Tag: Kentucky Colonels

Mack, LeRoy

Posted on by WR

LEROY MACK

  • From Los Angeles, California.
  • Given name: LeRoy McNees.
  • Former Dobro™ player with the Kentucky Colonels (early 1960’s). He appeared on the Andy Griffith TV show and is a favorite at the annual “Mayberry Days” reunions in Mt. Airy, NC.
  • For more than 20 years, he performed with a Los Angeles area gospel group called The Born Again Bluegrass Band.
  • He never gave up his day job (until retirement in 2004). A devout Christian, he led an organization called Businessmen for Christ.
  • 1978, released Hound Dog Ramble album (Sierra/Brier) with Vince Gill (guitar), Byron Berline (fiddle) and John Hickman (banjo).
  • 1996, released Leroy Mack & Friends (Sugar Hill).
  • 2001, recorded “Together” album with the Canadian band Jerusalem Ridge.
  • 2003, released Smiles & Tears album (no label).
  • 2005, released “Scratchin’ My Beard” album (no label).
  • 2006, worked with Habitat for Humanity in Florida, building homes for the poor.
  • 2013, released Stories album (no label).
  • 2015, formed a new gospel group in Los Angeles called “Gloryland.”

White, Roland

Posted on by WR

ROLAND WHITE

  • From Maine. Grew up in California. Lives in Nashville.
  • First band: The Country Boys with his brothers Clarence and Eric (began in Maine, continued in California.)
  • 1956, formed the Kentucky Colonels with brothers Clarence and Eric, and Billy Ray Lathum.
  • 1967, joined Bill Monroe and The Blue Grass Boys, playing guitar.
  • 1969, joined Lester Flatt and the Nashville Grass.
  • 1973, re-joined brothers Eric and Clarence to form the New Kentucky Colonels (with Herb Pederson and Alan Munde.)
  • 1974, joined the Country Gazette.
  • 1977, released solo project I Wasn’t Born to Rock ‘N Roll album (Ridge Runner).
  • 1987, joined the Nashville Bluegrass Band.
  • 1994, released solo project Trying To Get To You (Sugar Hill).
  • 2001, left the Nashville Bluegrass Band to perform with his wife Diane Bouska as The Roland White Band.
  • 2002, released Jelly on My Tofu album (Copper Creek).
  • 2014, released Straight-Ahead Bluegrass album (no label).
  • 2017, was inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. (His brother Clarence was inducted in 2016).
  • 2019, released Roland White and Friends album (Mountain Home).
  • 2022, died at the age of 83.