The GRASS CATS !!! ...........................

Chris Hill	Russell Johnson	Tim Woodall	Steven Martin	Rick Lafleur

The GRASS CATS continue to entertain audiences with their exciting live performances and critically acclaimed recordings. Their shows feature lively foot-stomping fiddle and banjo music, bluegrass classics, tight vocal harmonies, acapella gospel quartets and chart-topping original songs. Though careful never to lose their traditional bluegrass footing, the Cats also perform cleverly arranged "covers" of songs from artists as diverse as Eric Clapton, Duke Ellington and Johnny Cash.

With a total of seven CD's, their recording career has been highly acclaimed with four of their CD's landing in the Top 10 on Bluegrass Unlimited's national chart. Their latest release, A Good Way To Get The Blues, produced their second #1 hit “A Good Way To Get The Blues”. Their 2002 release, The Blues Are Back In Town, received a highlight review in Bluegrass Unlimited magazine and garnered the CATS their first #1 single, "Bluegrass Man." The CD was also named to County Sales' Top 5 Traditional Bluegrass Recording list for 2002. Their 2007 release, Home To Carolina, garnered a #2 single, “Pill Or Potion”.


	TIM WOODALL - Cary, NC bass, vocals timwoodall@grasscats.com Tim is the elder statesman of The GRASS CATS and believe me, the rest of the band takes pleasure reminding you of that fact. Having played banjo for 30 years or so, he also has interest in many other types of music. Tim has recorded pedal steel, bass, and guitar in addition to banjo as a studio musician. Another hobby since the age of 13 or 14 is radio broadcasting. He acquired his FCC License in August of 1967 and finally got a job in January of 1989 as the co-host of the Pinecone Bluegrass Show on WQDR in Raleigh, NC. Occasionally he will step out front to sing lead if there are cue cards available, but is much more comfortable singing harmony.


	STEVEN MARTIN - Burlington, NC guitar, vocals stevenmartin@grasscats.com A triple threat entertainer whenever he steps in front of a microphone, Steven Martin has years of playing and singing bluegrass to his credit. From his early days with Carolina Drive, and more recently a six year stint with the award-winning Churchmen, his richly textured country-tinged lead vocals, exceptional songwriting abilities and his "in the pocket" rock-solid rhythm guitar, have won him much recognition. An excellent songwriter, his song, "Get Onboard," from The Churchmen's' album On The Journey Home went to #1 on the Bluegrass Now Gospel Truths chart and the album was nominated for the prestigious Dove Award. With a name like "Steve Martin" you know he's got to be a "wild and crazy" guy, a perfect fit with the rest of The GRASS CATS.


	RUSSELL JOHNSON - Four Oaks, NC mandolin, vocals russelljohnson@grasscats.com Russell brings sixteen years of performing and recording experience to the band. He was the driving force of the award winning Pinecastle Recording Artist “New Vintage” from 1989 to 2000. His ”rock-solid and exquisitely high-lonesome vocals” and humorous stage presence are hard to forget. Russell’s success as a songwriter and singer is well documented with nine of his original songs reaching the Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Survey, including the #1 single “Bluegrass Man” in April and May of 2003 and "A Good Way To Get The Blues" in June 2010. He was also nominated for SPBGMA's Songwriter of the Year in 2004. Bluegrass Unlimited magazine places him in "the first ranks of contemporary bluegrass."


	RICK LAFLEUR - Durham, NC banjo, vocals ricklafleur@grasscats.com Picking a rock-solid banjo, Rick is the newest member of the Cats. He was exposed to the sounds of Flatt and Scruggs at an early age and fell in love with Earl’s playing, the banjo, and bluegrass. His parents are avid bluegrass music lovers and supported Rick’s endeavors to meet other players, go to festivals, and develop his musical talent. Rick received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry in 1997 and found his way to NC by way of his post-doctoral studies at UNC-Chapel Hill. He loves the warm weather and friendly folks here in the home state of Earl Scruggs.


	CHRIS HILL - Kinston, NC fiddle chrishill@grasscats.com Affectionately known as "Fiddleboy" by The GRASS CATS faithful, Chris has been draggin' the bow since the age of 7. His over twenty years of performing have taken him from local shows, to bluegrass festivals to venues as far away as Ulster American Folk Park in Northern Ireland. He has appeared on-stage with the likes of Grand Ole Opry member and International Bluegrass Music Association Hall-of Honor inductee Ralph Stanley, country and bluegrass favorite Mac Wiseman, bluegrass-gospel legends The Lewis Family and was a member of regional favorite Al Batten & The Bluegrass Reunion for 6 years. Chris' deeply traditional style compliments the band's powerful vocals and shines on their instrumentals.