Biography

East of Monroe is an Americana/bluegrass group based in Virginia and Maryland. Their music is mostly original tunes along with tasteful covers of diverse songs. The band members all have different influences and backgrounds and that accounts for the many different styles of music the group plays. It all comes together in a unique, entertaining way- and with their new release, By the River's Edge, they will surely become a force on the acoustic scene.

East of Monroe's music features the award-winning songwriting of Gary Alan Ferguson, Jackie Frost, and Emily Timberlake. By the River's Edge is their upcoming new album, which includes 10 original songs, one song written by Patty Griffin, and one by Sid Robin and Charlie Shavers. It features guest performances by Dave Giegerich on dobro, vocals by Emily Timberlake, and Richard Ward on banjo and vocals. The cuts range from Americana to bluegrass to swing and everything in between.

The group began in 2010 and included Richard Ward, Jackie Frost, Gary Alan Ferguson, Emily Timberlake, Dave Giegerich, and Billy Budd. At first the group just recorded and rehearsed because of an illness of Giegerich's. Right before the group started playing gigs, sadly Dave passed away suddenly. After a few gigs with fill-ins Emily married and moved to the West Coast. After working on becoming a quartet for a while, the group met Lisa Kay Howard and Wally Hughes at a Christmas party and soon after they joined the group. When Richard left to devote more time to his family and business Terry Wittenberg stepped in and took over on banjo.

The band has performed at several prominent venues including the Graves Mountain Bluegrass Festival, the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, the Loudon County Bluegrass Festival, Mr B's Bluegrass Festival, the Berryville Bluegrass Series, the American Roots Music Summer Concert Series at the Frontier Culture Museum, The Kenmore Inn, The Metropolitan Club in DC, Ashland Coffee and Tea, Frying Pan Park, the Fairfax County Summer Concert Series and Gypsy Sally's.

East of Monroe is:
Gary Alan Ferguson
Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals
Gary Alan Ferguson is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends a variety of influences into his own style of roots music. The winner of the 2015 DCBU Hazel Dickens Songwriting Contest and a finalist in the 2014 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest, Gary has toured through the U.S. and Europe with a number of highly regarded country, bluegrass and swing bands.His performance and/or recording credits include the Knoxville Grass("Painted Lady") country hitmaker Donna Fargo, Claire Lynch, John Starling, the Virginia Squires and many others. His song, Southern Train was selected for the songwriter showcase at the 2015 IBMA World of Bluegrass.

Jackie Frost
Guitar, Vocals
Jackie Frost is a long-standing favorite in the Richmond, Va. music scene, having fronted several of her own groups and collaborated with Among Friends.Her album, Calliope, was a finalist in the 2006 Independent Music Awards.

Lisa Kay Howard
Mandolin, Vocals
Lisa Kay is a renowned Bluegrass and Americana mandolin player and she hosts the Old Home Place on WAMU's bluegrasscountry.org. She currently performs with East of Monroe, Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike and her own Lisa Kay Band.

Wally Hughes
Fiddle, Dobro, Vocals
Wally Hughes is a veteran of Bill Emerson's Sweet Dixie and a member of multiple bands including East of Monroe, Randy Cook & Commonwealth and Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike.

Terry Wittenberg
Banjo, Vocals
Terry has lent his banjo and vocal skills to multiple groups and projects including: None of the Above, alongside Les McIntyre; Southgate, alongside Dave Auldridge, Ed Ferris and Akira Otsuka; Overland Express; the Newgrass Effect, alongside Tom Gray; John Odell and Windy Ridge; the Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition and East of Monroe.

Billy Budd
Upright Bass
Throughout his long career in bluegrass and Americana music, Billy has appeared with many artists and groups including Stoney Point; Bill Harrell and the Virginians; Josh Graves and Kenny Baker; Jimmy Martin; Mac Wiseman and East of Monroe.

By the River's Edge

1.By the River's Edge
Gary Alan Ferguson/Pennywill Music ASCAP

Gary Alan Ferguson- lead vocal and lead guitar
Jackie Frost- rhythm guitaar and harmony vocal
Richard Ward- banjo and harmony vocal
Lisa Kay Howard- mandolin
Wally Hughes- fiddle
Billy Budd- bass

2.When It Don't Come Easy
Patricia J. Griffin/Universal Music Publishing Group

Jackie Frost- lead vocal and rhythm guitar
Emily Timberlake- harmony vocal
Gary Alan Ferguson- lead guitar
Richard Ward- harmony vocal
Dave Giegerich- dobro
Billy Budd- bass

3. Say What You Mean
Gary Alan Ferguson/Pennywill Music ASCAP

Gary Alan Ferguson- lead vocal and guitars
Lisa Kay Howard- ,andolin and harmony vocal
Jackie Frost- harmony vocal
Wally Hughes- fiddle
Richard Ward- banjo
Billy Budd- bass

4. Careless Thing
Emily Timberlake/Young Timber Music ASCAP

Emily Timberlake- lead vocal
Richard Ward- banjo and harmony vocal
Jackie frost- harmony vocal
Gary Alan Ferguson- guitars
Dave Giegerich- dobro
Billy Budd- bass

5. A New Song
Richard Ward/Richard Ward Music,Emily Timberlake
Young Timber Music ASCAP, Jackie Frost and Billy Budd

Jackie Frost- lead vocal
Emily Timberlake- harmony vocal
Richard Ward- banjo and harmony vocal
Gary Alan Ferguson- guitars and rhythm mandolin
Lisa Kay Howard- lead mandolin
Wally Hughes- fiddle
Billy Budd- bass

6. One Letter
Gary Alan Ferguson/Pennywill Music ASCAP

Gary Alan Ferguson- lead and harmony vocals, guitars
Wally Hughes- fiddle and harmony vocals
Richard Ward- banjo
Lisa Kay Howard- mandolin
Billy Budd- bass

7.Goodbye Letter
Emily Timberlake/Young Timber Music ASCAP

Emily Timberlake- lead vocal
Richard Ward- banjo and harmony vocal
Jackie Frost- harmony vocal
Gary Alan Ferguson- guitars
Dave Giegerich- dobro
Billy Budd- bass

8. No Me and You
Gary Alan Ferguson/Pennywill Music ASCAP

Gary Alan Ferguson- lead vocal and guitars
Lisa Kay Howard- mandolin and harmony vocal
Jackie Frost- harmony vocal
Wally Hughes- fiddle
Richard Ward- banjo
Billy Budd- bass

9. River Wide
Gary Alan Ferguson/Pennywill Music ASCAP

Gary Alan Ferguson- lead vocal and guitars
Wally Hughes- fiddle and harmony vocal
Richard Ward- banjo and harmony vocal
Jackie Frost- harmony vocal
Lisa Kay Howard- mandolin
Billy Budd- bass

10.Lyin' Awake at Night
Emily Timberlake/Young Timber Music ASCAP

Emily Timberlake- lead vocal
Richard Ward- banjo and harmony vocal
Jackie Frost- harmony vocal
Billy Budd- bass
Dave Giegerich- dobro
Gary Alan Ferguson- guitars and mandolin

11. Too Many Nights
Gary Alan Ferguson/Pennywill Music ASCAP

Gary Alan Ferguson- lead vocal and guitars
Lisa Kay Howard- mandolin and harmony vocal
Jackie Frost- harmony vocal
Wally Hughes- fiddle
Richard Ward- banjo
Billy Budd- bass

12. Undecided
Sid Robin and Charlie Shavers/Hal Leonard Publishing Corp

Jackie Frost- lead vocal
Richard Ward- banjo and harmony vocal
Emily Timberlake- harmony vocal
Billy Budd- bass
Dave Giegerich- dobro
Gary Alan Ferguson- guitars


Produced by Gary Alan Ferguson

Recorded and Mixed by Gary Alan Ferguson

Additional Mixing by George Hodgkiss at Phoenix Productions

Additional Tracks recorded by Dave Giegerich and Richard Ward

Mastering Engineer:Pete Reininger


East of Monroe is grateful for the love and support of family and friends: Kay Young, Debbie Ward, Charlie Rainwater, Maggie and Mynda Rainwater-Budd, Eli Liniado, Ethan and Olivia Hughes, Tim and Devron Timberlake, Pam McLeod Giegerich, Jackie Hodgkiss, Brooksie Wells, and Terry and Susan Wittenberg.


Special Thanks to George Hodgkiss- a talented and generous man

Dedicated to Dave Giegerich

For Bookings, contact:

Billy Budd, Dhbass78@yahoo.com 804-337-7161
Lisa Kay Howard-Hughes mandolinlk@yahoo.com

For Publicity, contact

Maggie Rainwater rainwaterm93@gmail.com
804-695-4967