Doyle Lawson (born April 20, 1944) is an American traditional bluegrass and Southern gospel musician. He is best known as a mandolin player, vocalist, producer, and leader of the 6-man group Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Lawson was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2012.

Early life

Doyle Lawson was born in Fordtown,

Sullivan County, Tennessee Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee on its northeast border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 158,163. Its county seat is Blountville. Sullivan County is part of the Kingsport– Johnson City&ndas ...

, the son of Leonard and Minnie Lawson. The Lawson family moved to Sneedville in 1954. Lawson grew up listening to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday nights. This is where he heard mandolinist

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 ...

, the "founding father" of bluegrass, and his band ''the Blue Grass Boys''. Lawson became interested in playing the mandolin around the age of eleven so his father borrowed a mandolin from Willis Byrd, a family friend and fellow musician. Doyle taught himself how to play the mandolin by listening to the radio and records, and watching an occasional TV show. Later Lawson learned to play the

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...

and banjo as well.

Career

Early career

In 1963, aged 18 or 19, Lawson went to Nashville to play the banjo with Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys. In 1966, he started playing with

J.D. Crowe James Dee Crowe (August 27, 1937December 24, 2021) was an American banjo player and bluegrass band leader. He first became known during his four-year stint with Jimmy Martin in the 1950s. Crowe led the bluegrass group New South from 1971 until ...

and the Kentucky Mountain Boys (later called the

New South New South, New South Democracy or New South Creed is a slogan in the history of the American South first used after the American Civil War. Reformers used it to call for a modernization of society and attitudes, to integrate more fully with the ...

) in Lexington, Kentucky. He returned to play the mandolin and sing tenor with Martin in 1969 for six months, and then played again with Crowe until August 1971. In September, 1971, Lawson started playing with The Country Gentlemen and remained part of the band for almost eight years. During that time, in 1977, he backed up U.S. Senator

Robert Byrd Robert Carlyle Byrd (born Cornelius Calvin Sale Jr.; November 20, 1917 – June 28, 2010) was an American politician and musician who served as a United States senator from West Virginia for over 51 years, from 1959 until his death in 2010. A ...

on his ''Mountain Fiddler'' album. In March 1979 when Lawson left the Country Gentlemen with the intention of forming a band and creating his own sound.

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Within a month Lawson had formed ''Doyle Lawson and Foxfire'', with Jimmy Haley on guitar, Lou Reid on bass, and

Terry Baucom Terry Baucom is an American bluegrass singer, banjo player, and band leader. He is nicknamed "The Duke of Drive" for his propelling banjo style. He leads his band, The Dukes of Drive, and was a founding member of Boone Creek, Doyle Lawson and Qu ...

on banjo. The band name was soon changed to ''Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver''. In 1981, through Sugar Hill Records, Lawson with this lineup released the critically acclaimed ''Rock My Soul'', an album that would become a landmark bluegrass gospel project. With a new bassist, Randy Graham, the band recorded a second gospel album, ''Heavenly Treasures'', also on Sugar Hill. Shortly thereafter, Graham, Baucom and Haley left to form their own band. Lawson hired guitarist Russell Moore, banjoist Scott Vestal and bassist Curtis Vestal, and continued to perform. After a time Ray Deaton took over on bass. In 1989 the band won song of the year at the

International Bluegrass Music Awards The International Bluegrass Music Awards is an award show for bluegrass music presented by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). Awards are voted based on professional membership in the IBMA. Award winners 2021 award winners Th ...

for "Little Mountain Church House". In 1997, "There's a Light Guiding Me" was a 39th Annual Grammy Award nominee for Best Southern Gospel, Country Gospel or Bluegrass Gospel Album. Through the years, Quicksilver toured regularly, performing at festivals concerts and other musical events. In 1998, Lawson and Quicksilver became the first bluegrass band to perform at the National Quartet Convention. Lawson and Quicksilver performed in Ontario, Canada at the Tottenham Bluegrass Festival in June 2001 and again in June 2015. Lawson and Quicksilver provided the background vocals to the song "Dazzling Blue" on Paul Simon's 2011 album "So Beautiful or So What". In 2015, "In Session" was nominated for Best Bluegrass Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver on stage at the 2015 Tottenham Bluegrass Festival in Ontario, Canada

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver on stage at the 2015 Tottenham Bluegrass Festival in Ontario, Canada

Lawson composed a number of the band's songs and tunes. His instrumental piece, "Rosine," is a tribute to Monroe's birthplace and features, among other things, strains from the singer's 1967 instrumental "Kentucky Mandolin". Lawson hosts the annual Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver Festival in

Denton, North Carolina Denton is a town in Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,636 at the 2010 census. Geography Denton is located in southern Davidson County at (35.632752, -80.111603). It is southeast of Lexington, the county seat. ...

. In 2021, Lawson announced his retirement as a bandleader.

Personal life

Doyle has been married to Suzanne Lawson since 1978. He has one son, two daughters and a grandchild. Doyle rededicated his life to

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

in May 1985 and is a practicing member of Cold Spring Presbyterian Church.

Band members

Original *Doyle Lawson-mandolin, vocal *Jimmy Haley-guitar, vocal (1979-1985) * Lou Reid-bass, vocal (1979-1982) *Terry Baucom-banjo, vocal (1979-1985, 2003-2007) Final *Doyle Lawson-mandolin, vocal *Eli Johnston-bass, banjo, vocal (2013-2018, 2020-2021) *Stephen Burwell-fiddle (2014-2020, 2021) *Jerry Cole-bass, guitar, vocal (2018-2021) *Matt Flake-fiddle, bass, vocal (2020-2021) *Ben James-guitar, vocal (2020-2021) Other past members *Randy Graham-bass, vocal (1982-1985) *Russell Moore-guitar, vocal (1985-1991) *Scott Vestal-banjo, vocal (1985-1988) *Curtis Vestal-bass, vocal (1985-1986) *Ray Deaton-bass, vocal (1986-1991) *Jim Mills-banjo, vocal (1988-1992) *Mike Hartgrove-fiddle (1989-1991, 2005-2007) *John Bowman-guitar, vocal (1991-1992) *Shelton Feazell-bass, vocal (1991-1993) *Shawn Lane-fiddle, guitar, vocal (1992-1994) *Jimmy Stewart-dobro, fiddle (1992-1994) *Brad Campbell-banjo, vocal (1992-1994) *John Berry-bass, vocal (1993-1994) *Barry Abernathy-banjo, vocal (1994-1998) *Dale Perry-bass, banjo, vocal (1994-2003, 2009-2011) *Steve Gulley-guitar, vocal (1994-1996) *Owen Saunders-fiddle (1994-1997) *Barry Scott-guitar, bass, vocal (1996-2005) *Jim VanCleve-fiddle (1997-1998) *Doug Bartlett-fiddle, vocal (1998-2001) *Jamie Dailey-bass, guitar, vocal (1998-2007) *Hunter Berry-fiddle (2001-2002) *Jesse Stockman-fiddle (2002-2005) *Jess Barry-fiddle (2002-2003) *Darren Beachley-bass, guitar, vocal (2005-2009) *Alan Johnson-fiddle, vocal (2007-2008) *Joey Cox-banjo (2007-2009) *Carl White-bass, drums, vocal (2007-2009, 2011-2012) *Josh Swift-dobro, vocal (2007-2020) *Brandon Godman-fiddle (2008-2009) *Jason Barie-fiddle (2009-2014) *Corey Hensley-guitar, bass, vocal (2009-2013) *Jason Leek-bass, vocal (2009-2010) *Mike Rogers-guitar, vocal (2010-2013) *Jessie Baker-banjo (2011-2012) *Joe Dean-banjo, vocal (2012-2020) *Dustin Pyrtle-guitar, vocal (2013-2018) *Jake Vanover-guitar, vocal (2018-2020)

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Awards

Lawson is a recipient of a 2006

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 ...

awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the United States government's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.

International Bluegrass Music Association

* 1990 Song of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver for "Little Mountain Church" * 1996 Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver for "There's a Light Guiding Me" * 2000 Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver for "Winding Through Life" * 2001 Vocal Group of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver * 2002 Vocal Group of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver * 2003 Vocal Group of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver * 2003 Song of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver for "Blue Train" * 2003 Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver for "Hand Made Cross" * 2004 Vocal Group of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver * 2005 Vocal Group of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver * 2005 Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver for "Praise His Name" * 2006 Vocal Group of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver * 2006 Album of the Year: Celebration of Life: Musicians Against Childhood Cancer, featuring various bluegrass bands and musicians * 2006 Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver for "He Lives in Me" * 2007 Vocal Group of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver * 2007 Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver for "He Lives in Me" * 2011 Recorded Event of the Year: Doyle Lawson,

J. D. Crowe James Dee Crowe (August 27, 1937December 24, 2021) was an American banjo player and bluegrass band leader. He first became known during his four-year stint with Jimmy Martin in the 1950s. Crowe led the bluegrass group New South from 1971 until ...

, Paul Williams for "Prayer Bells of Heaven" * 2011 Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: Doyle Lawson,

J. D. Crowe James Dee Crowe (August 27, 1937December 24, 2021) was an American banjo player and bluegrass band leader. He first became known during his four-year stint with Jimmy Martin in the 1950s. Crowe led the bluegrass group New South from 1971 until ...

, Paul Williams for "Prayer Bells of Heaven" * 2012 Hall of Fame: Doyle Lawson Profile
, ibma.org; accessed August 16, 2016.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lawson, Doyle 1944 births American bluegrass mandolinists American male singers The Country Gentlemen members Living people National Heritage Fellowship winners People from Sullivan County, Tennessee People from Hancock County, Tennessee Singers from Tennessee Southern gospel performers Bluegrass Album Band members New South (band) members