Make:     Deeering

Model:     Golden Era  and Crossfire

email : ewelch@smokehouseband.com

Ernie Welch started playing banjo late at the age of 21 taking lessons from Joe Oser, Rual Yarbrough and Bela Fleck. His early musical influences were the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. His Bluegrass influences were the New Grass Revival, The Seldom Seen, The Country Gentleman, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, and Hot Rize. While continuing to play with the Smokehouse Band, Ernie released two singles: “Ramblin Man” and “Who Have You Got To Lose” both produced by Johnny Sandlin, the original producer of the Allman Brothers on his Duct Tape Label. These releases charted in Cashbox and Billboard magazines. With “Ramblin Man” Ernie reached the # 3 position in the country on Cashbox for an Independent Artist. On keeping a band together for 29 years, Ernie is quoted as saying “I’m not a manager but I have developed good negotiating skills”. Ernie handles some of the songwriting duties and wrote “Walking After Midnight Over You” for the “20 Years Of Feedback” CD. Endorsed by Deering Banjo’s, Ernie plays a Golden Era and Crossfire Banjo.

email : bmorris@smokehouseband.com

Bill Morris has been playing with the Smokehouse Band for over 20 years and has over 31 years of experience playing Bluegrass. As a sophomore in High School Bill started playing guitar for Leola Mills and the Keys of Bluegrass. Then Bill went on to co-found and play mandolin with the Magnolia Boys. With both of these bands Bill played many festivals and made several radio and television appearances. In 1986 Bill joined the Smokehouse Band and for 17 years handled the Mandolin and tenor duties. Strongly influenced by Jimmy Martin, Bill now provides the driving Bluegrass Guitar rhythm, lead guitar and harmonica for the band. Bill also writes music for the band and penned “Me And The Boys” and “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” for the “20 Years Of Feedback” CD. His musical influences were Jimmy Martin, John Duffey, David Grisman, John Popper and Hot Rize.

email : nbyrd@smokehouseband.com

Neal Byrd has been playing Bass with the Smokehouse band for 29 years. Moved to Bass because there were too many guitars, Neal soon became the Rock of the Smokehouse Bands foundation and is largely responsible for the Smokehouse Band’s “Unique Sound”. Neal’s early musical influences were the Marshall Tucker Band, Ozark Mountain Daredevil’s, Mac McAnally, Dan Fogelberg and Carlos Santana. Neal also drives a tour bus for Senators Coaches and has driven for the Rolling Stones, Vince Gill, Trace Atkins, Jimmy Buffett and a host of other performers. Neal plays an electric bass but also switches to his old acoustic stand up bass (Named Henry) when necessary. Neal brings his easy-going personality to the stage and is always a crowd favorite. Neal is also the only member to have never missed a show in 29 years!

email : rharmon@smokehouseband.com

Robin Harmon has played with the Smokehouse Band on and off since the beginning of the band. Robin took some time off to raise a family but continued to play mandolin for his church. Then after coming back to Bluegrass, Robin played mandolin for the Wayne Jerrolds’s Band (Former Bluegrass Boy with Bill Monroe on fiddle) and filled in some for The Willie Eubanks Band. Robin’s early influences were the Country Gentleman, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Bill Monroe and the Seldom Seen. Even though he was strongly influenced on mandolin by Sam Bush, Jessie McReynolds, and John Duffey, Robin has developed and maintained his own unique style of playing. Robin Plays a Vintage Gibson mandolin that came through Jessie McReynolds to Rual Yarbrough.