Lonesome River Band

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.

On November 11, 2011, band member Sammy Shelor was awarded the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Bluegrass and Banjo. Shelor was presented with the award on the Late Show with David Letterman. Following the presentation of the award, Steve Martin performed with the Lonesome River Band.

Current members

 * Mike Hartgrove — fiddle
 * Jesse Smathers — mandolin, vocals
 * Barry Reed – bass, vocals
 * Brandon Rickman – guitar, vocals
 * Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, bass, vocals
 * Derrick Clifton — sound board operator, bus driver

Previous members

 * Tim Austin – guitar, banjo, bass, vocals
 * Jerry McMillan – bass, vocals
 * Steve Thomas — fiddle, mandolin, vocals
 * Rick Williams — banjo
 * Jeff Midkiff — mandolin, fiddle, vocals
 * Billy Wheeler — banjo, dobro, guitar
 * Randy Driskill — banjo, vocals
 * Adam Steffey — mandolin, vocals
 * Brian Fesler — banjo, guitar, vocals
 * Dan Tyminski — mandolin, guitar, vocals
 * Dale Perry — banjo, guitar, vocals
 * John Green – bass, vocals
 * Ronnie Bowman — bass, guitar, vocals
 * Steve Dilling — banjo, vocals
 * Darrell Webb — mandolin, vocals
 * Don Rigsby — mandolin, vocals
 * Kenny Smith — guitar, vocals
 * Rickie Simpkins — fiddle, vocals
 * Jeff Parker — mandolin, vocals
 * Irl Hees – bass, vocals
 * John Wade – bass, vocals
 * Shannon Slaughter – guitar, vocals
 * Barry Berrier – bass, vocals
 * Matt Leadbetter — dobro, vocals
 * Mike Anglin – bass, vocals
 * Andy Ball — mandolin, piano, vocals
 * Mike Jones — banjo
 * Randy Jones — mandolin, vocals

Guests

 * Mike Auldridge — steel guitar (The Lonesome River Band)
 * Steve Thomas — fiddle (Saturday Night-Sunday Morning, Carrying The Tradition)
 * Stuart Duncan — fiddle (Looking For Yourself, Old Country Town)
 * Alison Krauss — fiddle (Carrying The Tradition)
 * Bobby Hicks — fiddle (Carrying The Tradition)
 * Kim Gardner — dobro (Carrying The Tradition)
 * Ricky Simpkins — fiddle (Old Country Town)
 * Kenneth Smith – drums (Old Country Town)
 * Aubrey Haynie — fiddle (One Step Forward)
 * Randy Howard — fiddle (One Step Forward, Finding The Way)
 * Jerry Douglas — dobro, Weissenborn guitar (One Step Forward, Finding The Way)
 * Jason Carter — fiddle (Finding The Way)
 * Dan Tyminski — harmony vocals (Talkin to Myself)
 * Ron Stewart — fiddle (The Road With No End)