The Johnson Mountain Boys

During the 1980s the Johnson Mountain Boys stood among the leading practitioners of traditional bluegrass, honoring its classic forms yet sustaining freshness and originality in their material. Founded in the Washington, D.C., suburbs by vocalist/banjoist/guitarist Dudley Connell, banjoist Richie Underwood, mandolinist David McLaughlin, fiddler Eddie Stubbs, and bassist Larry Robbins, the group experienced numerous personnel shifts yet preserved a uniform sonic identity. Their first recording, a single issued in late 1978, was followed by an EP that cultivated a devoted regional following around the capital. After the self-titled debut album, the band emerged as a regular attraction at festivals. The 1982 release Walls of Time showcased Connell, McLaughlin, Stubbs, and vocalist/banjoist Tom Adams; that same configuration went on to cut four additional Rounder albums in the early years of the decade. Robbins exited in 1986, succeeded by Marshall Wilborn, and Underwood departed shortly afterward, with mandolinist Adams stepping into his official role. In 1988 the Johnson Mountain Boys declared their intention to disband following a farewell performance in Lucketts, VA. Two years later they reassembled for a pair of festival appearances, whose strong reception prompted a more permanent reformation. Blue Diamond appeared in 1993 and was succeeded by a live recording; by the time Working Close arrived in 1997, Underwood had rejoined the lineup.