Steve Gulley & New Pinnacle

Steve GulleySteve Gulley has spent much of his life in bluegrass music, as did his father before him.

Don Gulley was in on the founding of the Pinnacle Mountain Boys in the 1950s, a group he performed with into the ’70s. He was also a featured vocalist for more than 30 years at Renfro Valley in Kentucky, and still sings today on the Cumberland Mountain Music Show in Tennessee.

In addition to passing on strong genes, his dad’s example was pivotal for the young Steve Gulley growing up. Now Don’s son is taking a major step in his musical career. After fully twenty years as a bandmate and sideman, Steve is going out on his own, and he’s taking his dad’s legacy along for the ride.

People first caught wind of Steve Gulley on a nationwide scale as a member of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver in 1994, and before long he was a founding partner with headlining act Mountain Heart. Following several successful albums, Steve left them to help start Grasstowne with Alan Bibey and Phil Leadbetter in 2006, leaving there in 2011 to work with Dale Ann Bradley, and focus on producing and recording projects in his Curve Studio in Cumberland Gap, TN.

Now he says it’s time to go for it as a solo act under his name.

Steve and Don Gulley“After all these years of making music for and with other people, I’m finally starting my own band. I’m calling the band Steve Gulley & New Pinnacle in honor of my dad’s old band, The Pinnacle Mountain Boys, and the new plateau in my musical journey. It’s kind of scary but I think it’s necessary in order to showcase my passion musically and personally.

I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve been urged by so many friends and industry folks to do thus for a long time, but never felt the time was right until now.

I’ve got some great young players lined up, and a bunch of songs already picked out for a new project. I’ll be working, as always, with my friends at Rural Rhythm Records, and will be booked by Andrea Roberts. I hope people still want to hear what I have to say musically.”

Joining Steve in New Pinnacle will be Bryan Turner on bass, Gary Robinson, Jr. on mandolin, and Matthew Cruby on banjo.

A debut album is expected early in 2015. Should be a good’n.

Share this:

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.