Dave Evans (bluegrass)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

William "Dave" Evans (July 24, 1950 - June 26, 2017) was a tenor singer, banjo player, composer, and bluegrass band leader. He was noted for his powerful tenor vocal range and for his style which bridged traditional and contemporary bluegrass. Notable songs written by Evans include "One Loaf of Bread," "Highway 52," "99 Years is Almost for Life," and "Be Proud of the Grey in Your Hair."


Biography


Early years

Evans grew up in Columbus, Ohio. At age eight, Evans was introduced to the banjo by his father who played old time banjo, but Evans preferred the
Earl Scruggs Earl Eugene Scruggs (January 6, 1924 – March 28, 2012) was an American musician noted for popularizing a three-finger banjo picking style, now called "Scruggs style", which is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music. His three-finge ...
style of playing. In his teens, he began singing and writing songs. Evans' first professional band was in 1968, with Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys. Following the death of Evans' mother, he returned to Ohio for several years.


Larry Sparks

In 1972, Evans joined
Larry Sparks Larry Eugene Sparks, (born September 25, 1947) is an American Bluegrass singer and guitarist. He was the winner of the 2004 and 2005 International Bluegrass Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year Award. 2005, won IBMA for Album of the Yea ...
and the Lonesome Ramblers. He spent three years with Sparks, then worked with other acts such as the Goins Brothers, Red Allen and the Kentuckians, and The Boys From Indiana,
Lillie Mae Lillie Mae (born Lillie Mae Rische on June 26, 1991) is an American Country music, country and Americana (music), Americana singer, songwriter, fiddle and guitar player based in Nashville, Tennessee. Career Early career Lillie Mae Rische start ...
, and the Dixie Gospelaires.


River Bend

In 1978, Evans formed his own band: Dave Evans and The River Bend. Initially they recorded for the Vetco label in Cincinnati, then Evans recorded nine albums for Rebel Records with his band and as a solo artist.


Later life

After an interruption due to time served for an assault conviction from 1989-1995, Evans resumed his music career in 1997, recording albums for Neon Records and Rebel. In 2010, Evans announced his retirement from touring due to health issues and he died on June 26, 2017.


Last of the Breed

''Last of the Breed'' is a documentary film about the life and music of Evans, telling his story through interviews with those who knew him. It is produced by Matthew Pellowski, with
Tom T. Hall Thomas Hall (May 25, 1936 – August 20, 2021), known professionally as Tom T. Hall and informally nicknamed "The Storyteller," was an American country music singer-songwriter and short-story author. He wrote 12 number-one hit songs, with 26 more ...
as an associate producer. The project is in the fundraising phase.


Discography


Solo albums

* 1982: ''A Few More Seasons'' (Rebel) * 1997: ''Just Look At Me Know'' (Neon) reissued in 2003 by Rebel * 1998: ''High Waters'' (Neon) reissued in 2003 by Rebel * 2000: ''Bad Moon Shining'' (Rebel) * 2001: ''Hang Out A Light For Me'' (Rebel) * 2007: ''Pretty Green Hills'' (Rebel)


As a member of Dave Evans and River Bend

* 1979: ''Dave Evans And River Bend: Highway Fifty Two'' (Vetco) with River Bend * 1980: ''Call Me Long Gone'' (Vetco) with River Bend * 1981: ''Goin' Round This World'' (
Rebel A rebel is a participant in a rebellion. Rebel or rebels may also refer to: People * Rebel (given name) * Rebel (surname) * Patriot (American Revolution), during the American Revolution * American Southerners, as a form of self-identification; ...
) with River Bend * 1983: ''Poor Rambler'' (Rebel) with River Bend * 1984: ''Bluegrass Memories'' (Rebel) with River Bend * 1985: ''Close To Home'' (Rebel) with River Bend


Collaborations

* 1980: ''Playing it Simple'' (Vetco)
Josh Graves Josh Graves (September 27, 1927 Tellico Plains, Monroe County, Tennessee – September 30, 2006), born Burkett Howard Graves, was an American bluegrass musician. Also known by the nicknames "Buck," and "Uncle Josh," he is credited with introdu ...
with Dave Evans, Buddy Griffin, and David Pinson * 1984: ''Don't Let Me Cross Over'' (Rutabaga) as Emma Smith and Dave Evans


Compilations

* 2008: ''The Best of the Vetco Years'' (Rebel)


With

Larry Sparks Larry Eugene Sparks, (born September 25, 1947) is an American Bluegrass singer and guitarist. He was the winner of the 2004 and 2005 International Bluegrass Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year Award. 2005, won IBMA for Album of the Yea ...
and the Lonesome Ramblers

* 1974: ''The Footsteps of Tradition'' (
King King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...
) * 1974: ''Portrait of a Fiddler'' (Old Homestead) with Joe Meadows * 1975: ''Pickin' & Singin (Pine Tree) * 1982: ''Dark Hollow'' (Rebel) * 1983: ''The Testing Times'' (Rebel)


As composer

* 1978: Raintree - ''Wind in the Mountains'' (Green Mountain) - track 9, "Highway 52" * 1985. Delia Bell and Bill Grant - ''A Few Dollars More'' ( Rounder) - track 1, "Foggy Mountain Home"


Also appears on

* 1983:
Ralph Stanley Ralph Edmund Stanley (February 25, 1927 – June 23, 2016) was an American bluegrass artist, known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing. He began playing music in 1946, originally with his older brother Carter Stanley as part of The ...
and Friends - ''Live at the Old Home Place'' (Rebel) * 2007:
Jim Lauderdale James Russell Lauderdale (born April 11, 1957) is an American country, bluegrass, and Americana singer-songwriter. Since 1986, he has released 31 studio albums, including collaborations with artists such as Dr. Ralph Stanley, Buddy Miller, ...
- ''The Bluegrass Diaries'' (
Yep Roc Yep Roc Records is an American independent record label based in Hillsborough, North Carolina, and owned by Redeye Distribution. Since 1997, the label has released albums from North Carolina and international artists, including Fountains of Wayne ...
) * 2011: various artists - ''Let the Light Shine Down: A Gospel Tribute to Bill Monroe'' (Rebel) - track 13, "Mansions For Me"


Documentaries

* TBD: ''Last of the Breed: The Dave Evans Story'' (Red Line Studios)


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Dave 1950 births 2017 deaths American bluegrass musicians American country banjoists Country musicians from Ohio People from Portsmouth, Ohio