Biography

Rural Rhythm Records is pleased to announce the new single by Edgar Loudermilk Band featuring Jeff Autry “Lonesome Riverboat Blues” releasing to radio today. Their debut Rural Rhythm Records album that is also titled Lonesome Riveboat Blues will be released in April.

“Lonesome Riverboat Blues” is written by bandmates Edgar Loudermilk, Jeff Autry and Zack Autry. Produced by Edgar Loudermilk and Jeff Autry the single and feature the Edgar Loudermilk Band which includes Loudermilk (lead vocal, bass), Jeff Autry (guitar, harmony vocal), Zack Autry (mandolin, harmony vocal), Curtis Bumgarner (banjo) and Dylan Armour (dobro).

Edgar Loudermilk explains. “I had this idea while we were at IBMA a few years ago, and started the song while staying with a friend in Raleigh. We ended up finishing it about a year later in Reno Nevada while doing a west coast tour. We wrote the song around the idea of growing up on an old time Riverboat; we all love John Hartford and had been listening to him and how he sang about the Riverboats, so we decided we wanted to write our own Riverboat song. When we all got together on this one it came to life , it has a kinda stick in your head melody figure throughout the song that makes folks wanna dance !”.

This is a homecoming for Loudermilk who was with Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out on their two highly successful albums for Rural Rhythm Records.

“We are so excited, and grateful to be reunited with Rural Rhythm Records! It feels good to come back home to where a lot of great records I have been a part of all started. I’ve been friends with Sammy 3 for many years, and called to catch up with him, and started discussing the new record we were working on. Our discussions felt as thou we have been there all along, and just had the right vibe. I knew we wanted to be back with our family at Rural Rhythm Records! We are Looking Forward to what the Future holds here!” – Edgar Loudermilk

About Edgar Loudermilk Band featuring Jeff Autry
Edgar Loudermilk comes from a long line of celebrated Bluegrass musicians including his father, grandfather and famous relatives The Louvin Brothers. At age 20 he joined Carolina Crossfire who had quite a following in the Georgia area. In 2001 he performed with Rhonda Vincent for almost a year before moving over to one of the greatest voices in Country Music Marty Raybon. Loudermilk became the bass player and tenor singer in the newly formed group Full Circle and would back up Marty Raybon for almost five years.

When Ray Deaton left IIIrd Tyme Out Loudermilk became the newest member in 2007. "I really love the music of this band," stated Loudermilk. "Singing with Russell Moore is the compliment of my life because I don't believe there's a better singer anywhere."

In addition to touring and performing, Edgar Loudermilk has had great success as a songwriter, with over 50 self-penned songs, many of which have been recorded by other artists. In 2017 Edgar's self-penned song, "Can't Live Live," was recorded by Rhonda Vincent & Daryle Singletary as part of their American Grandstand album--that album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart, and in July of 2017, it was on Billboard's Top 10 of Top Current Country Albums, as well as No.1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Album Chart for the week of July 29, 2017. The album went on to be #1 on Splice Today's Top 10 Country Albums of 2017.

Loudermilk's solo album, Roads Travelled, showcased his vocal talents and his solid bass playing, but also his songwriting skills, having written or co-written all 12 tracks on the project. In 2013 Loudermilk released, My Big Chance Tomorrow writting all the songs on the album. The album appeared on numerous radio charts and also appeared on the Roots Music Report’s Top 100 Bluegrass Albums of 2014 chart.

In November 2013, Edgar joined Dave Adkins to form the new duo, Adkins & Loudermilk. Their March 2015 debut album hit numerous album and singles charts including the single "Georgia Mountain Man" which Loudermilk wrote about his grandfather.

Jeff Autry is highly regarded as one of the most talented guitarist of our time performing and recording with many of the bluegrass legends including Sam Bush, The Lynn Morris Band, Vassar Clements, Ricky Skaggs, Peter Rowan and the John Cowan Band.

His recording credits include the award winning instrumental series Bluegrass 96 through Bluegrass 2001, his own solo album titled Foothills, Leftover Salmon mandolinist Drew Emmett’s solo album, as well as the John Cowan Band’s release, Always Take Me Back.

Edgar Loudermilk Band featuring Jeff Autry, who debuted in July 2016 with their album Georgia Maple, has played together for quite some time. Although this is the official band record, the group has great chemistry and stage dynamic.

The Edgar Loudermilk Band, featuring Jeff Autry is performing throughout the United States and Canada during on their 2019 Tour.