Buddy Merriam - Mandolin

Born 10/7/52 in Hartford, Connecticut. He formed Buddy Merriam and Back Roads in 1980 out of his love and respect for traditional Bluegrass music. He became close friends with the Father of Bluegrass music, Bill Monroe, and got to learn and eventually perform with him. Buddy brought Back Roads down to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to perform a few times which is no minor accomplishment for a New York area mandolin player! They've also performed at the Grand Opening of the BLUEGRASS MUSEUM AND HALL OF FAME and Country Music's Fan Fair in Nashville, TN. The group has played at most of the Northeast Bluegrass Festivals (including Grey Fox and Podunk) and at Long Island venues like Hecksher Park in Huntington, Bald Hill Cultural Center, Agawam Park in Southampton, and concerts for LITMA, Huntington Folk Music Society, Nassau County Folk Festival, and the Museums at Stony Brook Folk and Fiddle Festival. They were also featured at the International Bluegrass Music Association's WORLD OF BLUEGRASS SHOW in Owensboro, KY and the Fan Fest in Louisville in 10/04. In Nov. of 2004 the band did a successful tour of Ireland. Featured in Flatpicking Magazine, CMT's "Bluegrass Sound", WKET TV, Independent Films; "Bluegrass Journey", "Bobs Rolling Reefer", The Wes Houston Show, Local publications; Newsday, North Shore Sun. Buddy has 6 CD's released on Lily Pad Records and a book of 30 original mandolin tunes (Back Roads Mandolin) and also hosts the weekly Blue Grass Time radio show on WUSB 90.1 FM in Stony Brook, NY. Buddy’s 2009 Release, “Buddy Merriam-Back Roads Mandolin” features 14 of his original mandolin tunes; bluegrass, waltzs, gypsy jazz and some contemporary interpretation of his very original style. Buddy is proud that the year 2010 marks his 30th year heading his band.
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