Marshall Wilborn

Last updated
Marshall Wilborn
Born (1952-03-12) March 12, 1952 (age 70) [1]
Austin, Texas
Genres Bluegrass music
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s) Bass, vocals, banjo
Years active1982–present
Labels Pinecastle, Rounder

Marshall Wilborn is an American bluegrass music bass player and composer best known for his work with the Johnson Mountain Boys, Longview, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, and the Lynn Morris Band.

Contents

Biography

Early years

Wilborn was raised in Austin, Texas. He first played banjo, but because so many of his friends also preferred the banjo, Wilborn learned to play the bass. [2]

In 1981, Wilborn met Lynn Morris at a jam session in Austin. In 1982, when the bassist position opened in Morris's Pennsylvania band Whetstone Run, Wilborn took the job. [3] Besides Morris and Wilborn, the band included Lee Olsen (mandolin) and Mike Gorrell (guitar). Wilborn stayed with Whetstone Run until 1986. [4] [5]

In 1986, Wilborn spent several months playing in Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain Boys. [3] Then he received an invitation to join the Johnson Mountain Boys, replacing bassist Larry Robbins. [1] [6]

Lynn Morris Band

Wilborn co-founded the Lynn Morris band in 1988, and in 1989 Wilborn and Morris wed. [7] The group had to disband following Lynn Morris’ stroke in 2003. They released their first album Lynn Morris Band in 1990; Bramble and the Rose in 1992; Mama’s Hand in 1995, You’ll Never Be the Sun in 1999, and Shape of a Tear in 2003. [8] Morris suffered a stroke in 2003, effectively disbanding the group. Her recovery has been slow but steady, and she reunited with her band on stage in 2011. [9]

Root 5

In 1999, Wilborn released Root 5, an album of bass instrumentals accompanied by banjo. Wilborn played bass and banjo, and was accompanied by Morris, David McLaughlin, Tom Adams, Tony Furtado, Alan Munde, Craig Smith, Ron Stewart, Scott Vestal, and Pete Wernick. [10] Root 5 was nominated for Instrumental Recording of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). [11]

Longview

In 1994, Wilborn formed Longview with Don Rigsby (mandolin), Dudley Connell (guitar), Joe Mullins (banjo), James King (guitar), and Glen Duncan (fiddle). [2]

Seneca Rocks!

Wilborn, Dudley Connell, Tom Adams, David McLaughlin, and Sally Love Connell formed the band Seneca Rocks! in 2006. All members except Love Connell were previously members of the Johnson Mountain Boys. [12]

Flamekeeper

Wilborn joined Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper in 2007, and performed with them until 2011. [13]

Springfield Exit

Wilborn currently performs with the band Springfield Exit, which also includes vocalist Linda Lay, guitarist David Lay, David McLaughlin on mandolin, and Tom Adams on banjo. [14] Their debut album, That Was Then was released in 2015. [15]

Chris Jones & The Night Drivers

Wilborn joined Chris Jones & The Night Drivers in late 2019 and is currently playing with them.

Music instruction

Wilborn has taught the Murphy Method of instruction on DVD for Mel Bay. [16]

Awards

1998, he was voted Bass Player of the Year by Bluegrass Now Magazine’s Fan’s Choice awards. [17]

Wilborn won the IBMA award for Bass Player of the Year in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. [18]

Discography

Solo albums

With Whetstone Run

The Johnson Mountain Boys

With The Lynn Morris Band

With Longview

With Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper

With Springfield Exit

As composer

Also appears on

Music instruction

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References

  1. 1 2 Kingsbury, Paul (Feb 1, 2012). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. ISBN   9780199920839 . Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Wolff, Kurt (2000). Country Music: The Rough Guide (1 ed.). ISBN   9781858285344 . Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  3. 1 2 Hicks Henry, Murphy (May 1, 2013). Pretty Good for a Girl: Women in Bluegrass (1 ed.). ISBN   9780252095887 . Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  4. ↑ Grandjean, Pat (April 5, 1985). "Whetstone Run prides itself on bluegrass format". Pennsylviania State University Collegian. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Whetstone Run Bluegrass Group To Kick Off Arts Council Anniversary". The Morning Call. August 8, 1985. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  6. ↑ Goldsmith, Thomas (2004). The Bluegrass Reader (1 ed.). ISBN   9780252029141 . Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  7. ↑ Lawless, John (October 28, 2009). "A chat with Lynn Morris". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  8. ↑ Thompson, Richard (October 8, 2011). "On This Day #1". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  9. ↑ Wiant, Jessica (April 29, 2011). "Back onstage: Lynn Morris reuniting with band at bluegrass festival". The Northern Virginia Daily. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  10. ↑ Brad San Martin. "Marshall Wilborn: Root 5". Country Standard Time. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  11. ↑ "BMI Dominates Best of Bluegrass in IBMA Nominations". BMI. August 30, 2000. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  12. ↑ Lawless, John (June 15, 2006). "Seneca Rocks! in the studio". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  13. ↑ John Lupton (August 1, 2008). "Michael Cleveland considers "Leavin' Town"". Country Standard Time. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Springfield Exit". Bright Box Theater. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Springfield Exit - That Was Then". Bluegrass Unlimited. July 1, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  16. ↑ Shane Vahle (June 9, 2010). "Mel Bay presents: The Murphy Method – Learn Bluegrass by Ear Slap Bass DVD". Bass Frontiers. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  17. 1 2 Alex Steininger. "Marshall Wilborn: Bass & Banjo". In Music We Trust. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Recipient History". IBMA. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  19. ↑ Jerry Oland (January 3, 2009). "Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper: "Leavin' Town"". Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  20. ↑ David McGee (April 1, 2011). "There's Fired Up, Then There's Fired Up. This Is Fired Up". The Bluegrass Special. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  21. ↑ David Morris (February 18, 2015). "That Was Then – Springfield Exit". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
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