Wayne Brooks - Band Leader
PO Box 30551 Austin, Texas 78755
Email: pgramblers@austin.rr.com

Bio

Performer: Vocalist, Guitarist, Songwriter
Band Leader and Lead Vocalist for the Piney Grove Ramblers
Plays a Taylor Guitar

Type of Music: Bluegrass - Traditional Appalachian Mountain Music -
Ballads with Scotch-Irish Roots Love Songs from the
early 20th Century - Original Compositions.

Venues: Special Occasions; Regular performer at Assisted Living Centers,
Nursing Homes, and Community Gatherings.

Associations: Central Texas Bluegrass Association

Preferred Audience: People who enjoy hearing songs that rhyme, songs that tell a story,
and people who enjoy singing along with the artist.

Musical Pedigree: Comes from a long line of musical pioneers from the
Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee.
Father Lon was a fiddler who played for dances
in the mountains of North Carolina. Uncle Guy Brooks
was one of the early pioneers of traditional mountain and
bluegrass music.

Don Clay - Upright Bass, 5-String Banjo
Round Rock, Texas
Email: pgramblers@austin.rr.com

Bio

Performer: Upright Bass, 5-String Banjo

Music Preferences: My favorite music is Bluegrass, though I like most
acoustic music and some old country and country rock.

Associations: Central Texas Bluegrass Association

My father was a very good guitar player my whole life.  We lived in rural
New Mexico when I was very small, and I remember riding home in the
back of our pickup over the ranch dirt roads from a night of music and
visiting at the Milnesand community center. 

He encouraged me to play, but I never learned much on the guitar. 
I have his guitars and amps now that he is gone, so perhaps I can learn to
play the guitar yet.  One is a 1953 Gibson ES-125 Archtop, which is a
wonderfully easy to play guitar, and the first one that I can remember him
playing.
 
I bought a 5 string banjo when I was in college and learned some basic
songs, but played it very little for many years.  I took it up seriously again
about 5 years ago, and take lessons now from Eddie Collins in Austin. 
I hope to progress to a good banjo player before stiffness in my fingers
catches up with me.  I play an Allen banjo, built by Fonza Allen Smith
in Houston. It has a mellow tone, which suits my banjo personality.
 
I also play the acoustic bass, which I began learning about 3 years ago,
when we needed a bass player more than a banjo player.  I play a 1960
King bass, that had been abused and rebuilt a couple of times before I got it. 
It has a great tone, and I am still learning to play it well.

Musical Influences: My banjo influences are Earl Scruggs, Tom Adams,
Bill Evans, and Alan Munde.

Larry French - Dobro
Austin, Texas

Bio

Performer: Dobro and Guitar (Shiny and non-Shiny Guitars)

Music Preferences: Bluegrass, country, and classical music

Associations: Central Texas Bluegrass Association

I started playing a guitar more than 35 years ago in
college. I played with a church group for a short time.
I have lead small church chorus songs. Five years
ago I decided to try the Dobro. I like bluegrass, country,
and classical music, but bluegrass is in my blood now.
I've played at local restaurants and retirement homes.

Musical Influences: Peter, Paul, and Mary; Ricky Skaggs;
Alison Krauss & Union Station; Jerry Douglas

Chuck Middleton - Banjo
Lago Vista, Texas
Email: clydem@austin.rr.com

Bio

Performer: 5-String Banjo, Clawhammer Banjo, Mandolin,
Tenor Banjo, Mountain Dulcimer

Music Preferences: Bluegrass, Irish & Folk
Plays Stelling, Bozung, Nechville Acoustic/Electric & Chuck Lee Banjos

Associations: Central Texas Bluegrass Association

I started playing Bluegrass Banjo in 1974 after seeing the amazing
Earl Scruggs Revue at University of Houston. The band also
had Vassar Clements on fiddle and Josh Graves on Dobro.

When Earl played "Sally Goodin" that night my fate was sealed.
So, Earl was my first inspiration and Alan Munde was my second.
I was blown away by Alan's Banjo Sandwich album in 1975 after
reading about it in Banjo Newsletter.

In 1999, I began a second musical journey by learning and playing
traditional Irish Music on the 5-string and Tenor Banjos. I see a
bright future for the creative blending of Bluegrass and Irish music !

I recently got a beautiful clawhammer banjo from Chuck Lee and am
busily learning the mountain style.

Musical Influences: The Byrds, The Beatles, Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson,
The Band, Alan Munde, The Chieftains, Bob Dylan, Townes van
Zandt, Lost Gonzo Band (yay, Cosmic Bob !), Jerry Jeff, Pete
Wernick, Bela Fleck, Tom Hanway, The Grateful Dead, Alan
Johnson, David Bromberg, Emmylou Harris, Uncle Earl, Nickel Creek

Bill Patrick - Mandolin
Austin, Texas

Bio

Performer: Mandolin, Guitar

Music Preferences: Bluegrass, etc.

Associations: Central Texas Bluegrass Association

Don't let Bill's shy demeanor fool you, he's an amazing talent
on the Mandolin and has a finely tuned storytelling skill. He
plays a brand new Weber A Style Mandolin.

Musical Influences: Chet Atkins (nuff said !)