Buddy Greene
Harmonica, Guitar
Buddy Greene brings a wide variety of southern Americana influences to his music to create a unique hybrid of country, bluegrass, folk, gospel and traditional blues. In addition to his solid reputation as a singersongwriter and guitarist, Buddy has established himself as on of Nashville’s finest harmonica stylists.
Buddy grew up in Macon, GA, amid its antebellum mansions, sultry summers, southern cooking and deepsouth music culture. He spent his childhood learning dozens of folk songs on the ukulele and soon advanced to acoustic guitar, immersing himself in popular music mainstays of the time such as Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and Motown. Their infectious beat and obvious nods to roots music fueled Buddy's intense interest in the deeper historical origins of country, bluegrass and rhythm and blues music that are so evident in his music today.
In 1991, Buddy collaborated with Mark Lowry to write Mary, Did You Know?, which has since become something of a modern-day Christmas standard, with recordings by superstars such as Kenny Rogers & Wynonna, Kathy Mattea, Christopher Parkening & Kathleen Battle, Natalie Cole, Reba McEntire, Clay Aiken, Gary Chapman, and many others. Other songs penned by Buddy and recorded by other artists include He Is (Ashley Cleveland), Fall Down Children (The Whites) and Recovering Pharisee (Del McCoury).
For his 2002 release, “RUFUS”, Buddy invited an all-star cast of payers and singers to join him for an in-studio pickin’ party. Bluegrass, blues, old-time gospel, even The Beatles, all got into the mix. Says Buddy, "On “RUFUS” I just wanted to have fun with some really talented friends, play a bunch of old and new songs I never get tired of playing, and remember why I ever wanted to be a musician in the first place." “RUFUS” was named one of the Top 10 Bluegrass recordings of 2002 by the Chicago Tribune. Since the release of “RUFUS”, Buddy has been able to expand his audience with occasional appearances at music clubs, such as The Bluebird Café and Station Inn in Nashville, and at music festivals, such as MerleFest in North Carolina. From 2003–2007 Buddy had a lifetime dream fulfilled as one of his all-time musical heroes, the legendary Doc Watson, has personally invited him to perform at this prestigious event.
In 2003 Buddy released HYMNS & PRAYER SONGS, an acoustic, eclectic celebration of the music of the church. Instead of the traditional piano and organ setting, you’ll hear updated arrangements on instruments such as acoustic guitar, mandolin, upright bass, and, of course, harmonica, for more of a folk, string band approach.
Buddy’s CD, HAPPY MAN, is a musical feast, overflowing with heroic harmonica playing, stellar picking, bodacious singing and outright FUN! Once again it’s a pickin’ party that picks up where “RUFUS” left off. Many friends gathered ‘round including guests of excellence like Jerry Reed, Bill Gaither, Bryan Sutton, Jeff Taylor, Pat Flynn, Aubrey Haynie, Ben & Sonya Isaacs, Christine Dente, Dennis Crouch, Steve Bryant, Byron House, Kenny Malone, Michael Card, & Ashley Cleveland. Caution to all curmudgeons: contents could make you happy!
The lineup of friends on Buddy's most recent CD, HARMONICA ANTHOLOGY, includes Bryan Sutton, Aubrey Haynie, Jeff Taylor, Bryan House, Ron Block, Stuart Duncan, Tim O'Brien, Charlie McCoy, Bill Verdier, Jim Prendergast, John Mock, Kenny Malone, Ken Lewis, Gordon Mote, Shannon Forrest, Ben Issacs.
Buddy and his wife, Vicki, live in Brentwood, TN and have two daughters
Ron Block
Banjo, Guitar
For the past twenty years, Ron Block has been the spiritual touchstone of Alison Krauss and Union Station, contributing sterling musicianship on banjo, guitar, vocals, and songwriting.
Alison Krauss and Union Station have recorded 10 of Block’s songs since 1992, including There Is A Reason, In The Palm of Your Hand, Jesus Help Me To Stand, and A Living Prayer, which received a 2006 Gospel Music Association Dove award. His songs have also been recorded and performed by Rhonda Vincent (“You’re In My Heart”), Randy Travis (“Which Way Will You Choose”), Dan Tyminski (“Be Assured,” “The One You Lean On,” and “It All Comes Down To You”), Michael W. Smith (“Loving You Eternally”), the Cox Family, and the Forbes Family.
Block’s first solo album, Faraway Land (Rounder, 2001), met with great critical acclaim and raised the bar for Block as an artist for his Rounder Records follow-up, DoorWay. Boasting an all-star lineup featuring Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, Jerry Douglas, Barry Bales, Adam Steffey, Stuart Duncan, Viktor Krauss, Suzanne and Sidney Cox, Andy Hubbard (Little Big Town) and Homer, Lisa, and Lori Forbes, among others. Billboard Magazine/All Music Guide says, “Ron Block is best known to bluegrass lovers as the banjo player with Union Station, Alison Krauss’ backing band. But he’s also an excellent singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and on his second solo album he expands his stylistic parameters to very winning effect…” Barnes and Noble: “His Union Station mates Jerry Douglas and Dan Tyminski may be better known, but Ron Block levels the playing field with his second solo album, an assertive exploration of his Christian faith…”
Ron has also produced The Forbes Family’s In the Shadow of Your Wings, a classic of contemporary bluegrass gospel, and co-produced and played on Sierra Hull’s debut recording, Secrets.
Block has also recorded with Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Fernando Ortega, Andrew Peterson, Susan Ashton, Vince Gill, the Cox Family, Clint Black, Dan Tyminski, Bill Frisell, Josh Turner, Billy Dean, Michael Johnson, Ronnie Bowman, Dailey and Vincent, Bradley Walker, Twila Paris, McBride and the Ride, and many other country, bluegrass, and Christian artists, and received an Album of the Year Grammy Award for his work on the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack.