Lynwood Lunsford honored in Danville

Lynwood Lunsford accepts a flag flown over the US Capitol during the 2016 Bright Leaf Brew Fest in Danville, VA - photo by Matt Bell/Danville Register & BeeThis past Saturday, during the 9th Annual Bright Leaf Brew Fest in Danville, VA, bluegrass veteran Lynwood Lunsford was recognized for his lifetime commitment to our music. Each year, someone from this area of south central Virginia is feted during the festival. Last year’s included a tribute to native son, Tony Rice.

Lunsford has been active as a professional banjo player most of his life. He worked for a time with the great Jimmy Martin, as well as lengthy stints with popular Virginia groups Lost & Found and Big Country Bluegrass. He has recently launched his own group, The Molly Rose Band, who perform regularly in the VA/NC/KY region. They were also featured as entertainers at the 2016 Brew Fest.

You may also have seen Lynwood  as a regular performer on the RFD TV program, The Cumberland Highlanders, with Campbell Mercer.

Danville Councilman James Buchanan awarded a Certificate of Recognition from Mayor John R. Gilthrop to Lynwood. Renowned bluegrass promoter Milton Harkey then presented him with an American flag that had been flown over the US Capitol building at the request of Rep. Robert Hurt, who represents Virginia’s 5th District in the US House of Representatives.

The text of his certificate reads:

Whereas Lynwood Lunsford was brought up in a family of musicians who mostly played country and western music, and

Whereas Lynwood’s father and cousins formed a bluegrass band in the early ’70s and that was his first introduction to bluegrass and he loved it and he especially liked the sound of the banjo, and

Whereas after much trial and error, Lynwood learned to play the banjo as well as the guitar, and

Whereas Lynwood has experienced much success and recognition as he has traveled over the United States, Canada, and Mexico playing both the banjo and guitar, and

Whereas Lynwood had the privilege of playing on The Grand Ol Opry with Jimmy Martin for several years and has been a member of the Lost & Found, The Misty Mountain Boys, Cumberland Highlanders, and the Molly Rose Band, and

Whereas Lynwood can be seen on The Cumberland Highlanders Show each Saturday night on RFD TV.

Now Therefore, I, John R. Gilthrop, Mayor of the City of Danville, Virginia, do hereby recognize Lynwood Lunsford on his musical accomplishments and wish him continued success in the future.

Congratulations to Lynwood for this distinction, and thanks for your many years of service in bluegrass music!

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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.