Biography

Rich in Tradition came to be in the spring of 2006. A product of one of the most fertile grounds of traditional bluegrass, gospel and old-time music in the world; the Mt. Airy - Galax areas of Northwest North Carolina and Southwest Virginia, these guys cut their musical teeth playing with some of the music's best that the area had to offer. Rich in Tradition combines a century of rich bluegrass and gospel music experience to make available some of the best picking and singing
around.
From pure gospel, to traditional and contemporary bluegrass, to their own original songs, Rich in
Tradition covers the bases with precision picking, great harmonies and a professional presentation. Band members include: Jay Adams on banjo and vocals; Mickey Galyean, guitar and vocals; Brad Hiatt, acoustic bass and vocals; Greg Jones, mandolin & vocals; & Tim Martin
on fiddle.
From Pine Hall, NC, Jay Adams’ first influences in bluegrass music were Flatt & Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Reno & Smiley, all the pioneers of the music. After high school, Jay enlisted in the US Marines and used his enlistment bonus on his first Gibson (an RB-250) that he still uses today. He has played music part time with many groups; The Country Aires, Bill Stanley, The Easter Bros., Cornerstone, Blue Steele, Greenhouse River Boys, The Adams Bros., Master's Five and others.
Mickey Galyean was born in Lowgap, N.C. on the N.C. and VA border. Mickey started playing music when he was thirteen-years old. His father and well-known bluegrass musician, Cullen Galyean, gave Mickey an old Gibson F-4 mandolin, and Mickey switched to bluegrass and has never looked back. Mickey and his dad went on to put together a band called “Cullen Galyean and the Bluegrassers”. This band stayed together for two years and released two self-produced recordings but the band was put on hold because of Cullen’s on going health problems. That’s when Greg Jones, the mandolin player for the “Bluegrassers”, asked Mickey to help Jay Adams,
Timmy Martin, and himself put a band together. This band become Rich-in-Tradition and they took 1st place in four out of five fiddler’s conventions that they entered in their first year, including 1st place bluegrass band at the Galax Fiddlers Convention.
Mickey plays guitar and sings lead, tenor, and high baritone. Brad Hiatt from Ararat, VA began playing the banjo at the age nine. At ten-years old, he was
fortunate enough to play on stage with Grandpa Jones. Brad has played with several bands in the past, like The Marshall Brothers, Spur of the Moment and Cullen Galyean and The Bluegrassers, where he honed his skills playing bass and singing lead, tenor and baritone.
Greg Jones was born in the heart of the bluegrass and old time haven, Mt. Airy, N.C. Growing up with a family of musicians and singers made it a lot easier to get the pickin’ bug so at fifteen he picked up the mandolin Playing early on with several groups including, The Cana River Boys, Backyard Bluegrass, and Boarderline, Greg went on to play with more established bands such
as Piedmont Grass, and the early versions of The James King Band. In 1994, he joined the bluegrass gospel group Cornerstone and in May, 2000, The Bluegrass Tradition Band. On July 3, 2003, Greg was asked to perform with Johnny Cash at the Carter Fold in Hiltons, VA; Mr.Cash needed a baritone singer and Greg was it. This performance happened just two months before Johnny’s death. What an honor it was of Greg to take in that great moment. In 2004, Greg joined legendary songwriter and banjo player Cullen Galyean and his band
The Bluegrassers. Their playing was always hot, but the singing was smokin’ hot. Greg and Mickey took turns with lead and tenor, while Cullen nailed the baritone every time.
Tim Martin makes his home in Collinsville, VA. Tim started playing the mandolin at the age of seven under the tutelage of an old fiddler, Walter Isome, but moved on to the banjo at age ten. His first band was Dennis Hall and the Hilltoppers and from there to his first professional job with Jim Eanes and the Shenandoah Valley Boys at the age of thirteen. Tim took up with his true love, the fiddle, at the age of fifteen and he was ready to devote all of his time to the fiddle. Through Tim’s life he has played with several different bands until ending up at the present time with Rich in Tradition. Along with his fiddle duties, Tim sings lead and baritone vocals with RNT.
Karl Cooler of Mountain Roads Recordings says, Rich In Tradition members are a versatile group with members able to play many instruments and perform a variety of vocal parts and their sound is unique and readily
identifiable. Whether they are performing old standards or original songs, their audiences are always wanting more. We are so happy that we are finally able to have them on-board with us.