Discography
Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band Photo Gallery
Biography
Awards
Band Member Bios
2008 Performance Schedule
Booking
Links

• Bill Emerson & The Sweet Dixie Band
• The Best of Emerson & Waldron
• Home of the Red Fox
• Emerson & Newton
• Banjo Man
• Gold Plated Banjo
• Bill Emerson Reunion
• Appaloosa
• WEBCO Classics Volume One

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Beginning in 1957, Bill Emerson established himself as a banjo virtuoso and history maker alike! A founding member of the famed bluegrass ensemble "The Country Gentlemen", billed as a featured artist while with "Jimmy Martin" during the very height of that bluegrass legend's career, the very man who introduced the now classic "Fox on the Run" to bluegrass, founder and shaper of "Country Current" the world renowned bluegrass ensemble of the United States Navy Band, to be sure; Bill Emerson has made an impact in the world of bluegrass and acoustic music. Called "a banjo legend" by the "Washington Post", twice awarded "Banjo player of the Year" by the Muleskinner News Bluegrass Magazine, credited with giving start to the careers of both dobro legends Mike Auldridge and Jerry Douglas, credited by Ricky Skaggs as being responsible for his post Ralph Stanley musical career, Bill Emerson was also inducted into the "Virginia Folk Music Association" Hall of Fame in 1984 and June 10th was proclaimed "Bill Emerson Day" by the governor.

In 2000 Bill was inducted into the SPBGMA Preservation Hall of Greats during ceremonies at the 26th Annual Bluegrass Music Awards Show in Nashville Tennessee. In 2006 he was inducted into The Washington Area Music Awards (Wammies) Hall of Fame.

Here’s a sampling of the past two decades: along with songwriting master Pete Goble; Bill released two extremely well received hit albums as "Emerson & Goble" on "WEBCO Records of Virginia" in 1985 and 1988 compilation of these and was re-released on the CD format as WEBCO Classics Volume One in 1995. Along with guitar master Tony Rice, Bill has released two very highly acclaimed instrumental albums on "REBEL Records" in 1988 and 1991. Bill has also recorded extensively on projects with Tony Rice and the Rice brothers over the last few years as well as producing recordings for artists such as Larry Stephenson, Jimmy Gaudreau, and Bill's latest protégé, Wayne Taylor. Paying homage to Bill's tremendous banjo prowess, "Stelling Banjo Works, Ltd." issued a signature series of the "Bill Emerson Red Fox" model in 1990, as well as a "Bill Emerson" Line of banjo gear. In August 1992, "WEBCO Records of Virginia" released Bill Emerson's "Reunion" album. "Reunion" is a collection of new recordings featuring some of the legendary lead-singers and guitar players Bill has worked with over the years, including Jimmy Martin, Charlie Waller, Red Allen, and Tony Rice, among others. "Reunion" has garnered best album final nominee awards from both the "International Bluegrass Music Association" and the "National Association of Independent Record Distributors". At the 2007 IBMA annual awards show in Nashville Tennessee Bill was awarded for his part in the recorded event of the year and instrumental album of the year.

Bill’s latest project and first as a band leader was released by Rebel Records on October 9, 2007. The CD "Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band" includes Wayne Taylor, Con Burch, Joe Wheatley, Pat White, and ten all star guests.

Awards

2008 Honorary life member of the IBMA Museum and included in IBMA's Pioneers of Bluegrass group
2007 final Grammy nominee – double banjo bluegrass spectacular
2007 Winner IBMA "Recorded Event of the Year" - Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular
2006 - Inducted into the Washington Area Music Association Hall of Fame
2000 - Inducted into the SPBGMA Preservation Hall of Greats in Nashville Tennessee
1995 Final Nominee IBMA "Album of the Year" - "Emerson & Taylor"
1995 Final Nominee IBMA "Song of the Year" - "Appaloosa"
1993 Final Nominee IBMA "Recorded Event of the Year" - "Reunion"
1993 Final Nominee IBMA "Bluegrass Album of the Year" - "Reunion"
1991 Final Nominee IBMA "Banjo Player of the Year"
1990 Final Nominee IBMA "Instrumental Recording of the Year" - "Gold Plated Banjo"
1984 - Special achievement award from the Virginia Folk Music Association
1984 - Inducted into to the Virginia Folk Music Association's Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame
1984 - June 10 officially declared as Bill Emerson Day by the Governor of Virginia
1972 and 73 Awarded best banjo player at the 2 nd and 3 rd Annual Muleskinner News Awards, Camp springs North Carolina
1959 - National champion banjo player awarded at the National Championship Country Contest in Warrenton Virginia

The Sweet Dixie Band
	Wayne Taylor - Wayne was born in Catawba County, North Carolina. He began playing guitar and singing at age nine and was playing in bands when he was eleven. He recently retired from the U.S. Navy where he was the leader of their world famous country/bluegrass unit, Country Current. Bill Emerson was also the leader of that unit and they performed together for a decade before Bill’s retirement. In 1993, Wayne and Bill recorded their classic album “Appaloosa” and Wayne has since had several highly acclaimed CD releases of his own. He is an exceptional vocalist/guitar player and an original member of the Sweet Dixie Band.
	Con Burch - Con was born in Rockbridge Baths, Virginia. She started singing in church as a young girl and later became the church choir director and organist. She attended Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia and studied vocal performance. She became a section leader, secretary and tour director of the college choir. Con brings a wealth of talent and professionalism to the Sweet Dixie Band. She is a world class vocalist, writer and arranger capable of singing any style of music. Con is an original member of the Sweet Dixie Band and wrote our CD’s title song “Sweet Dixie Girl.”
	Wayne Lanham - Wayne is originally from Manassas, Virginia and lives in the Shenandoah Valley. He started singing and playing mandolin as a teen and has since developed his own clean, fluid style of picking. He is also a fine fiddle player. An outstanding singer, writer and arranger, Wayne is able to sing all the harmony and lead vocal parts equally well. He performed and recorded with several top bluegrass artists before joining the Sweet Dixie Band.
	Teri Chism - Teri was born in Morocco while her father was stationed there with the U.S. Navy. She now lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She started singing and playing guitar at an early age and came to bluegrass music in the 70s. Teri performed and recorded with several top bluegrass groups before coming to the Sweet Dixie Band. She is a superior bassist and exceptional lead and harmony vocalist.

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Discography

• Bill Emerson & The Sweet Dixie Band
• Emerson & Newton
• The Best of Emerson & Waldron
• Banjo Man
• Home of the Red Fox
• Gold Plated Banjo
• Bill Emerson Reunion
• Appaloosa
• WEBCO Classics Volume One

Bill Emerson & The Sweet Dixie Band

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1. Ridin' My Thumb To Mexico Sound Bite
2. Hills Of Roane County
3. A Little Rain Sound Bite
4. Fiddler's Green
5. Yard Sale
6. Beautiful
7. Linda Lou Sound Bite
8. Maybe Someday
9. Cold Sheets Of Rain
10. Keep On The Sunny Side Of Life
11. All My Ramblin' Days Are Through
12. There's No Room Inside Your Heart
13. Sweet Dixie Girl
14. All The Best
15. Three Day Beard And A Rusty Jeep

A Foot In The Past
A Foot In The Future

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1. Home run man
2. Long gone baby
3. The vow
4. Wastin' time
5. Monrosine
6. Opening day
7. Don't cry to me
8. Just a stone's throw away
9. The singer
10. Wheels
11. Little Bessie
12. Headin' west

The Best of Emerson & Waldron

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1. Early morning rain
2. I'm bound to ride
3. There's no room in my heart for the blues
4. Fox on the run
5. Spanish grass
6. A lonesome night
7. Deep river
8. If I were a carpenter
9. Shiloh
10. Little Maggie
11. Our Darlin's gone
12. Wheels
13. Proud Mary
14. I know you're married
15. You didn't say goodbye
16. Who will sing for me

Home of the Red Fox

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1. Home of the Red Fox 269k
2. Old Times in Virginia
3. Appalachian
4. Stonewall Country
5. Cowboys and Indians
6. Theme Time 221k
7. Sweet Dixie
8. Down to the Wire
9. Welcome to New York
10. Trail Dust

Banjo Man

1. My Little Home In West Virginia
2. Rawhide
3. The Grey Ghost
4. Nellie Grey
5. Randy Lynn Rag 217k
6. Good To Go
7. Curly Maple
8. Soft Winds Of Oklahoma
9. Pick Your Own
10. You Can Run But You Can't Hide
11. Little France
12. Bill Cheatham 260k
13. Flint Hill Special

Gold Plated Banjo

Bill Emerson has Gold Plated Banjo on the Rebel Records label. You will enjoy Bill Emerson on banjo (of course), Tony Rice on guitar, Jimmy Gaudreau and Larry Stephenson on mandolin, Rickie Simpkins on fiddle, Mark Schatz on bass and open back banjo, and Ronnie Simpkins on bass.

1. Ridin' the High Iron
2. Black Mountain Rag
3. New Camptown Races 230k
4. Silver Bell
5. Ridin the High Iron 241k
6. True Blue
7. Reynard in the Canebrakes 241k
8. Earl's Breakdown
9. Home Sweet Home
10. Jump Cricket Jump
11. Choking the Strings
12. Knights of the Golden Horseshoe

Bill Emerson Reunion

"Lead singer-guitar players and banjo players are the heart and soul of bluegrass music, and that's what this album is all about. As I grew up listening to the great pioneer guitar-banjo duos, their music inspired me to learn the banjo and become a professional." - Bill Emerson

1. We'll Meet Again Sweetheart - Tony Rice
2. The Gunfighter's Lament - Pete Goble
3. My Smokey Mountain Home - Wayne Taylor
4. On Whiskey Mountain - Bill Harrell
5. The Last Song - Jimmy Martin
6. Don't Wake Me - Red Allen
7. Teach Your Children - Charlie Waller
8. It Takes One to Know One - Jimmy Martin
9. When We Look on His Face - Cliff Waldron
10. High Lonesome - Charlie Waller
11. I Don't Know Why - Red Allen
12. Old Salty Dog Blues - Tony Rice 208k

Appaloosa

1. Appaloosa
2. Do You Still Love Me
3. Tex-Mex Shindig
4. We Used To Have It Made
5. Some Things I Hope I Ain't
6. Español 248k
7. Too Many Tears
8. Song For L.R.
9. The Old Lonesome Road Blues
10. Storm Cloud 212k
11. On This Rainy Day
12. Lonesome Pine Breakdown
13. Rose

WEBCO Classics Volume One

1. Country Life Looks Better (To Me Now)
2. Tennessee 1949
3. Back to Hancock County
4. Dixie In My Eye 267k
5. The Old Man And The Kid
6. Many Hills Of Time
7. I'm Only A Phone Call Away
8. Blue Virginia Blues
9. Leavin' You and Mobile (Too)
10. Colleen Malone
11. You Can Keep Your Nine Pound Hammer
12. Julianne
13. Back To Sugar Hill
14. My Kentucky Dream

Links

Janet Davis Music

Stelling Banjo Works