THE GILLIS BROTHERS (AND HARD DRIVING BLUEGRASS)
- From Soperton, Georgia.
- Call their music “Mountain Style Bluegrass from the Georgia Swamplands.”
- Brothers: Larry (banjo) and John (guitar). Larry is four years older than John.
- Their band is called Hard Driving Bluegrass, which pretty much sums up their approach to the music.
- Until 1997, they wore 50’s-era white hats on stage. “I had a headache all the time … and it’s hard to keep ‘em clean,” says John.
- 1995, released Heart & Soul
album (Rebel Records).
- 2003, John Gillis was injured in a logging accident, preventing him from touring with the band.
- 2004, released Down By the River
album (Hay Holler).
- 2005, released Sunshine in the Shadows
album (Hay Holler).
- 2005, Larry formed the Larry Gillis Band and performs mostly around the Tampa, Florida area.
- 2016, John returned to performing with his brother. The act is called Larry and John Gillis and Swampgrass.