Listen to the songs and Steve Dilling’s discussion of why they matter to him.

1. Don’t Stop Believing
by Journey
from Escape

2. Summer Nights
by Rascal Flatts
from Unstoppable

Steve Dilling plays banjo with Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out. They recently released their first studio effort in 5 years, the self-titled Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out.

Listen to the songs

1. Fear of the South
by Tin Hat Trio
from Rodeo Eroded

2. (Nice Dream)
by Radiohead
from The Bends

3. The Notwist

Chris Pandolfi plays banjo with the Infamous Stringdusters and released a solo album, entitled Looking Glass, on Sugar Hill Records in May 2009.

Listen to the songs

1. Sarah Smile
Hall and Oates
from The Very Best of Daryl Hall & John Oates
Darren likes “the way they sparcely put stuff in, when you don’t even expect it, here comes something with the harmony.”

2. The Gatlin Brothers
Darren appreciates “the intensity of the harmonies, really their idea’s. Sometimes they’ll sing two over [or] one under, one over, you know it’s all over the place.”

3. The Police
“I just love to hear Sting sing.”

Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac have recorded a new EP, to be released by Patuxent Music this Summer.

Listen to the songs and Tim Surrett’s discussion of why they matter to him.

1. So What
Miles Davis with Paul Chambers on Bass
from the album “Kind of Blue”

Listen to the songs and Leigh Gibson’s discussion of why they matter to him.

1. Thirteen Women (and Only One Man in Town)
Bill Haley and His Comets

2. Ray Charles
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

Photo by Joan Kornblith

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Often described as “a singer’s singer,” Dede Wyland’s pure and compelling voice has enchanted audiences around the globe, and her driving rhythm guitar has powered the sound of many a bluegrass band including the popular Tony Trischka & Skyline and ’Grass, Food & Lodging. Dede has become one of the most sought-after vocal instructors in the Washington, D.C., area. In addition to her full schedule of private lessons, she has taken her expertise to workshops and music camps from Tucson, Arizona, to Somerset, England. Her recordings and concert performances with the cream of Washington’s bluegrass players earned her the Washington Area Music Association’s “Wammie” awards for 1999 (Female Bluegrass Vocalist) and 2004 (Bluegrass Vocalist). Her latest release is “Keep the Light On.”

Listen to the songs and Wayne Taylor’s discussion of why they matter to him.

1. Choices
George Jones
from the album Cold Hard Truth
Wayne calls it “a tremendous song that gave me cold chills and not many songs have done that.”

2. Dirt Roads
Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa
from the self-titled album
Wayne says, “there’s still some old folks around that remember how things used to be… [Dirt Roads] mentions Ralph and Carter and the way they used to sing and the way it must have felt to be there in the audience and hear the rafters ring.”

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Kenny Ray Horton is only the 4th lead singer named to the U.S. Navy’s Country Current, which he joined in April 2008.   Before that he was a successful staff songwriter.   He received an RIAA certified Gold Record for “A Soldier’s King” recorded by Kenny Rogers. He was also a Nashville demo and background singer.  He recently released a solo bluegrass project, “A Canary’s Song.”

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Singer-songwriter and guitar player Leigh Gibson is the younger of the two Gibson Brothers, who grew up on a dairy farm near Ellenburg Depot, New York. The Gibsons are famous for their much-loved “brother duet” harmony. The Gibsons’ newest release Ring the Bell on Compass Records is due out in May 2009 and follows quick on the heels of their successful Iron and Diamonds CD. Leigh will teach guitar during Bluegrass Week again in July 2009 at the prestigious Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, W.Va.

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About Béla Fleck

Béla Fleck is one of the world’s premier banjo players. He is well known for his work across multiple genres and progressive approach to the instrument. He has performed as a solo artist and with a number of groups including Spectrum, New Grass Revival, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, and most recently Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet. Flecks’ total Grammy count is 9 Grammys won, and 20 nominations. His latest win was in the 2009 Pop Instrumental category for his Christmas CD, “Béla Fleck and the Flecktones’ Jingle All the Way.” He has been nominated in more different categories than anyone in Grammy history. His latest project is “Throw Down Your Heart,” a documentary about bringing the banjo back to Africa.