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Born Apr 20, 1944 in
Kingsport, TN. Doyle Lawson was considered one of the premiere
bluegrass mandolin players by his peers; his bluegrass-gospel
band Quicksilver was equally respected. Lawson was born in
Kingsport, Tennessee and became interested in bluegrass when
he was five. During his youth, he listened to such greats as
the Stanley Brothers, Flatt & Scruggs and Bill Monroe. It was
the latter who inspired young Lawson to learn the mandolin. He
borrowed his first one at age 11 from a member of his father’s
gospel quartet, and eventually taught himself the five-string
banjo and guitar as well.
In 1963, Lawson began playing
banjo with Martin’s Sunny Mountain Boys. Seven months later,
he moved to Louisville to play with different groups. He
became a part-time guitarist with J.D. Crowe in 1966 and
eventually joined his Kentucky Mountain Boys as a mandolin
player. Lawson made his recording debut with Red Allen and
bassist Bobby Slone on Bluegrass Holiday and subsequently
recorded two albums with Crowe.
In 1971, Lawson joined the
Country Gentlemen and toured Japan with them the following
year. He remained with the band for several years and recorded
ten albums with them. Lawson also recorded an album of
mandolin instrumentals, “Tennessee Dream,” in 1977; the album
also featured Crowe, Jerry Douglas and Kenny Baker.
In 1979, he put his band
Quicksilver together with banjo player Terry Baucom, guitarist
Jimmy Haley, and electric bass player Lou Reid. In 1980,
Quicksilver released its self-titled debut album and followed
it up with “Rock My Soul.” In 1981, “Quicksilver Rides Again,”
featuring Douglas, Mike Auldridge and Sam Bush, came out. They
also released a gospel album, “Heavenly Treasures,” which
proved an even bigger seller. Quicksilver’s next album
appeared in 1985 and featured both bluegrass and gospel tunes.
In 1986, Lawson recorded “Beyond the Shadows” with new players
Scott Vestal on banjo, Curtis Vestal on electric bass and
Russell Moore on guitar. In 1987, Lawson and the band released
an a cappella gospel album, “Heaven’s Joy Awaits.” Between
1987 and 1991, Lawson and Quicksilver, which continually
changed personnel, released seven more albums. Lawson
continued to perform and record throughout the decade,
resurfacing in 2000 with “Just Over in Heaven.”
Sandra Brennan
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