The Lonesome River Band is an American contemporary bluegrass band. The band has released 15 recording projects since its formation in 1982. Lonesome River Band is led by

Sammy Shelor Sammy Shelor is an American banjoist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known as leader of the Lonesome River Band and for his solo recordings, music instruction, and session work. Biography Early years The Shelor Family has a long banjo ...

who is a member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame and a 5-Time International Bluegrass Music Association Banjo Player of the Year Award recipient. The band has experienced numerous personnel changes over the years, and has not included an original member since

Tim Austin Timothy Austin (born April 14, 1971) is an American former professional boxer. He is now a coach at the Cincinnati Golden Gloves gym in Cincinnati. Amateur career Austin had an outstanding amateur career, compiling a record of 113-9. Amateu ...

left the band in 1995 to focus on

Doobie Shea Records Doobie Shea Records was a record label featuring independent bluegrass artists. Founded in 1988 by Tim Austin, the label was shut down in 2004. Artists who have recorded on the label included Dale Ann Bradley, Marty Raybon, Dan Tyminski, the Lone ...

. On November 11, 2011, band member Sammy Shelor was awarded the

Steve Martin Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He has won five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2013. Additionally, he was nominate ...

Prize for Excellence in Bluegrass and Banjo. Shelor was presented with the award on the '' Late Show with David Letterman''. Following the presentation of the award, Steve Martin performed with the Lonesome River Band.

Members

Current members

*Mike Hartgrove — fiddle *Jesse Smathers — mandolin, vocals *Barry Reed – bass, vocals *Brandon Rickman – guitar, vocals *

— banjo, guitar, bass, vocals *Derrick Clifton — sound board operator, bus driver

Previous members

*Tim Austin – guitar, banjo, bass, vocals *Jerry McMillan – bass, vocals *Steve Thomas — fiddle, mandolin, vocals *Rick Williams — banjo *Jeff Midkiff — mandolin, fiddle, vocals *Billy Wheeler — banjo, dobro, guitar *Randy Driskill — banjo, vocals * Adam Steffey — mandolin, vocals *Brian Fesler — banjo, guitar, vocals * Dan Tyminski — mandolin, guitar, vocals *Dale Perry — banjo, guitar, vocals *John Green – bass, vocals * Ronnie Bowman — bass, guitar, vocals *Steve Dilling — banjo, vocals *Darrell Webb — mandolin, vocals *

Don Rigsby Donald Glen Rigsby is an American mandolinist, fiddler, guitarist, vocalist, and producer in the bluegrass tradition. He is known for his solo career, and for his work with the Lonesome River Band and Longview. Biography Early years Growing up ...

— mandolin, vocals *

Kenny Smith Kenneth Smith (born March 8, 1965), nicknamed "the Jet", is an American sports commentator and former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played in the NBA from 1987 to 1997 as a member of the Sacrame ...

— guitar, vocals *

Rickie Simpkins Rickie Simpkins is an American fiddler and mandolinist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his solo albums and his work with the Lonesome River Band and the Seldom Scene. Biography Early years Simpkins was raised in Christians ...

— fiddle, vocals *Jeff Parker — mandolin, vocals *Irl Hees – bass, vocals *John Wade – bass, vocals *Shannon Slaughter – guitar, vocals *Barry Berrier – bass, vocals *Matt Leadbetter — dobro, vocals *Mike Anglin – bass, vocals *Andy Ball — mandolin, piano, vocals *Mike Jones — banjo *Randy Jones — mandolin, vocals

Guests

* Mike Auldridge — steel guitar (The Lonesome River Band) *Steve Thomas — fiddle (Saturday Night-Sunday Morning, Carrying The Tradition) * Stuart Duncan — fiddle (Looking For Yourself, Old Country Town) *

Alison Krauss Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer and musician. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of 8 and recording for the first time at 14. She signed with ...

— fiddle (Carrying The Tradition) *

Bobby Hicks Bobby Hicks (born July 21, 1933) is a Grammy Awardbr>winningAmerican bluegrass fiddler and a professional musician with more than fifty years of experience. Career Hicks was born in Newton, North Carolina and learned to play the fiddle befor ...

— fiddle (Carrying The Tradition) *Kim Gardner — dobro (Carrying The Tradition) *Ricky Simpkins — fiddle (Old Country Town) *Kenneth Smith – drums (Old Country Town) * Aubrey Haynie — fiddle (One Step Forward) *Randy Howard — fiddle (One Step Forward, Finding The Way) *

Jerry Douglas Gerald Calvin "Jerry" Douglas (born May 28, 1956) is an American Dobro and lap steel guitar player and record producer. Career In addition to his fourteen solo recordings, Douglas has played on more than 1,600 albums. As a sideman, he h ...

— dobro, Weissenborn guitar (One Step Forward, Finding The Way) *Jason Carter — fiddle (Finding The Way) * Dan Tyminski — harmony vocals (Talkin to Myself) *Ron Stewart — fiddle (The Road With No End)

Discography

Albums

References

External links

*
CMT.com: Lonesome River Band: Biography

Steve Martin Honors Another Banjo Player
{{Authority control American bluegrass music groups