Raymond McLain
Raymond McLain is a Kentucky-born multi-instrumentalist and tenor singer who came up in the family band The McLain Family Band, served as a U.S. State Department musical ambassador with more than 230 orchestral appearances, and built the first U.S. university major in traditional music as director of ETSU's Bluegrass, Old-Time and Country Music Studies Program (2000–).
- Born Raymond Winslow McLain in 1953; charter member of The McLain Family Band, formed in 1968 with father Raymond K. McLain and sisters Ruth and Alice.
- High tenor vocalist who plays clawhammer banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and guitar; took most lead breaks in the family band's early years.
- Won a Bluegrass Music Award in 1972; performed as a U.S. State Department musical ambassador with more than 230 orchestral appearances.
- Performed with Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys in the 1990s, with more than 1,000 Grand Ole Opry appearances.
- Released solo albums "A Place of My Own" (1992) and "Kentucky Mountain Banjo" (1995).
- Co-founded The McLains with brother Michael and sister-in-law Jennifer in 1997.
- Director of the Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies Program at East Tennessee State University starting in 2000 (built first U.S. university major in traditional music).
- Became executive director of the Kentucky Center for Traditional Music at Morehead State University in 2010; retired in 2022 to return to performing with the McLain Family Band.