B A N D   B I O G R A P H Y S

 

  
Karl Shiflett grew up in Texas with a love for “Acoustic Country” music of all styles. He began playing guitar and singing at the age of nine. His musical influences include Buck Owens, Porter Waggoner, Bob Wills, Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs along with a multitude of others. He began his professional career as a sideman in the 1980’s and has been a bandleader since 1993. Karl is currently playing a custom made Huss & Dalton guitar.

Kris Shiflett, Karl’s son was born and raised in Texas. He joined the band as bass player in the spring of 1996 at the age of 16. His musical taste covers a broad spectrum including everything from Rock & Roll to Classic Country. He sites his Dad and early band members Jake Jenkins and Macy Graham as influence for his bass playing style. He currently plays a 1950 model M Kay bass.

Preston Schmidt, originally from Mandan, North Dakota joined the group on fiddle in mid-February 2008.  Preston recently finished up his last semester at ETSU in Johnson City, Tennessee. It was during his time there he was introduced to the band by former fiddler “Brandon Godman”. Preston is a welcome addition. He has been playing fiddle since the age of three and notes his influences as Ron Stewart, Paul Warren, Hunter Berry, Aubrey Haney and Stuart Duncan. Preston has plans to make his home near Murfreesboro Tennessee while continuing to further his education in the music industry.

Jessie Baker, from Martinsville, Indiana, the youngest member of the band,  started with KSBC in February of 2007 at the age of 16 on 5 string banjo, guitar and harmony vocals. In June of 2007 he switched to  “Monroe style” mandolin  and spent 5 months on this instrument with the band. He has since returned to the banjo position after a short stint with “The Wildwood Valley Boys”.  His musical influences of course include Flatt & Scruggs as well as Bill Monroe, Reno & Smiley and Jim & Jessie.
 Jessie and his brother Taylor still perform occasionally as “The Baker Boys”. They have a new CD recently released entitled “Lonesome Weary Heart”.
 Jessie is currently playing a  “Neat” banjo.

David Long originally from the Pittsburg, PA area joined the group in May of 2008 playing mandolin and singing tenor.  David previously worked with KSBC for a short stint in 2003. He began playing mandolin in 1996 and since that time has worked and recorded with many of the great names in bluegrass music including Mike Compton, Hazel Dickens, The Wildwood Valley Boys as well as solo projects he has recorded on his own. One of these being on David Grisman’s Acoustic Disc Label.
 David currently makes his home in Nashville, Tennessee. He plays a Gilchrist mandolin.