The Nashville Bluegrass Band
Contemporary Bluegrass
The Nashville Bluegrass Band is one of the most respected traditional bluegrass groups of the modern era — defined by tight harmonies, a strong gospel thread, and a repertoire that mixes bluegrass standards with old-time country, blues, and Black sacred music. Formed by Alan O'Bryant and Pat Enright in 1984, the band has won six IBMA Vocal Group of the Year awards and two Grammy Awards.
- Formed in Nashville in 1984 by Alan O'Bryant (banjo, vocals) and Pat Enright (guitar, lead vocals), both veterans of the Station Inn scene. The original quartet was completed by Mike Compton on mandolin and Mark Hembree on bass; it came together almost by accident for a touring package show with Minnie Pearl.
- Debut album My Native Home (Rounder, 1985) was produced by Bela Fleck and featured Blaine Sprouse on guest fiddle; Sprouse later joined as permanent fiddler before being replaced by Stuart Duncan in 1985, who remains with the band.
- Lineup solidified in 1989: Roland White replaced Mike Compton on mandolin, Gene Libbea replaced Hembree on bass. This configuration (with Enright, O'Bryant, Duncan, White, and Libbea) recorded most of the band's best-known albums through the 1990s and 2000s.
- Won Grammy for Best Southern/Country/Bluegrass Gospel Album in 1993 (Waitin' for the Hard Times to Go) and 1995 (Unleashed).
- Signature albums include To Be His Child (1987), The Boys Are Back in Town (1990), Home of the Blues (1991), American Beauty (2007), and the retrospective Twenty Year Blues (2005).
- Became the first bluegrass band to play in China when they performed at a nine-day Beijing Sheraton event in 1986.
- Known for vocal arrangements that draw deeply from Black gospel tradition — Fairfield Four-style four-part a cappella numbers became a signature.
- Inducted into the IBMA Hall of Honor in 2018.
-
Twenty Year Blues2004 · Sugar Hill SUG-CD 3959
-
American Beauty1998 · Sugar Hill SHCD 3882
-
Unleashed1995 · Sugar Hill SHCD 3843
-
Home of the Blues1991 · Sugar Hill SH-C 3793
-
The Boys Are Back in Town1990 · Sugar Hill SH 3778
-
To Be His Child1987 · Rounder 0242
-
Idle Time1986 · Rounder 0232
-
My Native Home1985 · Capitol 57 40174
-
Alan O’BryantPlayed on recordings with The Nashville Bluegrass Band
-
Pat EnrightPlayed on recordings with The Nashville Bluegrass Band
-
Stuart DuncanPlayed on recordings with The Nashville Bluegrass Band
-
Mike ComptonPlayed on recordings with The Nashville Bluegrass Band
-
Gene LibbeaPlayed on recordings with The Nashville Bluegrass Band
-
Roland WhitePlayed on recordings with The Nashville Bluegrass Band
-
Mark HembreePlayed on recordings with The Nashville Bluegrass Band
-
Dennis CrouchPlayed on recordings with The Nashville Bluegrass Band