Don McHan
Musician · b. 1933 · Bryson City, North Carolina
Best known for
Guitar
Don McHan is a North Carolina-born banjoist, mandolinist, and singer whose teenage start with Wade Mainer and Jimmy Martin led to long stints with Carl Sauceman and Jim & Jesse before he founded his own Laurel Records in Bryson City and turned increasingly to gospel material.
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- Native of Bryson City, North Carolina; born July 11, 1933.
- First professional job in 1951 as mandolinist with Wade Mainer in Winston-Salem, NC.
- Played 5-string banjo with Jimmy Martin on Cas Walker's program (WNOX, Knoxville).
- Joined Carl Sauceman's band in early 1952 in Carrollton, Alabama; Sauceman called him "a good banjo man who actually can play all instruments."
- Hired by Jim & Jesse as banjo player in April 1956; later played electric bass in their band alongside Vassar Clements and Bobby Thompson.
- Wrote and recorded "I'll Be An Angel Too" and "A White Cross Marks The Grave" for the Republic label with Sauceman.
- Founded his own Laurel Records label in Bryson City; released albums 1969–1973 including "The Country, Bluegrass And Gospel Of Don McHan" (1970) and "Country Boy Don McHan Sings The Gospel" (1973).
- Transitioned increasingly to gospel artist later in career; multitracked instruments on some recordings.