Last of the Breed: The Dave Evans Story

Long time Bluegrass singer and songwriter Dave Evans heard a voice when he was just a child at the young age of thirteen. "From the ole Queen City, to New Boston town, Ironton and Ol' Hanging Rock, I've made every stop, I've played every station, while traveling down Ol' Highway 52." The ambitious youngster who at the time was just acquainting himself with the craft of music and the talent of playing the banjo, had written these mature lyrics that would come to pass as a bold prediction, some say vision, of his life to come. By age 18, the boisterous teenager and close knit family man from Portsmouth, Ohio landed his first professional job when he was asked to join Earl Taylor's Stoney Mountain Boys band where Evans would play the banjo. The talented young "Banjer Picker," as he liked to call himself, was soon gathering a reputation for having lightning quick hands when it came to stroking a banjo, and over the course of a year quickly discovered his talents as an emerging singer and songwriter as well. When an unfortunate illness struck his mother in 1969, Evans, true to his "family above all" roots, returned home to Ohio to care for his Mother and be with his loved ones. After her passing, Evans remained in Ohio until the beckoning of Bluegrass music began calling his name once again. Playing in various clubs, fairs, theatres, and festivals; he harnessed his talents until an opportunity presented itself in 1972 that he couldn't resist. Larry Sparks, known for his hard driving Bluegrass ballads, had approached Dave about joining up with his band of musical outlaws and soon Evans was a "Lonesome Rambler." It was during those years playing and touring with the Ramblers that Evans would master his deep tenor singing style that would become a staple of his identity within the Bluegrass community. As with many Legends, their stardom comes to pass through a natural progression, and Evans, true to form, after bouncing around in numerous bands of notoriety, eventually embraced his destiny and moved from being a back up vocalist and band mate, to a front man and leader of his own crew. In 1978 Dave Evans formed "Dave Evans and the River Bend," a vehicle which would finally allow the talented musician to step into the spotlight and produce the music he had always dreamed of making as a child. Soon Evans, as predicted, had played every venue, theatre, and stage along the long and winding "Ol' Highway 52." The River Bend thrived for about a decade, touring various st