GEORGE SHUFFLER
- From Valdese, North Carolina.
- Best known as the man who made the guitar solo an integral part of the “Stanley Sound” when he was with The Stanley Brothers in the fifties and early sixties.
- 1950, was in a comedy group called Mustard and Gravy.
- 1951, worked in a band with Jim and Jesse McReynolds and Hoke Jenkins
- Worked with the Stanley Brothers off and on throughout the 1950’s. Developed his “cross-picking” style on the guitar to compliment Carter’s singing. Many considered him “the third Stanley Brother.”
- After Carter’s death in 1966, he worked with Ralph for a short time, then joined Don Reno and Bill Harrell until 1970.
- 1970, formed the Shuffler Family Band, with his brothers and children, playing traditional southern gospel music.
- 1996, received IBMA’s Distinguished Achievement Award.
- 1999, came out of retirement to work with Ralph Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Boys, playing bass (replaced Jack Cooke for several months, when Jack had health problems).
- 2011, was inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
- 2014, died on April 7, four days shy of his 89th birthday.