Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver formed in 1979 as a bluegrass ensemble capable of both gospel and secular material, led by a veteran of the Country Gentlemen, the progressive bluegrass pioneers. Because Lawson himself is a devout Christian, the group’s output has leaned more heavily toward gospel repertoire. Although personnel has shifted repeatedly through the decades, Lawson remains the sole constant and has wryly described the band as a “farm team” for professional bluegrass.
Born April 20, 1944, in Ford Town, TN, near Kingsport, Lawson absorbed early influence from bluegrass originator Bill Monroe and resolved at a young age to pursue that style. Additional impetus came from his local church, where his father, mother, and sister performed a cappella gospel. He took up the mandolin while still young; a teenage encounter with Jimmy Martin persuaded him that music could become a livelihood. Demonstrating commitment and broadening his skills, he subsequently mastered banjo and guitar. In 1963 he began playing banjo with Martin and later contributed guitar and mandolin to J.D. Crowe’s band. Lawson entered the Country Gentlemen in 1971 and stayed until 1979, at which point he chose to establish an ensemble reflecting his personal vision. That April he set the groundwork for the unit that evolved into Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. For many years the group has also served as host of its namesake festival in Denton, NC.
