- From Charlottesville, Virginia. Has lived in California, New Mexico, Kentucky, recently moved back to Virginia.
- Has degrees in anthropology and music from University of Virginia and a Ph.D in Ethno-musicology from UC Berkeley.
- 1980-1986, played banjo with Cloud Valley (a Virginia band).
- 1993-1997, played banjo with the Dry Branch Fire Squad.
- 1994-5, served as the curator of the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro.
- 1995, released solo album Native and Fine
(Rounder Records).
- 1996, was elected to the IBMA Board of Directors.
- 1997, left the Dry Branch Fire Squad to perform solo and to work on his Ph.D.
- 1997, began performing a one-man show called “The Banjo in America: A Musical and Cultural History.”
- 2001, started his own record label (Native and Fine Records). Released Bill Evans Plays Banjo
album.
- In addition to his solo performances, he is a member of two bands: The Bluegrass Intentions and Due West. He also tours extensively with banjo player Alan Munde.
- 2008, formed a duo with fiddler Megan Lynch and recorded a CD with her titled Let’s Do Something (Native and Fine).
- 2012, released In Good Company
album with a variety of guest musicians (Native and Fine).
- 2013, recorded an album with fiddler Fletcher Bright Fine Times At Fletcher’s House: Fiddle and Banjo Music from Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
(Native and Fine).
- 2022, was awarded the Steve Martin Banjo Prize.
- 2024, was inducted into the American Banjo Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.
Evans, Bill
