Sisk, Junior

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JUNIOR SISK (AND RAMBLER’S CHOICE)

  • From Ferrum, Virginia (born in Arlington).
  • Began performing at age 16, playing bass with local bands around Virginia. Eventually switched to guitar.
  • 1995, worked with Wyatt Rice and Santa Cruz with his cousin, Tim Massey (a successful bluegrass songwriter).
  • 1998-2001, lead singer with Rambler’s Choice, a band he formed with Massey, Elmer Burchett, Jimmy VanCleve and Allan Perdue.
  • 1998, was featured on the Doobie Shea “A Stanley Tradition” album.
  • 2001, he and his wife Susan were in a serious auto accident. He suffered minor injuries, but his wife had multiple surgeries and a long recovery.
  • 2001, worked with the Lost and Found.
  • 2002, joined Baucom, Bibey and BlueRidge.
  • 2007, re-formed Rambler’s Choice with Massey, Darrell Wilkerson (banjo), Chris Harris (mandolin), and Billy Hawks (fiddle).
  • 2008, released Blue Side of the Blue Ridge album (Rebel).
  • 2010 released Heartaches and Dreams album (Rebel).
  • 2011, released The Heart of a Song album (Rebel).
  • 2013, released The Story of the Day That I Died album (Rebel).
  • 2012, won IBMA Award for Song of the Year (“A Far Cry from Lester and Earl”) and Album of the Year (“The Heart of a Song”).
  • 2013, won IBMA Award for Male Vocalist of the Year.
  • 2013, released an album of duets with Joe Mullins Hall of Fame Bluegrass (Rebel).
  • 2014, released Trouble Follows Me album (Rebel).
  • 2016, won IBMA Award for Recorded Event of the Year for “Longneck Blues” (with Ronnie Bowman).
  • 2017, released The Mountains Are Calling Me Home album (Mountain Fever)
  • 2018, disbanded Ramblers Choice. Band members Jason Davis (banjo) and Kameron Keller (bass) formed a new band with several members of the Boxcars (also recently disbanded) called the Highland Travelers.
  • 2018, released Brand New Shade of Blue album (Mountain Fever).
  • 2022, released Lost and Alone album (Mountain Fever).
  • 2023, his band included Heather Berry Mabe (guitar), Tony Mabe (banjo), Jonathan Dillon (mandolin), and Curt Love (bass). They also perform on their own as Red Camel Collective.