Tennessee Backroads Bluegrass Band

P.G. (Phil) Hensley  (Upright Bass / Vocals)

Phil grew up in Kingsport, TN and was interested in music at an early age. By 10 years old he was playing guitar and eventually playing other instruments as well.  He soon found himself playing bass in a Rock-N-Roll band by his late teens.

Phil always had a love for acoustic and bluegrass music and knew that one day he would be playing in a bluegrass band.  Since his retirement in 2002, Phil has played with many bluegrass bands and is currently playing upright bass with Tennessee Backroads keeping them boys in time.  He's always eager to pick and sing and enjoys every minute of it!

Phil lived in Blountville, TN for a while but now resides in his beautiful lake home in Piney Flats, TN. 

Eddie Blevins  (Mandolin / Vocals)

Eddie first got interested in bluegrass music in his early twenties and picked up the mandolin for the first time at age 25.  He played in a band called Crossroads for several years, mostly at family events and birthday parties.  Later he helped start the bluegrass-gospel group Narrow Road with two friends and his daughter, playing in churches throughout the region for more than 15 years.

Eddie has been building mandolins and mandolin family instruments under the name Eddie Blevins Mandolin Works since 2012.    http://www.ebmworks.com/  

In 2022 he was introduced to Daniel Houseright and invited to sit in on a jam session with a couple of other players.  Within a few short weeks, Tennessee Backroads was born and, as they say, the rest is history.  He has enjoyed meeting so many new pickers and fans in the short time the band has been performing in public.

Eddie currently lives in Bluff City, TN on his mini farm with his wife, Angel, and their two dogs.  

Daniel Houseright  (Guitar / Vocals)

Thanks to his dad Leonard Houseright exposing him to music at a young age, Daniel started playing banjo at 12. His mom Betty Houseright got him to his lessons for a year and saw that he put in his practice. At 13 he started playing in his first band alongside local guitar legend Lawrence Winstead; Daniel's love for lead guitar was then born and that's now his primary instrument.

Daniel has helped form, or play, in the groups: Moccasin Gap, Smoky Ridge, (proud papa because his son, Jacob Houseright, played fiddle in that band), Sapling Grove, Maple Grove and now Tennessee Backroads.

Daniel currently lives in Piney Flats, TN.

"This band clicks and feels like family; I am proud to be part of it and excited for the future."

Daniel is proud to use and endorses Lakota Instrument Straps.   http://www.lakotaleathers.com  

Kevin Horne   (Dobro)

Kevin was born in Rogersville TN but currently resides in Church Hill, TN. He  learned to play guitar at 10 years old. Then from 3-finger Merle Travis style guitar playing, he transitioned to cross picking from Lawrence Winstead.  Larry Fritts taught Kevin banjo and later on mandolin. Dobro came later in life. 

Kevin has played all over the country.  He currently is playing Dobro with Tennessee Backroads and is much sought after as a studio musician as well.   Kevin is equally skilled playing guitar, banjo, mandolin, or bass.

He sincerely hopes everyone enjoys listening to Tennessee Backroads as much as he enjoys playing for folks everywhere.

Gary Booher  (Banjo / Vocals)

Gary began playing bluegrass instruments at 13 years old.  Since then, he has performed with bands such as:  Silver Leaf, Tennessee Blues, Sapling Grove, The Hymnsmen, Jackson Harmony and many others.  Gary's own family band, (The Boohers), traveled and performed all across the U.S. for nearly a decade and were a 2006 IBMA Showcase Artist. 

After a hiatus from music for over 16 years and since retiring in 2020, it was time for Gary to return to music.  He was asked to join Tennessee Backroads in the summer of 2022.  Gary says:  "I look forward to picking again; seeing my old music friends and making new friends in the future."

Gary also owns "West Fourth Publishing", a business specialising in bluegrass, gospel, old time and country music helping writers get their music to the right people.

He currently resides in Watauga, Tennessee with his wife, Sally, where he continues to build, buy, sell, and trade acoustic instruments.