THE CHARLIE SIZEMORE BAND
L-R Matt DeSpain, Danny Barnes, Charlie Sizemore, Wayne Fields, John Pennell

Charlie Sizemore (vocals, guitar)  

Charlie Sizemore was raised on Puncheon Creek in Magoffin Country in Eastern Kentucky.  The son and grandson of banjo players, he became fascinated by the sounds of bluegrass and mountain music as a child.  His first instrument was the fiddle, which he began playing when he was six years old.  A few years later, Charlie played lead guitar for regional favorite Lum Patton before touring the eastern U.S. with the Goins Brothers Band.  He also managed to find time to focus on school and graduated early and near the top of his high school class.  At the age of sixteen Charlie joined Ralph Stanley's band as lead singer, replacing Keith Whitley.  Nine years and more than a dozen Stanley albums later, Charlie formed his own band and entered college.

The Charlie Sizemore Band toured for a dozen years and made seven critically acclaimed albums.  Over the years, he built a large following among fans and performers alike.  High esteem within the music industry is demonstrated by the numerous artists who have appeared on his records.  These guest artists include the Oak Ridge Boys, Vern Gosdin, Alison Krauss, Kathy Mattea, Tom T. Hall, J. D. Crowe and Ralph Stanley.

Along the way, Charlie carved out a formal education, graduating with honors from the University of Kentucky with a degree in political science and a minor in history.  While as undergraduate, he made the Dean's List every semester and was a finalist for the Amry Vandenbosh Award, given annually to outstanding, graduating political science major at UK.

His recordings have been best sellers  - "That's How I Got to Memphis" was a number one single - and he also appeared on the Grammy-nominated recordings "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" with his mentor Ralph Stanley and on Tim Austin's Grammy-nominated "The Stanley Brothers, Tribute to a Bluegrass Legacy."

After college Charlie moved to Nashville and wrote songs for Paul Craft Music.  Artists who have recorded his songs include Ralph Stanley, Jimmy Martin, Doyle Lawson and Del Reeves.  During this time, he also attended graduate school before going to law school, all the while continuing to tour and working for a Nashville law firm.  After graduating from law school with honors, Charlie turned down numerous job offers in favor of starting a solo law practice.

Charlie's last recording was a tribute to his long-time friend and fellow Eastern Kentuckian, Tom T. Hal.  "The Story Is...The Songs of Tom T. Hall" has received rave reviews from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine to Billboard and reached the top five in Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine's National Survey Chart.  The song "Me and Jesus" from this recording was nominated for a Dove Award. 

Currently Charlie maintains a demanding and high successful law practice, writes short stories and songs in his spare time, tours with this band, and has just signed a recording contract with Rounder Records.  His new album, Good News is set for release August 14, 2007.  Stay tuned for more updates on The Charlie Sizemore Band including their complete tour for 2008.   (click to Read Rounder press release).

Danny has lived his entire life around the world of bluegrass music.  Music has always been a big part of his life.  He  began playing in a family band as a child with his father Earl Barnes and brother Randall Barnes.   

Danny is sponsored by Gibson Acoustic Instruments and plays the Gibson F-5 Sam Bush Model mandolin on stage and in the studio.  He is now also endorsed by Black Diamond Strings.  Danny remains close to his bluegrass roots.  He still lives in the town he was born and raised in, Richmond, Kentucky.  He makes his home there with his wife Angie and their two children.

In college, Matt found himself gravitating to the pure acoustic sounds and harmonies of  Bluegrass.  After learning the guitar and banjo, Matt found a friend in longtime musical master Gene Wooten.  Matt says that through his relationship with Gene, he not only learned from the master's musical styling, but also how to remain grounded in the basic of bluegrass Dobro.  As Matt's abilities improved, he joined Bluegrass 101 in the fall of 2000.  With Bluegrass 101, Matt gleaned his first experiences not only with live stage shows, but also with studio recording.  In the spring of 2001, Matt became one of the founding members of Louisville-based "Inquire Within Band".  Here Matt found more versatility in his approach to the Dobro, and gained more experience in the recording studio.  Matt has since toured with the Dean Osborne Band and Pine Mountain Railroad.  

Matt lives in New Haven, Kentucky with his wife, Christa.  In this off time he enjoys fishing, playing music with his neighbors and teaching.  Matt plays Dobro and sings vocals for the band.  Matt uses Black Diamond Strings exclusively.

John was born and raised in east central Illinois.  He has lived in Nashville for the past nine years.  As an original member of Union Station with Alison Krauss, John composed several of her earlier songs, such as "Too Late to Cry", "Foolish Heart" and "Every Time You Goodbye."  He has also played bass professionally with Harley Allen, Chris Jones, Jimmy Bowen and Vassar Clements.  John has released a CD of original material titled "All the Lonely" and was co-writer with Harley Allen on the song "Mean and Potato Man" recorded by Alan Jackson on his "When Somebody Loves You" album.  John continues to live and write music in Nashville, TN.

Wayne Fields (banjo)  IN MEMORY

We are sorry to announce the passing of our beloved friend and band member, Wayne Fields.

Charlie Sizemore writes:
I first met Wayne over thirty years ago during his stint with The Boys From Indiana when I was a kid working with the Goins Brothers.  I still remember being a bit taken aback by how respectful he was toward me - a skinny kid from Puncheon Creek still trying to learn to pick.  He made me feel welcome and comfortable, and I was thrilled just to be able to hang out with him at festivals and shows. 

As the years went by we became friends and I continued to be amazed and inspired by his talent, never dreaming that I'd be able to work with him.

I can say with complete honesty that working in a band with Wayne is the highlight of my career, and regardless of what happens from here I don't think this will be surpassed. 

The term "greatness" is used far too casually these days.  But for me Wayne is the embodiment of that idea, both as a musician and as a person.  This is a fact: I have never known or been associated with a musician with anything approaching the combination of talent, humility, loyalty, and team spirit, and plain old-fashioned grit that Wayne Fields possessed. One would have had to be in the studio to truly understand how sick he was when we made the "Good News" CD, yet he neither complained nor asked for any special consideration. 

He was, in the words of John Pennell, "the best kept secret in bluegrass."  Beyond this and just as significant, as a band member recently noted, "he made us all better." 

I entertain no delusions of being a musician of Wayne's caliber. I can only hope to someday lay claim to being something approaching the kind of person he was.  In reality, this may be the larger hurdle.

We love you and miss you, Wayne. You'll never be replaced.

Charlie Sizemore
The Charlie Sizemore Band