Dara Wray
Best known for
Mandolin
Dara Wray is an Indiana-born mandolinist, lead vocalist, and primary songwriter of Blue Mafia — a third-generation bluegrass musician (her grandfather Lowell Denman was a known fiddler; her father played in Alison Krauss's Union Station) who founded the Pinecastle Records group with husband Tony Wray in 2011.
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- Co-founded Blue Mafia in 2011 with husband Tony Wray; serves as mandolinist, lead vocalist, and primary songwriter.
- Daughter of Dave Denman, an early member of Alison Krauss's band Union Station.
- Granddaughter of Lowell Denman, a well-known fiddler, putting bluegrass deep in her family DNA.
- Worked as personal assistant to bluegrass/country songwriter Tom T. Hall.
- Started on mandolin at age 16 after a cousin showed her a few chords; began playing in a group called B.G. Express shortly after.
- Blue Mafia debut album "My Cold Heart" (2013) led to signing with Pinecastle Records.
- Pinecastle releases include "Pray For Rain" (2015) and "Hanging Tree."
- Blue Mafia took a touring break in 2018 when fiddler Kent Todd stepped back; band has since regrouped.
