Alan O'Bryant
Musician · b. 1953 · Reidsville, North Carolina
Best known for
Banjo
Lead Vocals
Alan O'Bryant is a co-founder of the Nashville Bluegrass Band — one of the most decorated traditional-rooted bluegrass bands of the past 40 years. His banjo playing, lead vocals, and songwriting have anchored NBB since 1984, while his compositions (“Those Memories of You,” “Blue Train,” “I'll Remember You, Love, in My Prayers”) have been recorded by Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Kathy Mattea, and many others, making him one of the most successful songwriters in modern bluegrass.
- Born in Reidsville, North Carolina. Grew up in the Piedmont tradition of string-band music. Started banjo as a teenager.
- Moved to Nashville in the early 1980s. Joined the Dreadful Snakes, a loose aggregation of Nashville bluegrass players that included Bela Fleck, Mark O'Connor, Jerry Douglas, and others, through the early 1980s.
- Co-founded the Nashville Bluegrass Band in 1984 with Pat Enright (guitar, vocals), Mike Compton (mandolin), and Mark Hembree (bass). Stuart Duncan replaced Compton in 1985; Gene Libbea replaced Hembree in 1989.
- The Nashville Bluegrass Band's combination of classic bluegrass material, black gospel-quartet harmony traditions, and O'Bryant and Enright's original compositions produced one of the most distinctive band sounds of the past 40 years.
- NBB won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album for Waitin' for the Hard Times to Go (1993) and Unleashed (1995). Also won IBMA Album of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, and Instrumental Group of the Year multiple times.
- Wrote “Those Memories of You” — a major hit for Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt on their Trio album (1987), the Grammy-winning country album that brought the song to millions.
- Wrote “Blue Train” (recorded by Kathy Mattea), “New Patches” (Mel Tillis, Stevie Nicks), “My Life Is a Bluegrass Song” (Alison Krauss), and many others.
- His open G-tuned, three-finger banjo style — rooted in Scruggs and Reno but more sparing and song-supportive — has been an important influence on contemporary banjoists who prefer restraint to display.
- NBB remains active in 2025 with an updated lineup including Russell Moore (who has since joined Alison Krauss & Union Station).
- Inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 2021 (with the Nashville Bluegrass Band).
- Produced and contributed to numerous bluegrass recording projects, including collaborations with Ben Eldridge, Tony Trischka, and others.
- Continues to tour and record with NBB and maintains a songwriting catalog that continues to be recorded by country, bluegrass, and Americana artists.
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The Nashville Bluegrass BandPlayed on recordings with The Nashville Bluegrass Band
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Peter RowanPlayed on recordings with Peter Rowan
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Doc WatsonPlayed on recordings with Doc Watson
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Doc and Merle WatsonPlayed on recordings with Doc and Merle Watson
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The Bluegrass BandPlayed on recordings with The Bluegrass Band
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David GrismanPlayed on recordings with David Grisman
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The Seldom ScenePlayed on recordings with The Seldom Scene
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Peter Rowan and the Nashville Bluegrass BandPlayed on recordings with Peter Rowan and the Nashville Bluegrass Band
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Bill Monroe and James MonroePlayed on recording with Bill Monroe and James Monroe
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Blue HighwayPlayed on recording with Blue Highway
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Jim MillsPlayed on recording with Jim Mills
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John StarlingPlayed on recording with John Starling
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Pat EnrightPlayed on recording with Pat Enright
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Patty LovelessPlayed on recording with Patty Loveless
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Stuart DuncanPlayed on recording with Stuart Duncan
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The Nitty Gritty Dirt BandPlayed on recording with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band