Kyle Perkins has made a name for himself as a solid bass player, working with touring acts like the Kati Penn Band, David Parmley & Continental Divide, and the Larry Stephenson Band. He is also a fine banjo player, and his greatest career honor had been serving as the final bass player for J.D. Crowe & the New South, prior to Crowe’s retirement in 2012.
For Kyle, standing behind and supporting Crowe night after night was like an intensive education in all things five string.
“Getting to play with one of my banjo heroes – J.D. Crowe and the legendary New South – for 3 years was an absolute dream come true. I learned a lot about the banjo while playing bass with J.D.”
Perkins worked with American Drive throughout 2014, and has also been doing some fill-in dates with Kenny & Amanda Smith.
He is spending the first part of 2015 finishing up a solo recording project at Scott Vestal’s Digital Underground Studio outside of Nashville. With Crowe’s example and Vestal’s skill behind the board, Kyle’s banjo is liable to be well-represented.
Assisting on the album are a long list of bandmates and friends Perkins has worked or picked with over the past few years. The following have either already tracked for Kyle’s record, or are expected to do so: Dwight McCall, Adam McIntosh, Matt DeSpain, Rick and Shayne Bartley, Mike and Jeff Parker, Ronnie Bowman, Bradley Walker, Kati and Junior Williams, David Parmley, Larry Stephenson, Ron Stewart, Steve Day, Billie Renee Johnson, Harold Mosley, Kim and Randy Dalton, Tony Carlton, Wayne Craft, Kenny & Amanda Smith, and Steve Gulley.
The primary rhythm section, however, will consist of Kyle on banjo and bass, and a pair of his picking’ buddies.
“My long-time friends, Ronald and Harold Mosley, are playing guitar and mandolin on this project. These brothers are top notch musicians, and although you may not recognize their names now, just wait until you hear their abilities on this record.”
Perkins says that he chose a mix of new songs and bluegrass classics that haven’t been recorded much to showcase the fact that he’s a banjo player, even though most folks in bluegrass know him as a bass man. He’s found a few old country songs that are new to bluegrass, an old Southern Gospel number, and a few instrumentals that highlight both the bass and the banjo.
It is hoped that recording will be completed soon, with a Spring release expected for the as-yet untitled project.
