Gerald Calvin "Jerry" Douglas (born May 28, 1956) is an American Dobro and lap steel guitar player and

record producer A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure. Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...

Career

In addition to his fourteen solo recordings, Douglas has played on more than 1,600 albums. As a sideman, he has recorded with artists as diverse as Garth Brooks,

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

, Eric Clapton, Phish,

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...

, Susan Ashton, Paul Simon,

Mumford & Sons Mumford & Sons is a British folk rock band formed in London in 2007. The band currently consists of Marcus Mumford (lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums), Ted Dwane (vocals, bass guitar, double bass), and Ben Lovett (vocals, k ...

, Keb' Mo',

Ricky Skaggs Rickie Lee Skaggs (born July 18, 1954), known professionally as Ricky Skaggs, is an American neotraditional country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, ...

, Elvis Costello,

Tommy Emmanuel William Thomas Emmanuel (born 31 May 1955) is an Australian guitarist. Regarded as one of the greatest acoustic guitarists of all time, he is known for his complex fingerstyle technique, energetic performances and use of percussive effects on ...

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, havi ...

and Johnny Mathis, as well as performing on the ''

O Brother, Where Art Thou? ''O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' is a 2000 comedy drama film written, produced, co-edited, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. It stars George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson, with Chris Thomas King, John Goodman, Holly Hunter, and ...

'' soundtrack and the follow up "Down From the Mountain" tour with Alison Krauss and Union Station. He has collaborated with various groups including The Whites, New South (band), The Country Gentlemen,

Strength in Numbers Strength may refer to: Physical strength *Physical strength, as in people or animals *Hysterical strength, extreme strength occurring when people are in life-and-death situations *Superhuman strength, great physical strength far above human ca ...

, and Elvis Costello's "Sugar Canes". From 1996 to 1998, Douglas was a member of The GrooveGrass Boyz. Douglas produced a number of records, including some at Sugar Hill Records. He oversaw albums by

Alison Krauss Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer and musician. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of 8 and recording for the first time at 14. She signed with ...

, the Del McCoury Band,

Maura O'Connell Maura O'Connell (born 16 September 1958) is an Irish singer and actress. She is known for her contemporary interpretations of Irish folk songs, strongly influenced by American country music. Background O'Connell was born in Ennis, the main to ...

Jesse Winchester James Ridout "Jesse" Winchester Jr. (May 17, 1944 – April 11, 2014) was an American-Canadian musician and songwriter. He was born and raised in the southern United States. Opposed to the Vietnam War, he moved to Canada in 1967 to avoid b ...

and the Nashville Bluegrass Band, The Earls of Leicester, Gary Morris, The Steep Canyon Rangers. Along with Aly Bain, he serves as Music Director of the popular BBC Television series, "

Transatlantic Sessions Transatlantic Sessions is the collective title for a series of musical productions by Glasgow-based Pelicula Films Ltd, funded by- and produced for BBC Scotland, BBC Four and RTÉ of Ireland. The productions comprise collaborative live performan ...

". Since 1998, Douglas has been a member of Alison Krauss and Union Station, touring extensively and playing on a series of platinum-selling albums. When not on the road with Alison Krauss and Union Station, Douglas tours in support of his extensive body of work with his bands The Jerry Douglas Band and The Earls of Leicester, following the continued success of the latter's 2014 release ''The Earls of Leicester'' and 2015's ''Rattle and Roar''. Jerry Douglas appeared with Vince Gill on Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2004 ("Oklahoma Borderline" and "What the Cowgirls Do"). Douglas also made a cameo in the third "United Breaks Guitars" consumer protest video, all of which went viral.

Personal life

Douglas was born in

Warren, Ohio Warren is a city in and the county seat of Trumbull County, Ohio, United States. Located in northeastern Ohio, Warren lies approximately northwest of Youngstown and southeast of Cleveland. The population was 39,201 at the 2020 census. The hi ...

, United States, and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Jill.

Awards and honors

As of 2021, Douglas has been nominated for thirty-two

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...

s, winning fourteen. He has received the Country Music Association's 'Musician of the Year' award three times, in 2002, 2005 and 2007. Douglas is a 10-time recipient of the International Bluegrass Music Association ("IBMA") Dobro Player of the Year Award. In 2004, the

National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal ...

awarded Douglas a

National Heritage Fellowship The National Heritage Fellowship is a lifetime honor presented to master folk and traditional artists by the National Endowment for the Arts. Similar to Japan's Living National Treasure award, the Fellowship is the United States government's ...

, which is the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. Douglas was named Artist in Residence for the

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the world's largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. Chartered in 1964, the museum has amas ...

in 2008. Douglas was honored at the 36th annual

Telluride Bluegrass Festival Telluride Bluegrass Festival is an annual music festival in Telluride, Colorado hosted by Planet Bluegrass. Although traditionally the festival focuses on bluegrass music, it often features music from a variety of related genres. History The tow ...

in Colorado for his twenty-fifth consecutive year playing in and at the festival. Douglas received the Bluegrass Star Award, presented by the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation of Dallas, Texas, on October 15, 2016. The award is bestowed upon bluegrass artists who do an exemplary job of advancing traditional bluegrass music and bringing it to new audiences while preserving its character and heritage. The Americana Music Association honored Jerry Douglas with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. Douglas received the key to the city of

Manchester, Tennessee Manchester is a city in Coffee County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 12,213 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Coffee County. The city is located halfway between Nashville and Chattanooga on Interstate 24. Manchester i ...

as well as to Coffee County during a performance at the 2015 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

Discography

Studio recordings

Compilations

Other recordings

*''Remembrances and Forecasts'' 1974 as The Country Gentlemen *'' J.D. Crowe & The New South'' 1975 as J. D. Crowe & the New South *''Holiday In Japan'' 1975 as J. D. Crowe & the New South *''New South Live'' 1975 as J. D. Crowe & the New South *''Boone Creek'' 1977 as Boone Creek *''One Way Track'' 1977 as Boone Creek *''That Down Home Feeling'' 1977 as Buck White & Down Home Folks *''Buck and Family Live'' 1979 as Buck White & Down Home Folks *''More Pretty Girls Than One'' 1979 as Buck White & Down Home Folks *'' Bluegrass Album, Vol. 3 – California Connection'' 1983 as

Bluegrass Album Band Bluegrass Album Band was a bluegrass supergroup, founded by Tony Rice and J. D. Crowe in 1980. Originally, there was no intention to build a permanent group and the main reason for the collaboration was to record a solo album for Tony Rice ...

*''Snakes Alive'' 1984 as Dreadful Snakes *'' Bluegrass Album Vol.4'' 1985 as Bluegrass Album Band * '' High Country Snows'' 1985

Dan Fogelberg Daniel Grayling Fogelberg (August 13, 1951 – December 16, 2007) was an American musician, songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is known for his 1970s and 1980s songs, including " Longer" (1979), " Same Old Lang Syne" (1980), and ...

*'' T-Bone Burnett'' 1986 with T Bone Burnett *'' Bluegrass Album, Vol. 5 – Sweet Sunny South'' 1989 as Bluegrass Album Band *'' The Telluride Sessions'' 1989 ''as Strength in Numbers'' *'' Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two'' 1990 with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band *''Skip, Hop & Wobble'' 1993 as Barenberg, Douglas & Meyer *'' Toolin' Around'' "Let it Slide" with Arlen Roth and Sam Bush 1993 *'' The Great Dobro Sessions'' 1994 as Jerry Douglas and various artists, produced by Jerry Douglas *''Far From Enough'' 1994 with Viktor Krauss *'' Bluegrass Album, Vol. 6 – Bluegrass Instrumentals'' 1996 as Bluegrass Album Band *''Bourbon & Rosewater'' 1996 as Bhatt, Douglas & Meyer *''Yonder'' 1996 with

Peter Rowan Peter Rowan (born July 4, 1942) is an American bluegrass musician and composer. Rowan plays guitar and mandolin, yodels and sings. Biography Rowan was born in Wayland, Massachusetts to a musical family. From an early age, he had an interest ...

*'' Signs of Life'' 1996

Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist. Chapman began his career in the late 1980s as a songwriter and performer of conte ...

*''Leading Roll'' 1997 with Sammy Shelor *''The View From Here'' 1999 with Matt Flinner *''

'' 2000 with

, The Whites, as Soggy Bottom Boys *''Latitude'' 2001, with Matt Flinner *''I Don't Need the Whiskey Anymore'' 2002, with Jack Lawrence *'' Deja Vu (All Over Again)'' 2004 with John Fogerty * '' All I Really Want For Christmas'' 2005 Steven Curtis Chapman *''Secret, Profane, & Sugarcane'' 2009 with Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes *''Southern Filibuster: The Songs of Tut Taylor'' 2010, produced by Jerry Douglas *'' Rounder Records 40th Anniversary Concert'' 2010 as Jerry Douglas with Bela Fleck, Alison Krauss & Union Station *'' Get Low'' Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 2010 as Jerry Douglas *"The Boxer", with Paul Simon and

on the latter's album '' Babel'' (released September 2012) and on Douglas's own ''Traveler'', produced by Russ Titelman (released June 2012) *"One Light Shining" by Ruth Moody from ''These Wilder Things'' 2013 *''The Earls of Leicester'' 2014 with The Earls of Leicester produced by Jerry Douglas *''Three Bells'' 2014 with Mike Auldridge and Rob Ickes produced by Jerry Douglas *''Radio'' 2015 with The Steep Canyon Rangers produced by Jerry Douglas *''Rattle & Roar'' 2016 with The Earls of Leicester produced by Jerry Douglas *"Love Like Me" and "Everything's The Same" from Billy Strings' album ''Home'', released 2019 *''

Leftover Feelings ''Leftover Feelings'' is an album by John Hiatt with the Jerry Douglas Band, released in May 2021 through the record label New West Records New West Records is a record label based in Nashville, Tennessee, and Athens, Georgia. It had offices ...

'' 2021 with

John Hiatt John Robert Hiatt (born August 20, 1952) is an American singer-songwriter. He has played a variety of musical styles on his albums, including new wave, blues, and country. Hiatt has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards and has been awarded ...

, produced by Jerry Douglas and performed with the Jerry Douglas Band *''Native American, 1992, with

Tony Rice David Anthony Rice (June 8, 1951 – December 25, 2020), known professionally as Tony Rice, was an American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He was an influential acoustic guitar player in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and a ...

With Alison Krauss or Alison Krauss and Union Station

*'' I've Got That Old Feeling (Producer And Performer)'' 1991 *'' Forget About It'' 1999 *''

New Favorite ''New Favorite'' is the fourth album by bluegrass music group Alison Krauss & Union Station, released August 14, 2001. The album peaked in the top 50 of the ''Billboard'' 200 and within the top 5 of the ''Billboard'' charts for both Country and ...

'' 2001 *'' Live - (Alison Krauss & Union Station)'' 2002 *''

Lonely Runs Both Ways ''Lonely Runs Both Ways'' is the twelfth album by bluegrass music group Alison Krauss & Union Station, released November 23, 2004. The album won the band three Grammy Awards in 2006, including Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocal ...

'' 2004 *'' A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection'' 2007 *'' Paper Airplane'' 2011

The Transatlantic Sessions

*''

3 ol.1' (2007) (with Jerry Douglas and various artists) *''

3 ol.2' (2008) (with Jerry Douglas and various artists) *''The Original

ol.2' (2008) (with

Jay Ungar Jay Ungar (born November 14, 1946) is an American folk musician and composer. Life and career Ungar was born in the Bronx, New York City. He frequented Greenwich Village music venues during his formative period in the 1960s. In the late 1960s, ...

and various artists) *''The Original

ol.3' (2009) (with

and various artists) *''

4 ol.1' (2009) (with Jerry Douglas and various artists) *''

4 ol.2' (2010) (with Jerry Douglas and various artists) *''

4 ol.3' (2010) (with Jerry Douglas and various artists)

Awards

Grammy Awards

*1983 Best Country Instrumental Performance: "Fireball" – with The New South *1994 Best Bluegrass Album: ''The Great Dobro Sessions'' *2001 Album of the Year: ''Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?'' – various artists *2001 Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group: "The Lucky One" – Alison Krauss + Union Station 2001 Best Bluegrass Album: ''New Favorite'' – Alison Krauss + Union Station 2002 Best Country Instrumental Performance: "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" with Earl Scruggs 2002 Best Country Instrumental Performance: Earl Scruggs, Gary Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Steve Martin, Leon Russell, Vince Gill, Jerry Douglas, Glen Duncan, Albert Lee, Paul Shaffer and Marty Stuart – "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" *2003 Best Country Instrumental Performance: "Cluck Old Hen" – Alison Krauss + Union Station *2003 Best Bluegrass Album: ''LIVE'' – Alison Krauss + Union Station *2004 Best Country Instrumental Performance: "Earl's Breakdown" – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Featuring Earl Scruggs,

Randy Scruggs Randy Lynn Scruggs (August 3, 1953 – April 17, 2018) was an American music producer, songwriter and guitarist. He had his first recording at the age of 13. He won four Grammy Awards and was named Musician of the Year at the Country Music ...

Vassar Clements Vassar Carlton Clements (April 25, 1928 – August 16, 2005) was an American jazz, swing, and bluegrass fiddler. Clements has been dubbed the Father of Hillbilly Jazz, an improvisational style that blends and borrows from swing, hot jazz, and ...

& Jerry Douglas *2006 Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: "Restless" – Alison Krauss and Union Station *2006 Best Country Instrumental Performance: "Unionhouse Branch" – Alison Krauss and Union Station *2006

Best Country Album The Grammy Award for Best Country Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality albums in the country music genre. Honors ...

: ''Lonely Runs Both Ways'' – Alison Krauss and Union Station *2012 Best Bluegrass Album: ''Paper Airplane'' – Alison Krauss and Union Station *2015 Best Bluegrass Album: ''The Earls of Leicester'' – The Earls of Leicester

Americana Music Association Awards

*2002 Instrumentalist of the Year *2003 Instrumentalist of the Year *2011 Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist

CMA Awards

*2002 Musician of the Year *2005 Musician of the Year *2007 Musician of the Year

IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Awards

*1990 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *1991 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *1992 Instrumental Album of the Year – ''Slide Rule'', Jerry Douglas *1992 Record Event of the Year – ''Slide Rule'' *1992 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *1993 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *1994 Instrumental Album of the Year – ''Skip, Hop & Wobble''; Douglas, Barenberg & Meyer *1994 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *1995 Instrumental Album of the Year – ''The Great Dobro Sessions''; Mike Auldridge, Curtis Burch, Jerry Douglas, Josh Graves, Rob Ickes, Oswald Kirby, Stacy Phillips, Tut Taylor, Sally Van Meter, Gene Wooten *1995 Record Event of the Year – ''The Great Dobro Sessions'' *1995 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *1997 Album of the Year – ''True Life Blues—The Songs of Bill Monroe''; Sam Bush, Vassar Clements, Mike Compton, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Pat Enright, Greg Garing, Richard Greene, David Grier, David Grisman, John Hartford, Bobby Hicks, Kathy Kallick, Laurie Lewis, Mike Marshall, Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury, Jim Nunally, Scott Nygaard, Mollie O'Brien, Tim O'Brien, Alan O'Bryant, Herb Pedersen, Todd Phillips, John Reischman, Peter Rowan, Craig Smith, Chris Thile, Tony Trischka, Roland White *1997 Record Event of the Year – ''True Life Blues—The Songs of Bill Monroe'' *1997 Instrumental Album of the Year – ''Bluegrass Instrumentals, Volume 6''; The Bluegrass Album Band *2001 Album of the Year - "O' Brother, Where Art Thou" Soundtrack -Norman Blake, James Carter & The Prisoners, The Cox Family, Fairfield Four, Emmylou Harris, John Hartford, Chris Thomas King, Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, The Peasall Sisters, The Soggy Bottom Boys, Ralph Stanley, The Stanley Brothers, Gillian Welch, The Whites; Mercury/Lost Highway Records *2001 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *2002 Instrumental Performer of the Year – Dobro *2003 Album of the Year – ''Alison Krauss + Union Station Live'', Alison Krauss + Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas *2003 Record Event of the Year – ''Will The Circle Be Unbroken Vol. III''; Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Matraca Berg, Sam Bush, June Carter Cash, Johnny Cash, Vassar Clements, Iris DeMent, Rodney Dillard, Jerry Douglas, Glen Duncan, Vince Gill, Josh Graves, Jamie Hanna, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal, Jimmy Martin, Del McCoury, Robbie McCoury, Ronnie McCoury, Jonathan McEuen, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Tony Rice, Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs, Doc Watson, Richard Watson, Glenn Worf & Dwight Yoakam *2015 Entertainer of the Year - The Earls of Leicester *2015 Instrumental Group of the Year - The Earls of Leicester *2015 Album of the Year - The Earls of Leicester, Jerry Douglas, producer *2015 Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year - "Who Will Sing For Me" - The Earls of Leicester *2015 Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year - The Three Bells - Jerry Douglas, Mike Auldridge, Rob Ickes *2015 Dobro Player of the Year - Jerry Douglas *2016 Entertainer of the Year - The Earls of Leicester *2016 Dobro Player of the Year - Jerry Douglas

National Endowment for the Arts

*2004 National Heritage Fellowship

Country Music Hall of Fame

*2008 Artist in Residence

References

External links

Jerry Douglas official websiteThe Earls of Leicester official websiteAlison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas official sitewebsite of Transatlantic Sessions USA TourFolk Radio UK review of ''Jerry Christmas''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas, Jerry 1956 births Living people Alison Krauss & Union Station members American country guitarists American country singer-songwriters American bluegrass guitarists American male guitarists American male singer-songwriters National Heritage Fellowship winners Slide guitarists Grammy Award winners Singer-songwriters from Ohio Resonator guitarists People from Warren, Ohio The Country Gentlemen members Weissenborn players Guitarists from Ohio 20th-century American guitarists Country musicians from Ohio Bluegrass Album Band members New South (band) members Steel guitarists The Earls of Leicester (band) members Lyle Lovett and His Large Band members