Neon Records Artists Profile

Dave Evans was born in Portsmouth, Ohio (Scioto, Ohio) and has been an avid lover of Bluegrass Music since the age of eight. When asked to tell a little about himself in his own words, the following is what he had to say:

"One of the first memories I have is when my mother, Bessie Evans, purchased an old Silvertone 5-string banjo which was a Christmas gift for my father, Bill Evans. Shortly after Christmas, I found myself seated on the floor of our home at the time in Columbus, Ohio. I was listening to my father play the first banjer licks I would hear. "

This is the highlight of my career. --Bob Dylan

The fact that Bob Dylan, whose career has been marked by "highlights" that most artists can only dream of attaining, feels this way about singing with Ralph Stanley gives you an idea of the importance and the influence that Stanley holds in the world of music. From his humble musical beginning in 1946, as one-half of the now legendary Stanley Brothers, through his latest project, Clinch Mountain Country, Stanley has influenced countless artists in their musical direction.

Deep in an Eastern Kentucky Hollow, Dwight Whitley was born into one of the area's most musical families. As a toddler, he would sit for hours listening to his maternal grandfather play the banjo and sing his favorite mountain songs. It was as if they became a part of nature itself as Grandpa Ferguson's melodies emulated the poignant mountain sounds. Some of Dwight's fondest memories are those times spent with Grandma and Grandpa Ferguson.