• From Apple Valley, California (born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky).
• 1986, a founding member of Weary Hearts, with Ron Block, Butch Baldassari and Mike Bub. Eric played guitar.
• 1988, formed New Wine, with Ron and Sandra Block and Rob Ickes.
• 1992, formed Copperline, with Janet Beazley, Bud Bierhaus and Marshall Andrews.
• 1997, joined Lost Highway, playing mandolin.
• Owns a recording studio, New Wine Studios.
• 2003, released first solo album.
• 2006, formed a trio with his stepsons Christian and Austin Ward. Released a CD called "The New Road to Jerusalem."
• 2007, he (along with stepsons Christian and Austin Ward) joined Chris Stuart and BackCountry.

DONNA ULISSE (and THE POOR MOUNTAIN BOYS)

• From Hampton, Virginia
• Name is pronounced "You-liss-ee."
• Began singing at age 3 by wandering onstage with a bluegrass band at a family Bar-B-Q
• Married Rick Stanley, a cousin of Ralph and Carter. Ralph and the Clinch Mountain Boys performed at her wedding reception.
• 1980, moved to Nashville and began working as a background session singer. First harmony session on a Jerry Reed album.
• 1991, signed by Atlantic Records. Released country album "Trouble at the Door."
• Appeared on CMT "Hot Country Nights," "Nashville Now," "Hee Haw."
• 2007, released bluegrass album "When I Look Back" featuring her original songs. Produced by Keith Sewell.
• 2009, released bluegrass album ‘Walk This Mountain Down featuring her original songs. Produced by Keith Sewell
• 2010, released bluegrass gospel album “Holy Waters” featuring twelve original songs and one Carter Stanley song. Produced by Keith Sewell
• 2011, released bluegrass album ‘An Easy Climb” featuring her original songs. Produced by Keith Sewell

• Formed in 1999.
• A traditional roots band featuring K.C. Groves, Abigail Washburn, Rayna Gellert and Kristen Andreasson.
• They sometimes refer to themselves as the g'Earls.
• K.C. Groves has recorded several solo projects of folk, old-time and bluegrass music. She lives in Colorado.
• Banjo player Abigail Washburn also performs and records as a solo artist, specializing a blend of American and Chinese folk music. She lives in Nashville.
• Kristen Andreasson is also a member of the Maryland-based Footworks, a percussive dance group. She lives in Woodstock, NY.
• Rayna Gellert (from North Carolina) is a former member of the Freight Hoppers.
• 2007, released CD "Waterloo, Tennessee" produced by John Paul Jones (of Led Zeppelin fame).

UNION KUN-TREE

• From Arkansas.
• Began as the Chitlin Switch Road Runners in the mid-1950's (performing on a radio station in El Dorado, Arkansas). They also appeared on the Louisiana Hayride.
• 1980, changed name to Bluegrass Kun-Tree, recorded several albums under that name.
• 2005, re-emerged as Union Kun-Tree.
• Original lead singer Joe Wilson died in 1984. His son Joe Wilson, Jr. took his place in the band, playing banjo.
• Celebrated 50 years as a band in 2005.

• From Cincinnatti, Ohio.
• Formed in 1992.
• Two members of this band, Dwight McCall and Randy Pollard, worked previously with Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass.
• Group disbanded in 1995. McCall left to join the Country Gentlemen.

• From Austin, Texas.
• Since mid-nineties has worked with several bluegrass and acoustic bands in Austin. Performed at RockyGrass, MerleFest with The Two High String Band and in a duo with mandolinist Billy Bright.
• 2012, released first solo project "Cold as Steel."

• From Wheelersburg, Ohio.
• Formed in 1993.
• 1996, won the SPBGMA “International Bluegrass Band Championship.”
• Founder and guitarist Ray Craft formerly worked with Dave Evans, Emma Smith, and Redwing.
• Banjo player John Lewis previously worked with the Lost and Found, Gary Brewer. At age 14 had a group called True Grass with Don Rigsby. He is an attorney.
• Original banjo player: Jack Hicks (a former member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys).
• Mandolin player Shayne Bartley previously worked with Dave Evans, the Lost and Found and the Charlie Sizemore Band.
• Guitarist Scottie Sparks previously worked with Dave Evans, Redwing, and his own band. He also performed on the Grammy-nominated album “The Stanley Tradition.”
• 1997, recorded first album for Doobie Shea Records.
• 2000, disbanded.
• 2008, Bartley and Craft re-formed the group with Bobby Hicks playing fiddle on selected dates.

THE URBAN MONROES

• From the Pacific Northwest (Spokane, Washington)
• Band members: Fran Kent (guitar and vocals), Matt Gray (banjo), Jeff Shippy (fiddle) and Jason Mellow (bass).
• 2008, released CD "One Fret Makes a Difference."
• 2010, released CD "Pavement and Pathways."

JOE VAL (AND THE NEW ENGLAND BLUEGRASS BOYS)

• From Boston, Massachusetts.
• An influential mandolin player and tenor singer in the New England area.
• 1950's, performed with the Radio Rangers and the Lilly Brothers.
• 1960's, worked with Bill Keith, Jim Rooney, Breakfast Special, and the Charles River Valley Boys (a group that recorded an album for Elektra called “Beatle Country”—arrangements of songs by the Beatles.)
• 1969, formed his New England Bluegrass Boys and recorded several albums for Rounder.
• Died in 1985.

JIM VAN CLEVE (See also MOUNTAIN HEART)

• Born/raised in Sarasota, Florida. Grew up in Haywood County, North Carolina. Resides in Nashville.
• Began playing fiddle at age 8.
• As a teenager, played with Ric-o-chet, Lou Reid & Carolina, Rambler's Choice, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver.
• 1998, joined Mountain Heart.
• An A-list Nashville session musician. Played on Carrie Underwood's hit single "Don't Forget to Remember Me."
• 2006, recorded solo project "No Apologies." First cut, "Nature of the Beast" nominated for Grammy Award ("Best Country Instrumental Performance").

• From the San Francisco Bay area. Lives in Colorado.
• One of the top Dobro™ players in bluegrass.
• Original member of The Good Old Persons.
• 1993, formed her own band.
• 1994, formed the Sally Van Meter/Tammy Fassaert Band (with vocalist Tammy Fassaert).
• One of her recordings was used in the soundtrack of the hit TV series, Northern Exposure.
• Has produced albums by the Yonder Mountain String Band and Open Road.

APRIL VERCH

• From Pembroke, Ontario, Canada.
• Began step-dancing at age three; fiddling at age six.
• As a high school student, recorded two albums.
• Attended Boston's Berklee School of Music.
• Won the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Championship and Canadian Open Fiddle Championship.
• Worked with Canadian country music star Tommy Hunter.
• 2001, released first Rounder album "Verchuosity."
• 2003, released "From Where I Stand" CD.
• 2006, released "Take Me Back" CD, produced by Dirk Powell.

• From Stockton, California. Originally from Arkansas.
• A duo featuring Vern Williams (mandolin) and Ray Park (guitar). Ray also played fiddle.
• Met in Stockton in 1959, formed a band called the Carroll County Country Boys. Recorded several singles on the Starday label.
• Herb Pederson (also of the Dillards, the Desert Rose Band, the Laurel Canyon Ramblers) played banjo with Vern and Ray.
• Disbanded in 1974. Vern formed The Vern Williams Band with his son Delbert on guitar, Keith Little on banjo.
• Ray Park worked with numerous west coast bluegrass and country bands. Recorded a solo fiddle album called “Fiddletown” in 1982. Died on May 15, 2002.

• From Duncan, Oklahoma. Lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
• Started playing banjo at age 13.
• At age 18, landed his first pro job with Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers (one year).
• Age 19, moved to Texas and formed a band with brother Curtis and Russell Moore called Southern Connection.
• 1985, joined Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver.
• 1990, formed a group called Livewire.
• 1994, with David Parmley, formed Continental Divide.
• 1996, won IBMA award for Banjo Player of the Year (co-winner with Sammy Shelor).
• 1998-2003, worked with the John Cowan Band.
• Producer of series of annual instrumental albums (The “Bluegrass” series), which won the IBMA award for Recorded Event of the Year in 1996.
• First to popularize the “stealth” banjo: a five-string banjo with a hidden fifth-string tuning peg.
• 2003, joined Rock County. Also performs with Longview and country singer Shawn Camp.
• 2004, joined Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time.
• 2006, joined the Sam Bush Band.

• From Fredericktown, Missouri.
• Originally called “The Gospel Tones.” Formed in 1972 by Harold and Kathy Goad.
• 1985, changed name to the Village Singers.
• Heavily influenced by the style of the Chuck Wagon Gang.
• Harold (banjo and guitar) formerly performed regularly at Silver Dollar City in Branson. Wife Kathy plays mandolin. Their son Warren plays guitar and sings bass.
• Bass player Shirley Vaughn, formerly with a group called Parker Mountain Bluegrass is from Springdale, Arkansas.

• From Kirksville, Missouri.
• Grew up performing with her family band, The Sally Mountain Show.
• 1967, began singing professionally at age five, on her family's weekly television show.
• Began playing mandolin at age five. She can play all the bluegrass instruments.
• Won Missouri state fiddle championship in 1977.
• Recorded eleven albums with the Sally Mountain Show and six solo albums before the age of 30.
• 1985, began performing with Grand Ole Opry Star Jim Ed Brown on the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1992, signed wth Giant Records for two country projects.
• 1998, co-hosted the IBMA awards show with Ricky Skaggs.
• 1998, formed Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. The original Rage was spelled “Raje” for the initials of the band members: Rhonda, Alan (Jones), Joey (Wieneman) and Earl (actually Irl Hees). It was later changed to Rage because it was often mis-pronounced.
• 1999, returned to bluegrass with the release of her album “Back Home Again.”
• Rhonda and her husband Herb own a restaurant in Kirksville, MO called “Bogie’s.”
• Nickname: “Mandolin Mama”
• Is often called upon to sing harmony with other artists on their recordings: Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Keith Urban, many others.
• 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, won IBMA award for Female Vocalist of the Year.
• 2001, won IBMA award for Entertainer of the Year.
• 2002, was inducted into the George D. Hay Country Music Hall of Fame in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas.
• 2009, performed the National Anthem at the Kansas City Chiefs v. San Diego Chargers game.
• 2009, recorded a song/video with country singer Gene Watson "Staying Together."

THE VIRGINIA RAMBLERS

• From Albermarle County, Virginia.
• Formed in 2004.
• Members: Charles Frazier (guitar, lead vocals), Donnie Shifflet (bass) and Jeff Vogelgesang (mandolin), Zack Deming (banjo)
• Frazier, Shifflet and Vogelgesang performed together for 13 years with banjo player Alvin Breeden as The Virginia Cutups.
• Zack Deming is a former member of King Wilkie.
• 2005, appeared on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion."

• From Virginia.
• Formed in 1983 by Rickie Simpkins (fiddle and mandolin), Ronnie Simpkins (bass), Mark Newton (guitar and lead vocals), and Sammy Shelor (banjo.)
• 1984, voted “Bluegrass Band of the Year” by the Country Music Association of Virginia..
• They had previously worked with another Virginia bluegrass band, The Heights of Grass. Lead singer Mark Newton also previously worked with The Knoxville Grass.
• Broke up in 1989. Occasonally performs “reunions” when the members of the band are together at festivals.
• Mark Newton has his own band and promotes the annual Graves Mountain Bluegrass Festival in Virginia.

VOLUME FIVE

• from Georgia.
• Formed in 2009.
• Original members: Glen Harrell (fiddle), Patton Wages (banjo), Chris Williamson (bass), Jesse Daniel (mandolin), Adam Duke (guitar). Duke was later replaced by Colby Laney. All were previously sidemen with such artists as Marty Raybon and Full Circle, Randy Kohrs and the Lites, the Larry Stephenson Band, David Davis and the Warrior River Boys.
• 2010, released first CD "Down in a Cell" on Mountain Fever Records.
• 2011, released "Children of the Mountain" CD.
• 2013, released "Run"" CD and had several band changes. Laney (guitar) was replaced by Jeff Partin. Daniel was replaced on mandolin by Harry Clark (formerly with the Roys).

• From Blountville, Tennessee.
• Formed by Tim White and Dave Vaught in 1997. Larry McPeak of the McPeak Brothers joined them about a year later.
• A bluegrass band that features magic and comedy “to provide a complete entertainment experience. They perform at amusement parks like Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN and have worked with Jerry Clower and Don Knotts.
• 2009, Larry McPeak was replaced by "Fat Albert" Blackburn.