THE LILLY BROTHERS
- From Boston, Massachusetts. Originally from Clear Creek, West Virginia.
- Two brothers: Everett and Michel (an odd spelling of “Michael” that was often mis-pronounced “Mitchell” so he went by “B” the first initial of his middle name “Burt”).
- In 1938, began performing as the Lonesome Holler Boys. During the 1940’s, they also performed as “The Smiling Mountain Boys.”
- 1948, made their recording debut with Red Belcher and the Kentucky Ridge Runners.
- 1948, joined the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree as the Lilly Mountaineers.
- 1952-1953, Everett played mandolin with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs on many of their classic early recordings.
- 1952, moved to Boston and joined fiddler Tex Logan and banjo player Don Stover to form The Lilly Brothers. For 17 years (until 1970), they performed almost every night at Boston’s Hillbilly Ranch.
- Also recorded as The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover to highlight Stover’s banjo playing.
- Credited with bringing bluegrass to New England, they influenced such future bluegrass artists as Peter Rowan, Jim Rooney, Bill Keith and many others.
- 2001, began performing again with their band “The Lilly Mountaineers.”
- 2002, were inducted into the IBMA’s Hall of Fame. Bill Keith made the presentation.
- 2005, Bea Lilly died.
- 2008, Everett Lilly won the IBMA award for Recorded Event of the Year for Everett Lilly & Everybody and Their Brother
album (Swift River).
- 2012, Everett Lilly died.
RECOMMENDED ALBUMS:
- Early Recordings
(Rebel, 1994)
- What Will I Leave Behind
(Rebel, 2003)
- Bluegrass at the Roots
(Smithsonian Folkways, 2005)
- On the Radio 1952-1953
(Rounder, 2009)