Masters
Hall of Honor Inductees
The Country Gentlemen
Known for expanding bluegrass music's stylistic horizons and its audience, The Country Gentlemen's. . .momentous, decades-long career began as an impromptu fill-in band for a July 4, 1957, Washington, D.C.-area engagement. Its hallmarks include distinctive material, exciting high-lead trio harmonies, dynamic musicianship and humor-laced stage shows. Periodic personnel changes occurred from the beginning, but the collaboration having the greatest impact on the genre and setting the style for all who followed is that of the 1960-64 era, often referred to retrospectively as "The Classic" Country Gentlemen: co founders Charlie Waller (guitar) and John Duffey (mandolin) with Eddie Adcock (banjo) and Tom Gray (bass). This band made many new fans for bluegrass, especially among northeastern, urban and college audiences. In later years, with other musicians and Waller as focal point and leader, The Country Gentlemen's popularity continued to expand. Perennial Country Gentlemen favorites include traditional bluegrass versions of songs from a diversity of idioms: "Little Bessie," "The Long Black Veil," "Two Little Boys," "Bringing Mary Home," "The Legend of the Rebel Soldier," "Matterhorn" and "Fox on the Run."
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