John Wayne Benson is an American mandolinist and songwriter in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his unique approach to the mandolin, and his long-term involvement with

Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out (formerly known as IIIrd Tyme Out) is a bluegrass band formed in 1991 in Cumming, Georgia. Consisting of Russell Moore (lead vocals and guitar), Keith McKinnon (vocals and banjo), Nathan Aldridge (vocals and fid ...

History

Early years

Benson was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, in a musical family where his father John Benson played fiddle, banjo, and guitar with his uncles. Gifted a Roy Rogers guitar for Christmas when he was seven, Benson learned how to play, sitting in on family music gatherings. At age 15, he began playing mandolin. In his late teens, Benson was part of the bluegrass music scene in Denton,

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

Livewire

In 1989,

Scott Vestal Scott Vestal is an American banjoist, songwriter and luthier, known for his innovative approach to playing and designing the banjo. Biography Early years The older of two children, Scott Vestal was raised in Duncan, Oklahoma in a musical fam ...

invited Benson to join the band Livewire with Ernie Sykes (bass) and Robert Hale (guitar). Benson played with Livewire for three years, recording one album ''Wired'' in 1990 on Rounder Records. Benson also participated when Livewire reunited in 1999 for one show.

IIIrd Tyme Out and John Cowan

In 1993, Benson joined the band

. Benson left IIIrd Tyme Out in 2004 to play with the John Cowan Band, recording two albums with them. In 2007, Benson returned to IIIrd Tyme Out and has remained with them since. Besides Moore and Benson, the current lineup includes Nathan Aldridge (fiddle), Keith McKinnon (banjo), and Dustin Pyrtle (bass).

Solo and collaborative projects

In 2003, Benson released his solo album ''An Instrumental Anthology'' on

Pinecastle Records Pinecastle Records is a record label based in Piedmont, South Carolina specializing in supporting and developing bluegrass music artists. History Tom Riggs started the Pinecastle Records in 1989 as an outlet for bluegrass pioneer Bill Harrell who ...

. The album featured 12 original compositions, and guests included Vestal, Cowan, Aubrey Haynie,

Rob Ickes Rob Ickes hymes with "bikes"is an American dobro (resonator guitar) player, born 1967 in San Francisco, California, United States. Ickes moved to Nashville in 1992 and joined the contemporary bluegrass band Blue Highway as a founding member in ...

Mark Schatz Mark Schatz (born April 23, 1955) is an American bassist, banjoist, mandolinist, guitarist, clogger, and hambone performer who has recorded on albums for and toured with artists including Bela Fleck, Nickel Creek, Jerry Douglas, Maura O'C ...

Ron Stewart Ronald George Stewart (July 11, 1932 – March 17, 2012) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1952 to 1973, as well as a coach. He spent the first half of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, ...

, and Jim Van Cleve. Benson recorded ''Mandolin Chronicles'' with Alan Bibey in 2013, an album of mandolin duets. Supporting artists included Ron Stewart (banjo, fiddle),

Wyatt Rice Wyatt Rice is an American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He is best known for his solo albums and his work in his brother's group the Tony Rice Unit. Biography Rice was born in Long Beach, California but grew up in Florida and other locat ...

(guitar), and Harold Nixon (bass).

Other projects

As part of their Artist Signature Series,

Gibson Gibson may refer to: People * Gibson (surname) Businesses * Gibson Brands, Inc., an American manufacturer of guitars, other musical instruments, and audio equipment * Gibson Technology, and English automotive and motorsport company based * Gi ...

issued the Wayne Benson Signature mandolin in 2003, based on the F-5 scroll body design. Only 50 were made available. In 2004, Benson released ''Wayne Benson - A Mandolin Anthology'', a music instruction DVD. In 2006, Benson performed with

the Wreckers The Wreckers were an American country music duo formed in 2005 by Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp, both of whom had solo recordings before the duo's foundation. In 2006, the duo released its debut album '' Stand Still, Look Pretty'', which produ ...

, a duo featuring

Michelle Branch Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch (born July 2, 1983) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. During the early 2000s, she released two top-selling albums: '' The Spirit Room'' and '' Hotel Paper.'' She won a Grammy Award for Best Pop C ...

and

Jessica Harp Jessica Leigh Harp (born February 3, 1982) is an American songwriter and former country artist from Kansas City, Missouri. Between 2005 and 2007, Harp and Michelle Branch recorded and performed as The Wreckers, a duo that topped the country cha ...

. Assisting with their publicity tour, he appeared on The Tonight Show, CBS This Morning, The Late Late Show, and other shows.

Awards

Benson earned the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) Mandolin Player of the Year award for five consecutive years (1999-2003). IIIrd Tyme Out won seven consecutive

International Bluegrass Music Association The International Bluegrass Music Association, or IBMA, is a trade association to promote bluegrass music. Formed in 1985, IBMA established its first headquarters in Owensboro, Kentucky. In 1988 they announced plans to create the International ...

(IBMA) awards for ‘Vocal Group of the Year’ (1994-2000).

Personal life

After living in Nashville for 16 years, Benson lives in

Boiling Springs, South Carolina Boiling Springs is a census-designated place (CDP) in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 8,219 at the 2010 census. Namesake The area became known as Boiling Springs because of a small spring in its heart that, ...

. He is married to bluegrass musician Kristin Scott Benson (

The Grascals The Grascals are a six-piece American bluegrass band from Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in February 2004, the band has gained a level of fame by playing on the Grand Ole Opry and bluegrass festivals around the country, as well as with Dolly Part ...

). He teaches private mandolin lessons in the Spartanburg, South Carolina area.

Discography

Solo recordings

* 2003: ''An Instrumental Anthology'' ( Pinecastle)

Alan Bibey and Wayne Benson

* 2013: ''The Mandolin Chronicles'' (Pinecastle)

With Livewire

1990: ''Wired'' (

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 ...

)

With
Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out (formerly known as IIIrd Tyme Out) is a bluegrass band formed in 1991 in Cumming, Georgia. Consisting of Russell Moore (lead vocals and guitar), Keith McKinnon (vocals and banjo), Nathan Aldridge (vocals and fid ...

* 1993: ''Grandpa's Mandolin'' (

Rebel A rebel is a participant in a rebellion. Rebel or rebels may also refer to: People * Rebel (given name) * Rebel (surname) * Patriot (American Revolution), during the American Revolution * American Southerners, as a form of self-identification; ...

) * 1994: ''Across The Miles'' (New Haven) * 1995: ''Letter To Home'' (Rounder) * 1996: ''Living on the Other Side'' (Rounder) * 1998: ''Live At The MAC (The Mountain Arts Center)'' (Rounder) * 1999: ''John & Mary'' (Rounder) * 2001: ''Back To The MAC'' (Rounder) * 2004: ''The Best Durn Ride'' (Chateau) * 2009: ''Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out'' ( Rural Rhythm) * 2011: ''Prime Tyme'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2013: ''Timeless Hits From the Past Bluegrassed'' (

Cracker Barrel Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., doing business as simply Cracker Barrel, is an American chain of restaurant and gift stores with a Southern country theme. The company was founded by Dan Evins in 1969. Its first store was in Lebanon, ...

) * 2015: ''It's About Tyme'' (Break A String)

With John Cowan

* 2006: ''New Tattoo'' (Pinecastle)

Also appears on

* 1995: various artists - ''Bluegrass '95'' (Pinecastle) * 1996: various artists - ''Bluegrass '96'' (Pinecastle) * 1996: Beth and April Stevens - ''Sisters'' (Rounder) * 1996: various artists - ''Bluegrass '97'' (Pinecastle) * 1998: Mark Newton - ''Living a Dream'' (Rebel) * 1998: Suzanne Thomas - ''Dear Friends & Gentle Hearts'' (Rounder) * 1998: various artists - ''Bluegrass '98'' (Pinecastle) * 1999: Jeff Autry - ''Foothills'' (Pinecastle) * 1999: Chris Jones - ''Follow Your Heart'' (Rebel) * 1999: various artists - ''Bluegrass '99'' (Pinecastle) * 2000:

- ''Millennia'' (Pinecastle) * 2000: various artists - ''Bluegrass 2000'' (Pinecastle) * 2001: Scott Anderson - ''Rivers'' (Mato Music) * 2001: Mike Burns - ''Walk the Water's Edge'' (North Co) * 2001: Sally Jones - ''Love Hurts'' (self-released) * 2001:

Randy Kohrs Randy Kohrs is an American multi-instrumentalist best known for his resonator guitar prowess, but he plays 13 instruments. He is also a Grammy-winning producer and recording engineer. Biography Early years Kohrs was raised on a farm near the rur ...

- ''Crack in My Armour'' (Junction) * 2001: Ramona Church Taylor - ''Carolina Memories'' (Pinecastle) * 2001: various artists - ''Bluegrass 2001'' (Pinecastle) * 2002: Kristin Scott Benson - ''Straight Paths'' (Pinecastle) * 2002:

Jim Hurst Jim Hurst is an American bluegrass and country guitarist. He is known primarily as an instrumentalist but has also been credited for vocals with numerous other artists as well as his solo career. Hurst has performed with musicians that include ...

- ''Second Son'' (Pinecastle) * 2002: Chris Jones - ''Few Words'' (Rebel) * 2004: Becky Buller - ''Little Bird'' (Bell Buckle) * 2007:

Larry Cordle Larry Cordle (born November 16, 1948) is an American country and bluegrass singer-songwriter . Cordle is most famous for his song "Murder on Music Row", which was recorded by George Strait and Alan Jackson and received the Country Music Asso ...

and Lonesome Standard Time - ''Took Down and Put Up'' ( Lonesome Day) * 2007: Tom T Hall - ''Sings Dixie & Tom T.'' (Blue Circle) * 2007: Donna Hughes - ''Gaining Wisdom'' (Rounder) * 2009: Kristin Scott Benson - ''Second Season'' (Pinecastle) * 2012: Robert Hale - ''Pure & Simple'' (Pinecastle) * 2013:

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album '' Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of '' Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and '' Stardust'' (1 ...

- '' To All the Girls...'' ( Legacy) * 2013: various artists - ''Roanoke: The Music of Bill Monroe'' (Pinecastle) - track 1, "Louisville Breakdown" * 2014: Dave Adkins - ''Nothing to Lose'' ( Mountain Fever) * 2014: Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time - ''All-Star Duets'' (MightyCord)

Music instruction

* 2004: ''Wayne Benson - A Mandolin Anthology'' DVD (Acutab)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Benson, Wayne 1969 births People from Charlotte, North Carolina Bluegrass musicians from North Carolina American mandolinists American bluegrass mandolinists Living people People from Boiling Springs, South Carolina Country musicians from North Carolina Country musicians from South Carolina