Gerald Calvin Douglas (born May 28, 1956) is an American Dobro and

lap steel guitar The lap steel guitar, also known as a Hawaiian guitar or lap slide guitar, is a type of steel guitar without pedals that is typically played with the instrument in a horizontal position across the performer's lap. Unlike the usual manner of pla ...

player and

record producer A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job involves hands-on oversight of recording sessions; ensu ...

. He is widely regarded as "perhaps the finest Dobro player in contemporary acoustic music, and certainly the most celebrated and prolific". A 14-time Grammy winner, he has been called "Dobro's matchless contemporary master" by ''The New York Times'' and is among the most innovative recording artists in music, both as a solo artist and member of numerous bands, such as Alison Krauss and Union Station and The Earls of Leicester. He has been a co-director of the Transatlantic Sessions since 1998. Douglas was inducted into the

International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame For a professional in the bluegrass music field, election to the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame is the highest honor the genre can bestow. An invitation can be extended to performers, songwriters, promoters, broadcasters, musicians, a ...

in 2024.

Career

In addition to his fourteen solo recordings, Douglas has played on more than 1,600 albums. As a sideman, he has recorded with artists as diverse as

Garth Brooks Troyal Garth Brooks (born February 7, 1962) is an American Country music, country singer and songwriter. His integration of pop and rock elements into the country genre has earned him his immense popularity, particularly in the United States, ...

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Gen ...

Eric Clapton Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English Rock music, rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s l ...

Phish Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band consists of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, drummer Jon Fishman, and keyboardist Page McConnell, all of whom perform vocals, with Anastasio being the ...

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...

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Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter known for his solo work and his collaborations with Art Garfunkel. He and Garfunkel, whom he met in elementary school in 1953, came to prominence in the 1960s as Sim ...

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, Ricky Skaggs,

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, Tommy Emmanuel,

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and Molly Tuttle as well as performing on the '' O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' soundtrack and the follow-up "Down From the Mountain" tour with Alison Krauss and Union Station. He has collaborated with various groups including The Whites,

New South New South, New South Democracy or New South Creed is a slogan in the history of the American South first used after the American Civil War. Reformers used it to call for a modernization of society and attitudes, to integrate more fully with th ...

, The Country Gentlemen, Strength in Numbers, and

's "Sugar Canes". From 1996 to 1998, Douglas was a member of The GrooveGrass Boyz. Douglas produced a number of records, including some at Sugar Hill Records. He oversaw albums by

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

, the Del McCoury Band, Maura O'Connell, Jesse Winchester and the Nashville Bluegrass Band, The Earls of Leicester, Gary Morris, The Steep Canyon Rangers. Along with Aly Bain, he serves as Music Director of the popular BBC Television series, " Transatlantic Sessions". Since 1998, Douglas has been a member of Alison Krauss and Union Station, touring extensively and playing on a series of platinum-selling albums. When not on the road with Alison Krauss and Union Station, Douglas tours in support of his extensive body of work with his bands The Jerry Douglas Band and The Earls of Leicester, following the continued success of the latter's 2014 release ''The Earls of Leicester'' and 2015's ''Rattle and Roar''. Douglas appeared with Vince Gill on Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2004 ("Oklahoma Borderline" and "What the Cowgirls Do"). Douglas also made a cameo in the third "United Breaks Guitars" consumer protest video, all of which went viral. On October 31, 2024, Douglas appeared on stage for two nights to perform multiple songs with

Billy Strings Billy Strings (born William Lee Apostol, October 3, 1992) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and Bluegrass music, bluegrass musician. He has released four studio albums, with his album Home (Billy Strings album), ''Home'' winning the ...

for the 2024 Billyween ''O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' themed concerts in

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

Personal life

Douglas was born in

Warren, Ohio Warren is a city in Trumbull County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. The population was 39,201 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located along the Mahoning River, Warren lies approximately northwest of Youngstown, Ohio, Y ...

, and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Jill.

Awards and honors

As of 2021, Douglas has been nominated for thirty-two

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

s, winning fourteen. He has received the

Country Music Association The Country Music Association (CMA) is an American trade association with the stated aim of promoting and developing country music throughout the world. Founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee, it originally consisted of 233 members and was the f ...

's 'Musician of the Year' award three times, in 2002, 2005 and 2007. Douglas is a 10-time recipient of the

International Bluegrass Music Association The International Bluegrass Music Association, or IBMA, is a trade association to promote bluegrass music. Formed in 1985, IBMA established its first headquarters in Owensboro, Kentucky. In 1988 they announced plans to create the International ...

("IBMA") Dobro Player of the Year Award. In 2004, the

National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the feder ...

awarded Douglas a National Heritage Fellowship, which is the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. Douglas was named Artist in Residence for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 2008. Douglas was honored at the 36th annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado for his twenty-fifth consecutive year playing in and at the festival. Douglas received the Bluegrass Star Award, presented by the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation of Dallas, Texas, on October 15, 2016. The award is bestowed upon bluegrass artists who do an exemplary job of advancing traditional bluegrass music and bringing it to new audiences while preserving its character and heritage. The Americana Music Association honored Douglas with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. Douglas received the key to the city of Manchester, Tennessee, as well as to Coffee County during a performance at the 2015 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

Discography

Studio recordings

Compilations

Other recordings

*''Angel from Montgomery'' with John Prine self-titled debut album in 1971 *''Remembrances and Forecasts'' 1974 as The Country Gentlemen *'' J.D. Crowe & The New South'' 1975 as J. D. Crowe & the New South *''Holiday In Japan'' 1975 as J. D. Crowe & the New South *''New South Live'' 1975 as J. D. Crowe & the New South *''Boone Creek'' 1977 as Boone Creek *''One Way Track'' 1977 as Boone Creek *''That Down Home Feeling'' 1977 as Buck White & Down Home Folks *''Buck and Family Live'' 1979 as Buck White & Down Home Folks *''More Pretty Girls Than One'' 1979 as Buck White & Down Home Folks *'' Bluegrass Album, Vol. 3 – California Connection'' 1983 as Bluegrass Album Band *''Snakes Alive'' 1984 as Dreadful Snakes *'' Bluegrass Album Vol.4'' 1985 as Bluegrass Album Band * '' High Country Snows'' 1985 Dan Fogelberg *'' T-Bone Burnett'' 1986 with T Bone Burnett *'' Bluegrass Album, Vol. 5 – Sweet Sunny South'' 1989 as Bluegrass Album Band *'' The Telluride Sessions'' 1989 ''as Strength in Numbers'' *'' Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two'' 1990 with the

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (sometimes abbreviated NGDB), also known as the Dirt Band, is an American band founded in Long Beach, California, in 1966. Since 2018, the band has consisted of Jeff Hanna and his son Jaime Hanna, both guitarists and voc ...

*''Skip, Hop & Wobble'' 1993 as Barenberg, Douglas & Meyer *'' Toolin' Around'' "Let it Slide" with Arlen Roth and Sam Bush 1993 *'' The Great Dobro Sessions'' 1994 as Jerry Douglas and various artists, produced by Jerry Douglas *''Far From Enough'' 1994 with

Viktor Krauss Viktor Krauss is an American musician who plays acoustic and electric bass. He has released solo albums and has worked as a sideman with many musicians, including his sister, singer and fiddler Alison Krauss. Music career Krauss was born to Fre ...

*'' Bluegrass Album, Vol. 6 – Bluegrass Instrumentals'' 1996 as Bluegrass Album Band *''Bourbon & Rosewater'' 1996 as Bhatt, Douglas & Meyer *''Yonder'' 1996 with Peter Rowan *'' Signs of Life'' 1996

Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist. Chapman began his career in the late 1980s as a songwriter and performer of cont ...

*''Leading Roll'' 1997 with Sammy Shelor *''The View From Here'' 1999 with Matt Flinner *'' O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' 2000 with

, The Whites, as Soggy Bottom Boys *''Latitude'' 2001, with Matt Flinner *'' Lucky Man (Hal Ketchum album)'' 2001, with

Hal Ketchum Hal Michael Ketchum (April 9, 1953 – November 23, 2020) was an American country music singer and songwriter. He released eleven studio albums from 1986 to 2014, including nine for divisions of Curb Records. Ketchum's 1991 album ''Past the Point ...

*''I Don't Need the Whiskey Anymore'' 2002, with Jack Lawrence *'' Deja Vu (All Over Again)'' 2004 with John Fogerty * '' All I Really Want For Christmas'' 2005 Steven Curtis Chapman *''Secret, Profane, & Sugarcane'' 2009 with

and the Sugarcanes *''Southern Filibuster: The Songs of Tut Taylor'' 2010, produced by Jerry Douglas *''

Rounder Records Rounder Records is an independent record label founded in 1970 in Somerville, Massachusetts, by Marian Leighton Levy, Ken Irwin, and Bill Nowlin. Focused on American roots music, Rounder's catalogue of more than 3000 titles includes records by A ...

40th Anniversary Concert'' 2010 as Jerry Douglas with Bela Fleck,

Alison Krauss & Union Station Alison Krauss & Union Station is an American Bluegrass music, bluegrass and Country music, country band associated with singer Alison Krauss. It was initially composed of Krauss, Jeff White (musician), Jeff White, Mike Harman and John Pennell. L ...

*'' Get Low'' Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 2010 as Jerry Douglas *"The Boxer", with

and

on the latter's album '' Babel'' (released September 2012) and on Douglas's own ''Traveler'', produced by Russ Titelman (released June 2012) *"One Light Shining" by Ruth Moody from ''These Wilder Things'' 2013 *''The Earls of Leicester'' 2014 with The Earls of Leicester produced by Jerry Douglas *''Three Bells'' 2014 with Mike Auldridge and Rob Ickes produced by Jerry Douglas *''Radio'' 2015 with The Steep Canyon Rangers produced by Jerry Douglas *''Rattle & Roar'' 2016 with The Earls of Leicester produced by Jerry Douglas *"Love Like Me" and "Everything's The Same" from Billy Strings' album ''Home'', released 2019 *'' Leftover Feelings'' 2021 with John Hiatt, produced by Jerry Douglas and performed with the Jerry Douglas Band *''Native American'' 1992, with Tony Rice

With Alison Krauss or Alison Krauss and Union Station

*'' I've Got That Old Feeling (Producer And Performer)'' 1991 *'' Forget About It'' 1999 *''

New Favorite ''New Favorite'' is the fifth album by bluegrass music group Alison Krauss & Union Station, released August 14, 2001. The album peaked in the top 50 of the ''Billboard'' 200 and within the top 5 of the ''Billboard'' charts for both Country and ...

'' 2001 *''

Live Live may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film * ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film * ''Live'' (2023 film), a Malayalam-language film *'' Live: Phát Trực Tiếp'', a Vietnamese-langua ...

'' 2002 *'' Lonely Runs Both Ways'' 2004 *'' A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection'' 2007 *'' Paper Airplane'' 2011

The Transatlantic Sessions

*'' Transatlantic Sessions 3 ol.1' (2007) (with Jerry Douglas and various artists) *'' Transatlantic Sessions 3 ol.2' (2008) (with Jerry Douglas and various artists) *''The Original Transatlantic Sessions ol.2' (2008) (with Jay Ungar and various artists) *''The Original Transatlantic Sessions ol.3' (2009) (with Jay Ungar and various artists) *'' Transatlantic Sessions 4 ol.1' (2009) (with Jerry Douglas and various artists) *'' Transatlantic Sessions 4 ol.2' (2010) (with Jerry Douglas and various artists) *'' Transatlantic Sessions 4 ol.3' (2010) (with Jerry Douglas and various artists)

Awards

Grammy Awards

*1983 Best Country Instrumental Performance: "Fireball" – with The New South *1994 Best Bluegrass Album: ''The Great Dobro Sessions'' *2001 Album of the Year: ''Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?'' – various artists *2001 Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group: "The Lucky One" – Alison Krauss + Union Station 2001 Best Bluegrass Album: ''New Favorite'' – Alison Krauss + Union Station 2002 Best Country Instrumental Performance: "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" with

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 ...

2002 Best Country Instrumental Performance: Earl Scruggs, Gary Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Steve Martin, Leon Russell, Vince Gill, Jerry Douglas, Glen Duncan, Albert Lee, Paul Shaffer and Marty Stuart – "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" *2003 Best Country Instrumental Performance: "Cluck Old Hen" – Alison Krauss + Union Station *2003 Best Bluegrass Album: ''LIVE'' – Alison Krauss + Union Station *2004 Best Country Instrumental Performance: "Earl's Breakdown" –

Featuring Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Vassar Clements & Jerry Douglas *2006 Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: "Restless" – Alison Krauss and Union Station *2006 Best Country Instrumental Performance: "Unionhouse Branch" – Alison Krauss and Union Station *2006 Best Country Album: ''Lonely Runs Both Ways'' – Alison Krauss and Union Station *2012 Best Bluegrass Album: ''Paper Airplane'' – Alison Krauss and Union Station *2015 Best Bluegrass Album: ''The Earls of Leicester'' – The Earls of Leicester

Americana Music Association Awards

*2002 Instrumentalist of the Year *2003 Instrumentalist of the Year *2011 Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist

CMA Awards

*2002 Musician of the Year *2005 Musician of the Year *2007 Musician of the Year

IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Awards

*1990 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *1991 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *1992 Instrumental Album of the Year – ''Slide Rule'', Jerry Douglas *1992 Record Event of the Year – ''Slide Rule'' *1992 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *1993 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *1994 Instrumental Album of the Year – ''Skip, Hop & Wobble''; Douglas, Barenberg & Meyer *1994 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *1995 Instrumental Album of the Year – ''The Great Dobro Sessions''; Mike Auldridge, Curtis Burch, Jerry Douglas, Josh Graves, Rob Ickes, Oswald Kirby, Stacy Phillips, Tut Taylor, Sally Van Meter, Gene Wooten *1995 Record Event of the Year – ''The Great Dobro Sessions'' *1995 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *1997 Album of the Year – ''True Life Blues—The Songs of Bill Monroe''; Sam Bush, Vassar Clements, Mike Compton, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Pat Enright, Greg Garing, Richard Greene, David Grier, David Grisman, John Hartford, Bobby Hicks, Kathy Kallick, Laurie Lewis, Mike Marshall, Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury, Jim Nunally, Scott Nygaard, Mollie O'Brien, Tim O'Brien, Alan O'Bryant, Herb Pedersen, Todd Phillips, John Reischman, Peter Rowan, Craig Smith, Chris Thile, Tony Trischka, Roland White *1997 Record Event of the Year – ''True Life Blues—The Songs of Bill Monroe'' *1997 Instrumental Album of the Year – ''Bluegrass Instrumentals, Volume 6''; The Bluegrass Album Band *2001 Album of the Year - "O' Brother, Where Art Thou" Soundtrack -Norman Blake, James Carter & The Prisoners, The Cox Family, Fairfield Four, Emmylou Harris, John Hartford, Chris Thomas King, Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, The Peasall Sisters, The Soggy Bottom Boys, Ralph Stanley, The Stanley Brothers, Gillian Welch, The Whites; Mercury/Lost Highway Records *2001 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *2002 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *2003 Album of the Year – ''Alison Krauss + Union Station Live'', Alison Krauss + Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas *2003 Record Event of the Year – ''Will The Circle Be Unbroken Vol. III''; Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Matraca Berg, Sam Bush, June Carter Cash, Johnny Cash, Vassar Clements, Iris DeMent, Rodney Dillard, Jerry Douglas, Glen Duncan, Vince Gill, Josh Graves, Jamie Hanna, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal, Jimmy Martin, Del McCoury, Robbie McCoury, Ronnie McCoury, Jonathan McEuen, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Tony Rice, Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs, Doc Watson, Richard Watson, Glenn Worf & Dwight Yoakam *2015 Entertainer of the Year - The Earls of Leicester *2015 Instrumental Group of the Year - The Earls of Leicester *2015 Album of the Year - The Earls of Leicester, Jerry Douglas, producer *2015 Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year - "Who Will Sing For Me" - The Earls of Leicester *2015 Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year - The Three Bells - Jerry Douglas, Mike Auldridge, Rob Ickes *2015 Dobro Player of the Year - Jerry Douglas *2016 Entertainer of the Year - The Earls of Leicester *2016 Dobro Player of the Year - Jerry Douglas

National Endowment for the Arts

*2004 National Heritage Fellowship

Country Music Hall of Fame

*2008 Artist in Residence

References

External links

Jerry Douglas official websiteThe Earls of Leicester official websiteAlison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas official sitewebsite of Transatlantic Sessions USA TourFolk Radio UK review of ''Jerry Christmas''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas, Jerry 1956 births Living people Alison Krauss & Union Station members American country guitarists American country singer-songwriters American bluegrass guitarists American male guitarists American male singer-songwriters National Heritage Fellowship winners American slide guitarists Grammy Award winners Singer-songwriters from Ohio Resonator guitarists People from Warren, Ohio The Country Gentlemen members Weissenborn players Guitarists from Ohio 20th-century American guitarists Country musicians from Ohio Bluegrass Album Band members New South (band) members Steel guitarists The Earls of Leicester (band) members Lyle Lovett and His Large Band members