Mike Lilly
Best known for
Banjo
Mike Lilly was an Ohio-born banjoist who anchored Larry Sparks's early Lonesome Ramblers, co-founded Country Grass with mandolinist Wendy Miller, and remained an emblem of the second-generation Ohio bluegrass scene from the late 1960s onward.
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- Born May 24, 1950 in Dayton, Ohio; took up banjo as a young child.
- At age 11 was a featured guest on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour and at 13 was invited to play on the Grand Ole Opry.
- Joined Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers in 1969, recording the landmark Starday LP "Ramblin' Bluegrass."
- Co-founded Country Grass with mandolinist Wendy Miller in the mid-1970s, producing albums including "Solid Grass" (1973), "Country Grass" (1975), and "Hot-N-Grassy" (1976).
- Helped shape several of Larry Sparks's signature recordings during his early-1970s tenure.
- Recorded with Harley Allen in the mid-1980s.
- Reunited with Wendy Miller later in life, performing again under the Country Grass name.
- Died February 12, 2020 in Dayton, Ohio.
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Larry Sparks and the Lonesome RamblersPlayed on recordings with Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers
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Harley Allen and Mike LillyPlayed on recordings with Harley Allen and Mike Lilly
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Harley AllenPlayed on recordings with Harley Allen
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Mike Lilly and the Country GrassPlayed on recordings with Mike Lilly and the Country Grass
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Mike LillyPlayed on recording with Mike Lilly
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Wendy Miller and Mike LillyPlayed on recording with Wendy Miller and Mike Lilly
