Rich In Tradition
Jay Adams, Mickey Galyean, Jordon Blevins,
Greg Jones & Brad Hiatt
Rich In Tradition from the Galax, Virginia - Mt Airy, North Carolina area came to be in the spring of 2006. A product of one of the most fertile grounds of traditional bluegrass, gospel and old-time music in the world; the Mt. Airy - Galax areas of Northwest North Carolina and Southwest Virginia, these guys cut their musical teeth playing with some of the music's best that the area had to offer. Rich in Tradition combines a century of rich bluegrass and gospel music experience to make available some of the best picking and singing around.
From pure gospel, to traditional and contemporary bluegrass, to their own original songs, Rich in Tradition covers the bases with precision picking, great harmonies and a professional presentation. Band members include: Jay Adams on banjo and vocals; Mickey Galyean, guitar and vocals; Brad Hiatt, acoustic bass and vocals; Greg Jones, mandolin & vocals; & Tim Martin on fiddle.
From Pine Hall, NC, Jay Adams’ first influences in bluegrass music were Flatt & Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Reno & Smiley, all the pioneers of the music. After high school, Jay enlisted in the US Marines and used his enlistment bonus on his first Gibson (an RB-250) that he still uses today. He has played music part time with many groups; The Country Aires, Bill Stanley, The Easter Bros., Cornerstone, Blue Steele, Greenhouse River Boys, The Adams Bros., Master's Five and others.
Mickey Galyean was born in Lowgap, N.C. on the N.C. and VA border. Mickey started playing music when he was thirteen-years old. His father and well-known bluegrass musician, Cullen Galyean, gave Mickey an old Gibson F-4 mandolin, and Mickey switched to bluegrass and has never looked back. Mickey and his dad went on to put together a band called “Cullen Galyean and the Bluegrassers”. This band stayed together for two years and released two self-produced recordings but the band was put on hold because of Cullen’s on going health problems. That’s when Greg Jones, the mandolin player for the “Bluegrassers”, asked Mickey to help Jay Adams, Timmy Martin, and himself put a band together. This band become Rich-in-Tradition and they took 1st place in four out of five fiddler’s conventions that they entered in their first year, including 1st place bluegrass band at the Galax Fiddlers Convention. Mickey plays guitar and sings lead, tenor, and high baritone.
Brad Hiatt from Ararat, VA began playing the banjo at the age nine. At ten-years old, he was fortunate enough to play on stage with Grandpa Jones. Brad has played with several bands in the past, like “The Marshall Brothers”, “Spur of the Moment” and Cullen Galyean and The Bluegrassers, where he honed his skills playing bass and singing lead, tenor and baritone.
Greg Jones was born in the heart of the bluegrass and old time haven, Mt. Airy, N.C. Growing up with a family of musicians and singers made it a lot easier to get the pickin’ bug so at fifteen he picked up the mandolin Playing early on with several groups including, “The Cana River Boys”, “Backyard Bluegrass”, and “Boarderline”, Greg went on to play with more established bands such as “Piedmont Grass”, and the early versions of “The James King Band”. In 1994, he joined the bluegrass gospel group “Cornerstone” and in May, 2000, “The Bluegrass Tradition Band”. On July 3, 2003, Greg was asked to perform with Johnny Cash at the Carter Fold in Hiltons, VA; Mr. Cash needed a baritone singer and Greg was it. This performance happened just two months before Johnny’s death. What an honor it was of Greg to take in that great moment. In 2004, Greg joined legendary songwriter and banjo player Cullen Galyean and his band “The Bluegrassers”. Their playing was always hot, but the singing was smokin’ hot. Greg and Mickey took turns with lead and tenor, while Cullen nailed the baritone every time.
BAND CONTACT INFORMATION
Mickey Galyean
8604 West Pine St.
Low Gap, NC 27024
(336)325-8823
galyean@surry.net
www.richintraditionbluegrass.com
