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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

Nashville, Tennessee U.S.

bluegrass, southern gospel

2004–present

  • Terry Smith
  • Danny Roberts
  • Kristin Scott Benson
  • Jamie Johnson
  • John Bryan
  • Jamie Harper

  • Dave Talbot
  • Jimmy Mattingly
  • Aaron McDaris
  • Jeremy Abshire
  • Terry Eldredge
  • Chris Davis
  • Adam Haynes

grascals.com

Terry Smith – /vocals

upright bass

Danny Roberts –

mandolin

Kristin Scott Benson –

banjo

Jamie Harper –

fiddle

John Bryan – guitar/vocals

Jamie Johnson – guitar/vocals

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]

January 2023: Jamie Harper joined the Grascals, replacing Adam Haynes on fiddle

[2]

History[edit]

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]

2004–present: The Grascals have appeared on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry many times as a band.[14]

[13]

April 2, 2006: Performed at the Millennium Stage at the in Washington, DC. The concert was part of the Center's Country: A Celebration of America's Music series.[15]

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

August 2006: The album Long List of Heartaches was released and featured many guests including , The Jordanaires, Steve Wariner, and Dierks Bentley.[16]

George Jones

2006: Recorded with friend Dierks Bentley on "Prodigal Son's Prayer" on his CD [17]

Long Trip Alone

October 2006: Country Gold Tour to Japan

[18]

November 19, 2006: Appeared on 's Southern Fried Flicks on CMT.[19]

Hazel Smith

March 13, 2007: Appeared with Dierks Bentley on the .[20]

Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

2008: Filmed & Their Homecoming Friends Country Bluegrass Homecoming.[21]

Bill & Gloria Gaither

July 5, 2008: Interviewed on .[22][23]

CBS Early Show

July 15, 2008: Keep on Walkin' CD released with guest on "Sad Wind Sighs."[24]

Vince Gill

November 25, 2008: Performed for the Fort Campbell, KY Troops and President of the United States .[25]

George W. Bush

December 2, 2008: Performed for President of the United States and First Lady Laura Bush in Washington DC.[26]

George W. Bush

September 2009: Exxon Mobil Delvac sponsored the band and wrapped their bus in their logo.[28]

[27]

September 7, 2009: Appeared on the in Las Vegas, NV to support Muscular dystrophy.[29]

Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon

April 2, 2010: Joined the Rowdy Friends Tour including Hank, Jamey Johnson, and Eric Church for the month of April 2010.[30]

Hank Williams Jr.

July 8, 2010: Performed at the Bluegrass Nights at the , Nashville, TN[31]

Ryman Auditorium

September 19, 2010: Sang the National Anthem for the vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers at Nashville's LP Field.[32]

Tennessee Titans

January 10, 2011: Released a CD Project for with an all-star guest list called The Grascals & Friends – Country Classics with a Bluegrass Spin. Guest artists included: Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels, Dolly Parton, The Oak Ridge Boys, Darryl Worley, Terri Clark, Randy Owen, Steven Seagal, Tom T. Hall, Joe Nichols and Ansley McLaurin.[33][34]

Cracker Barrel

January 23, 2011: Appeared on Sunday's .[35]

Fox & Friends

March 2011: Mayberry's Finest sponsored the band with a bus wrap and a CD Project called Dance 'til Your Stockings Are Hot and Ravelin'.

[36]

April 12, 2011: Appeared on on The Talk.[37]

CBS

January 11, 2012: Grascals sign with Mountain Home.

[38]

August 2012: Vietti Chili sponsored the Grascals and featured their photo on their products as well as a bus wrap.[40]

[39]

January 21, 2013: Performed at the 's National Museum of the American Indian for a celebration of the Inauguration of the President of the United States, Barack Obama.[41]

Smithsonian Institution

January 25, 2013: Appeared on the [3]

Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

February 27, 2013: Appeared with on her talk show Marie.[42]

Marie Osmond

November 2013: Recorded a music video with guest country artist and Mike Wolfe from History Channel's American Pickers.[43]

Dierks Bentley

June 2013: The Grascals to Appear on Chevrolet Riverfront Stage during the 2013 CMA Music Festival

[44]

September 6, 2014: Appeared on PBS Song of the Mountains, Season 9, Episode 10.

[45]

June 2, 2015: Signed with the Andrea Roberts Agency for bluegrass bookings.

[46]

September 2018: Kristin Scott Benson was the 2018 recipient of the Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass with $50,000 reward.[4]

Steve Martin

Awards[edit]

International Bluegrass Music Awards[edit]

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

Official website

Andrea Roberts Agency

Mountain Home Music Company

Rounder Records

Hank Williams Jr