Biography

Bluegrass flatpicking guitar legend Dan Crary is back! Celebrating his 80th birthday in late 2019, Dan celebrates this milestone with the release of “Prime Time,” a new CD with banjo innovator Bill Evans and bassist Wally Barnick. In 2020, the trio will perform in at least six states and headline the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS.

Dan Crary is a living bluegrass legend, actively performing and recording since the 1960's. A founding member of the influential Bluegrass Alliance in the late 1960’s, and the "newgrass" approach, Dan’s 20+ year collaboration with Byron Berline and John Hickman earned him numerous awards and accolades.

Bill Evans is an internationally loved five-string banjo life force who is celebrated as a performer, researcher, recording artist, teacher, workshop director and author. His 2012 CD “In Good Company” topped folk and bluegrass charts. He's also the author of "Banjo for Dummies."

Bassist and singer Wally Barnick has performed with many familiar California Americana and bluegrass groups over the last four decades, including the Cache Valley Drifters, Bluegrass, Etc., and Kate Wolf.

"Prime Time" represents a strong return to form for Dan. It's a strong collection of tunes touching upon the trio's bluegrass, folk, gospel and Irish influences, drawing from songwriters such as Joe Ely, John Hiatt, Steve Young and the Stanley Brothers. This recording also represents Bill Evans' first band project since the 1990's and his virtuosic banjo playing throughout is a highlight of this release, especially on his two original cuts. Add Wally's warm lead vocals on four cuts and Kenny Blackwell, guesting on mandolin on five cuts, and you have the ingredients for a wonderful debut release.

"If you plan to put out a CD these days, it better be good...the competition is strong. Well, this new CD is more than good enough...It's great! I've been playing Dan Crary on the radio since he put out his first LP years back. This new CD features the best band Dan has ever put together. "Prime Time" has stunning guitar, banjo, mandolin, and bass along with their great vocals. The men have outdone themselves. Put "Prime Time" into the CD player and hit repeat! You'll love it because "Prime Time" is GREAT music" Mike Flynn, The Folk Sampler, NPR-distributed program.

"Amidst current bluegrass varieties of perfecto-grass or acrobata-grass, it’s a special treat to hear three seasoned veterans bring a fresh approach. Not only can they 'still cut it,' their musical depth shows with inventive arrangements and interpretations of old material as well as evocative originals. This music has personality and engages the mind as well as the ear." Pete Wernick, banjo player in Hot Rize