Cumberland Gap Connection


MIKE BENTLEY MIKE BENTLEY, Lead Vocalist/Guitarist, is from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, and was exposed to music and singing early on in life. He began singing at a very young age, and like many folks in the mountains, learned a lot from singing in church. Being raised in a hollow in Pike County, learning to sing and play bluegrass music seems only fitting. Mike is quick to tell anyone that his favorite singer is Keith Whitley, but he is also partial to singers such as Larry Sparks, Marty Raybon, George Jones, and so many others. His musical resume includes being a member of bands such as Dismal Pike, Allen Amburgey and the Kentucky Mountain Grass, and Ernie Thacker & Route 23, just to name a few. Mike writes a lot of original tunes and takes great pride in his songwriting, as well as his vocal and instrumental parts with the band. His songs have been recorded by some very familiar names in bluegrass, such as Grasstowne and Lou Reid and Carolina. Since beginning with Cumberland Gap Connection in late 2007, Mike has continued to help define the band's sound with his vocal work and songwriting.
ROD SMITH Banjo/Dobro player and harmony singer ROD SMITH started playing the banjo at the age of 14. Born and raised near the town of Belfry in Eastern Kentucky, he was introduced to music at an early age by one of his most important musical influences, his grandfather, Orison Smith. As well as his grandfather, Rod names Terry Baucom as his major influence from the time he began playing the banjo. He attributes his love for the dobro as being sparked by local musician, Earshel Hatfield. He has played with some reputable bands such as Dismal Pike, The Timmy Cline Band, and Bits and Pieces. Rod helped to form Bits and Pieces who, in the late 1990s, won the annual Bill Morris Band Competition help at the Mountaineer Opry House in Milton, West Virginia. He also spent time as a member of Ernie Thacker & Route 23, with whom he performed at some of the largest venues in bluegrass music, such as the IBMA Awards Showcase, Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival, and the Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival. Rod began his stint with CGC in early 2009, and remains a major contributor to the band's style.
BRYAN RUSSELL BRYAN RUSSELL, the Bass player/Vocalist with CGC, is an East Kentucky native, and grew up in Magoffin County. Bryan was a member of the local band The High Rollers, Route 1081, and also performed a stint with Tommy Webb and Online. In 2003, he joined the True Gospel Echoes and played regionally at a variety of festivals and venues including Bean Blossom, Poppy Mountain, Mountain Days, and the Mountain Arts Center. While briefly owning a recording studio, he quickly developed skills for recording, mastering, and producing albums, and worked on several projects for local artists including Mike Havens & Blue Mountain Grass and Clyde & the Ride. He names Ronnie Bowman, Russell Moore, Shawn Lane, and country artist Steven Wariner as a few of his many vocal influences. Bryan is also a very capable songwriter, and has had his material recorded on both CGC records he has been a part of. Bryan joined CGC in the summer of 2010. His high tenor and lead vocals are an integral part of theband.
ALBON CLEVENGER Having grown up in Pike County, Kentucky, Fiddle player/Harmony singer ALBON CLEVENGER became acquainted with bluegrass music at a young age. He has literally been playing for most of his life. Albon started playing at the age of 6 years old, and has been going strong for approximately 45 years. In that time, he has not only become a top-notch fiddle player, but is also proficient on Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Dobro, and Bass. In addition to filling in with some of the all-time greats like Larry Sparks and Jim & Jesse, Albon has been a member of some of the most well known bands in bluegrass and bluegrass gospel music. Some of those bands include Lost and Found, Dave Evans and River Bend, The James King Band, Wendy Miller and Country Grass, and 5 For the Gospel, who was named Traditional Group of the Year at the SPBGMA National Awards Show in 1997 and 1999. Fiddlers who have inspired him the most include Bobby Hicks, Aubrey Haney, Glen Duncan, and Vassar Clements. Overall, he names J.D. Crowe, Seldom Scene, and the Country Gentlemen as some of the bands that have most heavily influenced him. Albon joined CGC in the fall of 2011 and is a very important part of the group.
MATT HISER Mandolinist, MATT HISER, has bluegrass music running through his veins. He began playing mandolin when he was 8 years old in Fayette County, West Virginia. His major musical influences were his Dad who played the banjo, and his Mom on bass. For many years he tagged along playing in the family band "Family Heritage". Matt says that Wayne Benson, Dempsey Young and Sam Bush are the mandolin players who have influenced him most on the instrument. He also plays banjo and guitar, and enjoys working in his recording studio. In 2011, Matt was named the State Mandolin Champion of West Virginia and has been invited to provide music workshops for the West Virginia Culture Center. He has performed in the past with Sarah Scott & Lost Highway, Sarah Allison Turner and Jonathan Buckner & Chosen Road. Matt’s 20 years of experience on mandolin is evident once he starts playing, and his name is sure to be one that many bluegrass fans will become very familiar with in the future.

MIKE BENTLEY

MIKE BENTLEY, Lead Vocalist/Guitarist, is from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, and was exposed to music and singing early on in life. He began singing at a very young age, and like many folks in the mountains, learned a lot from singing in church. Being raised in a hollow in Pike County, learning to sing and play bluegrass music seems only fitting. Mike is quick to tell anyone that his favorite singer is Keith Whitley, but he is also partial to singers such as Larry Sparks, Marty Raybon, George Jones, and so many others. His musical resume includes being a member of bands such as Dismal Pike, Allen Amburgey and the Kentucky Mountain Grass, and Ernie Thacker & Route 23, just to name a few. Mike writes a lot of original tunes and takes great pride in his songwriting, as well as his vocal and instrumental parts with the band. His songs have been recorded by some very familiar names in bluegrass, such as Grasstowne and Lou Reid and Carolina. Since beginning with Cumberland Gap Connection in late 2007, Mike has continued to help define the band's sound with his vocal work and songwriting.

ROD SMITH

Banjo/Dobro player and harmony singer ROD SMITH started playing the banjo at the age of 14. Born and raised near the town of Belfry in Eastern Kentucky, he was introduced to music at an early age by one of his most important musical influences, his grandfather, Orison Smith. As well as his grandfather, Rod names Terry Baucom as his major influence from the time he began playing the banjo. He attributes his love for the dobro as being sparked by local musician, Earshel Hatfield. He has played with some reputable bands such as Dismal Pike, The Timmy Cline Band, and Bits and Pieces. Rod helped to form Bits and Pieces who, in the late 1990s, won the annual Bill Morris Band Competition help at the Mountaineer Opry House in Milton, West Virginia. He also spent time as a member of Ernie Thacker & Route 23, with whom he performed at some of the largest venues in bluegrass music, such as the IBMA Awards Showcase, Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival, and the Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival. Rod began his stint with CGC in early 2009, and remains a major contributor to the band's style.

BRYAN RUSSELL

BRYAN RUSSELL, the Bass player/Vocalist with CGC, is an East Kentucky native, and grew up in Magoffin County. Bryan was a member of the local band The High Rollers, Route 1081, and also performed a stint with Tommy Webb and Online. In 2003, he joined the True Gospel Echoes and played regionally at a variety of festivals and venues including Bean Blossom, Poppy Mountain, Mountain Days, and the Mountain Arts Center. While briefly owning a recording studio, he quickly developed skills for recording, mastering, and producing albums, and worked on several projects for local artists including Mike Havens & Blue Mountain Grass and Clyde & the Ride. He names Ronnie Bowman, Russell Moore, Shawn Lane, and country artist Steven Wariner as a few of his many vocal influences. Bryan is also a very capable songwriter, and has had his material recorded on both CGC records he has been a part of. Bryan joined CGC in the summer of 2010. His high tenor and lead vocals are an integral part of theband.

ALBON CLEVENGER

Having grown up in Pike County, Kentucky, Fiddle player/Harmony singer ALBON CLEVENGER became acquainted with bluegrass music at a young age. He has literally been playing for most of his life. Albon started playing at the age of 6 years old, and has been going strong for approximately 45 years. In that time, he has not only become a top-notch fiddle player, but is also proficient on Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Dobro, and Bass. In addition to filling in with some of the all-time greats like Larry Sparks and Jim & Jesse, Albon has been a member of some of the most well known bands in bluegrass and bluegrass gospel music. Some of those bands include Lost and Found, Dave Evans and River Bend, The James King Band, Wendy Miller and Country Grass, and 5 For the Gospel, who was named Traditional Group of the Year at the SPBGMA National Awards Show in 1997 and 1999. Fiddlers who have inspired him the most include Bobby Hicks, Aubrey Haney, Glen Duncan, and Vassar Clements. Overall, he names J.D. Crowe, Seldom Scene, and the Country Gentlemen as some of the bands that have most heavily influenced him. Albon joined CGC in the fall of 2011 and is a very important part of the group.

MATT HISER

Mandolinist, MATT HISER, has bluegrass music running through his veins. He began playing mandolin when he was 8 years old in Fayette County, West Virginia. His major musical influences were his Dad who played the banjo, and his Mom on bass. For many years he tagged along playing in the family band "Family Heritage". Matt says that Wayne Benson, Dempsey Young and Sam Bush are the mandolin players who have influenced him most on the instrument. He also plays banjo and guitar, and enjoys working in his recording studio. In 2011, Matt was named the State Mandolin Champion of West Virginia and has been invited to provide music workshops for the West Virginia Culture Center. He has performed in the past with Sarah Scott & Lost Highway, Sarah Allison Turner and Jonathan Buckner & Chosen Road. Matt’s 20 years of experience on mandolin is evident once he starts playing, and his name is sure to be one that many bluegrass fans will become very familiar with in the future.