Lester Armistead
Musician · 1942–2014 · Goodlettsville, TN
Lester "Lonesome" Armistead was a Tennessee-based jug player and tenor singer, a founding member of the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, and a fixture of the Nashville bluegrass and old-time community whose farm in the Luton Community outside Goodlettsville hosted regular jam sessions with leading figures of the music.
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- Founding member of the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, alongside his son Mike Armistead; the band performed on the Grand Ole Opry and was a regular guest on the Marty Stuart Show on RFD-TV.
- Played an antique jug given to him by his mentor, Bashful Brother Oswald — Roy Acuff’s longtime dobro player — and sang in a powerful tenor style modeled on Oswald’s.
- His farm in the Luton Community near Goodlettsville, Tennessee included an old country store that became a regular gathering spot for informal music sessions with many of the genre’s leading figures.
- Hosted countless visitors to Nashville’s country and bluegrass landmarks, driving them to Bill Monroe’s farm and Stringbean’s cabin many times over the years.
- Toured worldwide with the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, contributing jug, vocals, and comedy to the group’s old-time and string-band repertoire.
- Earlier in life performed in a country duet with his brother Jack Armistead.
- By trade a retired printer and farmer; his father co-owned a bait store with fiddler Howdy Forrester.
- Died of cancer May 2, 2014 in Goodlettsville at age 71.
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The David Grisman Bluegrass ExperiencePlayed on recordings with The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience
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The Sam Grisman ProjectPlayed on recordings with The Sam Grisman Project
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David GrismanPlayed on recordings with David Grisman
