From Flag Pond are band members Ronnie Shelton and Eddy Ray and from Unicoi is Fred Warner (yours truly). These three made up the core group called "The Temple Hill Baronry of Bluegrass". Also added to the group for our second performance was Terry Tester, Warren Shelton and Lee Franklin. The first gig was on New Year's Eve in Temple Hill for the Bluegrass get-together at the satellite Sheriff's office on the old Asheville Road. The first performance was very well liked by the many in attendance. The band's second gig was at the same place with a fuller sounding band. The first gig was Ronnie, Eddy and yours truly while the second performance was with Eddy Ray, Lee Franklin, Terry Tester, Warren Shelton and yours truly. (Unfortunately, Ronnie Shelton was unable to be there for the second show). Expect to see more of these pickers.

Our third performance, on February 17th, was the core group of Eddy Ray, mandolin, Ronnie Shelton, lead and rhythm guitar, Yours Truly, banjo, and Terry Tester, standup bass. In my opinion we were able to pump out a lot of music with the four of us. We all work together nicely. Later, we were joined by jammers Ron Lewis and Frank Rogers creating a nice full sound for the audience and the dancers. 

Little Matthew Franklin is sure getting an early start in Bluegrass. He often plays "Amazing Grace" flawlessly on his mandolin when asked to do so by his grandfather, Eddy Ray at the different Bluegrass events that take place. It's such a pleasure to hear these young and talented kids like Matthew and his older, very accomplished brother Lee. Also I must mention the pleasure of hearing Sara Grace Larkey sing and her brother Adam play fiddle and mandolin. And I also must mention the pleasure of hearing little 8 year-old Carson Peters play his fiddle. The hills are alive with music here in eastern Tennessee and much of it comes from the very young who have this wonderful music passed down to them from their parents, grandparents and others actively involved in it.