bonfire).
• 2019, Nathan Arnett was a contestant on the NBC TV show The Voice. His wife Chesi often performs with him as a duo.
• 2020, released Crazy House album (Pinecastle).

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 Molly (15, banjo & guitar), Sullivan (12, guitar) and Michael (10, mandolin). Their association with another young musician A.J. Lee (10, mandolin) began at the California Bluegrass Association’s Father’s Day Festival at Grass Valley California.
• 2009, their rendition of “El Cumbachero” on YouTube went viral, with more than a million viewers by 2010.
• Jack Tuttle has been a member of numerous bands including the Tall Timber Boys and Fog City Ramblers (bluegrass), the Gryphon Quintet and Front Porch Swing Band (swing), Emerald (Celtic) and the Mayfield String Band (old-time).
• Jack Tuttle is well known around the San Francisco bay area as a fiddle teacher.
• 2011, released Introducing the Tuttles album (no label).
• 2012, Molly won first place at the Merlefest songwriting contest.
• 2013, released Endless Ocean album (no label).
• 2016, Molly formed her own band.
• 2017, Sullivan and A.J. Lee began performing with a Santa-Cruz based band called Blue Summit.

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 (fiddle), T. Martin Stam (bass).
• They describe their music as “a bluegrass attack fueled by high-octane rock-n-roll energy and triple-distilled oldtimey roots.”
• 2011, released “Catch 23” album.

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 Munde (banjo) has been a part-time member of this band.
• 2003, released Insofarasmuch album (Blue Corn).
• 2006, released Moonshine Boogie album (no label).
• 2008, released Hot Texas Bluegrass Burrito album (no label).

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, joined the Lonesome River Band. Originally hired to play banjo, but switched to mandolin.
• 1992, worked with Alison Krauss and Union Station for one year, playing guitar.
• 1993, returned to the Lonesome River Band.
• 1994, returned to Alison Krauss and Union Station.
• 2000, released dsolo project and sang on soundtrack for the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou” starring George Clooney. Clooney lip-synced to Dan’s lead vocal on “Man of Constant Sorrow.”
• 2000, formed The Dan Tyminski Band with Ron Block, Barry Bales and Jeff White.
• 2001, won the CMA award for Single of the Year (“Man of Constant Sorrow”) and performed it on the CMA Awards Show broadcast with AKUS, Pat Enright and Vince Gill (as the Soggy Bottom Boys).
• 2003, released Carry Me Across The Mountain album (Rounder).
• 2003, co-hosted the 2003 IBMA Awards show with Alison Krauss.
• 2007, re-formed the Dan Tyminski Band with Ron Stewart, Adam Steffey, Barry Bales and Justin Moses.
• 2008, released Wheels album (Rounder).
• 2009, won his fourth IBMA Award for Male Vocalist of the Year (also won in 2001, 2002 and 2003). He also won the IBMA award for Album of the Year (Wheels).
• 2014, sang on a pop recording by electronic dance DJ Avicii called “Hey Brother” which went to #1 in 18 countries and sold more than a billion copies..
• 2017, released solo project under the name Tyminski, Southern Gothic (Mercury Nashville).
• 2021, re-formed the Dan Tyminski Band with Gaven Largent (resophonic guitar), Maddie Denton (fiddle), Jason Davis (banjo), Grace Davis (bass) and Harry Clark (mandolin).
• 2022, released One More Time Before You Go album, a tribute to Tony Rice (North Star).
• 2024, released Dan Tyminski: Live From the Ryman album (8 Track Entertainment).