The Country Gentlemen are a bluegrass band originating in the area of Washington, DC, United States. The band started on July 4th 1957 as a replacement group for Buzz Busby’s Bayou Boys when several members of that band were injured in a car accident. The band’s original members were Charlie Waller on guitar and lead vocals, John Duffey on mandolin and tenor vocals, Bill Emerson on banjo and baritone vocals, and Larry Lahey on bass. After a few early changes, the band settled into a somewhat permanent lineup consisting of Waller, Duffey, Eddie Adcock on banjo, and Tom Gray on bass. This lineup eventually became known as the "classic" Country Gentlemen. Bluegrass has three principal meanings, the second two both deriving from the first listed. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. ... 1957 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Charlie Waller (January 19, 1935 – August 18, 2004) was the lead singer and guitarist for the legendary bluegrass United States and internationally. ... The classical guitar typically has 3 nylon and 3 nickel-wound strings. ... John Duffey (March 4th, 1934 - December 10th, 1996) was a bluegrass music innovator and musician. ... Carved and round backed mandolins (front) A mandolin is a stringed musical instrument. ... In music, a tenor is a male singer with a high voice (although not as high as a countertenor). ... The banjo is a stringed instrument, derived from the banjar, a stringed instrument of American origins, sometimes called the gourd banjo. The banjar, in turn was based on the African akonting. Some etymologists derive it from a dialectal pronunciation of bandore, though recent research suggests that it may come from... This is an article on the voice type. ... Fender Precision Bass Bass Guitar is a popular term that refers to electric and acoustic basses - stringed instruments similar in design to the guitar, but with longer scale and tuned lower in pitch. ...

Members

Several things set The Country Gentlemen apart from other bluegrass bands of the time. Charlie Waller possessed an exceptionally rich, resonant baritone voice, considered by many to be the best in the history of the genre. John Duffey had a startling vocal range, and was a truly innovative mandolin player. Eddie Adcock’s banjo playing style was completely different from his peers, combining traditional Earl Scruggs style playing with a unique single string technique. He was also a strong baritone singer. Tom Gray evolved into one of the most influential bass players in bluegrass, playing in a style that has been imitated by many since.

Over time, the band’s membership changed several times, to include such notables as Doyle Lawson, Ricky Skaggs, Bill Emerson (again), Jerry Douglas, Norman Wright, Bill Yates, and many others. Charlie Waller remained the sole original member until his death in August, 2004. After his death, his son Randy Waller continued with a reconstituted version of the band.

Material

Another defining characteristic of the band was its unique choice of material, ranging from traditional bluegrass to the popular music of the time. One of the Gentlemens' strengths was adapting music from many different genres, to their bluegrass style. Many of the band’s songs, such as "Two Little Boys", "Bringing Mary Home", "New Freedom Bell", "Matterhorn", "Fox on the Run", "Legend of the Rebel Soldier", and many others have become bluegrass standards.

Influence

The Country Gentlemen are considered by many to be the first "progressive" bluegrass band, and were the flagship band for the DC bluegrass scene for many years. Some of the immediate offshoots of the band were Emerson & Waldron, and the Seldom Scene. Their influence can be seen in almost every bluegrass band playing today.