Craver, Hicks, Watson & Newberry
www.craverhickswatsonnewberry.com/musicians.htm
Mike Craver
Mike has worked in musical theater since leaving the Red Clay Ramblers in 1986. He co-wrote the Off Broadway musicals OIL CITY SYMPHONY, and RADIO GALS. He arranged the music for SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN and the sequel SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN HOMECOMING. He’s released four solo records: FISHING FOR AMOUR, WAGONER’S LAD, SHINING DOWN, and BOSH AND MOONSHINE, and also collaborated with Clyde Edgerton on a musical version of Clyde’s novel LUNCH AT THE PICCADILLY and a new “story/song” CD of THE BIBLE SALESMAN. Mike’s latest play is QUEEN OF THE COWTOWNS, the fifth installation of the musical and melodramatic saga following BOSH AND MOONSHINE, SARAH BERNHARDT IN TEXAS, THE BELLE OF THE WABASH, and OKLAHOMA HALE AND DAMNATION.
Bill Hicks
Bill, the founding fiddler of the Red Clay Ramblers, was before that a member of the Fuzzy Mountain String Band, and appears on their two Rounder LPs (reissued in 1995 as a Rounder CD). After leaving the Ramblers in 1981 he began playing music with his wife, Libby, and working as a stone mason in Chatham County,NC, where they live. Bill and Libby have a CD on the Copper Creek label, SOUTH OF NOWHERE. Bill and Libby also played for seven years in the cajun-zydeco band Unknown Tongues. Bill writes songs and produced a live solo CD of his songs, THE PERFECT GIG, in 2002.
Jim Watson
Jim currently tours with Robin and Linda Williams in Their Fine Group. Jim has released three solo CDs: DON’T TELL ME I DON’T KNOW, WILLIE’S REDEMPTION, and his latest THIS WORLD WOULD BE ALL SUNSHINE. Jim, who also performs with the Green Level Entertainers, has ushered in the Christmas season for 27 straight years with his holiday show at the Cave in Chapel Hill. In 2012, Jim released CHRISTMAS AT THE CAVE, a recording of the 2011 Christmas show. Before founding the Red Clay Ramblers (1972-1986), Jim recorded with the Hollow Rock String Band on their second LP. And Jim has recently (2015) rejoined HRSB’s Alan Jabbour as well as Ken Perlman to record YOU CAN’T BEAT THE CLASSICS.
Joe Newberry
Joe Newberry is a Missouri native and North Carolina transplant who has played music most of his life. Known far and wide for his powerful banjo playing, he is a prizewinning guitarist, fiddler, and singer as well. Joe plays with old-time music legends Bill Hicks, Jim Watson, and Mike Craver, with North Carolina singer/songwriter Jon Shain, in a duo with mandolinist Mike Compton, and along with Mike, performs with Bruce Molsky and Rafe Stefanini as the Jumpsteady Boys. A frequent guest on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, Joe is also a noted solo performer, who was recently tapped to be a featured performer on the Transatlantic Sessions tour in Scotland and the UK.
The recipient of the songwriting prize for “Gospel Recorded Performance” at the 2012 IBMA Awards for his song “Singing As We Rise,” and co-writer of the 2013 IBMA Song of the Year for “They Called It Music,” Joe writes songs that consistently show up on the Bluegrass charts, does solo and studio work, and teaches and performs at festivals at home and abroad.