Lawson, Doyle

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DOYLE LAWSON (AND QUICKSILVER)

  • From Kingsport, Tennessee. Lives in Bristol, Tennessee.
  • His father was in an acapella gospel group called the Clinch Mountain Quartet.
  • 1963, joined Jimmy Martin’s band the Sunny Mountain Boys, playing banjo.
  • 1966, joined J.D. Crowe and the Kentucky Mountain Boys, playing mandolin.
  • 1971, joined the Country Gentlemen, playing mandolin.
  • 1979, formed his own band Quicksilver (original name was Foxfire but discovered the name was already in use.)
  • 1995, adopted a new look and new sound, performing around a single vocal mike with precision choreography.
  • 1998, was the first bluegrass band invited to perform at the National Gospel Quartet Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.
  • 2003, won IBMA award for Song of the Year (“Blue Train”).
  • 2005, was elected chairman of the board of the International Bluegrass Music Trust Fund which provides financial assistance to bluegrass artists in times of emergency need. He continues to serve in this capacity.
  • 2006, was presented with a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.
  • 2007, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree by Kings College in Bristol, Tennessee.
  • 2007, won his sixth IBMA Award for Gospel Recorded performance of the Year (also won in 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2006).
  • 2010, recorded with Paul Simon.
  • 2011, added drums to the band’s sound, much to the consternation of some of his fans. He discontinued using the drums in live performances about a year later.
  • 2011, won the IBMA Award for Recorded Event of the Year for the song “Prayers Bells of Heaven” by J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson and Paul Williams (from their album Old Friends Get Together).
  • 2012, was inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame (IBMA).
  • 2012, won the Inspirational Country Music Award for Band/Vocal Group of the Year.
  • 2018, won his eighth IBMA Award for Vocal Group of the Year (also won in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007).
  • 2020, won the IBMA Award for Album of the Year (Live in Prague: Czech Republic).
  • 2021, announced that he will retire after the 2022 season.
  • 2021, received the Tennessee Governor’s Arts Award.
  • 2021, after Doyle’s retirement, his band members formed a new band called Authentic Unlimited.

RECOMMENDED ALBUMS:

  • Tennessee Dream (County Records, 1977) This is Doyle’s first solo project, an album of mandolin instrumentals.
  • The Original Band (Sugar Hill, 1979, 1982) This is a reissue of the first two non-gospel albums by Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver “Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver” and “Quicksilver Rides Again.” Band included Terry Baucom, Lou Reid and Jimmy Haley.
  • Rock my Soul (Sugar Hill, 1981) This is a classic album of gospel songs. Includes one of his most requested: “On the Sea of Life.”
  • Heavenly Treasures (Sugar Hill, 1983) Gospel album. Band includes Terry Baucom, Jimmy Haley and Randy Graham.
  • Once And For Always/The News Is Out (Sugar Hill, 1985/1987) Two albums now packaged together. Two bands: one with Terry Baucom, Jimmy Haley, Randy Graham; the other with Russell Moore, Scott Vestal and Ray Deaton.
  • Beyond the Shadows (Sugar Hill, 1986) Gospel album. Band includes Russell Moore, Scott Vestal and Curtis Vestal.
  • Heavens Joy Awaits (Sugar Hill, 1988) Gospel album (acapella). Quartet includes Russell Moore, Scott Vestal and Ray Deaton.
  • Hymn Time in the Country (Sugar Hill, 1988) Gospel album. Band includes Russell Moore, Scott Vestal, Ray Deaton.
  • I’ll Wander Back Someday (Sugar Hill, 1988) Band includes Russell Moore, Scott Vestal, Ray Deaton.
  • I Heard the Angels Singing (Sugar Hill, 1989) Gospel album. Band includes Russell Moore, Scott Vestal, Ray Deaton.
  • My Heart Is Yours (Sugar Hill, 1990) Band includes Russell Moore, Ray Deaton, Jim Mills and Mike Hargrove.
  • Only God (Sugar Hill, 1991) Gospel Album. Band includes Jim Mills, Shelton Feazell and John Bowman.
  • Pressing On Regardless (Music Mill Entertainment, 1993) Band includes John Bowman, Jim Mills, Shelton Feazell, Kim Gardner, Jim Edmonds.
  • Treasures Money Can’t Buy (Music Mill Entertainment, 1993) Gospel album. Band includes John Bowman, Jim Mills, Shelton Feazell.
  • Hallelujah In My Heart (Music Mill Entertainment, 1994) Gospel album. Band includes Shawn Lane, Jimmy Stewart, Brad Campbell and John Berry.
  • Never Walk Away (Sugar Hill, 1995) Band includes Steve Gulley, Barry Abernathy, Dale Perry and Owen Saunders plus guest artists.
  • There’s a Light Guiding Me (Sugar Hill, 1996) Gospel album. Band includes Steve Gulley, Barry Abernathy, Dale Perry and Owen Saunders.
  • Kept & Protected (Sugar Hill, 1997) Gospel album. Band includes Barry Scott, Barry Abernathy, Dale Perry, Owen Saunders.
  • Gospel Radio Gems (Sugar Hill, 1998) Gospel album (acapella). Quartet includes Barry Scott, Barry Abernathy and Dale Perry.
  • Winding Through Life (Sugar Hill, 1998) Band includes Jamie Dailey, Barry Scott, Dale Perry, Doug Bartlett.
  • Just Over in Heaven (Sugar Hill, 2000) Gospel album. Band includes Barry Scott, Dale Perry, Jamie Dailey, Doug Bartlett.
  • Gospel Parade (Sugar Hill, 2001) Gospel album. Band includes Jamie Dailey, Barry Scott, Dale Perry and Hunter Berry.
  • Hard Game of Love (Sugar Hill, 2002) Includes both the IBMA Song of the Year “Blue Train” and IBMA Gospel Recording of the Year “The Hand Made Cross.” Musicians includes Jamie Dailey, Barry Scott, Dale Perry, Hunter Berry, Barry Abernathy, Jim Van Cleve, Owen Sauders.
  • Thank God (SSK, 2003) Gospel album. Band includes Jamie Dailey, Barry Scott, Dale Perry, J.W. Stockman, Jess Barry.
  • School of Bluegrass (Crossroads, 2004) A celebration of Doyle’s 25th anniversary with Quicksilver featuring many of his former band members.
  • Beyond the Shadows (Sugar Hill, 2004) Band includes Jamie Dailey, Barry Scott, Dale Perry, Jesse Stockman.
  • You Gotta Dig a Little Deeper (Rounder, 2005) Band includes Jamie Dailey, Barry Scott, Terry Baucom, Jesse Stockman.
  • He Lives in Me (Horizon, 2006) Won the IBMA Award for Gospel Recording of the Year both in 2006 and 2007. Band includes Jamie Dailey, Terry Baucom, Darren Beachley, Barry Scott, Mike Hartgrove and Jesse Stockman.
  • More Behind the Picture Than the Wall (Rounder, 2007) Band includes Jamie Dailey, Darren Beachley, Terry Baucom and Mike Hartgrove.
  • Help Is on the Way (Horizon, 2008) Gospel album. Band includes Darren Beachley, Alan Johnson, Joey Cox, Carl White and Josh Swift.
  • Lonely Street (Rounder, 2009) Band includes Carl White, Joey Cox, Josh Swift and Darren Beachley.
  • Light on My Feet, Ready to Fly (Horizon, 2010) Gospel album. Band includes Josh Swift, Jason Barie, Corey Hensley, Mike Rogers, Carl White and Jesse Baker.
  • Drive Time (Mountain Home, 2011) Band includes Josh Swift, Jason Barie, Corey Hensley, Mike Rogers, Carl White and Jesse Baker.
  • Sing Me A Song About Jesus (Mountain Home, 2012) Gospel album. Band includes Josh Swift, Mike Rogers, Jessie Baker, Carl White, Jason Barie and Corie Hensley.
  • Roads Well Traveled (Mountain Home, 2013) Band includes Joe Dean, Corey Hensley, Jason Barie, Mike Rogers and Josh Swift.
  • Open Carefully: Message Inside (Mountain Home, 2014) Gospel album. Band includes Josh Swift, Jason Barie, Joe Dean, Dustin Pyrtle and Eli Johnston.
  • In Session (Mountain Home, 2015) Band includes Dustin Pyrtle, Eli Johnston, Joe Dean, Josh Swift and Stephen Burwell.
  • Life is a Story (Mountain Home, 2017). Band includes Dustin Pyrtle, Eli Johnston, Joe Dean, Josh Swift and Stephen Burwell.
  • Live in Prague Czech Republic (2019, Billy Blue Records). Band includes Jake Vanover, Jerry Cole, Joe Dean, Josh Swift and Stephen Burwell.
  • Roundtable (2021, Billy Blue) Band includes Eli Johnston (banjo), Ben James (guitar), Matt Flake (fiddle), Stephen Burwell (fiddle) and Jerry Cole (bass).