# List of Lonesome River Band members

The Lonesome River Band is an American bluegrass band from Meadows of Dan, Virginia. Formed in 1983, the group originally consisted of guitarist and vocalist Tim Austin, bassist and vocalist Jerry McMillan, mandolin and fiddle player Steve Thomas, and banjo player Rick Williams. Since Austin's departure in 1995, the band has featured none of its original members. The group's current lineup includes Sammy Shelor on banjo (since 1990), Mike Hartgrove on fiddle (from 2002 to 2005, and since 2008), Jesse Smathers on guitar and vocals (since 2015), Adam Miller on mandolin and vocals (since 2021), and Kameron Keller on bass (since 2021).

## History

The Lonesome River Band (LRB) was formed in mid-1983 by guitarist and vocalist Tim Austin, bassist and vocalist Jerry McMillan, mandolin and fiddler player Steve Thomas, and banjo player Rick Williams. Thomas and Williams left early on, replaced by Jeff Midkiff and Mike Jones, respectively. Allen Watkins replaced Jones for "most of 1984", before Billy Wheeler took his place in time for the recording of the band's debut album I Guess Heartaches Are in Style This Year. Just before recording began for a self-titled second album in March 1986, Rick Allred replaced Wheeler, although after just "a few weeks" he was replaced by Randy Driskill. The new lineup released The Lonesome River Band later in the year, before Midkiff left in June 1987 — he was replaced briefly by Ray Legere, followed by Adam Steffey; shortly after the latter's arrival in September, Driskill also departed, with Brian Fesler taking over in November. Fiddle on 1988's Saturday Night, Sunday Morning was performed by Steve Thomas.
During the summer of 1988, the LRB lost both Steffey and Fesler, with Dan Tyminski taking over initially on banjo before switching to mandolin. Tyminski also took over most of Austin's lead vocal duties, while Dale Perry replaced Fesler on banjo — both members debuted on 1989's Looking for Yourself. By September 1990, founding member Jerry McMillan had been replaced by Ronnie Bowman, while Perry had also made way for Sammy Shelor. The lineup of Austin, Tyminski, Bowman and Shelor was the band's first to release two albums without changing personnel — Carrying the Tradition in 1991 and Old Country Town in 1994 — although both Tyminski and Shelor spent a few months away from the band during 1992, before ultimately returning. In 1995, Austin became the last original member of LRB to leave the group, as he chose to "devote more time to working in his home recording studio, Doobie Shea". Following Austin's departure, Shelor and Bowman subsequently took over as bandleaders.
Tyminski left at the same time as Austin, with the pair replaced by guitarist Kenny Smith and mandolin player Don Rigsby for the recording of 1996's One Step Forward (Rigsby joined Bowman on lead vocals). Finding the Way and Talkin' to Myself followed in 1998 and 2000, respectively, the latter of which saw the introduction of the band's first full-time fiddle player, Rickie Simpkins. Talkin' to Myself was also the last LRB album to feature Bowman, Rigsby and Smith, all of whom left (alongside Simpkins) towards the end of 2001. The next year's Window of Time introduced new members Brandon Rickman on guitar and vocals, Jeff Parker on mandolin and vocals, Mike Hartgrove on fiddle, and Irl Hees on bass. Hees was replaced by John Wade and the band released Head On Into Heartache in 2005.
The LRB went through numerous lineup changes during late 2005. In August, Hartgrove left to rejoin Doyle Lawson's group Quicksilver; in September, Wade was replaced by Barry Berrier; and in October, Rickman left to focus on his work as a songwriter — replaced by Shannon Slaughter in January. The new lineup recorded The Road with No End that year, which also introduced Matt Leadbetter as the group's first official dobro player. LRB's lineup changed almost entirely again during 2007. In January, Parker was replaced by Andy Ball; in February, Berrier and Slaughter were replaced by Mike Anglin and a returning Brandon Rickman, respectively; and in December, the band announced the departure of Leadbetter and the return of Mike Hartgrove on fiddle. This lineup remained stable for two years, releasing No Turning Back in 2008 and Still Learning in 2010. Anglin was replaced by Barry Reed in September 2010. Ball also left in January 2011, with Randy Jones taking his place in March.
In 2012, the lineup of Rickman, Jones, Hartgrove, Shelor and Reed released a series of three extended plays titled Chronology, featuring re-recorded versions of songs from previous releases. This was followed by a new studio album, Turn on a Dime, in 2014. This was the last LRB release to feature Jones, who was replaced in June 2015 by Jesse Smathers. The new incarnation persisted for the next six years, releasing Bridging the Tradition in 2016, Mayhayley's House in 2017, Outside Looking In in 2019, and the tribute album Singing Up There: A Tribute to the Easter Brothers in 2021. In June 2021, long-time guitarist and vocalist Brandon Rickman left LRB, with Smathers taking his place on mandolin and Adam Miller joining as the band's new guitarist. The following month, Barry Reed also left the group, to be replaced by new bassist Kameron Keller. With new members Miller and Keller, the LRB released Heyday in 2022 and The Winning Hand in 2024.

## Members
### Current

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Sammy Shelor | 1990–present | banjobacking vocalsguitar and bass (early) | all Lonesome River Band (LRB) releases from Carrying the Tradition (1991) onwards |
| Mike Hartgrove | 2001–20052008–present | fiddle | all LRB releases from Window of Hope (2002) onwards, except The Road with No End (2006) |
| Jesse Smathers | 2015–present | mandolin (until 2021)guitar (since 2021)lead and backing vocals | all LRB releases from Bridging the Tradition (2016) onwards |
| Adam Miller | 2021–present | mandolinlead and backing vocals | Heyday (2022)The Winning Hand (2024) |
| Kameron Keller | 2021–present | bassbacking vocals | Heyday (2022)The Winning Hand (2024) |

### Former

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Tim Austin | 1983–1995 | guitarlead and backing vocals (lead until 1988) | all LRB releases from I Guess Heartaches Are in Style This Year (1985) to Old Country Town (1994) |
| Jerry McMillan | 1983–1990 | basslead vocals | I Guess Heartaches Are in Style This Year (1985)The Lonesome River Band (1986)Saturday Night, Sunday Morning (1988)Looking for Yourself (1989) |
| Steve Thomas | 1983 | mandolinfiddlebacking vocals | Saturday Night, Sunday Morning (1988)Carrying the Tradition (1991) |
| Rick Williams | 1983 | banjobacking vocals | none |
| Jeff Midkiff | 1983–1987 | mandolinfiddlebacking vocals | I Guess Heartaches Are in Style This Year (1985)The Lonesome River Band (1986) |
| Mike Jones | 1983–1984 | banjobacking vocals | none |
| Allen Watkins | 1984 | banjobacking vocals | none |
| Billy Wheeler | 1984–1986 | banjoguitardobrobacking vocals | I Guess Heartaches Are in Style This Year (1985) |
| Rick Allred | 1986 | banjobacking vocals | none |
| Randy Driskill | 1986–1987 | banjobacking vocals | The Lonesome River Band (1986) |
| Ray Legere | 1987 | mandolinfiddlebacking vocals | none |
| Adam Steffey | 1987–1988 | mandolinbacking vocals | Saturday Night, Sunday Morning (1988) |
| Brian Fesler | 1987–1988 | banjobacking vocals | Saturday Night, Sunday Morning (1988) |
| Dan Tyminski | 1988–1995 | mandolinguitarbasslead vocals | Looking for Yourself (1989)Carrying the Tradition (1991)Old Country Town (1994)Talkin' to Myself (2000) |
| Dale Perry | 1988–1990 | banjobacking vocals | Looking for Yourself (1989) |
| Ronnie Bowman | 1990–2001 | basslead vocals | all LRB releases from Carrying the Tradition (1991) to Talkin' to Myself (2000) |
| Don Rigsby | 1995–2001 | mandolinlead vocals | One Step Forward (1996)Finding the Way (1998)Talkin' to Myself (2000) |
| Kenny Smith | 1995–2001 | guitarbacking vocals | One Step Forward (1996)Finding the Way (1998)Talkin' to Myself (2000) |
| Rickie Simpkins | 1999–2001 | fiddlebacking vocals | Old Country Town (1994)Talkin' to Myself (2000) |
| Jeff Parker | 2001–2007 | mandolinlead vocals | Window of Time (2002)Head On Into Heartache (2005)The Road with No End (2006) |
| Brandon Rickman | 2001–20052007–2021 | guitarlead vocals | Window of Time (2002)Head On Into Heartache (2005)all LRB releases from No Turning Back (2008) to Singing Up There: A Tribute to the Easter Brothers (2021) |
| Irl Hees | 2001–2003 | bassbacking vocals | Window of Time (2002) |
| John Wade | 2003–2005 | bassbacking vocals | Head On Into Heartache (2005) |
| Barry Berrier | 2005–2007 | bassbacking vocals | The Road with No End (2006) |
| Shannon Slaughter | 2006–2007 | guitarlead vocals | The Road with No End (2006) |
| Matt Leadbetter | 2006–2007 | dobro | The Road with No End (2006) |
| Andy Ball | 2007–2011 | mandolinlead vocals | No Turning Back (2008)Still Learning (2010) |
| Mike Anglin | 2007–2010 | bassbacking vocals | No Turning Back (2008)Still Learning (2010) |
| Barry Reed | 2010–2021 | bassbacking vocals | all LRB releases from Chronology, Volume One (2012) to Singing Up There: A Tribute to the Easter Brothers (2021) |
| Randy Jones | 2011–2015 | mandolinlead vocals | Chronology, Volumes One, Two and Three (2012)Turn on a Dime (2014) |

## Lineups

| Period | Members | Releases |
| 1983 | Tim Austin — guitar, lead vocals Steve Thomas — mandolin, fiddle, backing vocals Rick Williams — banjo, backing vocals Jerry McMillan — bass, lead vocals | none |
| 1983–1984 | Tim Austin — guitar, lead vocals Jeff Midkiff — mandolin, fiddle, backing vocals Mike Jones — banjo, backing vocals Jerry McMillan — bass, lead vocals | none |
| 1984 | Tim Austin — guitar, lead vocals Jeff Midkiff — mandolin, fiddle, backing vocals Allen Watkins — banjo, backing vocals Jerry McMillan — bass, lead vocals | none |
| 1984–March 1986 | Tim Austin — guitar, lead vocals Jeff Midkiff — mandolin, fiddle, backing vocals Billy Wheeler — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Jerry McMillan — bass, lead vocals | I Guess Heartaches Are in Style This Year (1985) |
| March 1986 | Tim Austin — guitar, lead vocals Jeff Midkiff — mandolin, fiddle, backing vocals Rick Allred — banjo, backing vocals Jerry McMillan — bass, lead vocals | none |
| March 1986–June 1987 | Tim Austin — guitar, lead vocals Jeff Midkiff — mandolin, fiddle, backing vocals Randy Driskill — banjo, backing vocals Jerry McMillan — bass, lead vocals | The Lonesome River Band (1986) |
| Summer 1987 | Tim Austin — guitar, lead vocals Ray Legere — mandolin, fiddle, backing vocals Randy Driskill — banjo, backing vocals Jerry McMillan — bass, lead vocals | none |
| September 1987 | Tim Austin — guitar, lead vocals Adam Steffey — mandolin, backing vocals Randy Driskill — banjo, backing vocals Jerry McMillan — bass, lead vocals | none |
| November 1987–summer 1988 | Tim Austin — guitar, lead vocals Adam Steffey — mandolin, backing vocals Brian Fesler — banjo, backing vocals Jerry McMillan — bass, lead vocals | Saturday Night, Sunday Morning (1988) |
| Fall 1988–summer 1990 | Tim Austin — guitar, backing vocals Dan Tyminski — mandolin, lead vocals Dale Perry — banjo, backing vocals Jerry McMillan — bass, lead vocals | Looking for Yourself (1989) |
| September 1990–1995 | Tim Austin — guitar, backing vocals Dan Tyminski — mandolin, lead vocals Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Ronnie Bowman — bass, lead vocals | Carrying the Tradition (1991) Old Country Town (1994) |
| 1995–1999 | Kenny Smith — guitar, backing vocals Don Rigsby — mandolin, lead vocals Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Ronnie Bowman — bass, lead vocals | One Step Forward (1996) Finding the Way (1998) |
| 1999–2001 | Kenny Smith — guitar, backing vocals Don Rigsby — mandolin, lead vocals Rickie Simpkins — fiddle, backing vocals Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Ronnie Bowman — bass, lead vocals | Talkin' to Myself (2000) |
| 2001–2003 | Brandon Rickman — guitar, lead vocals Jeff Parker — mandolin, lead vocals Mike Hartgrove — fiddle Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Irl Hees — bass, backing vocals | Window of Time (2002) |
| 2003–August 2005 | Brandon Rickman — guitar, lead vocals Jeff Parker — mandolin, lead vocals Mike Hartgrove — fiddle Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals John Wade — bass, backing vocals | Head On Into Heartache (2005) |
| August–September 2005 | Brandon Rickman — guitar, lead vocals Jeff Parker — mandolin, lead vocals Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals John Wade — bass, backing vocals | none |
| September–October 2005 | Brandon Rickman — guitar, lead vocals Jeff Parker — mandolin, lead vocals Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Barry Berrier — bass, backing vocals | none |
| January–June 2006 | Shannon Slaughter — guitar, lead vocals Jeff Parker — mandolin, lead vocals Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Barry Berrier — bass, backing vocals | none |
| June 2006–January 2007 | Shannon Slaughter — guitar, lead vocals Jeff Parker — mandolin, lead vocals Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Barry Berrier — bass, backing vocals Matt Leadbetter — dobro | The Road with No End (2006) |
| January–February 2007 | Shannon Slaughter — guitar, lead vocals Andy Ball — mandolin, lead vocals Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Barry Berrier — bass, backing vocals Matt Leadbetter — dobro | none |
| February–December 2007 | Brandon Rickman — guitar, lead vocals Andy Ball — mandolin, lead vocals Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Mike Anglin — bass, backing vocals Matt Leadbetter — dobro | none |
| January 2008–September 2010 | Brandon Rickman — guitar, lead vocals Andy Ball — mandolin, lead vocals Mike Hartgrove — fiddle Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Mike Anglin — bass, backing vocals | No Turning Back (2008) Still Learning (2010) |
| September 2010–January 2011 | Brandon Rickman — guitar, lead vocals Andy Ball — mandolin, lead vocals Mike Hartgrove — fiddle Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Barry Reed — bass, backing vocals | none |
| March 2011–June 2015 | Brandon Rickman — guitar, lead vocals Randy Jones — mandolin, lead vocals Mike Hartgrove — fiddle Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Barry Reed — bass, backing vocals | Chronology, Volume One (2012) Chronology, Volume Two (2012) Chronology, Volume Three (2012) Turn on a Dime (2014) |
| June 2015–June 2021 | Brandon Rickman — guitar, lead vocals Jesse Smathers — mandolin, lead vocals Mike Hartgrove — fiddle Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Barry Reed — bass, backing vocals | Bridging the Tradition (2016) Mayhayley's House (2017) Outside Looking In (2019) Singing Up There (2021) |
| June–July 2021 | Jesse Smathers — guitar, lead vocals Adam Miller — mandolin, lead vocals Mike Hartgrove — fiddle Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Barry Reed — bass, backing vocals | none |
| July 2021–present | Jesse Smathers — guitar, lead vocals Adam Miller — mandolin, lead vocals Mike Hartgrove — fiddle Sammy Shelor — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Kameron Keller — bass, backing vocals | Heyday (2022) The Winning Hand (2024) |