Premier banjo player Béla Fleck is considered one of the most innovative pickers in the world and has done much to demonstrate the versatility of his instrument, which he uses to play everything from traditional bluegrass to progressive jazz. He was named after composer Béla Bartok and was born in New York City. Around age 15, Fleck became... [+] Read More

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The heartfelt vocal harmonies of country music's brother duos are echoed by the Brother Boys. Although Tennessee-born vocalists Eugene Wolf and Eddie Lynn Snodderly are not related by blood, the harmonic blend of their vocals shows that they were born to sing together. Joined by Missy Raines (acoustic bass) and Roger Rasnake (acoustic guitar),... [+] Read More

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Buck White was a spearhead of the new traditional movement that spread through country music in the 1980s and early 1990s. With daughter Cheryl on guitar and Sharon on bass, the Whites placed such tunes as "Give Me Back that Old Familiar Feeling" and "Wonder Who's Holding My Baby Tonight" on the country music charts. Grand Ole Opry members since... [+] Read More

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Born and raised in Seattle, O'Connor was always a bit out of sync with his teenage peers. Understandably so, since he was winning fiddle contests and had mapped out a sketchy career path. O'Connor moved to Nashville in 1983, already a former sideman for jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli, a job that allowed him to play the stage at Carnegie Hall.... [+] Read More

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Mark Schatz, a prominent player on the Nashville scene, has worked with artists such as Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Maura O'Connell, John Hartford, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, and Tim O'Brien. He has twice been named IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Bass Player of the Year and has served as the musical director of... [+] Read More

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Mike Marshall is one of the most innovative players of new instrumental music. Initially rooted in bluegrass, Marshall has consistently explored all the possibilities of his stringed instruments. During the five years (1985-1990) that he was a member of David Grisman's influential Quintet, Marshall toured with Stephane Grappelli, Mark O'Connor,... [+] Read More

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John Bellar’s and Ron Neilson’s wholly-unique combination of beautiful sounding lap-style acoustic guitars – as well as the blend of their complementary playing styles – creates extremely sensitive, sonorous and evocative music, melodies that are intended to touch hearts and evoke nearly boundless imagery.

Both virtuoso musicians... [+] Read More

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Russ Barenberg is one of the most melodic instrumentalists in contemporary bluegrass. Best known for his Clarence White-style flatpicking, Barenberg often uses his other three fingers to enhance rhythm and melody and create a more textural sensitivity. A former member of Country Cooking, Heartlands, Fiddle Fever, and Laughing Hands, Barenberg... [+] Read More

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Sam Bush extended the musical capabilities of the mandolin and the fiddle to incorporate a seamless blend of bluegrass, rock, jazz, and reggae. As the founder and leader of the New Grass Revival, Bush pioneered and guided the evolution of modern hill country music. Together with the bluegrass supergroup Strength in Numbers, he pushed the... [+] Read More

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Scott Nygaard is one of bluegrass' most eclectic guitar players. A former member of Laurie Lewis and Grant Street, Nygaard has been an essential member of Tim O'Brien's O'Boys since 1991. In addition to occasional sideman gigs with stellar musicians as Tony Furtado, Todd Phillips, Peter Rowan, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Vassar... [+] Read More

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