Bio
Garrett Newton is an exceptional banjo player. Not only can he play banjo, he can talk banjo with the best. He is presently touring with Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road in their “Country Grass” tour featuring his banjo playing. Garrett fronts his own band, the Garrett Newton Band. He has played on stage with national artists such as Marty Raybon, Kenny Ingram, Ben Greene, Steve Dilling, and James King.
He is endorsed by Yates and Mitch banjo and plays the Earl Scruggs style. He has his own banjo project entitled “Young Heart, Old Soul” which includes several bluegrass standard instrumentals, and original song written by Garrett. This project is on Pinecastle Records.
Although Garrett started bluegrass at a young age, his ability of playing will let you think he is much older. He can talk about the history of bluegrass in detail with anyone. Just ask Del McCoury or Ricky Skaggs about conversation they have held back stage with Garrett Newton. They will tell you he is a young kid with the bluegrass mind of an older man.
Parks Icenhour began playing the guitar and mandolin as a young boy, providing rhythm for his dad who played the banjo. As a teenager, he drifted away from bluegrass but picked it up again while studying at East Carolina University where he met Tommy Edwards (The Bluegrass Experience) and enjoyed many impromptu picking sessions in their dormitory. In 1971, he met Glen Dyer, father of Allen Dyer, and they have been picking together as the "Brother's 'N Bluegrass" for the last 45 years. He has recorded two albums with Glen and several projects with various recording artists, including background guitar music for a museum of history documentary featuring Andy Griffith as the narrator. His preference in bluegrass is strictly traditional with Doc Watson and Norman Blake as his favorite guitarists. Parks is excited to be a part of the Garrett Newton Band and provides the bass vocals and lead guitar work for the group. Parks works as a professional engineer. He endorses GHS Strings.
Allen Dyer was born in Tennessee, but he grew up and makes his home in the Garner, North Carolina. Allen was introduced to bluegrass music at an early age by his dad who played in a local band named the "Brother’s N Bluegrass." He spent a lot of summers with his dad at bluegrass festivals around the area. Allen began playing guitar and singing at the age of twelve. He enjoys the more traditional side of bluegrass today. Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Reno and Smiley, and Larry Sparks are some his favorites. Allen is excited to be playing in a band where all the members share the same musical interests which is to play good solid traditional bluegrass music. Allen plays guitar and sings lead for Garrett Newton Band. Allen works as a professional electrician. He endorses GHS Strings and Blue Chip Picks
Affectionately known as the “Lady of Tradition” in the bluegrass community, Lorraine Jordan grew up around bluegrass music on the coast of North Carolina. She now resides in Garner, just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina. She has performed bluegrass music for over twenty years and formed Carolina Road in 2001 where she plays mandolin. Lorraine is a fan of traditional music and classic country. She plays bass in several types of bands. She has been a finalist in the IBMA Songwriting Showcase and was the 1st runner-up in the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest twice. Lorraine received the 2015 SPBGMA “Traditional Female Vocalist.” Lorraine is a co-founder for the formation of the Daughters of Bluegrass, whose "Back to the Well" and "Proud To Be A Daughter" albums won the IBMA Recorded Event in 2006 and 2009, which she recorded on and produced.
Lorraine is currently Garrett's agent and plays bass and sings tenor in the Garrett Newton Band. In her spare time, she enjoys riding her Honda motorcycle and playing with her two maltese – JD and Polly. She endorses Gibson Mandolins, GHS Strings, Colorado Cases, CT Straps, Peterson Tuners, Blue Chip Picks, and Cedar Creek Cases.
Born in 1985, Daniel was inspired to play bluegrass by hearing IIIrd Tyme Out. He spent many years listening to and absorbing the music of great mandolin players before picking up the instrument himself at the age of fifteen. His influences include his father Mike, Wayne Benson, and Bill Monroe. Once he put fingers to strings, Daniel's progress was astonishing. Just barely out of high school, he joined Constant Change in November of 2003. He soon was recruited by Honi Deaton, with whom he toured from March through October of 2004.
Daniel spent the summer of 2005 touring with Jeannette Williams before returning to play with Constant Change. In addition to his dazzling mandolin picking, Daniel is a fine lead singer and provides much of the baritone harmony in the band's trios and quartets. Daniel is employed at the Alamance County Sheriff's department. He endorses GHS Strings and Peterson Tuners.
Chris is excited to join the Garrett Newton Band after a 20-year stint with The Grass Cats, who had four #1 hits on the Bluegrass Unlimited charts. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to GNB, and looks forward to being an integral part of such a talented group. Whether it’s fiddle, vocals, tech support, or web design … he is truly the “Utility Man” of any band.
Since getting his first fiddle at the age of 7, Chris has been blessed to appear on the stage with Ralph Stanley, Mac Wiseman, The Lewis Family, Eddy Raven, Al Batten, Russell Johnson, and many more. His style is patterned after the likes of Stuart Duncan, Bobby Hicks, Ron Stewart, Mike Hargrove, among others.
Chris is a Kinston, NC native and resident, and is a proud graduate of NC State University. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife Tiffannie, and three children, Coleman, Alex, and Lily.