JOHNNY STAATS (AND THE DELIVERY BOYS)

• From Jackson County, West Virginia. Lives on a 20 acre farm.
• Started playing mandolin at age seven. Also plays guitar and fiddle.
• At age nine, formed his first band called “Bluegrass Heritage.”
• After graduation from high school, pursued a music career in Nashville, but things didn’t work out. Returned home and took a job with United Parcel Service (UPS).
• 1992, formed a group called The Cross Roads Band, performing mostly gospel music. After touring Taiwan, the group broke up.
• Does studio work in West Virginia and tours with his new band “The Johnny Staats Project.”
• 1992, 1993, won the Ohio State Guitar Championship.
• 1995, won the guitar championship at MerleFest.
• 1995, Cross Currents Band won band contest at Winterhawk.
• 1996, 1997, 1999 won the mandolin and guitar championships at Vandalia Gathering in Charleston, West Virginia.
• Hobby: coon hunting.
• 2000, released a solo album Wires And Wood (Giant) backed by John Cowan, Scott Vestal, Sam Bush, Kathy Mattea, Jim Hurst, Tim O’Brien and Jerry Douglas.
• Has appeared on the Today Show (NBC) and the CBS News with Dan Rather.
• 2012, formed his own band The Delivery Boys. He continues to work as a driver for UPS.
• 2013, released Time Moves on album (no label).