Help Is On The Way - 2008
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.
Bill Gaither's How Great Thou Art - 2007
More Behind The Picture Than The Wall - 2007
He Lives In Me - 2006
DL&Q 25th Anniversary DVD - 2005
You Gotta Dig A Little Deeper - 2005
A School Of Bluegrass - 2004
Schedule
May 29, 2008 John F Kennedy PAC Washington, DC
May 30, 2008 The State Theatre State College, PA
May 31, 2008 Strawberry Park Preston, CT
Jun 6, 2008 McGukin Civic Center Cullman, AL
Jun 7, 2008 Taylor Church Glen St. Mary, FL
Jun 13, 2008 Huck Finn Jubilee Victorville, CA
Jun 14, 2008 CA BG Assoc Father's Day Festival Grass Valley, CA
Jun 15, 2008 CA BG Assoc Father's Day Festival Grass Valley, CA
Jun 20, 2008 Grand Ole Opry Nashville, TN
Jun 21, 2008 NC State BGF Cherokee, NC
Jun 27, 2008 Summersville Music Park Summersville, WV
Jun 28, 2008 Eaton County Fairgrounds Charlotte, MI
Jul 2, 2008 River Stage Morganton, MC
Jul 4, 2008 Starvy Creek BGF Conway, MO
Jul 5, 2008 Shadow Valley Gospel Music Festival Fayetteville,, TN
Jul 17, 2008 Mineral BGF Mineral, VA
Jul 19, 2008 Covington Moose Park/Alleghany Highlands Arts Council Covington, VA
Jul 24, 2008 Josh Swift & Tobi get Married Sparta, TN
Jul 25, 2008 Bele Chere Festival Asheville, NC
Jul 26, 2008 Ritter Farms Rutledge, TN
Aug 6, 2008 Chastain Park Atlanta, GA
Aug 9, 2008 KC Campground Milan, MI
Aug 10, 2008 Alaska Bluegrass Cruise Seattle, WA
Aug 11, 2008 Alaska Bluegrass Cruise Cruising The Inside Passage, AK
Aug 12, 2008 Alaska Bluegrass Cruise Ketchikan, AK
Aug 13, 2008 Alaska Bluegrass Cruise Cruising Tracy Arm & Juneau, AK
Aug 14, 2008 Alaska Bluegrass Cruise Skagway, AK
Aug 15, 2008 Alaska Bluegrass Cruise Cruising the Inside Passage, AK
Aug 16, 2008 Alaska Bluegrass Cruise Victoria, BC
Aug 17, 2008 Alaska Bluegrass Cruise Seattle, WA
Aug 23, 2008 Ocean Lakes Campground Myrtle Baech, SC
Aug 30, 2008 37th Annual Delaware Valley BGF Woodstown, NJ
Aug 31, 2008 30th Annual Thomas Point Beach FGF Brunsvick, ME
Sep 4, 2008 Fort Worth, TX
Sep 6, 2008 Bluegrass & Chili Festival Claremore, OK
Sep 9, 2008 National Quartet Convention Louisville, KY
Sep 10, 2008 National Quartet Convention Louisville, KY
Sep 13, 2008 Loraine Comm. Clg. Stocker CTR Elyria, OH
Sep 14, 2008 Dollywood Celebrity Theatre Pigeon Forge, TN
Sep 15, 2008 Dollywood Celebrity Theater Pigeon Forge, TN
Sep 29, 2008 IBMA World of Bluegrass Nashville, TN
Sep 30, 2008 IBMA World of Bluegrass Nashville, TN
Oct 1, 2008 IBMA World of Bluegrass Nashville, TN
Oct 2, 2008 IBMA World of Bluegrass Nashville, TN
Oct 3, 2008 IBMA World of Bluegrass Nashville, TN
Oct 4, 2008 South Boston, VA
Oct 10, 2008 Palatka BGF Palatka, FL
Oct 11, 2008 28th Tennessee Fall Homecoming Norris,TN
Oct 12, 2008 Bob Evans Bluegrass Farm Fest Rio Grande, OH
Oct 18, 2008 Renfro Valley Ent. CTR. Renfro Valley, KY
Nov 1, 2008 Minges Auditorium/The Dunn CTR Rocky Mount, NC
Nov 15, 2008 Roberts Centre Wilmington, OH
Nov 22, 2008 Harrisonburg High School Harrisonburg, VA
Nov 29, 2008 SC State BGF Myrtle Beach, SC
Dec 6, 2008 Paramount Bristol, TN
Jan 2, 2009 Jekyll Island BGF Jekyll Island, GA
Jan 9, 2009 Hoofer's La Grange, GA
Feb 27, 2009 Paul A Johnston Auditorium Smithfield, NC
Feb 28, 2009 Fairview Ruritan Club Galax, VA
Mar 1, 2009 Appomattox County HS Appomattox, VA
Mar 7, 2009 Davis Events CTR Fulton, MS
Eminence Bass
G. Edward Lutherie Inc.
1620 Central Ave. NE, Suite 232
Minneapolis, MN 55413
800-741-3045
gelbass@aol.com
First Quality Music
First Quality Music provides quality instruments, parts and cases for professional musicians as well as the every day picker.
Frank's Fiddles
Hand Crafted Violins & Fiddles endorsed by Jesse Stockman.
Gibson Original Acoustic Instruments
Doyle plays and endorses the Gibson Doyle Lawson Signature Model F-5. Terry plays and endorses Gibson Banjos and will soon have more news.
International Bluegrass Music Museum
The official website of the International Bluegrass Music Museum, located in Owensboro, Kentucky.
Paganoni Mandolins
Send an email to dlqkslvr@doylelawson.com for more information.
Contact
You can email Doyle Lawson at dlqkslvr@doylelawson.com, or their mailing address is:
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
P O Box 3141
Bristol, TN 37625
For Bookings Contact:
Bobby Cudd/Josh Swann
Paradigm Agency
124 12th AV S. Suite 410
Nashville, TN 37203
615-251-4400
bcudd@paradigmagency.com
Deana Warren
Writer's Ink Publishing Inc
2765 Old Fairground Road
Angier NC 27501
919-207-0472 (direct office line)
919-207-0918 (fax)
writersink@att.net (email)
Shirley Surles - Office Assistant - 919-894-1475 (direct line)
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