Blue Mafia has announced the departure of banjo player, Calib Smith, and the addition of new five slinger, Curtis Bumgarner, to the band.
Bluegrass fans will recall seeing Curtis with Adkins & Loudermilk over the past few years, and more recently working with Dave Adkins. He plays banjo on Dave’s latest, self-titled CD. Curtis is a retired firefighter who lives with his wife, Kate, in Honea Path, SC.
He joins Tony Wray on guitar, Dara Wray on mandolin, Kent Todd on fiddle, and Mike Gregory on bass.
In a statement this morning, the band says that they are delighted to bring Bumgarner on board.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Curtis Bumgarner to the band! Not only is he a fantastic person, he’s also a seasoned veteran in this industry and has so much to offer. We could not ask for a better addition to our family. Next year is shaping up to be another busy year, and we’re so happy to have Curtis along on this journey.”
With an eye on his long, grey beard, Dara says that they have taken to calling him Bluegrass Gandalf.
Curtis and Tony met while working on the Dave Adkins project. A fast friendship developed, and when Smith announced his impending departure, the call went out and Bumgarner accepted.
Blue Mafia will have a new album available December 9 from Pinecastle Records called Hanging Tree.
A debut single, Like A Mining Man, is offered to radio programmers now through Airplay Direct. It was written by Calib Smith and showcases the band’s trademark hard-hitting bluegrass sound.
Here’s a quick taste…
You can keep up with Blue Mafia on the web site or Facebook page.
