The Grascals

The Grascals are a six-piece American bluegrass band from Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in February 2004, the band has gained a level of fame by playing on the Grand Ole Opry and bluegrass festivals around the country, as well as with Dolly Parton.[1][2]

The Grascals
Background information
OriginNashville, Tennessee U.S.
Genresbluegrass, southern gospel
Years active2004–present
Labels
Members
  • Terry Smith
  • Danny Roberts
  • Kristin Scott Benson
  • Jamie Johnson
  • Adam Haynes
  • John Bryan
Past members
  • Dave Talbot
  • Jimmy Mattingly
  • Aaron McDaris
  • Jeremy Abshire
  • Terry Eldredge
  • Chris Davis
Websitegrascals.com

Members

  • Terry Smith – upright bass/vocals
  • Danny Roberts – mandolin
  • Kristin Scott Benson – banjo
  • Jamie Harper – fiddle
  • John Bryan – guitar/vocals
  • Jamie Johnson – guitar/vocals

Terry Smith

Terry Smith was born June 15, 1960, in Reidsville, North Carolina. He moved to Nashville in his early teens, after starting out playing in a family band with his mother Hazel Smith, father Patrick Smith, and brother, Billy Smith. Terry has played with such legends as Jimmy Martin, Wilma Lee Cooper, and the Osborne Brothers. Terry and his brother, Billy, recorded an album for CBS Records, which evolved to a number one video on CMT with "Blues Stay Away From Me." After touring with Grand Ole Opry member Mike Snider, Terry joined the Grascals and remains as a founding member.

Danny Roberts

Danny Roberts started playing guitar to back up Jimmy Mattingly when they were growing up in Leitchfield, Kentucky. He began to win contests for his guitar playing, and eventually, mandolin. In 1982, he co-founded the New Tradition, bluegrass/gospel group that toured the country for close to 20 years. The band recorded 10 CDs, made "Seed of Love" song, the first bluegrass video to feature the banjo, and even reached number one on the TNN channel. That band broke up in 2000, but Danny still continued to play with others including Marty Raybon, Larry Cordle, and Melonie Cannon. He also joined Ronnie Reno's band, the Reno Tradition. Danny joined the Grascals as a founding member, where he was reunited with Jimmy Mattingly.

Kristin Scott Benson

Kristin Scott Benson grew up in South Carolina in a musical family and joined the Grascals in January 2009. She worked previously with Petticoat Junction, Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time and the Larry Stephenson Band. She has won the International Bluegrass Music Awards and Society of the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America Banjo Player of the Year numerous times. In September 2018, she was chosen as the recipient of the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass with a $50,000 reward. Kristin is married to IIIrd Tyme Out mandolin player Wayne Benson.[3]

John Bryan

John Bryan sings lead vocals and plays guitar with the Grascals. He's been playing and singing bluegrass since he was a teen, with a deep, family connection to the music. John's great grandfather, Willard Watson, was a first cousin to Doc, and a fine old-time musician and dancer in his own right. John was formerly with Larry Efaw and The Bluegrass Mountaineers when he joined the Grascals in April 2015.

Jamie Johnson

Jamie Johnson was an original founding member since February 2004. He was raised in Indiana and now makes his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. After an eight-year break, he has returned to the band on guitar and vocals. The band is looking forward to singing and traveling with Jamie again and performing the incredible songs he has written.[4]

Line Up Changes

  • December 2006: Dave Talbot left and was replaced by Aaron McDaris on banjo beginning in 2007.[5]
  • July 2008: Jimmy Mattingly left and was replaced by Jeremy Abshire on fiddle.[6]
  • January 2009: Aaron McDaris left and was replaced by Kristin Scott Benson on banjo.[7]
  • October 2013: Jeremy Abshire left and was replaced by Adam Haynes on fiddle.[8]
  • April 2015: Jamie Johnson left and was replaced by John Bryan on guitar and vocals.[9]
  • February 2019: Terry Eldredge left and former member Jamie Johnson returned for a few months filling the void.[10]
  • May 2019: Chris Davis joined the band on guitar and vocals.[10]
  • September 2022: Chris Davis departed the Grascals, 9/24/2022, playing his final show with the band at the LeConte Center, Pigeon Forge, TN[10]
  • December 2022: founding member Jamie Johnson returned to the band following an eight-year hiatus.[11]

History

The original concept of the Grascals occurred when the four core members, Terry Eldredge, Jamie Johnson, Jimmy Mattingly, and Dave Talbot, asked Terry Smith and Danny Roberts to join a new group they were wanting to start. They played one of their first shows at the Station Inn in February 2004 with special guest Bobby Osborne. The Grascals began recording their first album in 2004, which would simply be a self-titled album on Rounder Records. This album featured such songs as "Me and John and Paul" written by Harley Allen, "Where Corn Don't Grow" and another popular cover song, "Viva Las Vegas," which featured Dolly Parton. During the recording, Dolly Parton showed interest in wanting to play with the Grascals. The band soon became Dolly's opening act, as well as her bluegrass band.[2] Performing at Dollywood and the Grand Ole Opry, the band and Dolly played a cover version of Elvis's song, "Viva Las Vegas." The first album made it on to the Billboard charts, as well as many country and bluegrass charts. Also on the album cover, Dolly is quoted saying, "One of the greatest albums I've ever heard."[12]

Notable accomplishments

Awards

International Bluegrass Music Awards

The Grascals have won the following 10 International Bluegrass Music Association (International Bluegrass Music Awards) awards.[47][48]

  • 2005 Emerging Artist of the Year – The Grascals
  • 2005 Song of the Year "Me and John and Paul", The Grascals (artists), Harley Allen (songwriter)
  • 2006 Album of the Year – Celebration of Life: Musicians Against Childhood Cancer (Compilation Project/Various Artists), Skaggs Family Records
  • 2006 Entertainer of the Year – The Grascals
  • 2007 Entertainer of the Year – The Grascals
  • 2008 Banjo Performer of the Year – Kristin Scott Benson
  • 2009 Banjo Performer of the Year – Kristin Scott Benson
  • 2010 Banjo Performer of the Year – Kristin Scott Benson
  • 2011 Banjo Performer of the Year (tie) – Kristin Scott Benson
  • 2019 Banjo Performer of the Year – Kristin Scott Benson

Society of the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America

The Grascals have also been awarded these 28 awards by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America.[49]

  • 2006 Song of the Year – Me and John and Paul by The Grascals for Rounder Records
  • 2006 Bluegrass Album of the Year – The Grascals by The Grascals for Rounder Records
  • 2006 Mandolin Performer of the Year – Danny Roberts
  • 2006 Instrumental Group of the Year – The Grascals
  • 2007 Instrumental Group of the Year – The Grascals
  • 2007 Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall) – The Grascals
  • 2008 Mandolin Performer of the Year – Danny Roberts
  • 2008 Instrumental Group of the Year – The Grascals
  • 2008 Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall) – The Grascals
  • 2009 Bluegrass Album of the Year – Keep On Walkin' by The Grascals for Rounder Records
  • 2009 Banjo Performer of the Year – Kristin Scott Benson
  • 2009 Instrumental Group of the Year – The Grascals
  • 2010 Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall) – The Grascals
  • 2011 Mandolin Performer of the Year – Danny Roberts
  • 2011 Banjo Performer of the Year – Kristin Scott Benson
  • 2011 Instrumental Group of the Year – The Grascals
  • 2012 Banjo Performer of the Year – Kristin Scott Benson
  • 2012 Instrumental Group of the Year – The Grascals
  • 2013 Instrumental Group of the Year – The Grascals
  • 2014 Mandolin Performer of the Year – Danny Roberts
  • 2015 Mandolin Performer of the Year – Danny Roberts
  • 2015 Instrumental Group of the Year – The Grascals
  • 2016 Mandolin Performer of the Year – Danny Roberts
  • 2017 Mandolin Performer of the Year – Danny Roberts (Tie)
  • 2018 Banjo Performer of the Year – Kristin Scott Benson
  • 2019 Banjo Performer of the Year – Kristin Scott Benson
  • 2019 Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall) – The Grascals
  • 2019 Instrumental Group of the Year – The Grascals
  • 2022 Bass Performer of the Year – Terry Smith

Grammy Nominations

The Grascals have received three Grammy Nominations for the following:[50]

  • 2005 Best Bluegrass Album – The Grascals (Rounder Records)
  • 2006 Best Bluegrass Album – Long List Of Heartaches (Rounder Records)
  • 2012 Best Bluegrass Album – Life Finds A Way (Mountain Home)

Miscellaneous Honors and Awards

  • 2016 Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree – Blue Blaze Award for "actively cultivating a love of bluegrass music." – Danny Roberts[51]
  • 2017 Uncle Dave Macon Days – Trailblazer Award – The Grascals[52]
  • 2018 Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass – Kristin Scott Benson[53]

Discography

Albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US Grass US Country US US Heat US Indie
The Grascals 3
Long List of Heartaches
  • Release date: August 29, 2006
  • Label: Rounder Records
1 70
Keep on Walkin'
  • Release date: July 15, 2008
  • Label: Rounder Records
1 43 24
The Famous Lefty Flynn's
  • Release date: March 30, 2010
  • Label: Rounder Records
3 61
Country Classics with a Bluegrass Spin 1 23 99 2 14
Dance Til Your Stockings Are Hot and Ravelin'
  • Release date: March 29, 2011
  • Label: Saguaro Road Records
5
Life Finds a Way 10
When I Get My Pay
  • Release date: November 19. 2013
  • Label: Mountain Home
12
And Then There's This...
  • Release date: January 8, 2016
  • Label: Mountain Home
1 49
Before Breakfast
  • Release date: September 1, 2017
  • Label: Mountain Home
2
Straighten the Curves
  • Release date: August 30, 2019
  • Label: Mountain Home
Up All Night
  • Release date: August 27, 2021
  • Label: Mountain Home
"—" denotes releases that did not chart in that category.

Music Videos

Year Video Director
2006 "Me and John and Paul" Lark Watts
2010 "Last Train to Clarksville" Marcel Chagnon
2011 "I Am Strong" (with Dolly Parton) David Corlew
2013 "American Pickers" (with Dierks Bentley) Zack Wilson

References

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  2. "The Grascals open Dolly Parton's "The Vintage Tour"". Bluegrass Today. 2005-11-23. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  3. "Kristin Scott Benson talks about the Steve Martin Prize". Bluegrass Today. 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  4. "The Grascals Welcome Back Founding Member, Jamie Johnson, and Look Toward 20th Anniversary". IVPR. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  5. "Bluegrass Bands Change Lineups". CMT News. 2006-12-08. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
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