Alan Daniel Bibey[2] (born August 24, 1964) is a mandolinist, singer, songwriter, and band leader in the bluegrass tradition.

Alan Bibey
Born (1964-08-24) August 24, 1964 (age 59)
Walnut Cove, North Carolina
GenresBluegrass music
Occupation(s)Musician
Instruments1923 Lloyd Loar Gibson F-5 mandolin (signed by Loar on the same date as Bill Monroe's)[1]
Years active1982–present
LabelsSugar Hill Records
Websitealanbibey.com

Biography edit

Early years edit

Bibey was raised in Walnut Cove, North Carolina. His dad and his mother's brothers were bluegrass musicians, and Bibey's love of bluegrass music was sparked when at age five his dad took him to see Bill Monroe in Walkertown. Bibey immediately took up the mandolin.[3]

Bibey played at fiddler’s conventions and contests and in two bluegrass bands with his dad. When Bibey was age 12, he and his dad recorded the album Southern Tradition. He then joined the band Interstate Exchange at age 14, which consisted of Barry Berrier (guitar), Mitch Freeman (bass), and Sammy Shelor (banjo). Bibey won the mandolin championship in 1982 at the World’s Fair in Knoxville at the age of 17. In 1983, Bibey played with Wes Golding & Sure-Fire.[4]

The New Quicksilver edit

Bibey started playing music full-time in 1985 in The New Quicksilver with Terry Baucom, Randy Graham, and Jimmy Haley.[5]

IIIrd Tyme Out edit

1990, Bibey was a founding member of IIIrd Tyme Out, along with Russell Moore (guitar), Mike Hartgrove (fiddle), Ray Deaton (bass), and Terry Baucom (banjo). Bibey left three years and three albums later, and was replaced by Lou Reid and then Wayne Benson.[6]

Lou Reid and Carolina edit

Bibey played for a time with Lou Reid and Carolina, and participated in the recording of their self-titled album in 1996.

BlueRidge edit

In 1997 New Quicksilver reformed as Baucom, Bibey, and BlueRidge. They recorded the album Come Along With Me with Ed Biggerstaff (bass), Dewey Brown (fiddle), and Junior Sisk (vocals, guitar).[7]

Grasstowne edit

In 2006, Bibey left BlueRidge to form Grasstowne with Steve Gulley and Phil Leadbetter.[8] The current lineup includes Bibey, Gena Britt (banjo), Tony Watt (guitar), Zak McLamb (bass), and Laura Orshaw (fiddle).[9][10]

Recording projects edit

2002, released the solo album In the Blue Room featuring Terry Baucom, Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Kenny Smith, Sammy Shelor, and Del McCoury.[11]

In 2013, Bibey and Wayne Benson released Mandolin Chronicles, an album of mandolin duets. Guests included Wyatt Rice, Barry Bales, Ron Stewart, Russell Moore, and Ronnie Bowman.[12][13]

Other projects edit

In the early 1990s, Bibey was based out of Myrtle Beach, SC[14] and was a part of the original cast of the country music variety show "Southern Country Nights."[1]

In 1996, Bibey participated in the Young Mando Monsters project with Ronnie McCoury, Adam Steffey, Radim Zenkl, Emory Lester, Wayne Benson, Dan Tyminski, and Ray Legere.[15]

Gibson produced an Alan Bibey signature mandolin in 2004.[3]

Awards edit

In 2001, Bibey won the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Instrumental Recording of the Year and the Recorded Event of the Year awards.[16]

Bibey was nominated in 2003 for a bluegrass album Grammy for the album Side By Side by his band BlueRidge.[17]

In 2007, 2009, 2010 & 2018 Alan was voted Mandolin Player Of The Year by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America organization in Nashville, TN.[3]

Discography edit

Solo albums edit

Alan Bibey and Wayne Benson edit

  • 2013: The Mandolin Chronicles (Pinecastle)[19]

With The New Quicksilver edit

  • 1986: Ready For The Times (Cross Current) reissued as Baucom, Bibey, Graham, and Haley

With IIIrd Tyme Out edit

  • 1991: IIIrd Tyme Out (Rebel)
  • 1992: Puttin' New Roots Down (Rebel)

With Lou Reid and Carolina edit

  • 1996: Lou Reid & Carolina (Rebel)

With Baucom, Bibey, Graham and Haley edit

  • 1998: Baucom, Bibey, Graham & Haley (Rebel)

With BlueRidge edit

  • 1999: Common Ground (Sugar Hill)
  • 2002: Come Along with Me (Sugar Hill) as Baucom, Bibey & BlueRidge[20]
  • 2004: Side by Side (Sugar Hill)
  • 2006: Gettin' Ready (Pinecastle)

With Grasstowne edit

Also appears on edit

  • 1983: Larry Richardson - Ship Of Zion (LifeLine)
  • 1998: Ronnie Bowman - The Man I'm Tryin to Be (Sugar Hill)
  • 2000: Mark Newton - Follow Me Back to the Fold (Rebel)
  • 2000: Herschel Sizemore - My Style (Hay Holler)
  • 2000: various artists - Knee Deep in Bluegrass: The AcuTab Sessions (Rebel)
  • 2004: John Lawless - Five & Dime (Copper Creek)
  • 2007: Dwight Mccall - Never Say Never Again (Rural Rhythm)
  • 2008: various artists - Hornography (Left of Center)
  • 2012: Carrie Hassler - Distance (Rural Rhythm)
  • 2014: Steve Gulley - Family, Friends & Fellowship (Rural Rhythm)
  • 2014: Phil Leadbetter - The Next Move (Pinecastle)
  • 2016: Stuart Wyrick - East Tennessee Sunrise (Rural Rhythm)
  • 2017: Wilson Banjo Co. - Spirits in the Hills (Bonfire)
  • 2018: Mike Bentley - "All I've Got" (Union House Records)

Music Instruction edit

  • 1998: AcuTab Transcriptions, Vol. 1 (Acutab) ISBN 978-0786636020
  • 2000: Mel Bay Presents 2000 Mandolin: Featuring Solos by the World's Finest Mandolinists book (Mel Bay) ISBN 978-0786652921 contributor
  • 2004: Alan Bibey - Master Mandolinist DVD (Acutab)
  • 2016: Master Anthology of Mandolin Solos, Volume 1 book, online video (Mel Bay) ISBN 978-0786693733 contributor

References edit

  1. ^ a b "CGOW: Alan Bibey". Mandozine. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  2. ^ "COLD DARK GROUND". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c George White (December 5, 2012). "Alan Bibey tells all". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  4. ^ Steve Kaufman. "Alan Bibey". Flatpik Central. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  5. ^ Wilson-Giarratano, PhD, Gail (2015). Carolina Bluegrass: A High Lonesome History. History Press. ISBN 9781467118248. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  6. ^ Juli Thanki (December 1, 2012). "Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out". Bluegrass Unlimited. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  7. ^ Daniel Nestlerode. "Come Along with Me - Baucom, Bibey, and BlueRidge". Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  8. ^ John Lawless (December 1, 2006). "Alan Bibey and "the new band"". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  9. ^ "Wilson Pickins Welcomes Alan Bibey & Grasstowne to Roster". Cybergrass. November 14, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  10. ^ Anna Chandler (August 24, 2016). "Alan Bibey & Grasstowne @Randy's Pickin' Parlor". Connect Savannah. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  11. ^ Allen Price. "In The Blue Room: Alan Bibey". Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  12. ^ "Duet Album From Alan Bibey and Wayne Benson Coming Soon". Prescription Bluegrass. September 19, 2011. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  13. ^ "Alan Bibey and Wayne Benson Create "The Mandolin Chronicles"". Cybergrass. February 9, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  14. ^ John N. Grigsby (February 13, 1994). "Goin' Country: New Music Centers Add A Wrinkle To Myrtle Beach". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  15. ^ David Duckman (May 30, 1996). "Various artists: The Young Mando Monsters". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  16. ^ "Recipient History". IBMA. Archived from the original on 2018-01-03. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  17. ^ Greg McGrath (February 8, 2013). "Alan Bibey and Wayne Benson's The Mandolin Chronicles". Australian Bluegrass. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  18. ^ Chet Williamson. "Alan Bibey, In the Blue Room". Rambles. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  19. ^ Dan Harr (March 12, 2013). "Alan Bibey and Wayne Benson's "The Mandolin Chronicles" Available Now". Nashville Music News. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  20. ^ Chet Williamson (July 13, 2002). "Baucom, Bibey & BlueRidge, Come Along With Me". Rambles. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  21. ^ "Grasstowne - The Other Side of Towne". Bluegrass Unlimited. February 1, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2017.

External links edit