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.”
• Was one of the few banjo-picking lead singers in bluegrass music.
• First pro job: with Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys (in Yakima Washington).
• 1972, joined Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers.
• 1975-1978, worked with Lillimae and the Dixie Gospelaires, Red Allen and the Kentuckians, the Boys from Indiana.
• 1978, formed his own group River Bend.
• 1979, released “Highway 52” album (Vetco).
• 1980, released “Call Me Long Gone” album (Vetco).
• 1981, released “Goin’ Round This World” album (Rebel).
• 1982, released “A Few More Seasons” album (Rebel).
• 1983, released “Poor Rambler” album (Rebel).
• 1984, released “Bluegrass Memories” album (Rebel).
• 1985, released “Close to Home” album (Rebel).
• 1989, his career suffered a setback when he was sentenced to serve ten years in a federal penitentiary on a felonious assault charge. He served six years and was released in 1995.
• While in prison, he learned to play guitar.
• 1996, began performing and recording again.
• 1997, released Just Look at Me Now album (Rebel).
• 2000, released Bad Moon Shining album (Rebel).
• 2002, released Hang a Light Out for Me album (Rebel).
• 2003, released High Waters album (Rebel).
• 2006, released Pretty Green Hills album (Rebel).
• 2008, released The Best of the Vetco Years album (Rebel).
• 2011, underwent a quintuple bypass surgery on his heart. Reports are that he died (flatlined) on the table but survived the operation.
• 2013, a documentary film was released about his life titled “Last of the Breed: The Dave Evans Story.”
• 2017, died at the age of 66.