Jared Hensley to Darrell Webb Band

Darrell Webb is continuing his ongoing relationship with the ETSU bluegrass program with his latest hire.

He has announced today that Jared Hensley is coming aboard as guitarist/vocalist, filling the shoes of Asa Gravley who is taking some time away from the road. With Jared in the band, Darrell now has three ETSU students in his band, including Chris Wade on banjo and Jake Joins on resonator guitar.

And Darrell met bassist Jeremy Arrowood while living in Johnson City, TN while his wife was attending ETSU.

Webb has no doubt that Jared will fit right in.

“Jared has filled in with us some over the summer and has done a great job. The crowd really loves him and he is just a ball of energy on stage.”

Darrell also shared this thumbnail bio of his new flattop man.

Jared Hensley started playing mandolin at age eight. He picked up guitar a couple years later and moved on to banjo afterwards. “I learned everything I know from my grandpa,” he says.

After hearing Tony Rice when Jared was 15 years old he decided to put all his focus on playing guitar. Jared started playing professionally with Alecia Nugent at age 19 and later spent a few months with Next Best Thing. In addition to traveling with Darrell Webb Band, he is a student at East Tennessee State University where he is majoring in parks and recreation management and minoring in bluegrass.

He plans to graduate in 2012 and is currently working on his first solo album.

Jared’s first official show with the Darrell Webb Band will be at Pickin’ on the Ridge on Compton Mountain near Grundy, VA on July 29.

You can find Darrell’s full schedule on his official web site or Facebook page.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.