Russell Johnson and Bluegrass Time

I've been performing bluegrass professionally since 1989, playing more than 2,000 shows everywhere from backyard parties, wedding rehearsal dinners and receptions to national bluegrass festivals—and just about everything in between.

When you book me, you can be confident that the entertainment is in experienced hands. I work closely with every client to ensure the music is a perfect fit for the event. Together, we'll determine the ideal band size, the role the music will play throughout the day, how much music you'll need, contingency plans for inclement weather, and any sound or lighting requirements. My goal is to make the planning process simple and stress-free.

Whether your event calls for an intimate trio or a full six-piece band, I can assemble the right group of seasoned professionals to match your vision. Every performance is tailored to the audience, blending beloved bluegrass standards like "Rocky Top," "Salty Dog Blues," and "Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms" with instrumental favorites such as "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and "Orange Blossom Special." We also mix in familiar songs from other genres and selections from my own catalog, including several nationally charting original songs.

The musicians I work with are accomplished performers, exceptional instrumentalists, and talented vocalists who know how to connect with an audience. Whether your guests are lifelong bluegrass fans or hearing the music for the first time, they'll experience an authentic, energetic performance that brings people together and creates lasting memories. My goal is simple: to provide a soundtrack that perfectly fits your event and leaves your guests talking about it long after the last song ends.

Growing up on a farm in rural Four Oaks, North Carolina, Russell Johnson was introduced to bluegrass music by his older brother. He received his first mandolin as a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982 and performed his first official show in August 1989. Since then, he has built a multifaceted career as a singer, songwriter, producer, mandolinist, recording and live sound engineer, bandleader, record label and studio owner, and educator.

An accomplished songwriter, Russell has written more than 30 charting songs, with 13 appearing on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Survey, including four No. 1 singles recorded by The Grass Cats. He has been nominated three times for Songwriter of the Year by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA). As a producer, he has also earned nine Top 10 bluegrass albums.

As the leader and frontman of three successful bands, Russell has performed throughout the United States and Canada. In 1989, he founded New Vintage, which captured both the Pizza Hut International Bluegrass Showdown and the SPBGMA National Band Contest in 1993. The band's success established it as a fixture on the bluegrass festival circuit throughout the 1990s. New Vintage released five albums, including three Top 10 projects for Pinecastle Records.

In 1997, Russell formed The Grass Cats with a group of local musicians as a pickup band for community events. After New Vintage concluded its run in 2000, he devoted his full attention to The Grass Cats, which went on to release nine albums and become one of North Carolina's premier bluegrass acts before retiring in December 2017.

Today, Russell performs with Russell Johnson & Bluegrass Time. Known for his instantly recognizable blues-infused tenor, Bluegrass Unlimited praised his voice as having "that 'lonesome' quality that makes even a just-written tune sound a hundred years old," placing him among "the first ranks of contemporary bluegrass."

Since July 2016, Russell has served on the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as director of the Carolina Bluegrass Band. Throughout his career, he has remained dedicated to writing, recording, performing, and preserving the authentic bluegrass tradition of North Carolina.

We can provide complete production, sound and lights for up to 500 people. Our equipment includes EV powered speakers, JBL and EV passive speakers, QSC power, Rane EQs, Allen and Heath and Mackie consoles, Shure and AKG mics. If production is provided, please request our stage plot.