Bluegrass Bios B

THE BAD LIVERS

From Austin, Texas.
Some call their music "bluegrass-punk" or "thrash-bluegrass."
A fusion of Tex-Mex, cajun, reggae, rock, country and bluegrass. Band includes an accordian and a tuba.
Formed in 1990 by banjo/guitar player Danny Barnes, who wrote most of the band's material.
2001, group disbanded and Barnes moved to Seattle. He released a solo project in 2003.
2005, Barnes recorded with Greasy Beans (a North Carolina band) and also worked several dates with Tim O'Brien.

BRITTANY BAILEY

From Junction City (near Eugene), Oregon. Moved to Nashville to pursue her career in music.
At age 12, performed on stage with Alison Krauss and Union Station.
1996, sang with an Oregon band, Blue River.
1997, formed group called Severin and Bailey.
Has made guest appearances with Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time, The Sidemen, The Roland White Band, The John Cowan Band and others.
2004, released first solo project.

JAMES BAILEY

From Keysville, Virginia.
Has played banjo with the Country Gentlemen, Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury, Doyle Lawson, Gary Ferguson.
2001, released solo project.

RICHARD BAILEY

From Memphis. Lives in Nashville.
1986, recorded a solo album called Night Light.
Began playing banjo with the Tennessee Gentlemen (Memphis).
Has performed and recorded with such artists asAl Green, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Michael Martin Murphy, and Kenny Rogers.
Bluegrass artists he has performed and/or recorded with: Bill Monroe, Vassar Clements, Harley Allen, Curley Seckler, Chubby Wise, David Grier, Jim Rooney, Peter Rowan, Lonesome Standard Time, others.
Most recently has been performing with The Cluster Pluckers, Kathy Chiavola, and the Roland White Band, The J.T. Gray Band, others.
2004, performed on Andy Leftwich's "Ride" CD.

THE BAKER BOYS

From Martinsville, Indiana.
Features brothers Jessie (banjo) and Taylor (mandolin) Baker. Jessie was born in 1991, Taylor in 1993.
Began performing in 2002. Mom and dad, Anna and David, perform with the boys on bass and guitar.
Have won several band competitions and perform regularly at festivals like Bean Blossom and Ralph Stanley's Memorial Weekend Bluegrass Festival in Coeburn, VA.
2006, performed at the Grand Ole Opry with Mike Snider.
2008, released first CD on Patuxent Records.

KENNY BAKER

From Jenkins, Kentucky
Fiddler with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys on four different occasions (1957-1984). Longest stint: 17½ years from March ‘67 to October ‘84.
Bill Monroe called him "the greatest bluegrass fiddler in the world."
First pro job: Don Gibson's band (1953).
1990-91, recorded and toured with a group called "The Masters" (with Josh Graves, Byron Berline and Eddie Adcock).
1990's, performed mostly with Dobro™ player Josh Graves.
1999, inducted into the IBMA's Hall of Honor.

BUTCH BALDASSARI (See also WEARY HEARTS, NASHVILLE MANDOLIN ENSEMBLE)

Mandolinist from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Lives in Nashville.
Grew up listening to Frank Sinatra, Louis Prima and other classic pop stars.
Converted to bluegrass after attending 1972 Philadelphia Folk Festival.
1977, moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. Worked as a croupier, running craps tables in the El Cortez and MGM Grand Casinos.
1986, joined the Phoenix, Arizona-based band Weary Hearts with Ron Block, Mike Bub and Chris Jones.
1989, moved to Nashville with Weary Hearts, but the group disbanded not long after that.
1991, formed "The Nashville Mandolin Ensemble," a group that performs "Bach, Beethoven and Bill Monroe."
1994-1998, worked with Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time. Also worked with the Kathy Chiavola Band.
Has several mandolin instruction videos to his credit.
1996, named adjunct professor of mandolin at the Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University.
1996, became vice president of the Classical Mandolin Society of America.
1996, joined Richard Greene's "The Grass is Greener."
Founder of his own record company "SoundArt Recordings."
2002, wrote and produced "Blue Moon Over Kentucky," a symphony for orchestra and mandolin featuring the music of Bill Monroe.
2007, was diagnosed with brain cancer.

BALSAM RANGE

From Clyde, North Carolina.
Formed in 2007 by Marc Pruett (banjo), Caleb Smith (guitar), Darren Nicholson (mandolin), Tim Surrett (bass and resonator guitar) and Buddy Melton (fiddle).
Pruett has worked with Ricky Skaggs (played banjo on Skaggs' landmark "Sweet Temptation" album in 1979 and was a founding member of Kentucky Thunder in 1996) and James Monroe. Also had a gospel group called "Harvest."
Nicholson previously worked with Alecia Nugent.
Surrett is a former member of the Isaacs and the Kingsmen.
The Balsam mountain range is on the southern edge of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park, surrounding the area in which the band members live.

THE BARBED WIRE CUTTERS

From Bellingham, Washington.
2002, won Best Bluegrass Band competition at the Columbia Gorge Bluegrass festival.

JUNIOR BARBER (See also THE GIBSON BROTHERS)

From Plattsburgh, New York.
Plays resonator guitar (Dobro™) for the Gibson Brothers.
2001, recorded solo album produced by Alan O'Bryant of the Nashville Bluegrass Band.
2002, played dates with Gary Ferguson and Sally Love.
Currently performs with his own three-piece band, "Beartracks."

JEFF BARBRA AND SARAH PIRKLE

FromWalland, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains.
A husband and wife duo who performacoustic or "Americana" music (guitar, mandolin and fiddle). They are also accomplished songwriters.
2000, won first place at Merlefest Songwriting Contest.
Host radio program in East Tennessee called "Behind the Barn" on WDVX.
2004, wrote the score for a play called "Measured in Labor: The Coal Creek Project" in Knoxville.

RUSS BARENBERG

From southeast Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.
Guitarist who plays bluegrass laced with jazz, folk, cajun, celtic, carribean and latin elements.
Began performing with Peter Wernick and Tony Trischka in the New York-based group Country Cooking (early 1970's).
1986, moved to Nashville to work as a session musician.
1992, toured with Irish folk-singer Maura O'Connell.
1994, formed a trio with Jerry Douglas and Edgar Meyer ("Skip, Hop and Wobble")

JASON BARIE

From Tampa, Florida.
Began playing fiddle at age 10.
6-time winner of the Florida State Fiddle Championship.
2002-7, worked with Jim and Jesse, the Sand Mountain Boys, Jorraine Jordan and Carolina Road, Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top XPress, other bands.
2007, joined the Larry Stephenson Band (became the first fiddle player ever in Stephenson's band).
2007, released solo project "The Past is Present."

LINDA BARKER (See APPALACHIAN TRAIL)

THE BARONS OF BLUEGRASS (SeeWALTER HENSLEY)

DANNY BARNES (See THE BAD LIVERS, THE OVERALL BROTHERS)

RICK BARTLEY

From Georgetown, Kentucky.
1974, played banjo with the Cumberland Mountain Boys.
1980, joined Hobo Grass, playing banjo and mandolin.
1988, formed band called Newground, playing guitar.
2000, formed Rick Bartley and Blackwater.
2003, recorded solo album.

SHAYNE BARTLEY

From Georgetown, Kentucky.
A mandolin player and vocalist who has worked with the Lost and Found, Charlie Sizemore Band, Southern Blend, Unlimited Tradition and the Rarely Herd.
2003, formed a band called "Lexington."
2003, joined Karl Shiflett's band.
2004, joined White Lightning Strike, a new band featuring Tony King (formerly of J.D. Crowe's New South and several country bands including Brooks and Dunn.)

BASHFUL BROTHER OSWALD

From Sevierville, Tennessee
Real name: Beecher Ray Kirby
Longtime member of Roy Acuff's Smokey Mountain Boys.
Best known as one of the first musicians to popularize the Dobro™ in country music.
Also plays clawhammer banjo.
The nickname "Brother Oswald" was given by Acuff when he added a young unmarried woman named Rachel Veach to his band. Oswald pretended to be her brother, making her presence in the group acceptable to conservative audiences.
After Acuff's death, was made a member of the Grand Ole Opry (1994) and continued to perform solo.
Died in 2002.

THE BASS MOUNTAIN BOYS

From Burlington, North Carolina.
Formed in 1974. Began as a family band.
Host two bluegrass festivals each year on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend at Bass Mountain Music Park in Burlington (owned by former bass player, John Maness).
Broke up in 1996.

TERRY BAUCOM

From Monroe, North Carolina.
Started playing banjo at age ten with his father's group The Rocky River Boys. Took up the fiddle at age 14.
First pro job: playing fiddle with Charlie Moore (1970-1973.)
1976, joined Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas and Wes Golding to form "Boone Creek."
1979, was a founding member of Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. Lawson calls him "Mr. Drive."
1985, formed The New Quicksilver with Randy Graham, Alan Bibey and Jimmy Haley.
1991, was a founding member of IIIrd Tyme Out.
1992, with Lou Reid formed "Lou Reid, Terry Baucom and Carolina."
1996, left the road to freelance and teach music in the Charlotte, NC area.
1998, formed BlueRidge (a re-united New Quicksilver).
2001, formed Baucom, Bibey and BlueRidge.
2003, re-joined Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver.
2007, left Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver to pursue "banjo-focused opportunities," including producing instructional DVD's. He also is working part-time with the Mark Newton Band and the Kenny & Amanda Smith Band.

BAUCOM, BIBEY AND BLUERIDGE (See BLUERIDGE)

BCH (See CALIFORNIA)

THE BE GOOD TANYAS

From Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Band members met while working as tree planters in BC's Kootenay Mountains. Formed the band in 1999.
Members: Frazey Ford, Trish Klein, and Samantha Parton.
Blend bluegrass with folk, jazz, gospel. Has been described as "beguiling, haunting, rustic, ambient, hobo-erotica, and goth-folk."
2001, released first album "Blue Horse."

THE BEACON HILLBILLIES

From Boston, Massachusetts.
Led by mandolinist Jim Ryan. Also features John McGann (guitar) and Jim Whitney (bass.)
The "original" Beacon Hillbillies formed in 1896 in Duffield, West Virginia. Ryan's grandfather was leader of that band.
Ryan also played with a group called Blood Oranges, a fusion of bluegrass and rock.
Toured Japan in 1992.
McGann won the 1985 Winfield Mandolin Championship.

BEARFOOT

From Anchorage, Alaska.
2000, formed by a group of young music camp counselors who were drawn to bluegrass and traditional music.
Members of the band: Kate Hamre (bass), Mike Nicholson (guitar), Jason Norris (mandolin), Annalisa Tornfelt (fiddle), Angela Oudean (fiddle)
2001, entered and won the Telluride band competition.
2002, released first CD which sold more than 7000 copies the first year.
They produce "Bluegrass Camps" for children all over the United States.
2006, released "Follow Me" CD featuring 8 new songs written by fiddler/vocalist Annalisa Tornfelt.

JANET BEAZLEY

From San Juan Capistrano, California. Originally from Bakersfield.
Plays banjo with Chris Stuart and Backcountry.
Formerly played with Copperline (with Eric Uglum).
Has a Ph.D in early music performance. She teaches music history and music appreciation at UC Irvine, USC's Thornton School of Music and UC Riverside.
Also plays flute, recorder, and historic guitars.
2005, released first solo project.

DELIA BELL (See BILL GRANT AND DELIA BELL)

MAC BENFORD (AND THE WOODSHED ALL-STARS)

From Ithica, New York.
Founding member of the legendary Highwoods String Band.
Plays banjo in the traditional clawhammer style.
Band performs traditional string-band music with a driving bluegrass style.
Also plays with a group called Noah's Arkestra, so called because there are two of every instrument in the band.

RICHARD BENNETT

From Johnson City, Tennessee.
Age 11, played guitar on the Martha White Caravan for the Rose Brothers. Age 15, played guitar with fiddler Benny Sims. Then worked with The Toe River Boys, the Webb Brothers, and Mousie Creek (Gatlinburg, TN).
1983-1990, worked at Dollywood theme park.
1990-95, joined J.D. Crowe and the New South.
1995, joined Lou Reid and Carolina
1996, joined Tim White's group, "The Beagles."
1996, recorded first solo project.1998, formed a group called Blue Towne.
1999, formed group "Auldridge, Bennett and Gaudreau" with Mike Auldridge and Jimmy Gaudreau.
Is married to Wanda Barnett, formerly with the New Coon Creek Girls.
2004, joined The Dean Osborne Band.

KRISTIN SCOTT BENSON

From Union, South Carolina. Lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Began playing mandolin at age 5, learned banjo at age 13.
1995-1999, played banjo with the Larry Stephenson Band while attending Belmont University.
2000, joined Sally Jones and the Sidewinders.
2001, released first solo album of banjo instrumentals.
2002, joined Honi Deaton and Dream.
Is married to Wayne Benson (of Third Tyme Out).
2004, joined Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time.
2006, left Cordle's band to re-join the Larry Stephenson Band. She also gave birth to her first child.

WAYNE BENSON

From Charlotte, NC. Lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Full name: John Wayne Benson.
Started playing mandolin at age 15.
1989, formed "Livewire" with Scott Vestal, Ernie Sykes and Robert Hale.
1993, joined Third Tyme Out.
2003, released solo project.
2003, Gibson issued "Wayne Benson Signature" model mandolin.
2004, left Third Tyme Out to join the John Cowan Band.
Has won the SPBGMA award for Mandolin Player of the Year several times.
Is married to Kristin Scott Benson.
2007, returned to Third Tyme Out.

TOTTE BERGSTROM

From Sweden.
Pronounced "Totty."
1969, performed with a group called Country Express.
1970's, had a bluegrass group called The New Strangers.
Was influenced by guitarist Clarence White in Sweden in 1973. Began using the Parsons-White stringbender (which White was using on his electric guitar) and formed a country-rock band called Moonshine.
Prmarily a vocalist, he also performs on guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, Dobro™, autoharp and bass.
1996-1997, toured and recorded with Bluegrass Etc.
With a crooner's voice and a penchant for love songs, he says he's doing his part to put a little more "romance" in bluegrass music.

BYRON BERLINE (See also CALIFORNIA)

From Caldwell, Kansas. Lives in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Three-time national fiddle champion.
Began playing fiddle at age 5.
While attending University of Oklahoma, met the Dillards (on Nov. 22, 1963—the day John Kennedy was assassinated.) His first exposure to bluegrass music.
1969-1995, lived in the Los Angeles, California area.
First recording: "Pickin' and Fiddlin'" (The Dillards with Byron Berline)
Has led or been a member of many bands, including The Dillard and Clark Expedition, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Country Gazette, Sundance, The L.A. Fiddle Band, BCH, Mason Williams, and California (with Dan Crary, John Hickman, Steve Spurgin, and John Moore.)
Late 1960's, was a member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys.
Studio credits: Has performed on recordings by Vince Gill, The Dillards, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones and many others. Movie Soundtracks: "Urban Cowboy", "Back to the Future III", and "The Rose."
Appeared in one episode of the original TV series "Star Trek." Played a crew member of the Starship Enterprise who traveled back in time and found himself a violinist in a classical string quartet.
Had a bit part in the movie "Basic Instinct" with Sharon Stone.Gave Vince Gill his first job as a professional musician. Vince was only 19 when he joined Byron's group, Sundance (1977).
1994, appeared on the TV show "Evening Shade."
1995, moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma. Owns and operates "Byron's Double Stop Fiddle Shop and Concert Hall."
His album "Fiddle and a Song" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1996.
1997, formed The Byron Berline Band which features both bluegrass and western swing. Performs regularly at the Fiddle Shop Concert Hall in Guthrie.
Hosts the annual International Bluegrass Music Festival in Guthrie, featuring bands from all over the world.
2003, re-united with California to make several appearances and to record a new album.
2005. toured China with his band.

BARRY BERRIER

From Mt. Airy, North Carolina.
First band: "Interstate Exchange" with friends Sammy Shelor and Alan Bibey.
Early 80's, formed "Summer Wages" with Craig Smith.
After Summer Wages, worked with the Easter Brothers and the Bluegrass Cardinals (1989-90).
1991, joined the Lost and Found as guitarist and lead singer.
1995, recorded first solo album.
2001, left the road to form his own business, a body shop.
2004, joined Continental Divide.
2005, joined the Lonesome River Band.

HEATHER BERRY

From Sherando, Virginia (Shenandoah Valley).
Began singing in church at age 5.
First instrument: autoharp. Performed with the Lewis Family as a child.
Age 13,formed her first band.
2005, won autoharp championship at the Maury River (VA) Fiddlers Convention.
2005, formed new band "Dominion Grass" at the age of 15.

HUNTER BERRY

From Elizabethton, Tennessee.
Learned fiddle at age 4. Taught by Benny Sims and David Yates.
2001, joined Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver at age 17. Was invited to join Doyle Lawson's band when he was in the 8th grade but waited until he had his high school diploma. Stayed with Doyle for 9 months.
2002, joined Rhonda Vincent and the Rage.
Has been a final nominee for the IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year award, and has been a multiple winner of the SPBGMA Fiddle Player of the Year award.
2007, released solo project "Wow, Baby."

CARROLL BEST

From Haywood County, North Carolina
One of the earliest "melodic" or "chromatic" style banjo players, who began playing fiddle tunes note-for-note on the banjo in the 1940's. He influenced such popularizers of the style as Bobby Thompson, Eric Weissberg and Bill Keith.
Was a farmer, but played banjo professionally with the Morris Brothers in the 1950's.
Died in 1997.

ALAN BIBEY (See also BLUERIDGE)

Mandolin player from North Carolina.
1982, won the mandolin championship at the World's Fair in Knoxville.
1983, played with Wes Golding's band "Sure Fire."
1985, formed The New Quicksilver with Terry Baucom, Randy Graham and Jimmy Haley.
1990, was a founding member of IIIrd Tyme Out.
1997, formed BlueRidge with former members of The New Quicksilver (Baucom, Haley & Graham). Since then, the band has undergone several personnel changes.
Owns a 1923 Lloyd Loar Gibson F-5 mandolin that was signed by Loar on the same date as the one owned and played by Bill Monroe.
2002, released a solo project.

BIG COUNTRY BLUEGRASS BAND

From Troutdale, Virginia
Formed by Tommy and Teresa Sells in 1987.
Perform what some call "Galax" or "Mt. Airy" bluegrass: very hard core traditional sound.
James King is a former member of this band.
Name came from the Jimmy Martin instrumental "Big Country" (performed by J.D. Crowe on banjo). That was the first song recorded by the band in 1989.
1999, won a contest sponsored by Martha White flour on the occasion of their 100th anniversary for having the best rendition of the Martha White Theme. They got to perform it live on the Grand Ole Opry.
2006, Lynwood Lunsford joined the band; also Johnny Williams.

BIG HILLBILLY BLUEGRASS

From the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area.
Formed by guitarist Bob Perilla.
Perform at a club in Adams Morgan (a D.C. suburb) every Wednesday night.
Appeared in the Chris Rock movie "Head of State."
Have made multiple Kennedy Center appearances.
Performed with Earl Scruggs.
Band includes Mike Mumford (banjo) and Tad Marks (fiddle).
2005, 2006, toured eastern Europe.

THE BILLS

From Victoria, B.C., Canada
Formed in 1996 as the Bill Hilly Band.
Original members Marc Atkinson and Scott White (guitar, mandolin, fiddle) had formerly played jazz and rock. Added Chris Frye (guitar) and Glen Manders bass) to the band and began performing folk and acoustic music in various live music clubs around Victoria.
2000, added Adrian Dolan (fiddle, accordian, piano). Released first album.
2001, won Juno award (Canadian Grammy).
2003, added fiddler Jeremy Penner. Recorded "Let Em Run" video, with aiplay on Canadian CMT. Shortened the name of the band to "The Bills."
2004, released Let Em Run CD on Red House Records.

THE BISCUIT BURNERS

From Asheville,North Carolina.
Formed in 2002 by Lizzie Hamilton (fiddle), Shannon Whitworth (guitar), Rocky Whittington (banjo) and Mary Lucey (bass). Hamilton had previously worked with the Steep Canyon Rangers.
Perform what they call "fiery mountain music." A blend of old time, bluegrass and world music.
Started out as an all female-band, which explains the name ... four women who were so engrossed in playing music that they forgot what was on the stove.
2005, lineup included Lucey, Whitworth plus new members Bill Cardine (resophonic guitar), and Dan Bletz (guitar). Cardine and Lucey are married.
Cardine plays a 22-string resophonic guitar in the band (a cross between a Dobro™ and a sitar.) He spent time in India, studying music there.
The group conducts a "roots music in the schools" program to introduce elementary school children to appalachian, old-time, bluegrass and world music.
2007, lineup included Lucey, Cardine, Bletz with new members Odessa Jorgensen (fiddle) and Wes Corbett (banjo).
2007, Mary Lucey also worked with Uncle Earl on their "Waterloo, Tennessee" album and tour.

LAWRENCE BISHOP

Gospel perfomer from Monroe, Ohio.
Bishop pastors the Solid Rock Church in Monroe.
Has recorded several albums featuring top bluegrass musicians including Tom Adams, Adam Steffey, Clay Hess, Michael Cleveland, etc.

THE BLADERUNNERS

From Riverside County, California.
Formed in 1998.
2000, represented Southern California in the Pizza Hut International Bluegrass Showdown in Louisville.
Members: Dave Dickey III (mandolin), Billy Reid (guitar) Sandy MacLean (guitar) and Dave Brown (bass.)
Dickey's father was an original member of the band Lost Highway.

NORMAN BLAKE

Native of Georgia. Grew up in Sulphur Springs and Rising Fawn.
An accomplished instrumentalist who performs on guitar, mandolin, fiddle and a host of other traditional Appalachian instruments. Also a vocalist, composer and songwriter.
Began performing in the 1950's with a group called "The Dixie Drifters."
Early 60's, worked with Hylo Brown on WWVA, Wheeling, West Virginia.
A Nashville studio musician during the 1960's and 1970's. Worked with Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Early 1970's, was a member of the group Red, White and Bluegrass.
Toured with John Hartford for two years.
Since late 1970's, has performed and recorded with his wife Nancy or with his group "The Rising Fawn String Ensemble."
Has recorded two duet albums with guitarist Tony Rice.
Married Nancy in 1975. She was a classical celloist from Independence, Missouri who met Norman while playing in the Nashville Youth Orchestra.
Describes the music of his Rising Fawn String Ensemble as "Chamber Bluegrass."
2000, appeared on the soundtrack to the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou" starring George Clooney.
2001-2, toured with the "Down f rom the Mountain" tour.

AUDIE BLAYLOCK

Born in El Paso, Texas; grew up in Lansing, Michigan. Lives in Garrett, Indiana.
Early years: played guitar and mandolin in local bands.
1983, played mandolin with Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain Boys.
1990, worked with the late Red Allen (until his death in 1993).
1993, a short stint with the Lynn Morris Band.
1997, worked with Harley Allen.
1999-2003, worked with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, playing guitar.
2001, recorded solo album "Trains Are the Only Way to Fly."
2004, formed "Audie Blaylock and Redline."
2004, was featured on "Tribute to Jimmy Martin" CD.
2006, teamed up with fiddler Michael Cleveland to form "Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper featuring Audie Blaylock."
2007, left Michael Cleveland's band to pursue his own musical career.

THE BLIND CORN LIQUOR PICKERS

From Lexington, Kentucky.
A "slam-grass" band featuring Joel Serdenis (mandolin), Todd Anderson (bass), Tom Fassas (guitar), Travis Young (banjo).
Motto: "In Jug We Trust."
Combine elements of rock, rockabilly, jazz and bluegrass.
Banjo player Travis Young lived in Japan, taught English there, works as a translator.
Guitarist Fassas built a geodesic dome "log house" and has a petroleum services business.
2005, released first album "Anywhere Else", produced by Bill Vorndick.

THE BLINKY MOON BOYS

From Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia (band members commute to performances).
Formed in 1989 at the Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival (New York). Perform annually at the Galax Old Time Fiddler's Convention (Virginia).
Name: comes from "a joke about the goings on at the Blinky Moon Tourist Court in Williamsburg, Kentucky."
Band members: Lynn Dugger (banjo), Jeff Huss (guitar), Darin Lawrence (mandolin), Bill Ledbetter (bass), Tom Brantley (fiddle).
Brantley is also a member of the gospel group New Road.
2004, released first album on Hay Holler.

RON BLOCK

From Torrance, California. Lives in Nashville.
His father owned a music store (Hogan's Music) in Southern California. He grew up literally surrounded by musical instruments.
Began playing guitar at age 11; banjo at age 13.
1985-1989, was a member of Weary Hearts with Chris Jones, Butch Baldassari and Eric Uglum.
1991, worked with the Lynn Morris Band.
1992, joined Alison Krauss and Union Station, playing banjo and guitar. Regarded the "spiritual touchstone" of the group because of his deep religious faith.
Has written songs that have been recorded by Alison Krauss, Randy Travis, Rhonda Vincent, the Cox Family, Dan Tyminski, many others.
2000, appeared and performed in the movie and soundtrack for "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
2001, released solo album of original gospel music.
2004, delivered the keynote address at the IBMA World of Bluegrass in Louisville.

THE BLUEGRASS 45

From Kobe, Japan
A legendary band from Japan that made its American debut in 1971 at Bill Monroe's Beanblossom Festival.
Original group included Shoji Tabuchi, a major star in Branson, Missouri.
Also includes the Watanabe Brothers (Toshio and Saburo), Japan's first bluegrass festival promoters. They also publish the magazine "Moonshiner," and started Red Clay Records in Japan. Saburo was elected to the IBMA Board of Directors in 1995.
The name comes from "Train 45," "Colt 45," and the year 1945 when bluegrass music was born.
Appeared in the movie "Bluegrass—Country Soul," featuring artists appearing at Carlton Haney's Camp Springs (NC) festival.

THE BLUEGRASS BAND

Formed originally in 1972 by former Blue Grass Boy Butch Robins (banjo). Other members: Alan O"Bryant (guitar), Blaine Sprouse (fiddle), Ed Dye (bass.)
Group disbanded after one year, but re-formed in 1989 as a recording band with Dudley Connell, Larry Stephenson, Ronnie and Rickie Simpkins, Wayne Henderson, other musicians.
They recorded four albums of bluegrass standards and gospel music, the first recordings on the Hay Holler label–sold primarily by mail order on television info-mercials.

THE BLUEGRASS ALBUM BAND

A recording band featuring Tony Rice, guitar; J.D. Crowe, banjo; Doyle Lawson, mandolin; Bobby Hicks, fiddle; Todd Phillips, bass; Jerry Douglas, Dobro™ (third album on); Vassar Clements, fiddle (fifth album on).
Recorded first album in 1981; the last in 1996 (six albums altogether).
1990, won IBMA award for "Instrumental Group of the Year."
1997, won IBMA award for "Instrumental Album of the Year" (for "Bluegrass Instrumentals, Vol. 6.")
2003, re-united for J.D. Crowe's induction into the IBMA's Hall of Honor.

THE BLUEGRASS ALLIANCE

From Louisville, Kentucky.
Formed in late 1960's by Dan Crary (guitar), Wayne Stewart (mandolin), Buddy Spurlock (banjo), Lonnie Peerce (fiddle) and Harry Shealor (bass, AKA Ebo Walker).
Peerce eventually became the leader of the band. He died in 1996.
Other former members: mandolinist Sam Bush, guitarist Tony Rice, and vocalist Vince Gill.
They were the first group to use the term "newgrass." (The New Grass Revival emerged from this band in 1971.)
Broke up for good in 1978.
1998, Barry Palmer, a long-time fan of the BG Alliance, formed a new group using the same name in Atlanta, Georgia. Lonnie Peerce gave Barry the rights to the band name before he died. Recorded an album called "Re-Alliance" in 2001.

THE BLUEGRASS BROTHERS

From Salem-Roanoke, Virginia.
Formed in 1992 by brothers Robert (banjo) and Victor Dowdy (bass).
1998, Victor's son Steve joined the band, playing guitar.
Specialize in traditional "hard-driving" bluegrass.

THE BLUEGRASS CARDINALS (See also DAVID PARMLEY)

Originally from Los Angeles, California. Moved to Virginia in 1976.
Formed in 1974. Original members: Don Parmley and son David (who was 17 at the time), Randy Graham and Bill Bryson.
Don Parmley (banjo) is from Monticello, Kentucky. Moved to Los Angeles in 1956. Performed with several LA bands including the Golden State Boys and The Blue Diamond Boys (later The Hillmen)—with Vern Gosdin and Chris Hillman. Recorded with Glen Campbell. As a studio musician, played banjo on TV series "The Beverly Hillbillies." (While Flatt and Scruggs recorded the theme and made guest appearances on the show, it was Parmley who played banjo on the program's soundtrack.) Was employed as a school bus driver when he formed the Bluegrass Cardinals.
1993, David Parmley departed and was replaced by Jeff Autry.
1997, the group officially disbanded for good.
2000, Don and David re-united to do a few "Cardinal Reunion" shows with Steve Day and Mike Anglin of Continental Divide rounding out the group.
2007, the State of Kentucky put up a commemorative road marker that reads "Welcome to Wayne County, Home of Don Parmley, Founding Member of the Bluegrass Cardinals."

BLUEGRASS EDITION (See TINA ADAIR)

BLUEGRASS ETC

Formed in San Diego, California in 1980.
• A trio featuring John Moore (guitar, mandolin) and Dennis Caplinger (banjo, fiddle).
• John Moore also played mandolin with California. He gave Chris Thile and Sean Watkins (of Nickel Creek) music lessons.
• Caplinger is a studio musician and record producer in San Diego. Has also worked with Richard Greene, Byron Berline, Jann Browne, Tim Flannery, others. He also produces many of the CMH "Pickin On" series of albums.
• The third member of the trio (playing bass) has included John's sister Julie Moore, Jim Green, Steve Spurgin, Larry Park, Curtis Jones and Bill Bryson.
• 2001, appeared on a Cingular Wireless TV commercial that was aired nationally.

THE BLUEGRASS INTENTIONS

From Northern California.
Formed in 2001.
Members include Eric and Suzy Thompson, Alan Senauke and Bill Evans.
Style combines bluegrass with old-time and cajun music.

THE BLUEGRASS PATRIOTS

From Fort Collins, Colorado.
Formed in 1980 by banjo player Ken Seaman.
Achieved national acclaim with their 1991 recording of "When You and I Were Young, Maggie."
1993, all their instruments were stolen out of their van while on a California tour.
Bass player Dan Rogers is a professional Santa Claus (he has a REAL white beard).

BLUEGRASS REUNION (See PHIL ROSENTHAL)

THE BLUEGRASS THOROUGHBREDS

From Winchester, Kentucky.
A family band featuring the Malicote Family: James, his wife Marcie, daughter Marcie Kaye.
They work on a horse farm near Lexington, famous for the world's greatest thoroughbred, Man-o-War.
Formed in 1974, went full time in 1992.
Appeared on the TV show "You Can Be a Star."
As of 2002, have recorded 11 albums.

BLUE HIGHWAY

From Johnson City, Tennessee
First gig: 12/31/94 (New Year's Eve).
Original lineup: Tim Stafford (guitar), Wayne Taylor (bass), Shawn Lane (mandolin), Tony Brown (banjo/fiddle), Rob Ickes (Dobro™). Brown was replaced by Jason Burleson.
1996, won IBMA awards for "Emerging Artist of the Year", and "Album of the Year" (for album "It's a Long Long Road."
1997, won IBMA award for "Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year" for the song "God Moves in a Windstorm."
1998, Burleson left the band and was replaced by Tom Adams. Burleson returned to the band two years later.
Rob Ickes has won the IBMA award for "Dobro™ Player of the Year" numerous times.
2004, won IBMA Award for Gospel Recording of the Year (for "Wondrous Love").

BLUE MOON RISING

From East Tennessee. Band members live in both Tennessee and Kentucky.
Formed in 2000.
Members (2005): Randall Massengill (guitar), Justin Jenkins (banjo), Tim Tipton (bass), Chris West (guitar), Keith Garrett (mandolin).
2006, founding member Justin Moses (Dobro/fiddle), re-joined the band after a stint with Sierra Hull.
Band members have previously worked with such groups as New Road, One Way Track, Clear Creek, Kentucky Wind and other bands.
They have performed at Dollywood, the Station Inn, IBMA's World of Bluegrass.

BLUE MULE

From Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Took their name from the Peter Rowan song "Blue Mule" (which he recorded with Muleskinner and Old & In the Way).
Formed in 1980 by Peter Deachman and Geoff Somers.
1992, won the Winterhawk band contest.
1993, Deachman was voted "composer of the year" (for his song "Norman's Ride") at the Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards.
1994, won Central Canadian Regional Pizza Hut International Bluegrass Showdown.
Disbanded in 2002. Deachman has formed a new band called Handsome Molly.

BLUERIDGE

From North Carolina.
Formed in 1998 by Terry Baucom, Alan Bibey, Randy Graham and Jimmy Haley. Bibey is the only remaining original member.
Nucleus of the group formed in 1985 as The New Quicksilver. They disbanded for more than a decade and reunited as Baucom, Bibey, Graham and Haley, then as BlueRidge.
2001, changed name to Baucom, Bibey and BlueRidge.
2002 lineup: Baucom (banjo), Bibey (mandolin), Junior Sisk (guitar) and Eddie Biggerstaff (bass).
2003, Baucom left to re-join Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Was replaced by Joey Cox. Band name changed to Alan Bibey and BlueRidge, then simply "BlueRidge."
2006, Bibey left to form a new band "Grasstowne" with Steve Gulley (formerly of Mountain Heart) and Phil Leadbetter (formerly of Wildfire).
early 2007, BlueRidge disbanded.

BLUE ROSE

From the San Francisco area.
A female recording ensemble featuring Laurie Lewis, Cathy Fink, Sally Van Meter, Molly Mason and Marcy Marxer.
Recorded one album together in 1988.

THE BLUE SKY BOYS

A "brothers duet" from Hickory, North Carolina featuring Bill and Earl Bolick.
One of the most popular and durable country music acts of the 1930's and 1940's.
Influenced by the Monroe Brothers, The Delmore Brothers and the Dixon Brothers.
Signed with Victor (Bluebird) Records in 1936. They were very successful as recording artists, not because they had big hit records, but because of steady, long-term sales. Today, their records are collector's items.
Best known for smooth, gentle harmonies and a tasteful repertoire of songs and hymns.
When World War II started, Bill and Earl both joined the Armed Forces. After the war, they resumed performing at radio stations across the south and recording again for Victor.
Were regulars on the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Turned down an offer to join the Grand Ole Opry, due to prior commitments.
Stopped performing together in 1951—due to changing trends in country music. Bill became a postal inspector and Earl worked for Lockheed Aircraft.

GINGER BOATWRIGHT

Born in Alabama. Lives in Chugiak, Alaska.
Longtime guitarist and lead singer with The Doug Dillard Band (1982-1996).
1972, with then-husband Grant Boatwright, performed in Red, White and Bluegrass, a Georgia-based group which had several hit records, including "July, You're a Woman."
1980, formed an all-female band called the Bushwhackers, with Susie Monick, Ingrid Herman Reese (Woody Herman's daughter), and Kathy Chiavola.
As a session vocalist in Nashville, her credits include commercials for Tony Lama boots, Coors beer and Pizza Hut.
Has had some health problems. In 1969, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer and was given three weeks to live. Fortunately, the doctors were wrong. In 1994, she had breast cancer which required major surgery.
May 1991, received a college degree in human resources management.
Recorded solo albums in 1991 and 1994.

CINDY BOEHLER

From Limon, Colorado. Lives in Nebraska.
A singer/songwriter who after raising her children began a career in bluegrass music with the release of her first album in 2006 with guests The Jordanaires.
Some have called her "The Karen Carpenter of Bluegrass."

BOONE CREEK

Formed in 1975 by Ricky Skaggs and Jerry Douglas.
Other members: Terry Baucom (banjo) and Wes Golding (guitar).
Recorded two albums for Sugar Hill Records.
Broke up in 1978 when Ricky was offered a job working with Emmy Lou Harris.
Last performance: The Birchmere in Washington, D.C.

THE BOOHERS (THE BOOHER FAMILY)

From Johnson City,Tennessee.
Formed in 2000.
Gary Booher (banjo) and his wife Lora (guitar) lead the band with sons Jamie (bass) and Joe (mandolin).
2005, released album on Lonesome Day Records, recorded in Tom T. Hall's studio.
Gary is a DJ on the World Wide Bluegrass radio network (internet radio).
2007, Jamie joined Grasstowne (playing bass) and Joe joined NewFound Road (playing mandolin.)

BOTTOMLINE BLUEGRASS

From Worthington, Kentucky.
Formed in 2002.
Original members: Ned Crisp (banjo), John Manifold (guitar), Don Rambo (bass).
Host the weekly "Bottomline Bluegrass" radio show on WLGC-FM in Ashland, Kentucky.

BRYAN BOWERS

From Seattle, Washington (Originally from Yorktown, Virginia).
Learned to play autoharp after hearing Mike Seeger (New Lost City Ramblers).
Says he has had to endure much derision for playing the autoharp. It is sometimes referred to as "the idiot's zither" or a "push-button guitar."
After moving to Seattle, played on the street for coins and in bars for tips.
1966, traveled east in his panel truck called "Old Yeller." Performed at the Cellar Door in Washington, D.C. and was heard by the Dillards, the New Grass Revival, and the Seldom Scene. All three bands have since worked with Bryan both in concert and in the recording studio.
Has traveled with as many as 12 autoharps. Spent three hours before each performance tuning them. "I was basically a professional piano tuner," he says. "I got burnt out." Now he travels with six instruments and spends about an hour tuning.
"Bryan is to the autoharp what Earl Scruggs was to the banjo. He is leading the instrument's resurgence." (Bluegrass Unlimited)

JIMMY BOWEN (AND SANTA FE)

From Charlotte, North Carolina. Lives in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.
Began performing at the age of 8.
Has a degree in accounting from the Citadel.
1988-1994, played mandolin and sang tenor with the Country Gentlemen.
1995, joined Continental Divide. Also started his own accounting firm (he graduated from the Citadel with a degree in accounting).
1998, formed Santa Fe with bass player John Pennell, an original member of Union Station.

RONNIE BOWMAN (See also THE LONESOME RIVER BAND)

From King, North Carolina. Lives in Bassett, Virginia.
Real name: William Franklin Bowman.
First band: "The Carolina Travelers." Also performed with his parents and four sisters in a group called "The Bowman Gospel Singers."
Before his professional music career, had a managerial position with the Sara Lee Corporation in Winston-Salem, NC.
1987, joined The Lost and Found.
1990, joined the Lonesome River Band, first as guitarist, then as bass player.
1994, recorded first solo album "Cold Virginia Night" which won IBMA award for Album of the Year (1995). "Cold Virginia Night" also won Song of the Year.
1995, 1998, 1999, won IBMA award for "Male Vocalist of the Year"
1995, his song "The Healing Kind" was a hit for country singer Dan Seals.
1999, won IBMA Award for "Song of the Year" and "Gospel Recording of the Year" for his recording of "Three Rusty Nails."
2001, left the Lonesome River Band to form his own band called "Ronnie Bowman and the Committee."
2003, recorded and toured with Lee Ann Womack. Also toured with Rebecca Lynn Howard and filled in for an ailing Wayne Taylor in Blue Highway.
2003, produced album by Melonie Cannon.
2004, his song "It's Getting Better All The Time" became a #1 hit for Brooks and Dunn.
2007, his song "Never Wanted Nothing More" became a #1 hit for Kenny Chesney.

FURMAN BOYCE (and THE HARMONY EXPRESS)

Guitarist and singer from Greer, South Carolina.
Early in career, performed with Carl Story and Charlie Moore.
Quit music business in 1972. In 1985 a friend asked Furman to teach him how to play guitar. While giving his friend guitar lessons, his love for music was rekindled and decided to begin performing again.
The Harmony Express is a gospel group.
Host their own cable TV show from Greenville, South Carolina.

THE BOYS FROM INDIANA

From Sunman, Indiana.
Formed in 1973 by three brothers—Aubrey, Tom and Jerry Holt. Tom and Jerry retired from the band in 1994.
Called "The Top Show Band in Bluegrass Music" for their entertaining style and wide assortment of original songs that chronicle the history of bluegrass and country music.
Frequent guests on the Grand Ole Opry.
1988, performed at the White House for President Ronald Reagan.
1989, proclaimed official Ambassadors of Bluegrass by Governor of Indiana.
1998, Tony Holt, Jeff Holt and Harlan Gabbard, the sons of Aubrey Holt, Jerry Holt and Harley Gabbard, formed a new band called The Wildwood Valley Boys.
2003, Harley Gabbard died, December 29.

DALE ANN BRADLEY AND COON CREEK (See also THE NEW COON CREEK GIRLS)

From Pineville, Kentucky. Lives in Berea, Kentucky.
Began performing at age 14 with a group called Back Porch Grass.
1990, joined the New Coon Creek Girls as lead singer and guitarist.
1997, released first solo album.
1997, began performing as Dale Ann Bradley and Coon Creek.
2001, Tom Adams (banjo) and Michael Cleveland (fiddle) joined her band.
2004, performed with Jose Feliciano at the "Podunk" (Maryland) Bluegrass Festival.
2007, won IBMA award for Female Vocalist of the Year.

LOUISA BRANSCOMB

From upstate New York. Lives in the mountains of north Georgia on her ranch "Woodsong."
One of the first women to lead a full-time bluegrass band. In 1971, she led an all-female band called "Bluegrass Liberation." She later led the North Carolina group "Boot Hill," and another all-female band called "Cherokee Rose." Has also fronted an Atlanta-based band called "Gypsy Heart."
One of the first female banjo players.
Alison Brown credits Louisa as being her inspiration to play banjo (Alison's first exposure to bluegrass, on her 10th birthday, was Louisa's "Boot Hill").
Has written many songs for other artists. Her "Steel Rails" was a hit record and Grammy-winner for Alison Krauss and Union Station.
Has an M.A. in counseling form Wake Forest University; a Ph.D from Georgia State University. She is a psychologist and author.
Hobby: trains thoroughbred horses.

CHRIS BRASHEAR (AND THE PERFECT STRANGERS)

From Pelham, Massachusetts. Grew up in Ozark, Missouri.
1988, moved to Oregon and played fiddle with Kentucky Rose.
1992, worked in Tucson with Peter McLaughlin and the Frog Mountain Trio.
1995, moved to Italy for two years while his wife was studying there
On his return to the US, he played bass with Laurie Lewis and jazz violin with the Maurizio Geri Swingtet.
1999, released first solo project and formed a band called "The Perfect Strangers" with Peter McLaughlin, Jody Stecher, Bob Black and Forrest Rose (Rose passed away in 2005).
2007-8, toured with Robin and Linda Williams as part of "Their Fine Group."

BREAKAWAY

From Burlington, Vermont.
Formed in 1988.
1994, won first place in band contest at Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival (NY).
Were regulars at a club called "Sneakers" in Burlington.
2000, performed with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra.

THE BRESSLER BROTHERS

From Eminence, Missouri.
Brothers Andy (guitar) and Alvin (vocals) Bressler.
1965, began performing on the Current River Opry in Summersville, MO.
2000, formed the Bressler Brothers band including Alvin's sons Bruce and Scott.
2001, performed a song they wrote ("The Bluegrass King Has Gone to Heaven") at the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Bill Monroe Homeplace in Rosine, Kentucky.

GARY BREWER (AND THE KENTUCKY RAMBLERS)

From Louisville, Kentucky.
Played rock music until "I got run over by a car," he says. While in the hospital, he began playing acoustic guitar, singing old songs, and "that's where I really started getting into the music." He and his two rock ‘n' roll buddies formed the "The Kentucky Ramblers" in 1980.
Both his father and grandfather were musicians.
1979, formed his band The Kentucky Ramblers. Around that time he purchased Bill Monroe's bus which was named "Bluegrass Breakdown."
1982, recorded his first album, "Lonesome Road."
1989, started the "Strictly Bluegrass" bluegrass festival in Louisville.
1994, selected to tour with Bill and James Monroe's "Father and Son" Winter Tour.
Since 1986, have been under contract with the City of Louisville, performing for the Mayor and other city functions. They are on the city payroll and receive regular paychecks.
1994, toured with Bill Monroe. Also toured Europe.
1995, first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
Nickname: "Stretch." His record label is called Stretchgrass Productions.
2002, won two gold medals at the U.S. Tai-Kwon-Do championships, qualifying him for the 2004 Olympic team.

PAUL BREWSTER

From Knoxville, Tennessee. Lives in Nashville.
First band: The Dixie Rebels (in Knoxville).
1976-1978, worked with the Knoxville Grass.
1978, joined the Pinnacle Boys.
1979-1989, worked with the Osborne Brothers.
1989-1991, lived in Florida and was a golf pro.
1992, worked at Dollywood with a group called True Blue.
1993, formed his own band called Heartland.
1996, joined Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder.
2002, released first solo album.
2004, did several fill-in dates with Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys.

GENA BRITT

From Bisco, North Carolina.
Plays banjo and sings lead & harmony vocals.
1990, at age 18 moved to Nashville and worked with Petticoat Junction.
1992, joined New Vintage.
1994, joined Lou Reid and Carolina.
2001, formed her own band.
2003, married Tim Tew (who plays Dobro™ in her band.)

JESSE BROCK

From Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Began singing and playing mandolin at age 9.
First band: Stonewall Bluegrass.
1996, joined Chris Jones and the Night Drivers.
1998, joined the Lynn Morris Band.
2001, recorded first solo album.
2003, joined Dale Ann Bradley and Coon Creek.
2006, joined Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper featuring Audie Blaylock.

THE BROTHER BOYS

From Johnson City, Tennessee.
A duo featuring Eugene Wolf and Ed Snodderly.
Refer to their style as "New Hillbilly Music."
Met while performing together in a repertory theatre group. After singing together in a play, they decided to continue as a musical act.
1998, Snodderly joined the faculty of East Tennesse State University's bluegrass music department.
2000, Snodderly appeared in the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou" starring George Clooney. He played one of the village idiots.

THE BROTHERS BARTON

From Bakersfield, CA.
Paul and Loren Barton are brothers who play mandolin and guitar respectively.
Performed as members of Gary Ferguson's band at IBMA's FanFest.
1996, Paul won "instrumentalist of the year" at South Plains College (Levelland, TX) where he studied music.
2005, teamed up with fiddler Richard Greene to form "Richard Greene and the Brothers Barton."

ALISON BROWN

Native of Connecticut; grew up in La Jolla, California. Lives in Nashville.
A graduate of Harvard University; has an MBA in finance from UCLA. For a short time, she worked as an investment broker with Smith-Barney.
First band: The Stringbenders (San Diego).
As a teenager, she played Dobro™ with Gold Rush, a group that included Stuart Duncan on fiddle and John Hickman on banjo.
1980, recorded a duet album with Stuart Duncan called "Pre-Sequel" (Ridgerunner).
While at Harvard, she was a member of the band Northern Lights.
1989-1991, played banjo and guitar with Alison Krauss and Union Station.
1991, won IBMA award for Banjo Player of the Year.
1992, toured with folk-rock performer Michelle Shocked.
Owns her own record label, Compass Records, specializing in jazz, country, folk and "world" music. She also started a label called "Small World Music."
1996, formed The Alison Brown Quartet, an acoustic jazz ensemble featuring the banjo.
1999, recorded and toured with the Americana band "New Grange" with Tim O'Brien, Darol Anger and Mike Marshall.
1999, recorded bluegrass album "Fair Weather" featuring vocal performances by guests Vince Gill and Claire Lynch.
January 2000, Alison's "Girl's Breakdown" (from her "Fair Weather" album) was used as the official wake up music for the crew of the U.S. Space Shuttle Destiny during their mission to the International Space Station.
2001, won Grammy for Best Country Instrumental "Leaving Cottondale," a duet with Bela Fleck.
2002, gave keynote address at the IBMA Trade Show in Louisville.

HYLO BROWN

From River, Kentucky.
Recorded for Capitol Records (1954-1961).
Band: the Timberliners. Also had a band at one time called "The Buckskins" (named after their trademard buckskin jackets).
Real name: Frank Brown. He got the name "Hylo" (High-Low) because of his incredible vocal range. He would often sing the verse of a song in a baritone voice, then falsetto on the chorus—an octave higher.
Was a regular on the WWVA Jamboree, Wheeling, West Virginia.
Late fifties, toured for Martha White Mills (as did Flatt and Scruggs).
July 1959, appeared at first Newport Folk Festival backing Earl Scruggs, who made a solo appearance.
2003, died of cancer.

TOMMY BROWN (AND THE COUNTY LINE GRASS)

From Shepherdsville, Kentucky.
Brown plays banjo and sings lead for the County Line Grass.
Began playing banjo at age 6. Won both the Kentucky and Tennessee State Banjo Championships.
Brown's son Jereme also plays banjo and is often featured with the band.

BRUSH ARBOR

From San Diego, California.
Had success in the early 1970's with songs like "Proud Mary" and "Brush Arbor Meeting" (Capitol Records).
1973, voted "Vocal Group of the Year" and "Touring Band of the Year" by the Academy of Country Music.
Network TV appearances included "Hee Haw," "Music Country USA" and "The Johnny Cash NBC Special."
Made several Grand Ole Opry appearances and toured with Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, the late Marty Robbins, the Everly Brothers, etc.
Twice voted the third-most-popular Bluegrass Band of the Year in a Music City News Readers Poll (1973, 1974) behind Bill Monroe and the Osborne Brothers.
Original members: Ken Munds, guitar; Wayne Rice, banjo; Jim Rice, guitar and pedal steel; Joe Rice, mandolin; David Rose, bass; and Pat Stephens, drums. (Wayne, Jim and Joe Rice are brothers.)
Wayne Rice and Ken Munds left the band in 1975. Brothers Jim and Joe Rice remained with the group until 1996, performing gospel music. Joe departed in 1996 and Jim kept the band together until 1999. He now performs as a solo artist and speaker.

MIKE BUB

From Scottsdale, Arizona. Lives in Nashville.
1985, formed Weary Hearts band with Ron Block, Eric Uglum and Butch Baldassari. Played bass.
1991-1992, played banjo with Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time.
1992-2005, played bass with the Del McCoury band.
1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2005, won IBMA award for Bass Player of the Year.
He often performs with "The Sidemen," a group that performs on Tuesday nights at Nashville's Station Inn.
2006, joined the Dale Ann Bradley band.
2008, joined Peter Rowan and Tony Rice. Also continues to work with Dale Ann Bradley and Shawn Camp.

JIM BUCHANAN (THE JIM BUCHANAN SYSTEM)

From North Carolina. Lives in Nashville.
A dynamic fiddler best known for his work with Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys. He was also a member of The Greenbriar Boys (New York).
Son of old-time fiddler Clato "Buck" Buchanan.
At age 11, performed on the Ed Sullivan TV show with "Joe Franklin and the Mimosa Boys."
Also worked with Tompall and the Glaser Brothers, Mel Tillis and George Jones. As a studio musician, his credits include albums by Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Ronnie Millsap, Ringo Starr, the Doors, and many others.
1995, formed "The Jim Buchanan System."

THE BULLAS (LUKE AND JENNY ANNE BULLA)

Originally from Grants Pass, Oregon; 1998, moved to Nashville.
A family band featuring parents Brad and Carol Bulla, with children Luke and Jenny Anne. The original family band was called "The In-Laws" (with Carol's sister and her husband also in the group), then later "Legacy."
Luke and Jenny Anne recorded an album for Rounder Records in 1991. Luke was eleven years old, Jenny Anne was ten.
Luke and Jenny began playing fiddle when they were 7 and 6 years old respectively.
1989, won the national old-time fiddle championship in their respective age divisions (Weiser, Idaho). Repeated in 1993.
1990, Luke placed in the top ten at the Grand Masters Fiddling Championships in Nashville—competing against fiddlers from all over the world of all ages.
1998-2000, Luke played fiddle with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder.
2000, Brad formed Brad Bulla Promotions, working with a variety of artists and record labels.
2000, Jenny worked with Valerie Smith's band Liberty Pike.
2002, Luke joined the John Cowan Band. Also performs with a jazz/rock band called Wisechild.

BECKY BULLER

From St. James, Minnesota.
Began performing at age 10 with her parents in a band called Prairie Grass.
1996, won the Minnesota Junior Fiddling Championship. Also won the Hank Williams song writing contest in Avoca, Iowa.
As a student at East Tennessee State University majoring in public relations, performed with the ETSU Bluegrass Band and with Linda Barker and Appalachian Trail.
Her songwriting credits include "Be Living" (recorded by Doyle Lawson), "Charlie Lawson's Still" (recorded by Mark Newton), "Fishers of Men" (recorded by Rhonda Vincent).
2000, released first solo project.
2001, joined Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike.

CURTIS BURCH

From Montgomery, Alabama. Lives in Kentucky.
1971, a founding member of the New Grass Revival (left the group in 1981). Played guitar and Dobro™.
Has also performed with Leon Russell, John Hartford, Vassar Clements, Norman and Nancy Blake, Doc Watson, many others.
1995, won Grammy for his participation on the "Great Dobro Sessions" CD, produced by Jerry Douglas.
2000, performed on the "O Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack.
2001, recorded and performed with The Larry Keel Experience and Soul Grass.

MIKE BURNS

Singer/songwriter from Turner Falls, Mass. Lives in Purdys, New York.
A building contractor by trade.
President of the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association.
1993, opened for Kitty Wells at the Turning Point, a club in Piermont, New York.
2000, his song "My Darlin'" was recorded by Valerie Smith on the IBMA award-winning "Follow Me Back to the Fold" album.
Conducts song writing workshops.
2001, recorded first album.

BUZZ BUSBY (AND THE BAYOU BOYS)

From Eros, Louisiana. Moved to Washington D.C.
One of the first to popularize bluegrass music in the nation's capitol.
1954, had a TV program in Washington called "Hayloft Hoedown."
1955, moved back to Louisiana to work on the Louisiana Hayride. Formed his band "The Bayou Boys."
Band members included Scott Stoneman, Pete Pike, Eddie Adcock, Charlie Waller, Bill Emerson, among others.
1957, signed record deal with Starday Records.
After a traffic accident in 1957 (he was presumed dead but was brought back to life by medical technicians), several of his band members left to form The Country Gentlemen.
Real name: Bernard Busbice
Substance abuse kept him from becoming a major star in bluegrass. It also put him in prison.
He died in January, 2003.

SAM BUSH (See also NEW GRASS REVIVAL)

From Bowling Green, Kentucky. Lives in Nashville.
Leader of The New Grass Revival for twenty years.
Dubbed "the world's greatest all-purpose mandolinist".by David Grisman.
Bought first mandolin at age 11. Also began playing fiddle about that time, influenced stylistically by Byron Berline and Kenny Baker.
As a junior in high school, joined "Poor Richard's Almanac," a band that included Wayne Stewart and Alan Munde.
After high school, joined The Bluegrass Alliance.
1971, at age 19, formed The New Grass Revival and was the leader of that group until its breakup in the spring of 1990.
1981, had cancer and was hospitalized. Surgery was successful and to date, no recurrence.
Winner of many awards, including Frets Magazine Reader's Poll: "Best Mandolin Player" (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989)
Won IBMA award for "Best Mandolin Player" in 1990, 1991 and 1992.
Has recorded with Jerry Douglas, Mark O'Connor, Tony Rice and Mark Schatz in a group called "Strength in Numbers."
1990-1994, was a member of Emmylou Harris' band "The Nash Ramblers."
1995, toured with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.
1996, recorded first solo album.
1997, formed a part-time rock/blues band called "Duck Butter" with John Cowan and guitarist Kenny Lee.
1998, formed "The Sam Bush Band."
A die hard St. Louis Cardinals fan. Has an extensive collection of memorabilia and named his dog "Ozzie" after the great Cardinals shortstop, Ozzie Smith. September 2002, performed the national anthem at a Cardinals home game.
2007, hosted the IBMA Awards Show in Nashville. Won the IBMA award for Mandolin Player of the Year.

ROBERT BYRD

From Sophia, West Virginia.
Has served as U.S. Senator from West Virginia since 1959. He was born in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
Learned to play the fiddle at age 12.In his early campaigns, he was known as "Fiddlin' Bob Byrd."