SASSAFRAS-BLUEGRASS BAND Bluegrass Band from Raleigh, NC

Sassafras is based in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, and have been performing together for over 20 years. Sassafras pays homage to the Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs era, but also enjoys progressive Newgrass music as well. Their repertoire includes a range of musical styles including ole-time, country, folk, western swing and originals. We are available for corporate events, private party, weddings, community events and more. Sassafras has shared the stage and/or studio with a wide range of prominent bluegrass and Americana artist including: Doc Watson, Jack Lawrence, Charlie Waller, John Cowan, Jim Lauderdale, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas , Allison Krauss, Tim O'Brien, Mark O'Connor, Laurie Lewis, Arthur Smith, Josh Graves, Kenny Baker, Benny Martin, Mac Wiseman, Tut Taylor, Russell Moore, Ronnie Bowman, Doug Jernigan, Jim Buchanan, Steve Dilling, Kim Gardner, Wayne Henderson, Steve Lewis, Tony Furtado, Leon Hunt, Kruger Brothers, the late Roy Huskey Jr., and others. Sassafras band members have performed at a long list of venues: Grand Ole Opry, Merlefest, Walnut Vally Festival (Winfield, KS), Riverhawk Music Festival (Florida), Song of the Mountians (PBS TV Series), King Pup Syndicated Radio, Red White & Bluegrass Festival (NC), Albino Skunk Festival (SC), Plum Hollow Festival (SC), Chomp & Stomp Festival (Georgia), Mean Fiddler (London, England), Bass Mountain Festival (NC), Denton Bluegrass Festival (NC), Okeechobee Fest (Florida), Bluegrass in the Spring (CA), Strawberry Festival (Virginia), Cherokee Bluegrass Festival (NC), Vanceburg Festival (KY), Stuart Festival (Virginia), Christmas in July Festival (NC), Bean Blossom Festival (Indiana), High Mountain Bluegrass Festival (Colorado), Pickin' in the Plains (Kansas), Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival (Pennsylvania), Rogersville Bluegrass Festival (New Brunswick, Canada), Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival (NC), HoustonFest (Virginia), Southern Ohio Indoor Bluegrass Festival, IBMA (Raleigh, NC), AGEC Bluegrass (Paris, France), Didmarton Bluegrass Festival (England), Ironbridge Bluegrass Festival (England), North Yorkshire Bluegrass Festival (England), North Wales Bluegrass Festival (Wales), Scottish Bluegrass Association (Edinburgh, Scotland), Hamishes' Hoose (Paisley, Scotland), Brookfield Knights Scottish Tour (Loudon Temple Prod.), Güglinger Bluegrass Festival (Germany), and an unlimited number of pubs and clubs. Biography Kent Dowell (Banjo, Vocals) – Kent played banjo for the legendary Charlie Waller and The Country Gentlemen, from 1979 through 1982. He recorded three albums with them including: “Sit Down Young Stranger”, “River Bottom”, and a live recording with the Seldom Scene, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, and others, called “Bluegrass the Greatest Show on Earth”. Musically, Kent has toured over most of the USA and toured Europe in 1980. Kent still performs with his own band, Bluegrass Blend, which he formed in the mid-70’s. Sassafras is proud to have Kent as a member of the band on our 2025 New Zealand tour. Billy Gee (Bass, Vocals) – Billy has shared the stage with Doc Watson, John Cowan, Jack Lawrence, Wayne Henderson, Don Story, Mel Jones, and many other notable musicians. Billy toured as bassist with bluegrass legend Charlie Waller and The Country Gentlemen. Billy received the Dr. T.R. Bryan Wilkes Heritage Award and is a member of the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame. Billy has performed at the esteemed Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee as a member of Darin and Brooke Aldridge Band. Billy contributes original material for Sassafras and is a founding band member when the band formed in the late-90’s. Wes Tuttle (Mandolin, Fiddle, Vocals) -- Wes has performed on stage with Doc Watson, Kenny Baker, Benny Martin, Terry Baucom, Mark O'Connor, Jerry Douglas, Wes Golding, and many other notable musicians. Wes has also recorded with Tony Rice, Ronnie Bowman, Russell Moore, Jim Buchanan. Wes is the consummate musician and epitomizes the “high lonesome sound” with his sterling vocal range. Wes continues to write music and contributed one of his original songs to the latest Sassafras CD. Randy Gambill (Guitar, Vocals) -- Randy has performed on stage or recorded with Doc Watson, Jack Lawrence, Pete Wernick, Doug Jernigan, Steve Lewis, and Roy Huskey Jr. and many other notable musicians. While living abroad, Randy toured Europe promoting Bluegrass and Americana music. Randy’s original songs have been featured on BBC Radio & the PBS TV Series “Song of the Mountains.” Randy continues to write music for Sassafras and another band, Non-Prophets, and contributed two of his songs to the latest Sassafras CD.

• Fox on the Run | Country Gentlemen
• Orange Bloosom Special | Benny Martin
• Ole Slewfoot | Jim and Jesse
• Cabin in Caroline | Flatt & Scruggs
• Salty Dog Blues | Flatt & Scruggs
• She's Gone | Gone
• Blue Moon of Kentucky | Bill Monroe
• White Freightliner Blues | Townes Van Zandt
• Old Home Place | JD Crowe
• Tennessee Waltz | Kenny Baker
• Blue Night | Bill Monroe
• In the Pines | Drake Walsh
• How Long I Have Been Waiting | Jonathan Edwards
• Blue Ridge Cabin Home | Flatt & Scruggs
• One Way Track | Boone Creek
• Shenandoah Valley Breakdown | Bill Monroe
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown | Earl Scruggs
• Rocky Top | Osborne Brothers
• Columbus Stockade Blues | Bill Monroe
• Rider | Seldom Scene
• Wild Bill Jones | Public Domain
• Clinch Mountain Backstep | Ralph Stanley
• Dark as a Dungeon | Country Gentlemen
• Pearlie Mae | Jerry Douglas
• I Wonder Where You are Tonight | Jim and Jesse
• Good Woman's Love | New Grass Revival
• Uncle Pen | Bill Monroe
• Sitting on Top of the World | Flatt & Scruggs
• Rollin' in my Sweet Baby's Arms | Flatt & Scruggs
• Pig in a Pen | Old and In the Way
• Legend of the Rebel Soldier | Country Gentlemen
• I'll Fly Away | Gospel
• Footprints in the Snow | Bill Monroe
• Man of Constant Sorrow | Ralph Stanley
• Rank Stranger | Ralph Stanley
• Wonder How the Old Folks are at Home | Flatt & Scruggs
• Some Old Day | Flatt & Scruggs
• Lonesome Road Blues | Flatt & Scruggs
• Blue Ridge Mtn. Blues | Flatt & Scruggs
• Bury Me Beneath the Willow | Skaggs and Rice
• Last Train from Poor Valley | Norman Blake
• Ginseng Sullivan | Norman Blake
• Old Train | Herb Pederson
• Arkansas Traveler | Public Domain
• California Cottonfields | Merle Haggard
• Can't You Hear me Callin' | Bill Monroe
• City of New Orleans | Steve Goodman
• Cripple Creek | Public Domain
• Dark Hollow | Seldom Scene
• Little Maggie | Ralph Stanley
• Know what it means to be lonesome | Ricky Skaggs
• Smokey Mtn. Memories | Earl Thomas Conley
• Freeborn Man | Jimmy Martin
• Georgia on my Mind | Willie Nelson
• Hello Mary Lou | Ricky Nelson
• Head Over Heels | Boone Creek
• John Hardy | Tony Rice
• Dooley | Dillards
• Last Thing on my Mind | Tom Paxton
• Little Girl in Tennessee | Flatt & Scruggs
• How Mtn. Gals Can Love | Stanley Brothers
• Mountain Dew | Public Domain
• Jambalaya | Hank Williams
• Sweet Blue-eyed Darlin' | Bill Monroe
• Down the Road | Flatt & Scruggs
• Paradise | John Prine
• Stone Walls & Steel Bars | Stanley Brothers
• Molly & Tenbrooks | Bill Monroe
• Wreck of the Old 97' | Stanley Brothers
• Tom Dooley | Kingston Trio
• Will the Circle Be Unbroken | Old and in the Way
• Banks of the Ohio | Tony Rice
• Rose of Old Kentucky | Bill Monroe
• Roll on Buddy | Jim and Jesse
• Nine Pound Hammer | Merle Travis
• Wildwood Flower | Carter Family
• I Saw the Light | Hank Williams
• Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain | Willie Nelson
• Wabash Cannonball | Roy Acuff
• Dueling Banjos | Arther Smith
• Battle of New Orleans | Johnny Horton
• Wayfaring Stranger | EmmyLou Harris
• Whiskey Before Breakfast | Mike Cross
• Long Black Veil | Country Gentlemen
• Ballad of Jed Clampett | Flatt & Scruggs
• Dancing with the Angels | New Grass Revival
• Everybody's Talkin' | Neilson
• Georgia Rose | Bill Monroe
• Helen | Carl Jackson
• Last Letter Home | Sam Bush
• Leaning on the Everlasting Arms | Stanley Brothers
• Matterhorn | Country Gentlemen
• More Pretty Girls Than One | Skaggs & Rice
• Blues for Dixie | Bob Wills
• Pain in my Heart | Jim and Jesse
• Going Up | Bill Monroe
• Good-Hearted Woman | Waylon & Willie
• Me and Bobby McGee | Kris Kristofferson
• Bartender Blues | George Jones
• If Drinking Don't Kill Me | George Jones
• Dixieland Delight | Alabama
• Your Cheatin' Heart | Hank Williams
• Take These Chains | Hank Williams
• Highway 40 Blues | Larry Courdle
• Country Roads | John Denver
• Mama Tried | Merle Haggard
• Running Kind | Merle Haggard
• I Can't Help It | Hank Williams
• Big City | Merle Haggard
• Ring of Fire | Johnny Cash
• Folsom Prison Blues | Johnny Cash
• Tumbling Tumbleweeds | Sons of the Pioneers
• San Antonio Rose | Bob Wills
• Sweet Temptation | Ricky Skaggs
• Sweet Georgia Brown | Harlem Globetrotters
• House of the Rising Sun | Animals
• Amie | Pure Prairie League
• Brown-eyed Girl | Van Morrison
• Into the Mystic | Van Morrison
• Moondance | Van Morrison
• Ride me High | Bob Dylan
• Scotsman | Mike Cross
• Wagon Wheel | Old Crow Medicine Show
• Out my Back Door | Credence Clearwater Revival
• Sweet Baby James | James Taylor
• Fire and Rain | James Taylor
• Norwegian Wood | Beatles
• Never Been to Spain | Three Dog Night
• Elma Terle | Mike Cross
• Bye Bye Love | Everly Brothers
• Dream | Everly Brothers
• Third Rate Romance | Amazing Rhythm Aces
• Waiting for a Train | Jimmie Rodgers
• Copperhead Road | Steve Earle
• Wild Nights | Van Morrison
• Fire on the Mountain | Marshall Tucker Band
• Carolina in my Mind | James Taylor
• Summertime | Doc Watson
• Big Yellow Taxi | Joni Mitchell
• Santee | Public Domain
• Everyday | Buddy Holly
• Lodi | Credence Clearwater Revival
• Shower the People | James Taylor
• Love Hurts | Gram Parsons
• L A Freeway | Guy Clark
• Goin' Fishin' | Doc Watson
• Jamaica Farewell | Kingston Trio
• Danny's Song | Kenny Loggins
• Tequila Sunrise | Eagles
• Peaceful Easy Feeling | Eagles
• You've Got a Friend | James Taylor
• Don't Let Me Be Lonely | James Taylor
• Across the Great Divide | Kate Wolf