MUSEUM CALENDAR

J.D. Crowe

Born August 27, 1937

A prominent second generation bluegrass instrumentalist, J.D. Crowe first gained national attention for his superb 1956-1961 work as banjo player and baritone vocalist in Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain Boys. He ultimately performed on more than 45 of Martin's recordings, many of them classics, establishing his reputation as a master of the driving, straightforward five-string banjo style. In ensuing decades he continued to influence countless players during an important solo performing and recording career.

Born James Dee Crowe and reared in Lexington, Kentucky, he began learning the Earl Scruggs banjo style at the age of 13. In 1961 he organized The Kentucky Mountain Boys, adopting in 1971 his career band name of J.D. Crowe & The New South. Influential vocalists and musicians who were members of these groups included Red Allen, Jerry Douglas, Doyle Lawson, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, Bobby Slone and Keith Whitley.

During the 1980s Crowe was also a member of The Bluegrass Album Band, an all-star recording group that helped bring about an increase in the popularity of the traditional style of bluegrass music.