e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia Online

Music: Bluegrass

Last updated on 31 Dec 2025 by Stan Bumgardner

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Some musicians varied between country & western, old-time, and, at times, rock 'n' roll music, but these West Virginians made a distinct mark on the world of bluegrass.

  • Lonesome Pine Fiddlers

    The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers were one of West Virginia’s first bluegrass bands. They began in 1938 and were based at a Bluefield radio station. Bass player Ezra Cline led the group, and fiddler Curly Ray Cline became their most significant musician....

  • Mitchell Burt "Bea" Lilly (1921-2005) and Charles Everett Lilly (1924-2012)

    The Lilly Brothers were early bluegrass musicians from Clear Creek (Raleigh County). Bea and Everett Lilly began playing music as teenagers and performed on radio stations in West Virginia and other states.From the 1950s to 1970, they were especia...

  • “Curly” Ray Cline (1923–1997)

    This Baisden (Logan County) native was one of the state’s best fiddlers, playing music from the late 1930s until he retired in 1993. Cline played with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers until 1966 and later joined Ralph Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Boys. He ...

  • Don Stover (1928–1996)

    Inspired by bluegrass musicians like Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs, Raleigh County native Don Stover developed his own three-finger banjo style.In the late 1940s, while working in coal mines, Stover played music part time. In 1952, he left mining t...

  • Bill Browning (1931–1977)

    This singer and songwriter was born in Wayne County grew up near St. Albans, learning as a teenager to play guitar. He first played music with family and friends and performed on local radio.After moving to Cleveland, Browning formed a band and wr...

  • Melvin (1933-2016) and Ray Goins (1936-2007)

    Melvin (right) and Ray Goins were brothers from Mercer County who grew up in a musical family and initially learned by listening to radio shows while working on their farm. With help from a cousin, they became solid guitar and banjo players and be...

  • Hazel Dickens (1935-2011)

    This Mercer County native was an important old-time and bluegrass musician who helped keep traditional West Virginia music alive and inspired many women musicians.As a teenager, she moved to Baltimore, where she shared Appalachian music and began ...

  • Tim O'Brien (born in 1954)

    This Wheeling native is known for bluegrass, country, and folk music. As a kid, he was inspired by the Wheeling Jamboree and by his sister, Mollie, who introduced him to popular music. After seeing the Beatles in concert, he learned to play guitar...