Grasstowne:
Grasstowne is a band comprised of three very well respected
veterans in bluegrass and acoustic music. Phil Leadbetter and Steve Gulley have
known each other since the mid-1970s when they performed in local bands in the
Knoxville, TN area while in their teens. It was during this time through their
friendship their paths crossed with mandolin ace Alan Bibey.
Well, here we are
30 years later and we find all three men as partners in the acoustic band
Grasstowne!
Add to the mix two young and very talented players; Jason Davis on
banjo, Jamey Booher on upright bass, and we have the hottest band on
tour today!!
The Players:
Alan Bibey: Mandolin / Vocals
 Since
first hitting the scene in the early 1980’s, Alan Bibey
has made a name for himself as one of the most creative and
technically
gifted mandolinist in bluegrass and acoustic music. A stylist who
turned heads as an original member of The New Quicksilver, IIIrd Tyme
Out and BlueRidge, his tasteful innovations and pristine execution
earned him inclusion in The Young Mando Monsters project and Mel
Bay’s mandolin Book “The Greatest Mandolin Players Of The
Twentieth Century."
Alan left IIIrd Tyme Out in 1993 to become an original member of The
Southern Country Nights show in Surfside Beach, SC and later was a
member of The Carolina Opry cast from 1994 until 1997.
Alan has been nominated for awards each year at SPBGMA (The Society for
the Preservation of BlueGrass Music Association) and IBMA
(International Bluegrass Music Association) and has most recently won
for “Album of The Year”,“Instrumental Recording
Of The Year” and “Recorded Event Of The Year”
at IBMA.
In February 2007, he was named "Mandolin Player of the Year" at the 33rd Annual SPBGMA National Convention in Nashville, TN.
He has instruction books and videos/dvd’s available through
AcuTab and Mel Bay and just last year was on the cover of Mandolin
Magazine. His solo recording “In The Blue Room” was
voted top instrumental Album by County Record Sales.
Alan was a major factor in BlueRidge and part of it’s
success for the last ten years but is extremely excited about this
great new venture with Grasstowne!
Last but not least, in early 2004 The Gibson Company put into
production The Alan Bibey Signature Series line of mandolins,
reaffirming his status as one of the most influential mandolinist in
bluegrass and acoustic music history!
Steve Gulley: Guitar / Vocals
Guitarist Steve Gulley had already won esteem for his lofty tenor voice
and emotional delivery as an entertainer at Kentucky's historic Renfro
Valley before he joined Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, bringing him
before a wider but no less appreciative audience.
Steve was also a founding member of the bluegrass group Mountain Heart
where he recorded five highly acclaimed CDs as the lead singer for that
band.
He has been tapped as a harmony and featured singer on projects like
the widely-praised Keith Whitley album, "Sad Songs and Waltzes," and
many others including projects by Ronnie Bowman, Dan Tyminski, Tim
Stafford, David Parmley, Dale Ann Bradley, Jeff Parker and Grasstowne's
own Phil Leadbetter just to name a few.
He has also earned multiple Male Vocalist of the Year nominations from
the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America.
Phil Leadbetter: Resophonic Guitar / Vocals
Phil has been playing resonator guitar since
1975. He was a member of JD Crowe & the New South for 10
years, and also a founding member of the bluegrass band Wildfire where
he recorded 3 highly acclaimed CD's and remained for 6 years. He also worked with Grandpa
Jones and CBS recording artist Vern Gosdin.
In 1995 he was part of the Crowe recording "Flashback" which received a
Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album. He has received many SPBGMA and IBMA Dobro Player Of
The Year nominations in various categories.
Phil's first solo project entitled "Philibuster" was released on Rounder
Records. In 2005, Phil released his 2nd solo CD "Slide Effects"
on Pinecastle Records. The tune "California Cottonfields" charted
#1 for two consecutive months (October and November 2005) on The
Bluegrass Unlimited's National Chart with the CD itself reaching the #4
spot.
"California Cottonfields" also charted #1 on Prime Cuts Of Bluegrass.
It was also a "Hot Pick" by quite a few Bluegrass Now reporting
DJ's, and was #1 for several months on the "America's Bluegrass"
chart. "Slide Effects" was voted Best Bluegrass Album of
2005 by Cybergrass and made the top 10 list of CMT's Best Bluegrass
Albums Of 2005.
In October 2005, "Slide Effects" was voted "Best Instrumental Album",
and Phil was awarded "Dobro Player of the Year" at The International
Bluegrass Music Awards which were held at The Ryman Auditorium in
Nashville, Tennessee.
His credits are found on quite a few CDs such as Doyle Lawson &
Quicksilver, Wildfire, JD Crowe & the New South, and Dolly Parton to name a
few.
Like Alan, Phil also has his own Gibson Signature Model
Guitar. The Gibson Phil Leadbetter Signature Series Dobro has been Gibson's best selling Dobro guitar for several
years now.
Jason Davis: Banjo
Musician Jason Davis hails from Ford, Virginia. He discovered bluegrass
at the age of 10. He got his first banjo at age 11.
He then landed his first professional gig at age 14 with Michelle Nixon
& Drive where he remained for 3 1/2 years. He recorded 2
projects for Pinecastle while a member of Michelle's band.
He was also featured on the Huber Banjo project called "Cuppa Jo."
He
then moved onto the Kenny & Amanda Smith Band where he recorded a
Gospel album. After departing from Kenny and Amanda's group, he spent
the remainder of 2006 filling in with Blueridge.
He is now very excited and proud to be a member of Grasstowne.
Jamey Booher: Upright Acoustic Bass / Vocals
 Jamey began playing bass at age 14, with his family's band, "The Boohers", and quickly excelled in both playing and singing. Although he is only 20 years old, his musicianship and professionalism is that of someone twice his age. Jamey's humble stage presence often gives an audience a deeper appreciation for his abilities, as they watch him develop into the rock solid foundation of the band.
While staying focused on the vision of the band, Jamey strives daily to perfect and expand his vocal and musical talents.
His greatest influences are Barry Bales and Jason Moore. Jamey makes his home in Johnson City, TN.
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