Biography

The Snyder Family Band originates from the Lexington, North Carolina area. The family, guided by father Bud Snyder who plays bass for the group, features eleven-year-old Samantha on fiddle and fifteen-year old Zeb on guitar. Their mother, Laine, who rounds out their beautiful three-part harmonies, often joins them. Karl Cooler of Mountain Roads Recordings said, We are extremely excited to have the Snyder Family Band join our family of artists. It's not often that we are able to associate ourselves with a group at the top of their game musically and at such a tender age. The potential for this group is endless and we can't wait to let the bluegrass world hear their music. They are an amazing family.

Samantha began playing classical violin at age three in the Suzuki method. By age four she was playing duets with Zeb, who was learning classical guitar. At age seven she made the transition to bluegrass by taking fiddle lessons and in 2007 she won first place at the Jimmy Edmonds Homecoming Competition at the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax, VA. The prize was a fiddle made by luthier and fiddler Jimmy Edmonds. In 2008 at age nine she became the youngest ever to win the prestigious Fiddler of the Festival award at Fiddler’s Grove in Union Grove, NC, home of the oldest fiddler’s competition in North America. Along with playing fiddle, Samantha enjoys singing lead and harmony vocals with Zeb and her mom, Laine.

Zeb began classical guitar lessons at age seven. He broadened his interest to include bluegrass at age eleven and entered a new phase that brought him to his favorite style of playing the guitar-flat-picking. Zeb has won many guitar competitions since he began flat-picking. In 2007, he won the top prize, a Wayne Henderson guitar, at the Jimmy Edmonds Homecoming Competition at the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax, VA. Zeb sings lead and harmony vocals with Samantha and mom, Laine.

Bud did not expect, at this time in his life, to learn a new instrument. It was not until his children needed a bass player for the family band that Bud stepped up to the challenge. Taking tips from Zeb and fellow players, he now contributes a smooth steady beat that adds depth to the growing talents of his children. He truly enjoys the bond that making music provides as it allows him to be a part of this family band.

Happy to sit and listen to the developing talents of her young children, you can occasionally find Laine on stage adding her voice to create three-part harmony. Growing up in a family of four girls, she has a love for harmony from her days of singing with her sisters at home, in the car and in church. Laine is kept busy during performances off stage by entertaining the youngest Snyder, four-year-old Owen. It is her joy to sit back and watch husband, Bud, join children, Zeb and Samantha, as they blend their God given talents.
Owen Snyder, the youngest member of the Snyder family, is just starting banjo lessons on his Goldtone Plucky. He has made occasional stage appearances singing and entertaining the crowd. The rest of the family is ready for him to join the fun full time on stage.

The Snyders are becoming known to many of bluegrass’ greats and were recently invited to perform on the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree with Dailey & Vincent during their trip to this year’s IBMA World of Bluegrass. They have appeared on the Song of the Mountains television show on PBS. They have also performed at the Wayne C. Henderson Festival, Bluegrass First Class, the Rex Theater, and many other great festivals and venues. All it takes is one performance by this group to leave the crowd asking for more.