Byron Berline
Best known for
Fiddle
Byron Berline was a Kansas-born fiddler whose three National Oldtime Fiddle Championships, brief stint with Bill Monroe, co-write of "Gold Rush," and Country Gazette co-founder role made him one of the most-recorded fiddlers in country, bluegrass, and rock — the fiddle on The Rolling Stones's "Country Honk."
- Born July 6, 1944 in Caldwell, Kansas, the youngest of five children of championship old-time fiddler Luke Berline; began fiddle at age five.
- Three-time National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest Champion (1965, 1967, 1970).
- Joined Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in March 1967 (replacing Richard Greene); co-wrote the bluegrass standard "Gold Rush" with Monroe; departed in September 1967 when drafted into the U.S. Army.
- Played fiddle on The Rolling Stones's "Country Honk" from "Let It Bleed" (1969); Mick Jagger reportedly asked him to record the part outdoors for ambient feel.
- Co-founded Country Gazette in early 1972 with Alan Munde, Kenny Wertz, and Roger Bush; later led Sundance and the band California (IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year 1992–1994).
- Recorded with The Byrds, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Emmylou Harris, Elton John, Earl Scruggs, Rod Stewart, and Lucinda Williams.
- Opened the Double Stop Fiddle Shop & Music Hall in Guthrie, Oklahoma in 1995; co-founded the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival in 1996.
- Died July 10, 2021 in Oklahoma City of complications from a stroke, four days after his 77th birthday.
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Earl Scruggs and Tom T. HallPlayed on recordings with Earl Scruggs and Tom T. Hall
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Byron BerlinePlayed on recordings with Byron Berline
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Chris ThilePlayed on recordings with Chris Thile
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Country GazettePlayed on recordings with Country Gazette
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Dan CraryPlayed on recordings with Dan Crary
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Berline Crary HickmanPlayed on recording with Berline Crary Hickman
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Byron Berline, Sam Bush and Mark O'ConnorPlayed on recording with Byron Berline, Sam Bush and Mark O'Connor
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Dillard and ClarkPlayed on recording with Dillard and Clark
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Don RenoPlayed on recording with Don Reno