Craver, Hicks, Watson, Newberry

Bill Hicks, fiddle
1943 - 2018

Bill, the founding fiddler of the Red Clay Ramblers, was before that a member of the Fuzzy Mountain String Band, and appears on their two Rounder LPs (reissued in 1995 as a Rounder CD). After leaving the Ramblers in 1981 he began playing music with his wife, Libby, and working as a stone mason in Chatham County,NC, where they live. Bill and Libby have a CD on the Copper Creek label, SOUTH OF NOWHERE. Bill and Libby also played for seven years in the cajun-zydeco band Unknown Tongues. Bill wrote songs and produced a live solo CD of his songs, THE PERFECT GIG, in 2002.
More on Bill Hicks: his homepage | Red Clay Ramblers 1972-1981 site

Jim Watson, mandolin

Jim currently tours with Robin and Linda Williams in Their Fine Group. Jim has released three solo CDs: DON'T TELL ME I DON'T KNOW, WILLIE'S REDEMPTION, and his latest THIS WORLD WOULD BE ALL SUNSHINE. Jim, who also performs with the Green Level Entertainers, has ushered in the Christmas season for 27 straight years with his holiday show at the Cave in Chapel Hill. In 2012, Jim released CHRISTMAS AT THE CAVE, a recording of the 2011 Christmas show. Before founding the Red Clay Ramblers (1972-1986), Jim recorded with the Hollow Rock String Band on their second LP. And Jim has recently (2015) rejoined HRSB's Alan Jabbour as well as Ken Perlman to record YOU CAN'T BEAT THE CLASSICS.
More on Jim Watson: his homepage | Red Clay Ramblers 1972-1981 site

Mike Craver, piano

Mike has worked in musical theater since leaving the Red Clay Ramblers in 1986. He co-wrote the Off Broadway musicals OIL CITY SYMPHONY, and RADIO GALS. He arranged the music for SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN and the sequel SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN HOMECOMING. He's released four solo records: FISHING FOR AMOUR, WAGONER'S LAD, SHINING DOWN, and BOSH AND MOONSHINE, and also collaborated with Clyde Edgerton on a musical version of Clyde's novel LUNCH AT THE PICCADILLY and a new "story/song" CD of THE BIBLE SALESMAN. Mike's latest play is QUEEN OF THE COWTOWNS, the fifth installation of the musical and melodramatic saga following BOSH AND MOONSHINE, SARAH BERNHARDT IN TEXAS, THE BELLE OF THE WABASH, and OKLAHOMA HALE AND DAMNATION.
More on Mike Craver: his homepage | Red Clay Ramblers 1972-1981 site

Joe Newberry, banjo

Joe Newberry grew up singing the old songs he learned from his family in the Ozarks, and is also known for his powerful and innovative banjo playing. In addition to playing with Jim, Mike and Bill, he plays and sings with Big Medicine and others. His solo CD TWO HANDS has received glowing notices from reviewers and fans alike. Joe's song "Singing As We Rise" was a winner of IBMA Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year at the 2012 IBMA awards. And in 2013, Joe's "They Called It Music," cowritten with Eric Gibson, won Song of the Year.
More on Joe Newberry: his homepage | Banjo Hangout