David McLaughlin is an American multi-instrumentalist. His mandolin prowess has helped clarify how

Bill Monroe William Smith "Bill" Monroe (; September 13, 1911 – September 9, 1996) was an American mandolinist, singer, and songwriter, who created the bluegrass music genre. Because of this, he is often called the " Father of Bluegrass". The genre take ...

's style of playing can be applied to progressive bluegrass music.

Biography

McLaughlin was raised in the Washington D.C. area and now lives in

Winchester, Virginia Winchester is the most north western independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the county seat of Frederick County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Winchester wit ...

. He is the son of Nancy and Bill McLaughlin, who inspired his eclectic music tastes with their enthusiasm for blues and jazz. He is the younger brother of Peter McLaughlin, who sings and plays guitar with

Laurie Lewis Laurie Lewis is an innovative American singer, musician, and songwriter in the genre of bluegrass music. History Laurie Lewis was born in Long Beach, California on September 28, 1950. Her family moved regularly from place to place until she w ...

. He was also active in the jazz, classical, and rock and roll scene around D.C., playing guitar and drums as well as mandolin and fiddle.

Johnson Mountain Boys

In 1978, McLaughlin founded the

Johnson Mountain Boys The Johnson Mountain Boys were a popular bluegrass band throughout the 1980s from the Washington, D.C. area. Their style favored a more traditional approach to bluegrass than some of their contemporaries. They released two 45 RPM single record ...

with

Dudley Connell Dudley Connell (born February 18, 1956) is an American singer in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his work with the Johnson Mountain Boys, Longview, and The Seldom Scene. Biography Early years Connell grew up in Rockville, Maryland. ...

(vocals, guitar), Richie Underwood (banjo), Eddie Stubbs (fiddle), and Larry Robbins (bass). McLaughlin first played fiddle, then switched to mandolin. During this time, McLaughlin also occasionally played fiddle with the band Patent Pending, which included Eldred Hill (mandolin), Rusty Williams (guitar), and Jim Steptoe (banjo).

Lynn Morris Band

McLaughlin joined the

Lynn Morris Lynn Morris (1954–2017) was a Christian fiction author. She was the daughter of Gilbert Morris and co-wrote with him on most of her books. Books by Lynn Morris Cheney Duvall, M.D. Series This series was co-written with her father, Gil ...

Band in time to play mandolin and guitar on their 1992 album ''The Bramble and the Rose'' along with Tom Adams and

Marshall Wilborn Marshall Wilborn is an American bluegrass music bass player and composer best known for his work with the Johnson Mountain Boys, Longview, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, and the Lynn Morris Band. Biography Early years Wilborn was raised i ...

. In 1999, Jesse Brock replaced McLaughlin on mandolin.

Josh Crowe and David McLaughlin

In 1993, McLaughlin formed a duo with guitarist Josh Crowe of the Crowe Brothers when Wayne Crowe took time off. Crowe and McLaughlin released one album ''Going Back'' on

Rounder Records Rounder Records is an independent record label founded in 1970 in Somerville, Massachusetts by Marian Leighton Levy, Ken Irwin, and Bill Nowlin. Focused on American roots music, Rounder's catalogue of more than 3000 titles includes records by Al ...

. They played and toured together for five years, singing Appalachian brother style harmonies.

Springfield Exit and the Stony Point Quartet

McLaughlin currently performs with the band Springfield Exit, which also includes vocalist Linda Lay, guitarist David Lay, bassist

, and Tom Adams on banjo. Their debut album, ''That Was Then'' was released in 2015. The Stony Point Quartet, featuring McLaughlin, Linda Lay, Billy Lux (bass), and

(guitar) often plays the same events as Springfield Exit, with a focus on gospel music.

Music instruction

McLaughlin has produced an instructional video for The Murphy Method, and has hosted a Murphy Method Banjo Camp.

Personal life

In 2006, McLaughlin suffered a severe hearing loss. McLaughlin also runs a bed and breakfast in Winchester called the Nancy Shepherd House.

Discography

With
The Johnson Mountain Boys The Johnson Mountain Boys were a popular bluegrass band throughout the 1980s from the Washington, D.C. area. Their style favored a more traditional approach to bluegrass than some of their contemporaries. They released two 45 RPM single record ...

* 1981: ''The Johnson Mountain Boys'' (

Rounder Rounder(s) or The Rounder(s) may refer to: Film and television * ''The Rounders'' (1914 film), a comedy short * ''The Rounder'' (1930 film), a comedy short * ''The Rounders'' (1965 film), a western comedy * ''Rounders'' (film), a 1998 poker f ...

) * 1982: ''Walls of Time'' (Rounder) * 1983: ''Working Close'' (Rounder) * 1984: ''Live at the Birchmere'' (Rounder) * 1985: ''We'll Still Sing On'' (Rounder) * 1987: ''Let the Whole World Talk'' (Rounder) * 1988: ''Requests'' (Rounder) * 2002: ''At the Old Schoolhouse'' (Rounder)

With The McCoury Brothers

* 1987: ''The McCoury Brothers'' (Rounder)

Josh Crowe and David McLaughlin

* 1993: ''Going Back'' (Rounder)

With the
Lynn Morris Lynn Morris (1954–2017) was a Christian fiction author. She was the daughter of Gilbert Morris and co-wrote with him on most of her books. Books by Lynn Morris Cheney Duvall, M.D. Series This series was co-written with her father, Gil ...
Band

* 1992: ''The Bramble and the Rose'' (Rounder) * 1995: ''Mama's Hand'' (Rounder) * 1999: ''You'll Never Be the Sun'' (Rounder) * 2003: ''Shape of a Tear'' (Rounder)

With Springfield Exit

* 2003: ''Springfield Exit'' (Cracker Barrel) * 2015: ''That Was Then'' (

Patuxent Music Patuxent Music is an independent record label in Rockville, Maryland. History Bluegrass musician Tom Mindte started recording music by other artists in 1984 with a reel to reel recorder in his father's air conditioning shop. In 1990 Tom opened ...

)

With Stony Point

* 2003: ''Band of Angels'' (Cracker Barrel)

Music instruction

* 1991: ''Learn Bluegrass by Ear'' VHS, reissued on DVD (Murphy Method)

Also appears on

* 1983: Phyllis Boyens - ''I Really Care'' (Rounder) * 1983:

Hazel Dickens Hazel Jane Dickens (June 1, 1925 – April 22, 2011) was an American bluegrass singer, songwriter, double bassist and guitarist. Her music was characterized not only by her high, lonesome singing style, but also by her provocative pro- unio ...

- ''By the Sweat of My Brow'' (Rounder) * 1983: James King - ''These Old Pictures'' (Rounder) * 1984: Delia Bell and Bill Grant - ''The Cheer of the Home Fires'' (Rounder) * 1985:

Tony Trischka Anthony Cattell Trischka (born January 16, 1949) is an American five-string banjo player. Sandra Brennan wrote of him in 2021: "One of the most influential modern banjoists, both in several forms of bluegrass music and occasionally in jazz and ...

- ''Hill Country'' (Rounder) * 1985: Delia Bell and Bill Grant - ''A Few Dollars More'' (Rounder) * 1986:

Gloria Belle Gloria Belle Flickinger (June 9, 1939 – May 5, 2023) was an American bluegrass vocalist and musician, playing the banjo, bass, and mandolin. She was probably the first female lead singer in bluegrass, having begun her music career as early ...

- ''Love of the Mountains'' ( Webco) * 1988: Delia Bell and Bill Grant - ''Following a Feeling'' (Rounder) * 1990: Tom Adams - ''Right Hand Man'' (Rounder) * 1995: James King - ''Lonesome and Then Some'' (Rounder) * 1995: Tony Trischka - ''Glory Shone Around: A Christmas Collection'' (Rounder) * 1995:

Robin and Linda Williams Robin and Linda Williams are a husband-and-wife singer-songwriter folk music duo from Virginia. They met in South Carolina in 1971, and began performing in 1973. The Williamses appeared on Garrison Keillor's ''A Prairie Home Companion'' radio ...

and Their Fine Group - ''Good News'' ( Sugar Hill) * 1997: Delia Bell and Bill Grant - ''Dreaming' (Rounder) * 1999: Bob Amos - ''Wherever I Go'' (Hayden's Ferry) * 1999:

- ''Root 5: Bass and Banjo'' ( Pinecastle) * 2002: Jesse Brock - ''Kickin' Grass'' (Pinecastle) * 2006:

Patrick McAvinue Patrick Coleman McAvinue is an American fiddler, combining in his music aspects of bluegrass, swing, and Celtic music. He is also a private music educator. He is the IBMA's 2017 Fiddle Player of the Year. Biography Early years McAvinue is a na ...

- ''Grave Run'' (Patuxent) * 2007: House Of Fools - ''Live and Learn'' (

Drive-Thru Records Drive-Thru Records was a California-based independent record label owned by siblings Richard and Stefanie Reines. The label was partially responsible for popularizing the pop-punk/emo merger sound of the early to mid-2000s. After facing financia ...

)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:McLaughlin, David 1958 births People from Virginia American bluegrass musicians American mandolinists American bluegrass mandolinists American bluegrass fiddlers American bluegrass guitarists Living people 20th-century American guitarists Johnson Mountain Boys members

Biography

Johnson Mountain Boys

Lynn Morris Band

Josh Crowe and David McLaughlin

Springfield Exit and the Stony Point Quartet

Music instruction

Personal life

Discography

With The Johnson Mountain Boys The Johnson Mountain Boys were a popular bluegrass band throughout the 1980s from the Washington, D.C. area. Their style favored a more traditional approach to bluegrass than some of their contemporaries. They released two 45 RPM single record ...

With The McCoury Brothers

Josh Crowe and David McLaughlin

With the Lynn Morris Lynn Morris (1954–2017) was a Christian fiction author. She was the daughter of Gilbert Morris and co-wrote with him on most of her books. Books by Lynn Morris Cheney Duvall, M.D. Series This series was co-written with her father, Gil ... Band

With Springfield Exit

With Stony Point

Music instruction

Also appears on

References

External links

With
The Johnson Mountain Boys The Johnson Mountain Boys were a popular bluegrass band throughout the 1980s from the Washington, D.C. area. Their style favored a more traditional approach to bluegrass than some of their contemporaries. They released two 45 RPM single record ...

With the
Lynn Morris Lynn Morris (1954–2017) was a Christian fiction author. She was the daughter of Gilbert Morris and co-wrote with him on most of her books. Books by Lynn Morris Cheney Duvall, M.D. Series This series was co-written with her father, Gil ...
Band