Hickory Hill Bluegrass Band

Wes Perry (mandolin). John Early (guitar), Don Eaves (banjo), Bob Stegall (bass)

John Early is one of Cass County 's treasures. A gifted songwriter & musician, John was born in Jefferson , Texas on June 14, 1952. John heads the popular Texas bluegrass band - Hickory Hill . He is also a member of the Moon and the Starz - a pop/county/comedic band which includes Richard Bowden , Greg Attaway , Pat Roberson, and Joe Hamilton. John is on the Board of Directors for Music City Texas, Inc., which operates the Music City Texas Theater and is developing the MCT Texas Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

John grew up in Avinger, Cass County , Texas . However, with grandparents living in Linden , he spent his youth involved in the Linden Roundup Rodeo and going to hear the Four Speeds at the American Legion Hall. The Four Speeds influenced John and his Avinger friend, Rolan Foster, to become involved in music. John was in several local bands: The Chandeliers, Duck, Mole & Catfish , and Purple Cigar . In 1970, John entered Tyler Junior College , Tyler , Texas , along with his friend, Rolan Foster. They formed a horn band, named Ensky , and played to the college crowd. John then teamed up with Jimmy Godwin, a gifted musician from Mineola , Texas . Along with Kelly Lynn and Randy Carlile, they formed Pecos . For several years Pecos was one the region's top progressive country bands. After years of playing clubs, John moved back to Avinger in 1978 and a "steady job" with the U. S. Postal Service. In 1979, John and Rolan formed the bluegrass band, Hickory Hill .

Known for their warm personality and stage presence, Hickory Hill is presently composed of John Early (guitar), Don Eaves (banjo), Bob Stegall (bass), and Wes Perry (mandolin). Hickory Hill won third place as the Best New Band at the Bluegrass Festival of the United States in 1981, were nominated by SPBGMA as "Entertaining Bluegrass Band of the Year" in 1985, and "Contemporary Bluegrass Band of the Year" in 1986. In 1993, they were named "Band of the Year" by the Arts and Entertainment Committee of East Texas, and in 1996 were selected for a showcase performance at the International Bluegrass Music Association's annual World of Bluegrass in Owensboro , KY. Hickory Hill has been the host band for the Overton Bluegrass Music Festival since its inception in 1989, and now hosts the bi-annual (February & August) Bluegrass event at the Music City Texas Theater.

www.hickoryhillband.com