Description

On January 15, 2016 after the announcement of Ben Eldridge's retirement from the band, RICKIE SIMPKINS became the newest member of the Seldom Scene. Rickie started his musical career with "The Heights of Grass" and then continued professionally with groups like; "The Virginia Squires", "Tony Rice Unit", And then on to "Emmylou Harris' The Red Dirt Boys". Rickie is one of the most powerful multi instrumentalists on the planet. Rickie plays Banjo and Fiddle and sings with the Seldom Scene. DUDLEY CONNELLplays a masterful guitar and provides powerful lead vocals for The Scene, which has a reputation for challenging the bounds of Bluegrass; and Connell's musical virtuosity has pushed the group beyond these bounds. Audiences delight in Connell's renditions of traditional songs like "Old Train", folk ballads such as "Blue Diamond Mine", and blues songs like "Rollin' and Tumblin'". Connell is a former member of The Johnson Mountain Boys. Playing dobro for The Scene is one of the most respected dobro players on the bluegrass circuit today,FRED TRAVERS. He is also an accomplished vocalist who brings solid lead and harmony to The Scene. Travers is a former member of the Gary Ferguson Band and the Paul Adkins Band. Fred is beloved for his tender vocals on Seldom Scene favorite's Walk Through This World With Me, and From This Moment On. RONNIE SIMPKINSplays rock-steady bass for the group and provides the bass vocals in The Scene's quartets as well. Simpkins has been performing Bluegrass music since childhood and is a former member of The Tony Rice Unit. LOU REID, who plays mandolin for The Scene and provides the tenor vocals, is also a former member of Ricky Skaggs Band, Quicksilver, and he currently fronts his own group Carolina. On lead, or when providing harmony, Reid's vocals are the epitome of the powerful, "high, lonesome" tenor that is the signature of Bluegrass music.