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Biographies - Doyle Lawson
I was born on April 20, 1944 in Ford Town, a part of Sullivan County, near Kingsport, TN, to Leonard and Minnie Lawson. I have two brothers, James and Les, and one sister, Colleen.
As far back as I can remember, I loved the sound of music. Just about everyone listened to The Grand Ole Opry, and our family was no exception. Though I listened to all the stars on the Opry, the group that impressed me most was Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys. His music was different, more intense. High lonesome is the term we used for it. I could hardly wait for Saturday nights to arrive so I could listen. I decided early on that I wanted to play that kind of music.
My father, mother, and sister all sang gospel music when I was young. They were members of trios and quartets that sang a cappella music in churches and at revivals, and such. No doubt, that was where I acquired my love of quartet music.
When I was 11 or 12 years old I expressed an interest in learning to play the mandolin, so my Father borrowed one from one of the members of their quartet, Willis Byrd so I could try. I mostly taught myself to play by listening to the radio, a few records, and watching the occasional TV show. I eventually returned that mandolin to Mr. Byrd, and years later, he gave it back to me at one of the first concerts Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver played in Sneedville, TN. I still have it.
I met Jimmy Martin when I was 14 years old. He is from Sneedville, TN where we had moved to in 1954. Around that time, I made up my mind that I wanted to play music for a living, and realized that only playing one instrument was somewhat limiting, so I made it a point to learn how to play the banjo and guitar, too. Four years later, in February 1963, I went to Nashville and got a job playing banjo with Jimmy Martin. In 1966, I started working with JD Crowe in Lexington, KY. I first played guitar and later switched to mandolin. In 1969, I was back with Jimmy Martin for about six months playing mandolin and singing tenor but then went back with J D Crowe until August of 1971. I started with the Country Gentlemen on September 1, 1971 and stayed with them until March 1979. By this time, I had played in bands for more than 10 years, that had their "sound" before I joined them. I wanted to put together a group that would have "my sound".
To that end, in April 1979, I formed a group that I first named Doyle Lawson & Foxfire but soon changed to Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. I was looking for "our sound" and that first group tried many different types of songs. I wanted a strong quartet like the ones my dad used to sing with. In the next few months, Terry Baucom, Jimmy Haley, Lou Reid and I laid the foundation for what has become the Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver sound. The makeup of my band has changed many times in the last 27 years. I jokingly tell folks that Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver is the "farm team" for bluegrass. I try to integrate each member's special talents into my group, while not sacrificing the Quicksilver sound. While the sound changes a bit with the introduction of a new band member, it is important to me that people hear what they expect to hear when we take the stage, no matter who is in the group.
My Father passed away in 1994, but my Mother still lives in Kingsport, TN, only thirty minutes from us. Suzanne, my wife, and I were married June 24, 1978. I have one son, Robbie, and we have two girls, Suzi and Kristi. Robbie and his wife, Carla, live in Kentucky. Suzi graduated from King College and works for the Daymon Corp in Meadowview,VA. Kristi attended King College for 2 years and is trying to finish up her education at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. We live close to South Holston Lake and enjoy the solitude of the water and mountains. Suzanne bought a small sailboat last fall and when I'm home and there is a breeze, we sail. I collect western memorabilia of Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, etc. I also enjoy looking at old cars, and I recently bought a 1946 Ford Coupe. It has been restored from the ground up and I'm enjoying riding around town in it.
We are all members of Cold Spring Presbyterian Church and while Suzanne and Suzi are there almost every Sunday, I miss a few when I'm out on the road. I love golf, and play every time I have the opportunity. We have a Men's Bible Study on Tuesday mornings and if I'm home, I try and make Bible Study and then several of us play golf.
I have been hosting the Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver festival in Denton, NC for more than twenty-five years. A few years ago we started a golf tournament on Thursday, the week of the festival. I'd like to be able to say we were defending our title every year, but we aren't. (Just wishing)
The gospel music that we record and perform on stage has always been important to me. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver have made many more gospel recordings than secular ones. It is apparent to me that the folks who buy our music and come to our concerts feel, as I do, that there is no better message than the message of Jesus Christ. On the first Sunday of May, in 1985, I rededicated my life to our Lord Jesus. It is my fervent hope that my "musical mission" will lead others to Him.
Biographies - Alan Johnson
I was born Gene Alan Johnson on October 17, 1970, in Spruce Pine, NC. My parents, Jean and Bruce Johnson, have 4 boys. My brothers, Bruce, Kenney and Greg are all older than I am.
My wife, Julie, and I were married on April 24, 2004. Our little angel, Alan "Avery" Johnson, was born on April 3, 2005. He is our joy!
My Dad, also a fiddler, started showing me some tunes before I turned 10 years old, and I became interested when I found that I could pick it up easily. I have been playing the fiddle professionally since 1990, and have played with Janie Fricke, David Kersh, Doug Stone, Larry Cordle, and Lorrie Morgan. I also played for three years at Tweetsie Railroad, and two years at Dollywood. When Doyle called me, I was playing with Blue Ridge. I had been with them since 2003. I also play the banjo, guitar, bass, mandolin and piano.
When I'm not on the road, I love spending time with Julie and Avery. We have two cats, Floofa and Thombie, and a dog, Callie. My brothers and I hunt deer and turkey, and I fish with my brother, Bruce (He’s the Man). I also play golf. We are a close family. My favorite foods are mac & cheese, my wife’s mashed potatoes and brown gravy and pot roast.
I love hearing my Dad play the old tunes. Since I basically grew up playing, I love hearing the difference between the old school and the new, and I really treasure that. I really like all music, if it’s groovin'.
Biographies - Carl White
I was born on March 10, 1980 in Richlands, VA. My parents are Alfred and Nancy White, and I have 2 sisters, Jeanette and Carol. I still live in Richlands today, though we lived for a few years in Bristol, VA.
Tasha, my wife, and I have been married for two years. Our anniversary is Feb. 12th. I have two daughters, Megan (4) and Haley (3). Megan loves pre-school, and Haley loves staying home with mom…she says she’s still a baby! My little girls both love to sing and are trying to play instruments!
My Mom and Dad sang full time Gospel music for 20 years, and retired from the road in 1992. I don’t remember a time when music wasn’t in our home. At 3, I started playing drums with them. All members of my family play multiple instruments. I started playing bass when I was about 12 years old. My early musical influences were the Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe, the Hinsons, the Singing Cookes, the Spencers, the Easter Brothers and the MacGlothlins. I have played with The Whites, Chosen Generation, the Nippers, the Jeff Treece Band, and Young Harmony. In addition to the bass, I also play the piano, drums, mandolin, guitar and the dobro. I spend a lot of my free time practicing. My little girls both love to sing and are trying to play instruments!
My favorite color is blue and my favorite food is steak. I spend as much time as I can with my family when I’m not on the road. I mow the yard during the summer and occasionally cook a little, especially lasagna.
Here is a funny story…several years ago, I had been out on the road on a long run and had run out of clean clothes. I also needed a haircut. We were passing through town, so I called my Mom and asked her to bring me some clothes to wear to that night’s concert. She had no clue what was in my closet. In the meantime, I went to get a haircut, and the lady cutting my hair talked me into a “wavy perm” for my hair. She said, “Oh, this will look so cool.” Well, she rolled it too tight and instead of waves, I ended up with kinky curls. It was awful! My Mom showed up at the last minute with my clothes. I started getting ready for the show and realized that Mom had brought me a pair of pants that had a busted zipper, and a shirt with sleeves that were too short, and no clean socks to wear with my dress shoes. Between the clothes and my hair, I was furious for about an hour, but looking back, it was one of the funniest things that ever happened to me! And I have learned to pack more carefully for myself!
I was saved when I was 7 years old in my hometown, Richlands, VA. I believe that Jesus is my Savior. I am rarely home on Sundays, and I don’t have a home church right now.
Check out my page on myspace.com/carlsbbass.
Biographies - Darren Beachley
I was born in June 1967, in Frederick, Maryland. My mother and father are wonderful singers and I soon followed their example. I was influenced early on by Jimmy Martin, Flatt and Scruggs, the Osborne Brothers, the Seldom Scene, and like many young players, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. I started playing mandolin when I was four years old, and by the age of nine, I had picked up the upright bass. I made my first stage appearance at the age of 11. By 14, I was playing mandolin, resophonic guitar, guitar, and upright bass.
My first professional gig was with South Central Bluegrass in August of 1988. We recorded two projects for the Webco label, and the song, “I Pressed Through the Crowd” reached number 17 on the bluegrass charts. In the fall of 1991, I started working with Bill Harrell’s Virginians, and I still carry many of the lessons I learned from Bill to the stage today. About the same time I joined Bill, I started a working relationship with Norman Wright and Kevin Church. I met Kevin when I was 12 years old, and he was playing in my father’s band. I knew Norman from The Bluegrass Cardinals and the Country Gentlemen. Norman had written songs for Doyle, and I have always respected him. In October 2003, I decided that it was time to head out on my own, and The Maryland Line was formed. That band released 2 cds and played about 120 dates a year. I have played with many fine groups…The Seldom Scene, the US Navy Band, Country Current, the Tony Rice Unit, and in May 2005, I was honored to fill in for Jamie Dailey as part of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. I have now been with Doyle for about 2 years.
I make my home in Brunswick, Maryland, with my wife, Sherri, and my children Brice, Rebecca, and Bryan.
Biographies - Joey Cox
I was born on May 29, 1983, in Pulaski, VA. My parents are Jackie Cox and Tina Fitzpatrick. I have two brothers, Kevin and Travis, and one sister, Amelia.
I started playing the banjo when I was 12 years old. Early on, I listened to bands Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Alison Kraus and the Lonesome River Band. A few years later I got into Flatt & Scruggs and a more traditional sound. I started playing professionally in 2002, with Lou Reid. After a year, I left him to go to Blue Ridge and played with them from 2003 until July of 2006, when I left to play with Kenny and Amanda Smith. I was with them until Doyle called me. I also play the guitar and electric bass, and sing some baritone.
I love 1970s rock music and bluegrass, of course. My favorite color is blue, and I love Mexican food. When I’m not on the road, I love to ride 4-wheelers, shoot billiards, hunting and fishing.
Biographies - Josh Swift
I was born on September 25, 1986, to Randy and Rhonda Swift. I started playing drums when I was 2 years old, and by the time I was 6, I was out on the road every weekend traveling with my family, and I continued to play Southern Gospel music for many years.
When I was 16, I was playing a session when I saw a Dobro for the first time. I had no idea what the instrument was, or what God had in mind for my future. I was “struck” by this instrument and I really wanted one! At age 17, ”Gibson Guitars gave me my first Dobro! Two weeks after they gave me the Dobro, I recorded my first song with it. I kept traveling and playing drums with my family until my 18th birthday.
I met a mountain gospel group called “Set Apart” and soon hit the road with them. While I was with them, I found the love of my life, Toby Looper. We had been childhood sweethearts, but I had not seen her since her family moved away 12 years earlier. I traveled with Set Apart for a year, and then decided to leave to group. No less than 2 hours after I left them, I was offered a job with a new band, Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain. The band had a great debut and I met a lot of new people. Due to a conflict of interest, I left the band after a year, in August 2007. I felt bad at the time, but leaving turned into a huge blessing!
A few weeks later, I was jamming with some friends in Gatlinburg, TN, when Doyle Lawson and the guys in his band walked up. I was SHOCKED! I had no idea how much Doyle liked my playing, but I soon found out. Darren Beachley called a week later, and asked me to jam at IBMA, and of course I said yes! I had no idea that “the jam” was going to be a showcase at IBMA. I played with the band dressed in my casual attire, while they were all dressed up in suits. After the show, Doyle walked up to me and simply said, “Do you want to go to Texas?” I said, “YES!” and the rest is history.
I can’t believe how much God has blessed me. I have a great job, great co-workers, a loving family, a loving woman, great health and so many other things! I hope I never fail to give Him to glory for it all.
Biographies - Key Chang
I was born on December 22, 1983 to Spencer and Vivian Chang. I grew up in Rocky Mount, Virginia with one older sister, Cay Lee. When I’m not on the road with DL&Q, I’m Usually in my hometown of Rocky Mount, or at Smith Mountain Lake. I enjoy Bluegrass, and classic country music, fishing, boating, grilling out, and spending time with my friends and family. Not necessarily in that order…
I’ve always been into music. Around the age of ten, I started playing the guitar and my interest in music grew. Living in Franklin County I was exposed to a lot of bluegrass with bands like, The Lost and Found, and The Lonesome River Band being close by. Doobie Shea and the Rebel record labels were also in the area. Over the years I developed an ear for bluegrass music and became interested in engineering.
After graduating from Franklin County High School, I attended the Audio Recording Technology Institute in Orlando, Florida and completed a year long comprehensive audio engineering program. I worked as a stagehand for Chosen Sound and Lighting for a few months before Tim and Debbie Austin Contacted me about a job opening in the Lonesome River Band. That pretty much got me in the business. I learned a lot from working live with Sammy Shelor and working in the studio with Tim Austin. I am very proud to now be a part of the Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver team, and be able to work with some of the finest vocalists and musicians in the business. |
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