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Artist Description | Balsam Range
Based in Haywood County, North Carolina, Balsam Range consists of five men native to this region “where the Smokies meet the Blue Ridge.”
Bluegrass says a lot of what this band is about, but equally important are the aspects of Gospel and Country Music. All the fellows in the band grew up in the rich musical heritage of the Appalachian South, surrounded by culture and heritage steeped in traditions of The Grand Ole Opry… as well as the important influences of the Scotch-Irish settlers of the Southern Mountains, English ballads, Western songs… and tunes written by the band members themselves.
Marc Pruett
Marc Pruett played banjo on five albums with Ricky Skaggs (including Ricky’s first record in 1974 and the Grammy® winning “Bluegrass Rules"). His solid three finger roll has been featured with acoustic artists like Rhonda Vincent, James Monroe, Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, Peter Rowan, Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Bryan Sutton, Emmy Lou Harris, Everett Lilly, Billy Edd Wheeler, John R. Bowman, Tim Surrett, Adam Steffey, Buddy Melton, Darren Nicholson and a host of bluegrass friends. For a dozen years, his music was used as the featured theme for the square dances in the highly acclaimed Native American drama… Unto These Hills. Marc Pruett was featured in the definitive banjo publication, Masters Of The Five String Banjo. Marc is an accomplished entertainer, and he will lend his power-pickin’ to a show, as well as calling a square dance… he says, “Entertainment is ALL!”
Caleb Smith
Caleb Smith was born and has spent all his life in Haywood County. Coming from a musical family, Caleb began playing music at the age of 7. In 2002, he was influential in starting the bluegrass gospel band Harvest. With Harvest, Caleb traveled all over the eastern U.S. performing at many different venues with artists such as Doyle Lawson, Larry Sparks, Paul Williams, and many more. In the spring of 2006, Caleb was nominated through Power Grass Music Awards for male vocalist of the year and guitar player of the year of which he won both titles. Caleb, also being a song writer, has had 3 songs to make the Singing News charts. The latest making it to #48. Caleb feels very blessed of God to have had such a great musical life this far and is looking foward to seeing lots of great things happen with Balsam Range.
Darren Nicholson
Darren Nicholson is a musician based in Western North Carolina. He is a recipient of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Album of the Year award, and has appeared countless times on WSM’s Grand Ole Opry and at the Ryman Auditorium. For three years he toured with Rounder recording artist Alecia Nugent as a full time member of her band. He has shared the stage was such greats as Merle Haggard, George Jones, Marty Stuart, Doyle Lawson, Jon Randall, Raymond Fairchild, Rhonda Vincent, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Sam Bush, and Vince Gill. He has toured with Audie Blaylock and Redline, Hazel Creek, and the Crowe Brothers, and has performed around the world.
Tim Surrett
Tim Surrett was born and raised in Canton, NC. With music being a big part of Tim’s life and seeing the power of music as a ministry, Tim climbed on a bus right out of high school and began a musical career that would bless him with many opportunities. Tim has played on several of the most prestigious stages in the music business like the Grand Ole Opry, Carnegie Hall and the Ryman Auditorium. Tim has also had the honor of playing and recording with some of the most talented people in the music industry such as Tony Rice, Adam Steffey, Ralph Stanley, Larry Sparks, Don Rigsby, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, The Kingsmen Quartet and more. Among these opportunities, Tim has also been honoured with many awards such as the Singing News Fan Awards Favorite Musician of the Year.
Buddy Melton
Like his band-mates, Buddy also grew up in Haywood County. From an early age, Buddy enjoyed music; but, it wasn’t until college at Western Carolina University that he buckled down and “got serious” about bluegrass music. Buddy has been very fortunate in the musical opportunities given to him. He played regionally with the gospel bluegrass group Rock Springs Reunion which landed a song in the top ten gospel bluegrass charts. After leaving RSR, he settled into a Nashville based band, Jubal Foster, which played the Southeastern United States. Buddy has recorded and shared the stage with many artists such as Sam Bush, Rhonda Vincent, Porter Wagner, Jon Randall and more. Recently, Buddy released his first solo bluegrass project which features Tony Rice, Adam Steffey, and bandmates Tim Surrett and Marc Pruett.
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