Sammy Shelor | |
|---|---|
 Shelor (left) in the Lonesome River Band, 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | October 10, 1962 Meadows of Dan, Virginia [1] |
| Genres | Bluegrass music |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Banjo, guitar, 1941 Gibson TB-75 flathead banjo [2] |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Website | sammyshelor |
Sammy Shelor is an American banjoist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known as leader of the Lonesome River Band and for his solo recordings, music instruction, and session work.
The Shelor Family has a long banjo tradition. Charlie Poole taught Shelor’s grandfather the banjo, and Shelor’s grandfather in turn taught Shelor. [3] When Shelor was four years old, growing up in southwestern Virginia, his grandfather fashioned a banjo for him from an old pressure cooker lid. His other grandfather promised to buy Shelor a real banjo if he learned to play two songs. [2] [4] Sam met the challenge, his grandfather bought him a Ventura banjo, and by age 10 Shelor was performing in local bands. [5]
Shelor patterned his playing and career after J. D. Crowe, Earl Scruggs, and Sonny Osborne of The Osborne Brothers. [2]
Shelor became a full time professional musician when he joined Richmond, Virginia-based The Heights Of Grass at age 19. That band eventually morphed into The Virginia Squires, featuring Rickie and Ronnie Simpkins. Shelor played six years with the band. The Virginia Squires reunited for one show in 2017. [6]
Shelor joined the Lonesome River Band in 1990. When founder Tim Austin left in 1995, Shelor and Ronnie Bowman managed the band management. When Bowman left in 2000, Shelor became manager. [7]
In 1997, Shelor released a solo album Leading Roll on the Sugar Hill label. Guest artists included Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, and Alan O'Bryant. [8]
Shelor has received the following recognition:
Shelor and AcuTab have published books and instructional DVDs.
Shelor and his wife Jordyn have two children. [13]
Nothin' Fancy is a bluegrass band based in Buena Vista, Virginia and was formed in September 1994. Its "parent band" East Coast Bluegrass Band was formed Summer 1985 to compete in the East Coast Bluegrass Championship in Crimora, Virginia.
The Lonesome River Band is an American contemporary bluegrass band. The band has released 15 recording projects since its formation in 1982. Lonesome River Band is led by Sammy Shelor who is a member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame and a 5-Time International Bluegrass Music Association Banjo Player of the Year Award recipient. The band has experienced numerous personnel changes over the years, and has not included an original member since Tim Austin left the band in 1995 to focus on Doobie Shea Records.
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