BAND BIO
LORRAINE JORDAN & CAROLINA ROAD
The Bluegrass-rich area of North Carolina has produced one of the finest bands touring the national circuit- Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road. Lorraine’s showmanship and chemistry with the audience makes this band one of the most popular bands among fans today. Lorraine has been fronting Carolina Road for over a decade now and has seven national recordings to her credit. She won IBMA Recorded Event of the Year in 2006 and 2009 as the pioneer of the Daughters of Bluegrass. Performing nationwide from east to west coast, all across Canada and Europe, this band has earned a reputation as one of the hardest working bands in bluegrass. Recently, Lorraine was the featured artist on syndicated radio and in the Bluegrass Unlimited magazine. Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road are one of Rural Rhythm’s new artists of 2010 and their new project is due to be released early spring 2010. The band will be hitting the road hard this season with 70 dates already confirmed. They will be performing a hard driving traditional sound with driving instrumentals, smooth blending vocals, and all the energy that you can stand. Get ready to be blown away as Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road feature their 2010 “Carolina Hurricane Category 5 Tour.”
Lorraine Jordan - mandolin
Lorraine grew up around bluegrass music on the coast of North Carolina. She has performed bluegrass music for over twenty years and formed Carolina Road in 1998. She continues to be the driving force behind Carolina Road's popularity and longevity. Lorraine is a consummate performer, songwriter, emcee and show organizer. Lorraine plays a Monroe style mandolin and is known for her hard driving madonlin chop. She has been a finalist in the IBMA Songwriting Showcase and was the 1st runner-up in the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest. Lorraine, along with Gina Britt, was responsible for the formation of the Daughters of Bluegrass, whose "Back to the Wel" album won the IBMA Recorded Event in 2006 and she was part of the Daughter's latest album, "Bluegrass Bouqet" also a 2009 IBMA Recorded Event of the Year winner for the song "Proud to be a Daughter." In her spare time she enjoys riding her Honda motorcycle and playing with her two Maltese - JD and Polly. Lorraine is proud to endorse Gibson Mandolins.
Ben Greene - banjo
Ben began his music career in 1973 playing with the late Charlie Moore. During his tenure with Charlie, Ben recorded six albums up to 1979. He played electric guitar with country and& dance bands until 1995 before returning to the bluegrass scene. He has performed electric bass with the Bluegrass Cardinals, banjo with Lost & Found, David Parmley & Continental Divide and The James King Band. Ben has performed in all the U.S.A. States except Hawaii, plus seventeen foreign countries. He was a nominee for the 2006 SPBGMA Banjo Player of the Year award and in 2007, recorded a banjo instrumental album titled, "Watson's Cove". Entering his fifth year with Carolina Road, Ben continues to enjoy spending time with the fans while out on the road. In his spare time he loves to go fishing with friends and family. Ben is proud to endorse YATES BANJOS.
Josh Goforth - fiddle
Josh was born in Asheville, North Carolina and is a Madison County native. Josh attended East Tennessee State University where he majored in Instrumental Music Education. He is very active in the world renowned bluegrass and country music program at ETSU. He has performed with Appalachian Trail, David Holt & Laura Boosinger, Open Road and The ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band. He has also performed in nine foreign countries and throughout the eastern United States. In 2000 and 2003 he was named the Fiddler of the Festival as the nationally acclaimed Fiddler's Grove Competition. He has won numerous awards and honors for this talent. Josh enjoys teaching forklore and sharing his talents with others. He is entertaing his third year with Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road and is their road manager. Josh is proud to endorse Wayne Taylor Guitars.
Brad Hudson - Bass
Brad is from Richland’s, N.C. where he began playing music at the early age of five. After only seven lessons, he started playing guitar in church and it was then folks saw his love for music. By the age of 10, he was not only playing guitar, banjo, bass and Dobro, but was singing as well. During high school, he joined the marching band playing drums and also sang in touring choir. Throughout high school he and long time friend John Mark Batchelor performed at numerous events with John on banjo and Brad on guitar. After high school Brad played bass with The Larkins who had worked at Dolly Parton’s theme park for years. He was then offered a job singing and playing guitar, Dobro and pedal steel for Dolly Parton's brother Randy Parton at his theatre and later involved at Dolly's Imagination Library. Brad is now in love with the Upright Bass and that is truly his art. Brad has performed with The Bluegrass Express, The Bluegrass Train, Carolina Blue, Grassy Creek, NRG and Flatland Bluegrass. He has recorded several albums with different bands and also done session work as well. Brad, his wife Leila and their son Caden, make their home in Garner, N.C.
Sponsored by:
Dustin Benson - Guitar
Dustin is proud to endorse Mike Long Guitars.
Dustin was raised on Bluegrass music in the deep south area of Alabama. His Dad taught him to play guitar when he was 12 years old. He played mandolin and guitar in his Dads band at age 16. His Dads influences are still wiht him today.After graduation he moved to Nashville, Tenn. where he played with Valerie Smith and helped start the Alecia Nugent Band. Dustin worked with the Larry Stephenson Band for 41/2 years and Bradley Walker for over a year.He joined Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road in early 2010. Dustin plays guitar and bass for Carolina Road and sings harmony and some lead vocals. He is a dynamic lead guitar player and quite a showman on stage. He lives in Gallatin, Tn. with his wife Emmy Lou and two dachshunds, Molly and Julie. He enjoys golf, basketball and any type of exercise.
JD is the official band mascot of the Carolina Road Band. He travels with the band and keeps the band leader - Lorraine - very happy while going up and down the highways. He is a 7 year old Maltese. He has a sister named Polly Lewis who also travels some with the band. Watch for them at your next festival.