Lamar Grier
Philip Lamar Grier Jr. (1938–2019) was a bluegrass banjoist whos play with many iconic mid-century ensembles. Grier spent nearly two years touring and recording with Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys joining just prior to the first bluegrass festival in 1965. Alongside bandmates Peter Rowan, Richard Greene, and James Monroe, he was a vital part of one of the most memorable lineups in the band's history, appearing on Monroe’s first overseas tour in 1966 and the landmark album Blue Grass Time. Following his tenure as a Blue Grass Boy, Grier collaborated extensively with pioneering duo Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard on their classic recordings. In the 1970s, he joined with Mike Seeger, Dickens, and Gerrard to form the Strange Creek Singers, a progressive ensemble that bridged traditional mountain styles with contemporary roots arrangements. He later performed locally with Buzz Busby in the D.C. area before retiring from full-time music in 1984 to work for the U.S. government. His influence and legacy is carried forward by his son, the internationally acclaimed flatpicking guitar virtuoso David Grier
In the newsletter
- No. 11 Spring 1997