Biography

Dennis Cash was born in Lynchburg, Va on Sept 20, 1950. He is the oldest of four children born to Leslie and Ethel Mitchell Cash. Dennis' father loved music. He played guitar, autoharp, banjo and harminica. He never played outside the family home; only for his own entertainment.

Every weekend the family radio, which sat on top of the refrigerator in the kitchen, was tuned to WSM, WWVA or WCKY. And good old "string music" filled the air. During his childhood many country artists had TV programs. If one was on the air, it was a good bet that the family TV was tuned in. Reno and Smiley's Top of the Mornin' Show on Roanoke, VA's WDBJ played as Dennis got ready for school many mornings. Flatt and Scruggs, The Wilburn Brothers, Porter Wagner and many other country shows were on the air at that time.

Around age 12, bored while out of school for summer break, Dennis picked up his Dad's old archtop guitar, a mail order song book with a chord chart, and taught himself to play guitar. From then on he was hooked.

In his early twenties, Dennis took his first paying job as a musician. He hired on as lead guitar player for a local country band. Through the early years of his adult life, he played both guitar and bass in many local groups whose music spanned country, folk southern rock, and anything else that paid a buck or two.

Dennis also spent some time in school, studying electrical / electronic engineering. He maintained a day job while continuing to play music professionally.

From the 1970's through 1996 Dennis lived and worked in VA, CA, NY, TN and NC. The early 70's also included a year living in France. And his musical endeavors crossed many genres. But he kept returning to the music he grew up with; the roots music of the Carter Family, traditional bluegrass of people like Lester and Earl, and traditional country music. And of course gospel music was a large part of all these genres.

After arriving in NC in 1996, Dennis set out to start a bluegrass gospel band. He met a local NC musician named Wayne Ratley and together they launched Carolina Sonshine. Carolina Sonshine was honored by the SPBGMA organization by having been nominated for six consecutive years as Traditional Gospel Band Of The Year.

In the past few years Dennis has focused more on roots music, especially that of the Carter Family. Dennis has recorded two solo projects, both paying homage to the Carter Family. Songs of Home and Sing Me A Carter Family Song contain Dennis' interpretation of many fine songs introduced to the world by the Carter Family.

In August of 2014 Dennis was inducted into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame (http://www.ntcma.net/americas-old-time-country-music-hall-of-fame.php). He was recognized for his interest in and performance of traditional music and especially for his particular style of playing the autoharp.

Here's what some folks in the industry have to say about Dennis and his music:

"Tom T. and I have a very high regard for Dennis Cash. He is a true interpreter of the Carter Family soul and we are very honored indeed that he would call upon us to write the title cut for this magical trip back to Poor Valley." ​-Dixie Hall

"Dennis Cash is a pure dyed in the wool artist and musician when it comes to true American acoustic music. Listening to him takes me back to a simpler time and gives me an experience of American music which includes the fantastic Carter Family sound. Dennis is the real thing when it comes to entertaining an audience too. He connects with the audience not only in song but in the time between the songs. Dennis Cash...a great talent." -Tim White
Host & Executive Coordinator, Song of the Mountains
Co-founder & president, Appalachian Cultural Music Association

"Dennis Cash is, without question, the leading proponent of Carter Family music and one of the principle reasons that folks around the globe will continue to approach singers with the words, 'Sing Me a Carter Family Song'." -Bill Clifton

"When you put Dennis Cash's "Sing Me A Carter Family Song" into your CD player you are about to hear the most authentic reproduction of the Carter sound this side of the Family's 1927 ground-breaking Bristol Sessions. Dennis's renditions of both known and somewhat obscure songs from the Carter Family catalogue hit the target when it comes to his warm mountain style voice and autoharp. Sing Me A Carter Family Song" is pure country soul and not to be missed!" -Bill Knowlton "Bluegrass Ramble," WCNY-FM, Syracuse NY

I love working with Dennis as a songwriter. He is an inspired songwriter, with deep roots in traditional music. Don't let the pure country on the outside fool you - Dennis has a deep writer's soul and a gift for great ideas. -Louisa Branscomb
IBMA Songwriter of the Year 2014