Wildfire



BAND WILDFIRE assembled in 2000 and quickly became one of the most talked about groups in the industry. The band has many years of musical and performance experience and has proved it's longevity in a competitive market. They have three Bluegrass Unlimited Top 10 chart albums, and are now celebrating the release of their fourth career album, “CRASH COURSE IN THE BLUES” coming early 2011 (digital release 12/21/10). The band has performed on the GRAND OLE OPRY, was DOLLYWOOD'S #1 outside performing act, and has numerous IBMA AWARDS and NOMINATIONS to their credit. They definitely don't hold back when it comes to pouring their heart and soul into their music. Their artistic spontaneity and driving arrangements create a sensation that is unmatched. When you mix their original songs and telling ballads with their complete dedication and love for their music, you're sure to take a journey that will spur a sense of emotion and excite the soul. WILDFIRE promises a powerful show that will surely please everyone from traditional bluegrass lovers to the contemporary young fans of today. Want to read more on Wildfire? Click below for longer bio PDF \| WORD doc ROBERT HALE Robert Hale from Jolo, WV, is the son of Clayton Hale, a McDowell and Wyoming county business man, a former Delegate to the Legislature, and perhaps most important to this story, a bluegrass bandleader and music promoter. Clayton’s band played for time on a weekly television show on WOAY in the 1970’s, and he promoted a successful festival in Tazewell, Virginia for several years where young Robert was exposed to some of the luminaries of the bluegrass business. Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Don Reno and others graced to stage at the elder Hale’s events, but it was a mandolin player and band leader named Doyle Lawson that had the greatest effect on Robert’s career. He began playing the mandolin full time in his Dad’s band at the ripe old age of nine. At that age, most young boys dream of becoming fireman, FBI agents or football stars, but Robert knew from the start he wanted bluegrass music to become his career. Since that time, he has worked for two of the masters of bluegrass music, J.D. Crowe and Eddie & Martha Adcock, and was asked by Dolly Parton to record with her on two projects, "Halos & Horns” & “For God & Country”. Robert has now become a gifted musician, equally at home on mandolin, guitar, banjo or just about anything with strings. He plays a variety of styles ranging from country to bluegrass to rock & roll.F CURT CHAPMAN Curt Chapman was born in Lancaster, OH, raised in Nashville, TN and moved to Richmond, KY in 1973 where he has been ever since. He started playing bass when he was 12 years old. Curt’s first real job came from Cousin Wilbur Westbrook, who was a country comedian on the Grand Ole Opry. He hired Curt and his brother and sisters to play on the road at air force bases and NCO clubs up and down the eastern seaboard. During the years, Curt has played in rock and roll, blues and country bands before he got into bluegrass. He toured with country chart artist, Josh Logan and performed with Southern Blend. In 1987, Curt received a phone call from J.D. Crowe and spent the next 15 years as bassist for J. D Crowe & The New South. During that time he was on two recordings including the Grammy™ nominated “Flashback” and the highly acclaimed “Come On Down to My World”. In 2000 Curt left The New South to form Wildfire with Robert Hale. JOHNIE LEWIS Johnie Lewis is an attorney practicing in Kentucky. He started playing the banjo at age 13 and formed his first band with Don Rigsby on mandolin. Since that time, he has been a member of many notable bands, including The Lost and Found, Kentucky Ramblers, Unlimited Tradition and the James Price Band. He lives in Sandy Hook, KY, with his wife, Anita, and their twins, Ian and Kinley.

BAND

WILDFIRE assembled in 2000 and quickly became one of the most talked about groups in the industry. The band has many years of musical and performance experience and has proved it's longevity in a competitive market. They have three Bluegrass Unlimited Top 10 chart albums, and are now celebrating the release of their fourth career album, “CRASH COURSE IN THE BLUES” coming early 2011 (digital release 12/21/10). The band has performed on the GRAND OLE OPRY, was DOLLYWOOD'S #1 outside performing act, and has numerous IBMA AWARDS and NOMINATIONS to their credit. They definitely don't hold back when it comes to pouring their heart and soul into their music. Their artistic spontaneity and driving arrangements create a sensation that is unmatched. When you mix their original songs and telling ballads with their complete dedication and love for their music, you're sure to take a journey that will spur a sense of emotion and excite the soul. WILDFIRE promises a powerful show that will surely please everyone from traditional bluegrass lovers to the contemporary young fans of today.

Want to read more on Wildfire? Click below for longer bio PDF | WORD doc

ROBERT HALE

Robert Hale from Jolo, WV, is the son of Clayton Hale, a McDowell and Wyoming county business man, a former Delegate to the Legislature, and perhaps most important to this story, a bluegrass bandleader and music promoter. Clayton’s band played for time on a weekly television show on WOAY in the 1970’s, and he promoted a successful festival in Tazewell, Virginia for several years where young Robert was exposed to some of the luminaries of the bluegrass business. Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Don Reno and others graced to stage at the elder Hale’s events, but it was a mandolin player and band leader named Doyle Lawson that had the greatest effect on Robert’s career.

He began playing the mandolin full time in his Dad’s band at the ripe old age of nine. At that age, most young boys dream of becoming fireman, FBI agents or football stars, but Robert knew from the start he wanted bluegrass music to become his career. Since that time, he has worked for two of the masters of bluegrass music, J.D. Crowe and Eddie & Martha Adcock, and was asked by Dolly Parton to record with her on two projects, "Halos & Horns” & “For God & Country”.

Robert has now become a gifted musician, equally at home on mandolin, guitar, banjo or just about anything with strings. He plays a variety of styles ranging from country to bluegrass to rock & roll.F

CURT CHAPMAN

Curt Chapman was born in Lancaster, OH, raised in Nashville, TN and moved to Richmond, KY in 1973 where he has been ever since. He started playing bass when he was 12 years old. Curt’s first real job came from Cousin Wilbur Westbrook, who was a country comedian on the Grand Ole Opry. He hired Curt and his brother and sisters to play on the road at air force bases and NCO clubs up and down the eastern seaboard.

During the years, Curt has played in rock and roll, blues and country bands before he got into bluegrass. He toured with country chart artist, Josh Logan and performed with Southern Blend. In 1987, Curt received a phone call from J.D. Crowe and spent the next 15 years as bassist for J. D Crowe & The New South. During that time he was on two recordings including the Grammy™ nominated “Flashback” and the highly acclaimed “Come On Down to My World”. In 2000 Curt left The New South to form Wildfire with Robert Hale.

JOHNIE LEWIS

Johnie Lewis is an attorney practicing in Kentucky. He started playing the banjo at age 13 and formed his first band with Don Rigsby on mandolin. Since that time, he has been a member of many notable bands, including The Lost and Found, Kentucky Ramblers, Unlimited Tradition and the James Price Band.

He lives in Sandy Hook, KY, with his wife, Anita, and their twins, Ian and Kinley.