The Gentlemen of Bluegrass provide traditional bluegrass sound similar to bands like The Country Gentlemen and Seldom Scene. The Gentlemen put on a highly entertaining show which includes Hobo Joe, a character from “down by the tracks,” who makes his appearance by terrifying the Gents and delighting the audience with his imitations of Willie, John, Hank, Lester, and many other country greats. Their upcoming project, “Carolina Memories” will be released in 2014. Key tracks from the album include, “A Tribute to John Duffy,” “This Morning at Nine,” and “Carolina Memories.”
Band Members:
Danny Stanley’s lead resonant voice continues to amaze audiences as few lead singers can. He handles the guitar and mandolin chores for the band and writes many of the songs he sings. His ability to change into the comical character of “Hobo Joe” keep fans in stitches. His dead-on imitations of several well-known artists such as Lester Flatt, Mac Wiseman, Jim Reaves, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and even Elvis Presley are always a treat. Stanley toured several years with his family, The Stanleys, before becoming a founding member of his most recent group of 13 years, Carolina Sonshine. He is co-founder and co-leader of The Gentlemen of Bluegrass. He is married to Mary Sharon Stanley, has four children, and eleven grandchildren. He enjoys fishing, painting portraits, spending time with his grandchildren, and songwriting.
Tom Langdon, co-founder of The Gentlemen of Bluegrass, played with several regional bands before joining the touring groups Carolina Sonshine and Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road. Although he performs the banjo, resonator guitar, and Scruggs style guitar, his early influence was mainly the guitar of Chet Atkins. At the age of 14, he got his first sight of Flatt and Scruggs as they performed on the back of a flatbed truck in his nearest town, Four Oaks, NC and was intrigued by the sound of Scruggs’ banjo. Shortly afterward, his brother-in-law, Eugene Snead, let him borrow his banjo to learn on. He sings the baritone vocals. Langdon is married to Lorraine Jordan and has a daughter, three sons, and four grandchildren. He is retired from school administration and has an earned doctorate from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Tom enjoys engineering at his West Station Studio in which many well-known bluegrass talents have recorded. He also provides sound for the Garner United Methodist Church.
Julian Rowland, also known as JC, has been playing music and singing since receiving his first guitar at the age of nine. He did not get into bluegrass music until he met Ronnie Prevette, former mandolin and tenor singer for Jimmy Martin, who showed him some chords and became a big development influence. Rowland met John Duffey and The Seldom Scene in Denton, NC in the early 80’s and has been hooked on bluegrass ever since. Rowland’s first band was a local group called Backyard Bluegrass. He then became a member of Movin On Bluegrass for ten years. He became a member of The Gentlemen of Bluegrass in January 2013. His mandolin playing and vocals reflect the style and sounds of his mentors, Prevette and Duffey. Rowland rounds out the Gentlemen’s well-known vocals and tight harmonies. He shares his faith by playing electric rhythm guitar at Lexington Community Church in Lexington, NC. Rowland grew up in Lexington, NC where he lives with his wife, Bonnie. Between them, they have two daughters, a son, and five grandchildren.
Greg Penny remembers playing music at an early age with his father. At age eleven, he accompanied his father on guitar as he sang at prisons and rest homes. Not long after he switched to playing drums for many years in various bands and churches. Later, he fell in love with bluegrass music and experimented on different instruments before settling on the bass. He has played with Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, The Kudzu Ramblers, and now with The Gentlemen of Bluegrass. His great timing and tone is the core for the rhythm of the band, He also sings lead on gospel quartet numbers. Greg is married with three children and lives in Garner, North Carolina.
Randy Smith grew up in Monroe, North Carolina. As a child, he was influenced by his Dad’s love for music. Throughout his early years there was always Flatt and Scruggs and Bill Monroe’s music playing in his home. Earl Scruggs was his main influence and motivated him to want to learn the banjo. Other influences include JD Crowe and Sonny Osborne. Smith has played with several regional bands. Other than being one of the greatest guys one would ever want to meet, he is blessed with the great ability to pick a driving banjo or give support to the band with his delicate and tasteful backup. He also sings lead and harmony parts. He is thankful that God has blessed him with the talent and opportunity to play with The Gentlemen of Bluegrass.
