Artist Bios
Doyle Lawson
I was born on April 20, 1944 in Ford Town, a part of Sullivan
County, near Kingsport, TN, to Leonard and Minnie Lawson. I have
two brothers, James and Les, and one sister, Colleen.
As far back as I can remember, I loved the sound of music.
Just about everyone listened to The Grand Ole Opry, and our
family was no exception. Though I listened to all the stars on
the Opry, the group that impressed me most was Bill Monroe and
His Blue Grass Boys. His music was different, more intense. High
lonesome is the term we used for it. I could hardly wait for
Saturday nights to arrive so I could listen. I decided early on
that I wanted to play that kind of music.
My father, mother, and sister all sang gospel music when I
was young. They were members of trios and quartets that sang a
cappella music in churches and at revivals, and such. No doubt,
that was where I acquired my love of quartet music. My Father
passed away in 1994, but my Mother still lives in Kingsport, TN,
When I was 11 or 12 years old I expressed an interest in
learning to play the mandolin, so my Father borrowed one from
one of the members of their quartet, Willis Byrd so I could try.
I mostly taught myself to play by listening to the radio, a few
records, and watching the occasional TV show. I eventually
returned that mandolin to Mr. Byrd, and years later, he gave it
back to me at one of the first concerts Doyle Lawson &
Quicksilver played in Sneedville, TN. I still have it.
I met Jimmy Martin when I was 14 years old. He is from
Sneedville, TN where we had moved to in 1954. Around that time,
I made up my mind that I wanted to play music for a living, and
realized that only playing one instrument was somewhat limiting,
so I made it a point to learn how to play the banjo and guitar,
too. Four years later, in February 1963, I went to Nashville and
got a job playing banjo with Jimmy Martin. In 1966, I started
working with JD Crowe in Lexington, KY. I first played guitar
and later switched to mandolin. In 1969, I was back with Jimmy
Martin for about six months playing mandolin and singing tenor
but then went back with J D Crowe until August of 1971. I
started with the Country Gentlemen on September 1, 1971 and
stayed with them until March 1979. By this time, I had played in
bands for more than 10 years that had their "sound" before I
joined them. I wanted to put together a group that would have
"my sound".
To that end, in April 1979, I formed a group that I first
named Doyle Lawson & Foxfire but soon changed to Doyle Lawson &
Quicksilver. I was looking for "our sound" and that first group
tried many different types of songs. I wanted a strong quartet
like the ones my dad used to sing with. In the next few months,
Terry Baucom, Jimmy Haley, Lou Reid and I laid the foundation
for what has become the Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver sound. The
makeup of my band has changed many times in the last 27 years. I
jokingly tell folks that Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver is the "farm
team" for bluegrass. I try to integrate each member's special
talents into my group, while not sacrificing the Quicksilver
sound. While the sound changes a bit with the introduction of a
new band member, it is important to me that people hear what
they expect to hear when we take the stage, no matter who is in
the group.
Suzanne, my wife, and I were married June 24, 1978. I have
one son, Robbie, and we have two girls, Suzi and Kristi. Robbie
and his wife, Carla, live in Kentucky. Suzi graduated from King
College and works for the Daymon Corp in Meadowview, VA. Kristi
attended King College for 2 years, took some time off and had a
baby, Spencer Williams, and is trying to finish up her education
at King College. We spend much of our spare time playing with
our grandson, Spencer. I collect western memorabilia of Roy
Rogers, Gene Autry, etc. I also enjoy looking at old cars, and I
own a 1946 Ford Coupe. It has been restored from the ground up.
I've found I don't have enough time to ride around town in it
and it's For Sale.
We are all members of Cold Spring Presbyterian Church and
while Suzanne and Suzi are there almost every Sunday, I miss a
few when I'm out on the road. I love golf, and play every time I
have the opportunity. We have a Men's Bible Study on Tuesday
mornings and if I'm home, I try and make Bible Study and then
several of us play golf.
I have been hosting the Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver festival
in Denton, NC for more than twenty-five years. A few years ago
we started a golf tournament on Thursday, the week of the
festival. I'd like to be able to say we were defending our title
every year, but we aren't. (Just wishing)
The gospel music that we record and perform on stage has
always been important to me. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver have
made many more gospel recordings than secular ones. It is
apparent to me that the folks who buy our music and come to our
concerts feel, as I do, that there is no better message than the
message of Jesus Christ. On the first Sunday of May, in 1985, I
rededicated my life to our Lord Jesus. It is my fervent hope
that my "musical mission" will lead others to Him.
Visit Doyle Lawson's website at:
www.doylelawson.com
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