Alan Bibey

Musician · b. 1964 · Walnut Cove, North Carolina · alanbibey.com · Also a recording artist
Best known for Mandolin

Alan Bibey is a North Carolina-born mandolinist and bandleader whose career spans IIIrd Tyme Out, Lou Reid & Carolina, BlueRidge, and the long-running Grasstowne — one of the most decorated contemporary mandolin players in bluegrass.

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  • Born Alan Daniel Bibey on August 24, 1964; raised in Walnut Cove, North Carolina, in a family of bluegrass musicians.
  • Started mandolin at age 5 after his father took him to see Bill Monroe; won the World's Fair mandolin championship at age 17 in Knoxville, 1982.
  • Founding member of IIIrd Tyme Out in 1990 with Russell Moore, Mike Hartgrove, Ray Deaton, and Terry Baucom; left after three years and three albums.
  • Played with Lou Reid & Carolina in the mid-1990s, then was a member of BlueRidge (Grammy-nominated for "Side By Side," 2003).
  • Co-founded Grasstowne in 2006 with Steve Gulley and Phil Leadbetter; now leads Alan Bibey & Grasstowne and handles much of the lead vocal.
  • Plays a 1923 Lloyd Loar-signed Gibson F-5; Gibson released an Alan Bibey signature mandolin in 2004.
  • Multi-time SPBGMA Mandolin Performer of the Year and IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year (2019 and 2020).
  • Records at his own Maggie's Crib studio in Surfside Beach, South Carolina; album credits include IBMA Instrumental Album of the Year (2001), IBMA Album of the Year (2006), and IBMA Gospel Recording of the Year (2020).

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