Biography

Lou Reid and Carolina are based out of Union Grove, North Carolina. The band began in 1992, with it's sound largely based in traditional bluegrass roots with emphasis on dynamic vocals. The current band is no exception. Lou Reid anchors the band with his lead vocals. Lou is arguably the most recognizable voice in bluegrass music. He began his career with his first professional job as bassist for Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. After three albums with Quicksilver, he took a very prominent position with the Ricky Skaggs Band, playing many different instruments and providing back-up vocals. He played banjo on the first number one country hit that featured banjo..Skagg's "I'm Just a Country Boy". After working so many dates with Ricky, Lou decided to come off of the road to take the lead singer and guitarist position with The Seldom Scene. Working with John Duffey proved to be one of Lou's career highlights. John gave Lou insight into singing that Lou still calls upon today. After spending six years with the Scene, Lou went off to work in Nashville with some of the top traditional artists of the day, Vince Gill and Vern Gosdin. He also decided to start his own band with lifelong friend Terry Baucom. The result was Lou Reid, Terry Baucom and Carolina. After putting out two very successful albums, Carolina Blue and Carolina Moon, Terry left the band to pursue his own career. In 1996, John Duffey passed away suddenly, leaving the Seldom Scene without it's heart and soul. Ben Eldridge wanted to keep the Scene on the map, and bringing Lou Reid in to take John's place as mandolin player and tenor singer seemed the right thing to do. Lou has now been with the Seldom Scene for a combined total of 18 years. He has managed to not only keep his band Carolina current, but thriving. Lou is the consumate professional, a generous bandleader, and an all around entertainer. His vocal work on his latest album, Time, is a testiment to the depth and feeling that have always been the underlying trademark of his music.

Christy Reid has been a member of Lou Reid and Carolina since 2002. She first joined the band as guitar player, moving to bass in 2005. Christy grew up in a musical family. Her family has a long history in the Union Grove area as being pickers and singers. Music was a part of most aspects of her life. Church, family gatherings, weekends spent at festivals...this was her life. Her grandfather Dewey Dowell was a well known old time fiddler, he won the first several fiddler's conventions at Union Grove. Her first cousin Kent Dowell was the banjo player for many years for Charlie Waller and the Country Gentlemen. As teenagers, Christy and her cousins formed a little family band, and along with help from Aunt Lois Shumaker and Uncle Franklin Rash, they played shows all over North Carolina. Christy enjoyed playing fiddler's conventions and into her early twenties played shows with 220 Connection out of Seagrove, NC as well as Southern Drive out of Lexington, NC. Late in 2001 Christy auditioned for Lou Reid, joining the band in February of 2002. Lou and Christy married in St. Augustine, Florida on April 12, 2004. Christy is the bass player for the band, providing lead and tenor vocals and handling most of the emcee work.

Shannon Slaughter was born in rural North Florida; the small town of Chiefland to be exact. He was immersed in acoustic and country music at a young age by his family. He sang in church with his Mom and began playing on his own at age 14. He started his professional career with the Lost and Found in 1992; then joined the Larry Stephenson Band later that same year. After several years "off the road" he became guitarist and vocalist with The Lonesome River Band in 2005, staying there until 2007. Says Shannon "Now playing with Lou Reid and Carolina, I'm enjoying this music more than I ever have. It's great to stand next to 3 great musicians and great people..... great friends. I live now in Wilkesboro, NC and I teach history and coach football at St. Stephens High School in Hickory, NC. I enjoy U.S. History, Florida Gator Athletics, spending time with my beautiful wife, Heather, golf, fishing, and traveling as well as playing guitar, singing and songwriting. I'm excited to be a part of Lou Reid and Carolina. I look forward to bringing a lot of energy to their stage performance. "

Trevor Watson came from a musical family and was indoctrinated into the world of bluegrass at an early age. His Dad and Mom both played the banjo, along with other musical instruments and would have pickin parties. His Dad would always say Trevor had no choice but to love bluegrass, because he had absorbed so much through osmosis. Trevor began playing banjo at age 8 when his Dad built him a small-scale banjo. Before joining Lou Reid and Carolina, Trevor performed with Blue Night, Foxfire Unlimited, and was a cast member at The Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach Trevor has anchored down Lou Reids sound on banjo for the last five years, also singing on the quartets. Trevor is the backbone of the band, keeping trips lively and always being the consumate professional.

Rural Rhythm Records