Biography

What you have here is the real deal...great bluegrass music of the purest type. It's a rare form of bluegrass these days, but it's the kind that many of us grew up with, still remember, and still prefer. And It's not too often that you find current active bands doing this style of music. I'm talking about REAL bluegrass music.
Real bluegrass music is about soul and honest emotion. It's the kind of sound that gives you goosebumps and makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. And to get that sound it takes a group of musicians who get along and respect each other, working together as team to deliver soulful and emotional music with hard-hitting, raw energy. The Southern Grass is one of the few bands today that delivers this kind of bluegrass.


Fronting the group is my dear friend from childhood days, Danny Paisley. We've known each other since we were both babies at shows with our parents at places like Sunset Park, New River Ranch, and Watermelon Park. Not only has he always been a true gentleman, but he is also without a doubt, one of the greatest authentic heartfelt vocalists of all time, and absolutely one of THE best rhythm guitars players ever.


Another good old friend of mine from childhood is T. J. Lundy. He is the band's current fiddle player, having a lifelong musical and personal relationship with Danny. T. J. has always been one of my favorite fiddle players, and is as powerful, soulful and bluesy as they come, always giving me shivers when I hear him play. He has returned once again to The Southern Grass, replacing Doug Meek who also provides some mighty fine fiddle work on some of the pieces on this CD.
Danny's son, Ryan, just 15 years old at the time of this recording, has been in the group for about three years. Ryan is now one of my favorite young bluegrass mandolin players. He has the ultimate raw, bluesy, chunky, punchy, powerful style that has all but disappeared from bluegrass these days. And there is no acrobatic bedazzlement in his playing at the expense of taste.


Eric Troutman, has been playing bass and singing in the group for about three years. He holds down the beat, and achieves perfect lock-in with the rhythm section. Eric works so well with the other guys, that the band becomes one driving and grooving rhythm machine. And he keeps it straight and clean, just the way I like it! He's also a perfect vocal blend with Danny.


Mark Delaney, who has been in the group for four years on vocals and banjo, is another good friend of mine. We have known each other for quite a long time now. Everybody absolutely loves the powerful, no-holding-back, in-your-face attitude in his playing. He delivers in a way that captures every listener.
Each one of these guys grew up as I did... in the thick of roots music, surrounded by bluegrass and other styles of music in the Mid-Atlantic region, with no short supply of some of the best hard-core bluegrass music anywhere. Growing up in that environment, it's no wonder Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass is one of the most authentic and pure bluegrass bands on the circuit today. I'm sure you'll enjoy listening to this CD as much as I do.


David McLaughlin