The Circuit Riders

Official Website
www.thecircuitriders.com

About The Circuit Riders
"The Circuit Riders. The name is quite apropos. These gentlemen, long term veterans of the national bluegrass scene, having ridden the circuit in bands at the highest level of performance, have recently joined forces to create the newest bluegrass supergroup. Their sound is fresh and original, yet decidedly bluegrass."

"They are fabulous musicians, but also unfailingly polite and well dressed; theirs is a show you'd be able to take your kids or your grandmother to. It is bluegrass played with respect for tradition, but with a modern influence that is starting to bring young people into our extended bluegrass family. The Circuit Riders... Don't miss 'em!"

Dr. Bobby Jones is a physician and freelance writer from Shelby, N.C.

Band Members
Greg Luck - guitar/vocals
Greg Corbett - banjo/vocals
Darin Aldridge - mandolin/vocals
Billy Gee - bass/vocals
Jaret Carter - dobro/vocals

Greg Luck began his musical career around the age of seven, when his father gave him a guitar for Christmas. After honing his skills by listening and playing along with recordings by Flatt & Scruggs, Bill Monroe, the Bluegrass Album Band, and other bluegrass acts, Greg began touring and playing the music that had become a part of him. He was part of such great groups as Redwing, Lost & Found, The Bass Mountain Boys, Lynn Morris Band, and The Bluegrass Cardinals. He then landed a position playing guitar and singing lead with J.D. Crowe and the New South, a position that had been previously filled by such legends as Keith Whitley and Tony Rice. While touring with J.D., Greg also became interested in the recording side of the business. He stopped touring and opened a recording studio in Mt. Gilead, N.C. For about five years, Greg ran Riverside Audio recording acts such as Lou Reid & Carolina, the Chapmans, Charlie Waller & the Country Gentlemen and IIIrd Tyme Out. In 2002, he received a phone call from IIIrd Tyme Out, offering him an audition for the fiddle player position in the band. Greg accepted the offer, and for the next three years played fiddle and lended his vocal talents to the band. Greg has also had great success with his song writing abilities. He has had cuts by such artists as The Bluegrass Cardinals, IIIrd Tyme Out, Dan Seals, and Leann Womack. For Womack he penned "The Healing Kind" which is a triple platinum seller. When he is not performing, Greg stays busy with Riverside Audio and enjoys playing golf with his family and spending time on Lake Tillery.

Greg Corbett of Troy, North Carolina, who plays banjo and sings baritone, has been playing professionally for over 20 years. He began playing banjo at age 8. There are five generations of banjo pickers in his family. So what else would you call his first album at age 11, but Fifth Generation. Greg and his father had a successful regional band which produced many well known musicians. He then went on to join a former Pinecastle recording group, New Vintage. Greg was asked by Charlie Waller at age 19 to become a member of the legendary Country Gentlemen. For 13 years as a Gentlemen, he had a very successful tenure. He has played the Grand Ole Opry along side Waller several times. He has toured Japan, England, Canada, and the U.S. extensively. Greg recently performed at the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Celebration in Washington D.C. Greg has been part of over five recording projects as a Gentlemen. Two of those projects have been awarded album of the year by the bluegrass music industry, while another has received a nomination for IBMA gospel event of the year. The Country Gentlemen's first project on Pinecastle Records, Corbett was called on to produce. He also has been nominated 10 times for banjo performer of the year, by the SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, and received this prestigious award in 1996. He is endorsed by Gibson fine musical instruments and GHS strings. When Greg is not performing, he manages an insurance agency in his hometown. Greg also has a wife, Amanda, and daughter, Kensy.

Darin Aldridge began his musical journey around the age of 12 years old. He is a native of Cherryville, NC. Darin's early influences in music were country, jazz, rock, and later on bluegrass. A stint with the band Acoustic Syndicate in the mid-nineties helped Darin supplement his bluegrass with styles he characterizes as "jazz, blues and folk rock." Darin toured the U.S. and Canada with The Country Gentleman for seven years, earning him four nominations for bluegrass mandolin player of the year in Nashville, TN. Darin recorded three projects with The Country Gentlemen, the first "Crying in the Chapel" received a IBMA nomination for gospel event of the year. The last project "Songs of the American Spirt" won the SPBGMA 2005 best bluegrass album of the year. The Country Gentlemen were asked to be part of the 2005 Presidential Inauguration in Washington D.C. Darin's current solo project, "Call it a Day" has landed with great reviews and success, with three singles already reaching high on the bluegrass and gospel charts. It was voted in the top 50 released cd's of 2004 by DJ's, fans, and Public Radio. While not on tour, Darin is also a music instructor at his home studio and at The Gaston School of Arts. Darin is also a producer, song writer, and does many recording studio sessions. Darin is endorsed by GHS strings and Gibson of Nashville. In early 2004, Darin was given a mandolin by Gibson. Darin is signed to Pinecastle Records.

Billy Gee was born and raised in La Plata, Md. He attended Appalachian State University and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He currently lives in Moravian Falls N.C. with his wife, Brenda, who is an elementary school teacher. Billy's involvement with music began in elementary school and progressed thru high school and college as a member of numerous bands. He credits his parents for encouraging him to pursue music during those years. After relocating to Wilkes County N.C., he eventually formed friendships with other musicians that would lead to becoming the bassist for Charlie Waller and the Country Gentleman. It is this experience that has prepared him for his position with The Circuit Riders. He has recorded on several album projects, the most recent of which is Darin Aldridge's "Call It A day" on Pinecastle Records. Billy recently performed at the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Celebration in Washington D.C. When not performing, Billy operates his own guitar repair business, Guitar Specialist, and is a respected warranty station for several known brands such as Martin, Taylor, and Fender. One of his many clients is the legendary Doc Watson. Billy brings broad musical experience to the bass position for The Circuit Riders and is proud to help make it be one of the most popular bands in bluegrass music.

Jaret Carter began his musical journey around age eight. He began with acoustic guitar but soon took up the electric and began playing in local groups in North Carolina. These were primarily cover bands of country/rock genres. By his twenties, his taste in music led him to studying jazz and blues by artists like Miles Davis, Robben Ford, and Ray Charles. By age 24, Jaret began playing up and down the east coast with Nashville based singer/songwriter Jonathon Birchfield. Thus began Jarets' fascination with the steel guitar. Starting with the lap steel, his primary influence and idols were David Lindley and Ry Cooder. Then came the resophonic guitar and his love for bluegrass music. Since 1996 Jaret Carter has shared stage and or studio with the likes of Bryan Sutton, Aubrey Haynie, Charlie Waller, Doyle Lawson, Vassar Clements, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Jason Burleson, Tim Stafford, Clay Jones, Jack Lawrence, and Russ Kunkel. When Jaret Carter is not playing music he teaches approximately 50 private lessons per week. Factor in the constantly growing demand for session work and two baby girls and his wife Lynne and you have one busy dobro player.