Bluegrass Bios L

EVIE LADIN

From Oakland, California (has also lived in New Jersey, Baltimore and Nigeria).
Plays banjo (clawhammer style), sings, step-dances.
Performs with the San Francisco-based group The Stairwell Sisters.
2010, released solo project "Float Downstream."

TIM LAKE

From New York City. Lives in Lexington, Kentucky.
Plays bluegrass, jazz, pop, country and rock, all on the banjo.
1991, earned his doctorate in music from the University of Kentucky. His dissertation was titled "An American Concerto for 5-string Banjo and Orchestra."
1993, performed his concerto with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
Performs with a trio called "The Little Big Band."
Describes his music as "Jazz with Bluegrass and Blues."

BARBARA LAMB

From Seattle, Washington.
Played fiddle with the "cowgirl" band, Ranch Romance.
Was Mark O'Connor's first fiddle teacher. He was only eleven years old at the time.
Early seventies: performed with a Seattle-based bluegrass band called Tall Timber.
1974, recorded an album of fiddle duets with Vivian Williams.
Nickname: "Babs."
Hobby: collecting boots. She has over 75 pair.
1993, performed with best selling author and lecturer Robert Fulghum (All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten) at such venues as Carnegie Hall in New York City. She "colors" his stories with the fiddle.
1994, toured with Texas swing band Asleep at the Wheel.
Calls her flamboyant style: "chrome on the range."

JAKE LANDERS (See THE DIXIE GENTLEMEN)

RICK LANG

From Kingston, New Hampshire.
A singer/songwriter, known best for his gospel songs.
His song "Listen to the Word of God" appeared on the Lonesome River Band's award-winning "Carrying the Tradition" CD.
Owns a lumber company in New Hampshire called "Highland Hardwoods."
Has recorded several albums under the name "Rick Lang and Friends."
2010, released a CD of his songs featuring special guests Russell Moore, Dale Ann Bradley, Barry Scott, Junior Sisk and other well known bluegrass musicians. He himself did not perform on the CD.

SHAWN LANE (See also BLUE HIGHWAY)

Born & raised in Fort Blackmore, Virginia. Lives in Walhalla, South Carolina.
An original member of Blue Highway. Plays mandolin.
1990, worked with Lou Reid.
1991-1993, worked with Doyle Lawson.
1993-1994, worked with Ricky Skaggs.
1995-present, Blue Highway.
Early days: performed at a Johnson City (TN) club every 1st Thursday of the month with country singer Kenny Chesney.
Has a degree in Machine Tool Technology; graduated on the President's List of his college and was selected for "Who's Who" of American Students in 1994.
2003, released solo project.

THE LARKINS

From East Tennessee.
A duo featuring sisters Shaunna (fiddle) and Tina (mandolin) Larkin. They began performing together as children in their family band "The Larkin Family." They were regulars at Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
2001, first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry.
2003, released first album/single with guest Dolly Parton.

LEAH LARSON

From Washington State.
Fiddle player and vocalist.
Began playing banjo at age 16, then switched to fiddle as her primary instrument.
Age 19, joined "Out of the Blue" (Oregon)
2002, played with a group called "Frontline"
2004, formed the Leah Larson Band.

JIM LAUDERDALE

From Troutman, North Carolina. Lives in Nashville.
Best known as a successful Nashville songwriter. Has written hits for Patty Loveless, Mark Chesnutt, Kathy Mattea, George Strait. Strait has recorded 13 Lauderdale songs (as of 2007).
Lived in New York City for several years, played bluegrass there and appeared in several musicals ("Pump Boys and Dinettes," "The Cotton Patch Gospel," etc). He has also lived and worked in Texas and California.
Has played in bands with Dwight Yoakam, Darden Smith, Carlene Carter and Lucinda Williams.
1998, 2002, recorded albums with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys.
2002, won Americana Music awards for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year ("She's Looking at Me").
2003, won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album for his collaboration with Ralph Stanley "Lost in the Lonesome Pines."
2003, recorded with Karl Shiflett and the Big Country Show. Also recorded with jam band Donna the Buffalo.
2006, released CD "Bluegrass" and also produced an album for Clinch Mountain Boy Jack Cooke.
2008, won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album for "Bluegrass Diaries," produced by Randy Kohrs.
He has studied and practiced the martial arts since 1995, focusing on Tai Chi and Chi Kong.

TIM LAUGHLIN (THE TIM LAUGHLIN BAND)

From Bristol, Tennessee.
Began playing guitar at age 8; switched to mandolin at age 11.
Has worked with Larry Sparks, Hazel Dickens, Appalachian Trail, The McPeak Brothers and the Lynn Morris Band, to name a few.
1985, formed first band: Plexigrass.
1991, formed the Tim Laughlin Band.
Has won more than 100 mandolin competitions, including the Tennessee State Mandolin Championship.

KATIE LAUR

Native of Paris, Tennessee. Lives in Cincinnatti, Ohio.
1975, formed The Katie Laur Band. One of the first female lead singers to front her own bluegrass band.
Appeared several times on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion."
Has also performed with a jazz group.
Hosts a weekly Cincinnatti radio show called "Music from the Hills of Home."
Real name: Katie Haley. As a child, performed with her sister and three cousins in a singing group called "The Haley Sisters."

THE LAUREL CANYON RAMBLERS (See also HERB PEDERSEN)

From Los Angeles, California.
Formed in 1994 by Herb Pedersen and Bill Bryson (who worked together in the Desert Rose Band). They decided to return to their bluegrass roots.
Other original members: Billy Ray Lathum (guitar), Kenny Blackwell (mandolin) and Byron Berline (fiddle). Lathum was replaced by Roger Reed. Berline by Dennis Fetchet, then Gabe Witcher. Bobby Hicks also played a few dates with this band.
Laurel Canyon is an actual canyon in the Los Angeles area. Laurel Canyon Blvd. is a major street in the San Fernando Valley.
Mandolinist Kenny Blackwell actually drives a Rambler (an early 60's Ambassador station wagon).
1996, Roger Reed (guitar) cut a finger off his left hand with a power saw one month after he joined the band. He continued to perform with Bruce Johnson playing guitar while Reed sang his vocal parts. Eventually he was able to play guitar again.

THE LAUREL MOUNTAIN BOYS

From Charleston, West Virginia.
Original band formed by Don Sowards (mandolin)and Bill Duncan (guitar) in the mid-1950's.
Sowards and Duncan also worked with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in the late 50's.
Sowards and Duncan formed a new group in the mid-sixties called The Harmony Mountain Boys.
1974, Sowards reorganized The Laurel Mountain Boys, and Duncan re-joined the group in 1977.
1980, Duncan moved to Florida and formed a group called The West Virginia Boys.
Sowards kept the group together into the 1980's, and eventually disbanded.

JOHN LAWLESS

From Roanoke, Virginia.
Banjo player and founder (in 1994) of AcuTab Publishing Company, publisher of instrumental instruction books and recordings by well-known bluegrass artists.
1978-1991, played banjo with Nothin' Doin Band (Norfolk, VA)
1999, joined Acoustic Endeavors.
2001, won IBMA award for Instrumental Album of the Year for "Knee Deep in Bluegrass: The AcuTab Sessions" (produced by Lawless and featuring Lawless and other performers)
2004, released solo project of banjo instrumentals.
Is also a spokesperson for the Huber Banjo Company.
Is owner/creator of The Bluegrass Blog.

JACK LAWRENCE

From Charlotte, North Carolina.
Since 1983, performs with Doc Watson in concerts and on recordings. Full-time since Merle Watson's death in 1985.
1970, first professional job with Carl Story.
Other bands: Bluegrass Alliance (replaced Tony Rice), and the New Deal String Band.

DOYLE LAWSON (AND QUICKSILVER)

From Kingsport, Tennessee. Lives in Bristol, Tennessee.
His father was in an acapella gospel group called the Clinch Mountain Quartet.
Formed Quicksilver in 1979.
Previously was a member of The Country Gentlemen, J.D. Crowe and the Kentucky Mountain Boys, and Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys.
Although known as a mandolin player, he actually started his pro career as a banjo player in Jimmy Martin's band, 1963.
Received a gold record representing a million dollars in sales for "Rock My Soul", his first all-gospel album.
Quicksilver's original name: Foxfire. Discovered the name was already in use.
1995, adopted a new look and new sound, performing around a single vocal mike with precision choreography.
1998, was the first bluegrass band invited to perform at the National Gospel Quartet Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.
2003, won IBMA award for Song of the Year ("Blue Train").
2005, was elected chairman of the board of the International Bluegrass Music Trust Fund which provides financial assistance to bluegrass artists in times of emergency need.
2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 won IBMA awards for Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year.
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 won IBMA award for Vocal Group of the Year.
2006, was presented with a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.
2007, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree by King College in Bristol, Tennessee.
2010, recorded with Paul Simon.
2011, added drums to the band, much to the consternation of some bluegrass music fans.
2011, won the IBMA Award for "Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year" and "Recorded Event of the Year" (both for "Prayers Bells of Heaven" by J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson and Paul Williams)

GLENN LAWSON

From Spencer County, Kentucky
1972, played guitar with the Bluegrass Alliance.
1975, played guitar and sang lead with J.D. Crowe and the New South.
1977, joined Spectrum (with Bela Fleck, Jimmy Gaudreau and Mark Schatz).
Has a degree in Communications from Berea College, Kentucky and an MA in accounting from University of Louisville.
Since his performing days, he has worked as an insurance auditor and raised his family.
2006, released a CD of original songs with a group called the Mountain Music Machine.

SHANNON LAWSON

From Taylorsville, Kentucky.
Early years: played in several rock and blues bands. Toured with blues artist Top Hat.
1993, formed The Galoots, a bluegrass band based in Louisville. A popular night-club act that covered many rock and pop tunes in a bluegrass style.
A prolific songwriter. Moved to Nashville and worked with the Extreme Writers Group. His demo sessions landed him a record deal with MCA Nashville.
2003, signed with Equity Records, Nashville.
His signature greeting: "Big Yee Haw." (Also the title of one of his albums.)
Has toured and performed with numerous country acts, including Mark Chestnut and Tracy Lawrence.
2004, toured with Gretchen Wilson and the Big and Rich Revolution Tour.

LINDA LAY (See APPALACHIAN TRAIL; SPRINGFIELD EXIT)

PHIL LEADBETTER

From Knoxville, Tennessee.
One of the top Dobro™ players in bluegrass.
At age 14, performed before President Gerald R. Ford at the White House (1976).
His father played in a band with Bashful Brother Oswald (of the Grand Ole Opry).
Worked as an Intensive Care (ICU) nurse for 12 years.
1975-1987, a regular performer at Silver Dollar City (now Dollywood).
1988-89, worked with Grandpa Jones.
1990, worked with Vern Gosdin.
1991, joined J.D. Crowe's band.
2000, formed "Wildfire" with several other members of the New South.
2004, Gibson released "The Phil Leadbetter Signature Gibson Dobro™."
His son Matt plays Dobro™ with the Lonesome River Band (2006). Has also worked with Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike (2004).
2005, won IBMA award for Dobro™ Player of the Year.
2005, won IBMA award for Instrumental Album of the Year (“Slide Rules”)
2006, left WildFire to form "Grasstowne" with Steve Gulley (formerly with Mountain Heart) and Alan Bibey (formerly of BlueRidge).
2010, left Grasstowne to form a new band called Rigsby, Leadbetter and Bennett, with Don Rigsby on mandolin, Richard Bennett on guitar and his son Matt playing bass.
2010, joined The Whites.

NATE LEATH

From Bethlehem, North Carolina.
Age 8, began learning fiddle.
Age 11, won first place at the Galax, VA fiddle contest (the youngest to do that) and has since won it twice more (he is a three-time winner of that prestigious contest).
Age 15, recorded his first CD.
Age 21 (2006) released "I've Always Been a Rambler" CD.
2006, graduated from the Berklee School of Music in Boston.
2006, joined Old School Freight Train. Also performs with the David Grisman Quartet.
2009, released "Rockville Pike" CD, featuring old-time mountain music.

THE LEFT HAND STRING BAND

From Boulder, Colorado.
Formed in 1984 by Drew Emmitt.
Band name comes from Boulder's legendary Southern Arapahoe Chief Niwot, or Left Hand.
Broke up in 1992. Combined with The Salmon Heads to form Leftover Salmon.

LEFTOVER SALMON

From Boulder, Colorado.
Formed in 1992. Combined the bands "Left Hand String Band' and "The Salmon Heads."
Their music is called "Poly-ethnic Cajon Slam Grass."
Original members: Drew Emmitt (mandolin), Vince Herman (guitar), Mark Vann (banjo), Jeff Stipe (drums), Tye North (bass.) Vann died of melanoma cancer in 2001. Was replaced by Noam Pikelny (2003).
2002, Emmitt recorded a solo project with Sam Bush, John Cowan, Scott Vestal, others.
2003, toured with the Del McCoury Band.
2004, released new self-titled CD for Compendium records, then disbanded.
2007, reuniting for several summer concerts.

ANDY LEFTWICH

From White House, Tennessee.
Began playing fiddle at age 6. Won the Tennessee State Fiddle Championship (for beginners) at age 9. Also played on stage with Bill Monroe at age 9.
Began playing mandolin at 12, guitar at 14.
Age 13, played with Mike Snider on the Grand Ole Opry.
1998 (age 15), joined Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike.
2001, joined Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder (replaced Bobby Hicks).
2003, recorded first solo album.
2005, formed a jazz trio with Rob Ickes (Dobro™) and Dave Pomeroy (bass) called "Three Ring Circle."

RAY LEGERE

From Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Has won numerous awards at the Eastern Canadian Bluegrass Music Awards, including Mandolin, Fiddle, and Guitar Player of the Year.
Holds the distinction of being the only mandolin player to work with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys (other than Bill himself). He filled in for Monroe in 1982 when he was ill.
1996, won Fiddle Player of the Year (Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards).
1986, won the National Mandolin Championship (USA) in Winfield, Kansas.
Has toured with Tony Rice, Michelle Shocked, and Alison Brown.
2002, worked with the Dick Smith/Mike O'Reilly Band.

EMORY LESTER

From Gainesville, Virginia.
Lived in Canada for five years (1988-1993). Returned to Gainesville in 1993.
Had his own group for several years called The Emory Lester Set (new acoustic). Also had bands called "Grassworks" (bluegrass) and Earthen Sky (new age/soft rock).
Has previously worked with The Tony Rice Unit, Jerry Douglas, The Del McCoury Band, The Eddie Adcock Band, Bill Emerson and Jimmy Gaudreau.
1993, won "Mandolin Player of the Year" at the Canadian Bluegrass Awards show.
1999, formed a duo with "clawgrass" banjo player Mark Johnson.
2001, also worked with the Gary Ferguson / Sally Love Band.

JENNY LESTER

From Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada).
Began performing with her family band The Driftwood Canyon Family Band at age 7.
Sings and plays fiddle and guitar.
Performed and toured internationally with a Colorado group called Dark Horse.
1999, released first solo album, produced by John Reischman.

LAURIE LEWIS

From Berkeley, California.
Early 60's, heard the Dillards and got hooked on bluegrass.
1974, played bass with a bay area group called the "Phantoms of the Opry" with Pat Enright.
Other bands: The Good Old Persons (a founding member); The Free Mexican Air Force (with Peter Rowan); The Vern Williams Band; Blue Rose.
1980, formed The Grant Street String Band (later shortened to Grant Street.)
Won the California State Fiddle Championship twice.
Owned Marin Violin, a violin shop, for six years.
Wrote "Love Chooses You" a hit song for Kathy Mattea.
1992, 1994, won IBMA award for "Female Vocalist of the Year."
1992, made first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry.
1994, she and mandolinist Tom Rozum were seriously injured in an automobile accident while traveling to a performance in Arizona (they both recovered).
1995, Laurie and Rozum recorded a duet album.
1997, rode her bicycle 593 miles, raising $6000 for AIDS research.
1998, disbanded her Grant Street band and began working as a trio with Rozum and Todd Phillips. On selected dates, they are joined by Craig Smith (banjo) and Mary Gibbons (guitar) and billed as Laurie Lewis and her Bluegrass Pals.
She and Tom Rozum host an annual river rafting trip (and provide the music).

THE LEWIS FAMILY

From Lincolnton, Georgia.
Known as "The First Family of Bluegrass Gospel Music."
1950, they were known as the Lewis Brothers: Talmadge, Esley and Wallace, along with Dad (Roy) and Miggie.
In the mid-fifties, name was changed to the Lewis Family, and included sisters Miggie, Polly and Janis, brothers Wallace, Talmadge and Little Roy, and Pop (Roy, Sr.)
One of the first bluegrass groups to feature female vocalists.
1954, began their own TV show in Augusta Georgia. Final broadcast: September 13,1992..
1993, purchased the late Conway Twitty's bus and matching trailer.
2000, Pop (real name: Roy) Lewis celebrated his 95th birthday (September 24th) and Mom (Pauline) and Pop Lewis celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary (October 25).
2000, Pop Lewis was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame (May 24).
2002, received IBMA's Distinguished Achievement award.
2003, MomLewis died, 2/8.
2004, Pop Lewis died, 3/23.
2006, inducted into the IBMA's Hall of Fame.
2007, Wallace Lewis died 5/16.
2009, after winning two more Dove Awards (Gospel music's highest award), the Lewis Family officially retired.
2010, Travis Lewis (son of Wallace) and his son Jameson, Janis Lewis and her son Lewis Phillips formed a new band called "The Lewis Tradition."

LITTLE ROY LEWIS (See THE LEWIS FAMILY)

WAYNE LEWIS (THE WAYNE LEWIS BAND)

From Sandy Hook, Kentucky.
1973-4, was a member of Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys.
1975, worked with Lillimae and the Dixie Gospelaires.
1976-1986, was lead singer for Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys (the longest tenure of any lead singer in the Blue Grass Boys. He appeared on 12 of Monroe's albums.)
1986-present, joined the Cumberland Highlanders and co-hosts their TV show on the Outdoor Channel
Also performs with his own Wayne Lewis Band.

THE LILLY BROTHERS

From Boston, Massachusetts. Originally from Clear Creek, West Virginia.
Two brothers: Everett and Michel (an odd spelling of "Michael" that was often mis-pronounced "Mitchell" so he went by "B" the first initial of his middle name "Burt").
In 1938, began performing as the Lonesome Holler Boys. During the 1940's, they also performed as "The Smiling Mountain Boys."
1948, made their recording debut with Red Belcher and the Kentucky Ridge Runners.
1948, joined the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree as the Lilly Mountaineers.
1952-1953, Everett played mandolin with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs on many of their classic early recordings.
1952, moved to Boston and joined fiddler Tex Logan and banjo player Don Stover to form "The Lilly Brothers." For 17 years (until 1970), they performed almost every night at Boston's Hillbilly Ranch.
Also recorded as "The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover" to highlight Stover's banjo playing.
Credited with bringing bluegrass to New England. Influenced such future bluegrass artists as Peter Rowan, Jim Rooney, Bill Keith, others.
2001, began performing again with their band "The Lilly Mountaineers."
2002, were inducted into the IBMA's Hall of Fame.
2005, Bea Lilly died.
2008, Everett Lilly won the IBMA award for Recorded Event of the Year (for album "Everett Lilly and Everybody and Their Brother").

KEITH LITTLE

From Sonora, California. Lives in Nashville.
Plays banjo and guitar.
1974-1989, worked with the Vern Williams Band.
1980-1985, worked with Rose Maddox.
1983-1985, joined High Country.
1984-1986, worked with the Grant Street String Band.
1986-1988, joined the Country Gentlemen.
1990-1995, was a member of the Ricky Skaggs Band.
1995, worked with Kathy Kallick's Little Big Band.
1996, joined Lonesome Standard Time.
1996, began full-time studio work, also touring and recording as a solo artist.
As a writer, his songs have been recorded by Longview, Claire Lynch, The Whites, Tim O'Brien, Crystal Gayle, others.
Has performed on albums by Dolly Parton, Ricky Skaggs, Claire Lynch, The Chieftains, Chris Jones, others.
2001, played dates with Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers.
2007, joined Peter Rowan's Bluegrass Band.

LONESOME MEADOW

From Westerville, Ohio (near Columbus).
A family band led by dad Mark Jackson and his three kids: Anne Marie (fiddle), John (guitar), Gary (banjo).
2010, released their 4th CD "Carry Me Away."

THE LONESOME PINE FIDDLERS

A string band founded in 1937 by brothers Ned, Ray and Ezra Cline in Balsden, WV (coal mining country).
1942, Ned died in the Normandy Invasion (D-Day, WW II).
1949, group adopted the "bluegrass" style when banjo player Larry Richardson joined the band. Bobby Osborne was playing guitar.
1951, Richardson and Osborne left, replaced by Paul Williams and the Goins Brothers.
1952-1954, recorded for RCA Victor.
1955, disbanded, then reunited in 1961 with the Goins Brothers, Ezra and "Curly Ray" Cline.
1963, disbanded for good.
2009, inducted into the IBMA's Hall of Fame.

THE LONESOME RIVER BAND

From Ferrum, Virginia.
Formed in 1983 by Tim Austin and Jerry McMillan.
Has included some of the top young players in bluegrass: Adam Steffey, Dan Tyminski, Sammy Shelor, Ronnie Bowman.
At one time they performed as "Santa Rosa", incorporating electric instrumentation and drums.
1992, won the IBMA award for "Album of the Year" for their album "Carrying the Tradition."
1992, mandolinist Dan Tyminski left the band to perform with Alison Krauss and Union Station; returned in 1993; left again in 1994. Replaced by Darrell Webb.
1992, banjo player Sammy Shelor, left the band to perform with country artists Matthews, Wright and King; returned in 1993.
Tim Austin left the band in September 1995 to develop his own recording studio and label, Doobie Shea Records.
1996 line-up: Ronnie Bowman (bass, lead vocals), Sammy Shelor (banjo), Kenny Smith (guitar), Don Rigsby (mandolin).
1997, Ronnie Bowman and Kenny Smith performed on rock legend John Fogerty's album "Blue Moon Swamp."
1998, performed with Vince Gill at the Grand Ole Opry.
1998, all four members of the band won IBMA awards: Bowman (Male Vocalist), Shelor (Banjo Player), Smith (Guitar Player), and Rigsby (Recorded Event, Song of the Year for his work with "Longview").
2000, Ricky Simpkins was added to the band.
2001, Bowman, Smith, Rigsby and Simpkins departed en masse. Shelor acquired the band name and re-organized the group with several new members.
2010, Bowman, Smith, Rigsby and Shelor reunited for a concert at the Mountain Arts Center (The MAC) in Kentucky. They plan to do more reunion shows in the future.

LONESOME STANDARD TIME (See also LARRY CORDLE)

From Nashville, Tennessee.
Formed in 1991 by Larry Cordle and Glen Duncan.
Began performing as regulars at Nashville's Bell Cove Club.
Original name: The Restless Herd. Later changed to Lonesome Standard Time. Cordle liked the new name so much that he wrote a song by that title–a hit for Kathy Mattea and winner of IBMA award for Song of the Year in 1993.
Disbanded in 1995, then re-formed in 1998 as Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time.

DAVID LONG

From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
A Monroe-style mandolin player, influenced by Frank Wakefield and Mike Compton.
2001, joined The Wildwood Valley Boys.
Has also worked with Karl Shiflett's Big Country Show.
2004, teamed up with guitarist Chris Sharp to form the Chris Sharp and David Long Band.

LIZZY LONG

From Lincolnton, Georgia.
Lizzy is short for Elizabeth.
Sings and plays all the bluegrass instruments and piano.
She is the foster daughter of Little Roy Lewis.
Has a degree in musical orchestration and arranging from Belmont University.
2006, worked in a band called Mountain Fury with her twin sister Rebekah.
2006, recorded "Lifetimes" CD with Little Roy Lewis and Earl Scruggs.

LONESOME HIGHWAY

From Romney, West Virginia.
Formed in 1996.
Members (2011): John Arnold (banjo), Jimmy Kountz (mandolin), Buddy Dunlap (guitar), Mason Wright (fiddle) and Cody Brown (bass).
1999, released first CD "Look Back on Love."
2004, released "Chalk Up Another One" CD.
2011, released "Got Away with Murder" CD.

LONG AND PARDUE BAND

From State Road, North Carolina.
Tommy Long sings lead. Was formerly with The Dixie Creek Revival.
Rick Pardue was formerly with the group Point Blank. Also is a bluegrass DJ in Elgin, NC.
1998, Pardue formed a new band called Rambler's Choice.
2002, joined Carolina Road.

LONGVIEW

A recording band made up of six members of other bands: Dudley Connell (Seldom Scene), James King (The James King Band), Joe Mullins, Don Rigsby (Lonesome River Band/Rock County), Glen Duncan (Rock County) and Marshall Wilborn (The Lynn Morris Band).
The idea for this band originated at the Denton, NC bluegrass festival in 1994, when Don Rigsby, Dudley Connell and James King sang together in a group called "The Rounder All-Stars."
The name comes from the recording studio: The Long View Farm, in North Brookfield, Mass.
1998, won IBMA awards for "Recorded Event of the Year" and "Song of the Year" (for Lonesome Old Home).
2003, Scott Vestal replaced Joe Mullins on banjo.
2008, the group re-formed to record a new CD with original members James King, Marshall Wilborn and Don Rigsby. New members include Lou Reid, J.D. Crowe and Ron Stewart.

LOOSE TIES

From Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Formed in 1985 by Phil Round (guitar/bass), Ben Winship (mandolin) and Ted Wells (banjo). They previously performed together in a Vermont-based group called The Homegrown Revue.
Avid skiers, they moved to Jackson Hole to work in ski resorts.
1986, won the Telluride Bluegrass Festival band championship.
1987, won second in the Kentucky Fried Chicken "Best New Bluegrass Bands" contest in Louisville. First place was won by Alison Krauss and Union Station.
1988, recorded a classic Christmas album called "Yule Ties."
Name origin: "We are loosely tied to traditional bluegrass."
Original guitarist Joel Kaserman is from Australia. Rex Flinner (brother of Matt Flinner) also played guitar.
Banjo player Ted Wells has the distinction of being the first and only graduate of St. Lawrence University with a banjo degree.
1994, John Lowell (Kane's River) joined the band to play guitar.
September, 1996, played last concert.
Mandolinist Ben Winship went on to work with the Judith Edelman Band and Kane's River.
2008, the band reunited for a sold out show at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts.
2009, founding member Phil Round formed the Snake River Band.

THE LOST AND FOUND

From Ferrum, Virginia.
Formed by Allen Mills and Dempsey Young in August, 1973. Founding banjo player Gene Parker was also an important part of creating the Lost and Found "signature sound."
On the name: Says Mills, "At the time we started this band, all of us were lost in other bands; but we found each other through a mutual love for bluegrass music."
Bass player and bandleader Mills previously worked with the Easter Brothers and a country group called the T-Birds.
Young is a much-copied mandolin player with a mandolin instructional video to his credit. He is a first-place winner of the mandolin contest at the Galax Fiddler's Convention. He formerly performed with a group called The Newgrass Revue.
Guitarist/lead singers have included Ronnie Bowman, Steve Wilson, Bubba Chandler, Roger Handy and Barry Berrier.
Banjo players have included original member Gene Parker, Lynwood Lunsford, John Lewis and Ben Green.
2004 lineup: Mills, Young, Scottie Sparks (guitar) and Ron Smith (banjo).
2006 (December 10), Young died of an apparent suicide. He was 52.
2007, mandolinist Scott Napier joined the band (formerly with Marty Raybon and Dale Ann Bradley).

LOST HIGHWAY

From Orange County, California.
Original band was formed in 1975 and included Dave Dickey (guitar), Walden Dahl (mandolin), Pat Brayer (fiddle) and Lauren Seapy (banjo).
Fiddler Stuart Duncan (Nashville Bluegrass Band) was in this group in the early 1980's.
Group broke up in mid-80's, then re-united in 1996 by Ken Orrick (guitar) and Jeff Harvey (mandolin) who were with the group at the time of the group's disbanding.
Band leader and vocalist Orrick is originally from Smithville, Tennessee. His first band was a gospel group called the Premanaires, which included Faye DeMent (older sister of Iris DeMent).
Other members of the group (1998): Dick Brown (banjo, formerly with Traditional Bluegrass and Pacific Crest), Paul Shelasky (fiddle, formerly with the Good Old Persons) and Marshall Andrews (bass, also with Copperline).
2000, mandolinist Harvey was replaced by Eric Uglum, formerly with Copperline and the Weary Hearts.
2004, Andrews and Shelasky left the band and were replaced by Joe Ash (bass) and Mike Tatar, Jr. (fiddle).
2006, performed in Oman (middle east, south of Saudi Arabia).
2007-2009, after some health problems, Orrick tried to keep the band together with part-time musicians.
2009 (January), Orrick died of a heart attack.

EDGAR LOUDERMILK

From Eastanolee, Georgia.
Has been playing the bass since age 9.
He is related to the Louvin Brothers (their given names are Ira and Charles Loudermilk).
2001, joined Rhonda Vincent and the Rage
2002, joined Marty Raybon and Full Circle.
2007, joined Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out.
2011, released solo project on Mountain Fever Records with guests Marty Raybon, Rhonda Vincent, Russell Moore, Cia Cherryholmes and others.

THE LOUVIN BROTHERS

From Section (near Sand Mountain), Alabama.
One of the most popular "brother duets" in country music during the early 1950's.
1955, joined the Grand Ole Opry.
Stopped performing together in 1963 due to changing trends in country music.
Ira died in an auto accident on Father's Day, 1965, while returning from a personal appearance.
Charlie continued to perform on the Grand Ole Opry. Also performed for several years with Charles Whitstein (of the Whitstein Brothers), recreating the original Louvin Brothers sound.
Many of their songs have become bluegrass standards: "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby," "I Wish You Knew," "Ashes of Love" and others.
1992, The Louvin Brothers were honored with an IBMA Certificate of Merit for their lifetime contributions to bluegrass music.
Charlie died January 26, 2011.

SALLY LOVE AND GARY FERGUSON (See GARY FERGUSON)

PATTY LOVELESS

From Pikeville, Kentucky (lives in Nashville.)
Began her professional music career as a teenager singing with the Wilburn Brothers. Her name was Patricia Ramey at the time. She married the Wilburn's drummer, Terry Loveless upon graduation from high school.
Had dozens of #1 country hits including "You Can Feel Bad (If It Makes You Feel Better)," "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye," etc.
1988, became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
As of 2001, has won 19 CMA Awards including the Horizon Award (twice), Female Vocalist of the Year (seven times), Album of the Year (four times), Single of the Year (three times), Vocal Event of the Year (four times).
2001, recorded her first bluegrass album "Mountain Soul" and appeared on the "Down from the Mountain" tour with many bluegrass and traditional artists.
2002, co-hosted (with Ricky Skaggs) the IBMA Awards Show.
2009, released "Mountain Soul II"
2011, won the Bluegrass Grammy Award for "Mountain Soul II."

THE LOVELL SISTERS

From Calhoun, Georgia.
Three sisters: (ages in 2009) Jessica, fiddle (23), Megan, Dobro™(19) and Rebecca, mandolin (18).
They have been compared favorably to the Dixie Chicks.
2009, appeared on the Grand Ole Opry; released first album "Time to Grow."
2010, renamed the band "Larkin Poe," moving to a more folk-rock sound.

LOWCOUNTRY BOIL BLUEGRASS BAND

From the "lowcountry" of South Carolina.
Formed in 1998 by members of a rock band called Daly Planet.
They call their music "bluegrass on crack." Combine rock with bluegrass.
Have opened for Vassar Clements, Donna the Buffalo, the David Nelson Band.

NED LUBERECKI

From Baltimore, Maryland; lives in Nashville.
Has played banjo Tony Trischka’s Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular Band, The Rarely Herd, Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, The Jim Hurst Band, Radio Flyer, Paul Adkins & The Borderline Band and the Apocalyptic Cowboys.
2006, joined Chris Jones and the Night Drivers.
2010, recorded and toured with guitarist Stephen Mougin (the Sam Bush Band) as "Nedski and Mojo."
Is a DJ on Sirius/XM's Bluegrass Station "Bluegrass Junction."

GREG LUCK (See also CIRCUIT RIDERS)

From Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Learned to play all the bluegrass instruments as a teenager.
1986, joined Redwing upon graduation from high school.
1989, joined the Lost and Found, playing banjo.
1991-2, worked with the Lynn Morris Band.
1993, joined the Bluegrass Cardinals, playing guitar and fiddle (after Clay Jones joined them.)
Also a successful songwriter. Wrote "The Healing Kind" with Ronnie Bowman, which was recorded by Ronnie and also Dan Seals, LeAnn Womack.
1997, joined J.D. Crowe and the New South, playing guitar, singing lead.
Has his own recording studio. Has engineered recordings by Lou Reid and Carolina, Mark Newton, Country Gentlemen, many others.
2002, joined Third Tyme Out, playing fiddle.
2005, joined the Circuit Riders.

TED LUNDY (AND THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN BOYS)

From Wilmington, Delaware, near the Pennsylvania border; originally from Galax, Virginia.
A renowned banjo player and band leader of the 1960's and 70's.
Appeared frequently with Alex and Ola Belle and the New River Boys on WWVA radio, Wheeling, West Virginia.
Won many first-place awards at the Galax Fiddler's Conventions of the 1960's.
Teamed up with guitarist Bob Paisley in the 1970's, forming Ted Lundy, Bob Paisley, and the Southern Mountain Boys.
Was a mentor to James King, whose father played in Lundy's band in 1968.
1980, committed suicide by jumping off a bridge.
Lundy's sons Bob and T.J. play with Dan Paisley (son of Bob Paisley) and the Southern Grass.

LYNWOOD LUNSFORD (and the MISTY VALLEY BOYS)

From Axton, Virginia.
1978-1983, played banjo with the Country Cousins (with his father and two cousins).
1984-1985, Stoney Run with Kim Gardner
1985-1987, Big Sandy
1987-1989, James King Band
1990-1991, Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys
1991-1996, the Lost and Found
1997-1998, Sand Mountain
1998, formed a group called Savannah with Bubba Chandler.
1999, released first solo album.
2000, formed "Lynwood Lunsford and the Misty Valley Boys."
2006, joined Big Country Bluegrass.

CLAIRE LYNCH (See also THE FRONT PORCH STRING BAND)

Originally from Kingston, New York. Moved to Alabama at age 12.
1974, formed The Front Porch String Band in Birmingham, Alabama with husband Larry. Disbanded the group in 1982 to start a family.
Has sang on albums by Linda Rondstadt, John Starling, Pam Tillis, Ralph Stanley, Skip Ewing, Dolly Parton, Kathy Mattea, Emmy Lou Harris, Patty Loveless, many others.
Has written many songs recorded by such artists as Patty Loveless, the Whites, Kathy Mattea, The Seldom Scene, Pierce Pettis, Valerie Smith, others.
1990, began touring again with a reorganized Front Porch String Band.
1995, signed with Rounder Records. Her albums "Silver and Gold" and "Moonlighter" were final nominees for Grammy Awards in the "Best Bluegrass" category.
2000, disbanded the Front Porch String Band once again to spend more time at home with her family.
2000-2002, toured with Dolly Parton, providing background vocals.
2005, returned to performing and recording with her own band.
1997, 2010, won the IBMA award for Female Vocalist of the Year.

CHRISTIE LYNN

From Samson, Alabama
1995, met Porter Wagoner at Opryland USA. He auditioned her and she sang with him until 2002.
2002, began performing southern rock with Brave New South and the Southern Rock Allstars, bands made up of former members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet and Blackfoot.
2006, recorded a bluegrass album with special guests Ralph Stanley, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner. The album was produced by Wagoner.