Biography

You may remember her as the feisty, hat-wearing lead vocalist with the critically acclaimed country music group, Wild Rose, who recorded for Universal and Capital Records 1989-1992, but those who have followed Pam Gadd’s musical journey from the beginning will also recognize her as one of the first professional, banjo-playing female bluegrass musicians of her generation.

Originally from the small northern Kentucky town of Independence,
Pam first toured the bluegrass festival circuit playing banjo and singing with Spring Valley, Ohio’s Muddy River Band, and recording her first album with them for the Vetco label, Roll On Muddy River.

From there, musical stints included joining RCA country artist, Johnny Russell as a vocalist/banjoist (1982) before returning to her Kentucky roots and joining the New Coon Creek Girls of Renfro Valley Barn Dance fame (1983-1986). Touring the bluegrass festival circuit, Pam wrote the title cut for the band’s 2nd album, Home Sweet Highway.

Four years later, an invitation to join a new female country group featuring high-energy acoustic and bluegrass instrumentation and vocals brought Pam to Nashville, and Wild Rose was created (1987-1994). A recording contract at Universal Records ensued (moving to Capitol in 1990) with three release - Breaking New Ground, Straight and Narrow, and Listen to Your Heart, and four CMT videos - including Breaking New Ground, Go Down Swinging, Straight and Narrow, and Everything He Touches Turns to Gold. They attracted attention in Billboard and R&R with their very first two singles.

As lead vocalist, Pam was honored to be nominated along with Wild Rose for Best New Vocal Group by the Academy of Country Music (ACM) in 1990, as well as a Grammy for Best Instrumental Performance 1991. The women were featured on every country music TV show of the 1990s, including Hee Haw, Music City Tonight, Nashville Now, Sound Stage, Crook and Chase, and The Statler Brothers Show, as well as NBC’s Night of 100 Stars and The Joan Lunden Show.

When Wild Rose disbanded, Pam approached Garth Fundis as a producer in hopes to obtain a record deal with RCA. However, creative differences occurred, and she headed down an independent, less-radio-friendly route, and began working on her first solo project. It was during that time that she was invited to join Patty Loveless as a backup vocalist touring with Vince Gill and Alan Jackson for a year with gigs that included The Tonight Show with David Letterman and The Late Show with Jay Leno.

A year later and still compiling songs for her solo release, Gadd was contacted by The New Coon Creek Girls to fill in for Ramona Church Taylor, who was on maternity leave. This turned into a year long tour. Headed up by now-six-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Dale Ann Bradley, an enduring friendship formed and Bradley sang harmony on Pam’s first long-awaited solo album, The Long Road (Vanguard Records 1997). Marketed to Americana, AAA Country, and Bluegrass radio, the CD generated a video, I'd Rather Have Nobody, written by Pam with co-producer and former Wild Rose bandmate, Nancy Gardner. The Long Road received glowing reviews in No Depression and Entertainment Weekly, and Pam formed a touring band by the same name, performing at folk venues and bluegrass festivals through 2000 when she released a second CD collection of mostly original songs, Time of Our Lives, on OMS Records. Featuring Randy Scruggs on acoustic guitar, Marty Stuart on mandolin, and Glen Duncan on fiddle, and co-produced by Billy Troy, Time of Our Lives received moderate bluegrass airplay.

It was during this time that Pam received a call to join the theater production of Cotton Patch Gospel for an exclusive run at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. Accompanying Gary Sandy (WKRP in Cincinnati) in the role of Jesus, Gadd performed as one of the desciples on vocals, banjo and dobro.

In 2004, Grand Ole Opry member Porter Wagner invited Pam to join the Wagonmasters as his duet-singing partner and guitarist/banjoist, and she quickly accepted. This led to a coveted, four-year gig performing weekly at the Grand Ole Opry and a duet project titled Porter and Pam on Gusto Records. Multiple gospel recordings followed on several compilation recordings for Gusto, which are some of Pam’s favorite studio performances to date.

In 2009 Pam released her third solo album, Benefit of Doubt, comprised once again of mostly original material. Co-produced by former Wild Rose drummer/vocalist, Nancy Given Gardner, Gadd invited Dale Ann Bradley to once again join her on harmony vocals throughout, and Dale Ann recommended her harmony singing partner, the late, truly-great, Steve Gulley. Other highlights include a power bluegrass trio with Gulley and Marty Raybon on the Osborne Brothers’ Tennessee Houndog, plus a lively duet with Dolly Parton on a Dolly original, Applejack which features Pam’s clawhammer banjo picking.

During the Christmas 2021 season, a new Pam Gadd original, Appalachian Sleigh Ride, was released independently to bluegrass radio, appearing on terrestrial, internet and satellite radio.

Her July 2022 release, Bluegrass Survival features a strong appearance by Sam Bush on mandolin and lead and harmony vocals, as well as superb acoustic guitar by Kenny Smith, and tells the story of how bluegrass music continues to inspire and evolve to new generations of musicians. It reached #1 on the Bluegrass Unlimited charts.

Her inspirational single, that followed Inch by Inch, reached Top 10 during its time played on the Bluegrass Today charts.

Pam Gadd songs have been recorded by a number of other artists including Doyle Lawson (I Will Grow in Love with You), Carl Jackson (Hold Your Horses), Rarely Herd (Virginia Girl / Virginia Man), and MCA country artist, Terri Clark (Hold Your Horses).

A natural storyteller, Gadd has been nominated for the SPBGMA Songwriter of the Year award, and she won first place in the Hazel Dickens Songwriting Competition hosted by the DC Bluegrass Union in 2017. She is an accomplished teacher and studio musician, and for years was a featured guest speaker and performer at the Country Music Hall of Fame where she delivered presentations on the History of the Banjo.

Newly inducted into the Northern Kentucky Music Legends Hall of Fame in June 2022, Pam makes her home just outside of Nashville, in Joelton, TN, where she performs in various musical configurations (solo, duet, and full band), teaches banjo, play banjo, guitar, and sings with her church music team, and enjoys reunions shows with Wild Rose and The New Coon Creek Girls. In her spare time she wrangles cats, and attempts to raise radishes in her garden.

Nancy Caldwell Webster
Author / Executive Director IBMA Foundation
2022