The Leipers Fork Bluegrass Group consist of five musicians that comprise of a five string banjo, mandolin,  rhythm guitar, acoustic upright bass, and fiddle.  

  A great endeavor and emphasis are endowed to the four part harmony created by the group. Whether it be a good ole foot stomping hand clapping or gospel bluegrass song the group strives to perform and enlighten a song with some of the best picking and harmonies that can be heard today. An uncommon mix of talent is driven by the unforeseen years of musical experience the group encompasses.

  Leipers Fork Bluegrass released their first all Gospel CD entitled Rough Side of the Mountain in 2007 and the second CD entitled My Ole Susabell was released March of 2008 and the third and fourth CDs entitled Sign of the Times and Rise and Walk were released in April of 2010.  

  In August, 2009 and 2010 the Group was nominated for the Crown Jewel Award as one of the Top Five Acoustic/Bluegrass Performers of the USAGEM Association in Nashville, Tennesse. Award winners to be announced November 2010.  April of 2010 the group became members of the International Bluegrass Members Association---IBMA and SPBGMA.

  August 23, 2010 LEIPERS FORK BLUEGRASS signed on with the EVIE HAWKINS PUBLISTS, PR, BOOKING AGENCY in Nashville, Tennessee. The agency will be promoting the group along with booking venues.

  September 08, 2010 the group signed with THE HOMELAND ENTERTAINMENT GROUP and the recording label "MONTEAGLE" in Gallatin, Tennessee. In the near future a DVD and CD project will be released thru HOMELAND ENTERTAINMENT GROUP along with tours and gospel cruise for the year of 2011.  

  September 29, 2010 LEIPERS FORK BLUEGRASS will be presenting a Showcase at World of Bluegrass sponsored by the IBMA located at the Convention Center downtown Nashville, TN at 6:00PM in room 108. Invited will be Record Labels, Promoters, Artists Management, Media, Venue Sponsors, etc.

  August, 2010 an original song "The Farmer Song" from the groups latest CD "Sign of the Times" was chosen to be aired at the SIX FLAGS THEME PARKS through out the USA and CANADA that will reach over 25 million folks.

  The group has music aired thru radio and internet not only in the USA but CANADA, UK, France and Austraila.

  The year of 2009 Leipers Fork Bluegrass performed 153 Traditional Bluegrass and Gospel Bluegrass Shows and 2010 has flourished with many new venues has surfaced for the group. 2011 is busting at the seems with the group performing many new festivals in Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Branson Missouri and a Cruise scheduled for November 2011.

Location:

Columbia and Franklin Tennessee

Bluegrass/Bluegrass Gospel

2005

Festivals, Community Events, Colleges, Churches, Private Parties, Fraternity Functions, Corporate Functions, Banquets, Studio Sessions, Radio, Television, Reunions.

  Banjo-Chris (Fireball) Whidby

  Acoustic Bass-Lance (Spike) Work-Baritone/Lead Vocals

  Lead Guitar, Dobro-Jeff (Paw Paw) Belcher-Bass/Lead Vocals

  Mandolin-Buddy Jones-Tenor/Lead Vocals, Spokesman

  Fiddle-Zeke Dawson-Vocals

  Members of: IBMA, SPBGMA, and USAGEM

  On July 2 of 2005 two men became acquainted at a Bluegrass Festival held in Leipers Fork Tennessee. These two men had several things in common; a love for the Lord and Bluegrass Music. Each shared with the other how they would like to participate and organize a good ole Traditional Bluegrass/Bluegrass Gospel Group. Both Jim Gordon and Buddy Jones began a new friendship that neither anticipated what was to transpire within the next several months.

  After numerous conversations Jim and Buddy discussed names of people that each perceived as being a good candidate who shared the commitment, character, love for God, family and a deep compassion for music that was needed for a group of this nature.

  A few months expired and Jim Gordon introduced Chris Whidby (Banjo Player) to Buddy at the Annual Bluegrass Festival held at the Square in downtown Franklin Tennessee. Chris and Buddy immediately became friends and shared the same commitments. Chris learned Banjo at an early age and is one of the finest Banjo pickers that you’ll find in the music business. He is one of the most dedicated, influential, and driving Banjo pickers around and played on the road with the Fox Brothers for several years. Buddy started playing Mandolin at the age of fourteen only because he and all the other kids were playing Guitars. He wanted to play something different. Buddy has organized, performed, managed 3 different groups, owned, operated, produced, and  engineered a 32 track recording studio.

  Chris invited Buddy to fill in and play Mandolin with a group called Sugar Ridge Bluegrass that he was playing with and both continued to fill in with the group for the next few months.

  Jim is not a musician but has a love for Bluegrass/Bluegrass Gospel music that is un-for-told. Jim, Buddy and Chris (with the Lords direction) still had the desire to put together a group that maintained the values that each of them anticipated.

  Harold Gordon (Jim’s brother) was discussed in several conversations between Chris, Buddy and Jim. Harold owned a good PA and one of the finest Lead singers a Bluegrass group could endure. Harold has sung with several different gospel groups.

  Along with Harold and Jim was their older brother Thomas Gordon who played the rhythm guitar.

  This fit together like peas in a pod. God had done his job as usual. Harold and Tom were contacted and a time was scheduled for a jam/rehearsal with no commitment on any ones behalf. Harold nor Tom do not perform with the group any longer.

  Each member along with Jim felt that it would be great to organize a group and call it Shoals Branch Bluegrass. From that point the group starting rehearsing one and two nights a week. Bookings began flowing in from churches, community centers, shows, etc

  Another addition was needed for the Group to give it some bass content. Along came “Spike” Lance Work (Jim, Harold and Tom Gordon’s nephew). Leipers Fork Bluegrass had a booking and needed a Bass picker and Lance volunteered to fill in. Lance was the person that was needed to fill the void-not only as a great Bass player he added the final touch of his smooth Baritone vocals to the group. Lance is very active in his church leading song and praise service. Lance writes most of Leipers Fork Bluegrass music.

  The group continued to perform using the name of Shoals Branch Bluegrass for several months but decided to change the name to Leipers Fork Bluegrass because most of the group resided in or near Leipers Fork area and it was at the Leipers Fork Bluegrass Festival where the original inspiration of Buddy and Jim was conceived. It wasn’t long after the group changed its name Chris was tagged with the nickname of “FIRE BALL”.

  Six months later a Dobro picker was added to the group. Ralph Niamon played the Dobro in the Leipers Fork Bluegrass Group for a short stint and had to leave because of his work schedule and ministerial duties. Ralph contributed a distinct and influential sound to the group. Ralph played Lead Guitar with Faron Young for several years.

  Bruce Andrews then joined the group playing the Lead/Rhythm Guitar. Bruce had a personality and love for the music and was a great asset adding his own style of lead picking and rhythm. He later had to have hip surgery and is currently playing with Joel and LaBriska Hemphill.

  Jeff Belcher is an awesome rhythm guitar player. His talents are unforeseen. He plays the lead/rhythm guitar, Dobro, Fiddle etc. and sings Bass and Baritone with the Leipers Fork Bluegrass Group. Jeff is one of the multi-talented musicians that we all wish we could be. He played with famed Banjo Picker Hubert Davis for umpteen years!!!!!

  Zeke Dawson, the latest addition to the group brings with him the final touches of the Fiddle with a talent, professionalism and love for music that is unsurpassed. Zeke has been playing the Fiddle for years. He has graced the stage of the Grand Ole Opry for a number of years and performed and traveled with such artist as The Stoneman Family, Ray Price, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, and Wilma Lee Cooper. The list goes on and on.   

 The Leipers Fork Bluegrass Group is committed to uplifting Christ in all aspects of our lives and present a clean and wholesome program whether it is a secular Bluegrass program, a church service, a show, festival, radio, television or any other program that might come our way.

Leipers Fork Bluegrass

Buddy, Chris, Jeff, Lance, Zeke

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