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he United States Navy Band Country (drum set), Tensel (Parker) Leach, (vocals) and Current is the Navy’s premier coun- Bob Kaufman (fiddle/mandolin) came together Ttry/bluegrass ensemble. The group is as the ensemble known as “Country Tide.” Dur- nationally renowned for its versatility and ing a performance at DAR Constitution Hall, in phenomenal musicianship, performing a blend Washington, D.C., they met Bill Emerson, a well- of modern country music and cutting-edge known banjoist in the country/bluegrass music bluegrass. This seven-member ensemble scene. After expressing interest in joining the employs musicians from diverse backgrounds Navy, he was recruited specifically to lead the with extensive high-profile recording and tour- group, renamed Country Current. Its purpose ing experience in the music scenes of Nash- as a specialty group was to expand the reach ville, New York, New Orleans and more. In the and diversify audiences of the Navy Band, tradition of country music, each member is a which it did quite successfully. Under Emer- skilled performer on multiple instruments. The son’s leadership, the group became an instant band uses banjo, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, hit, making an appearance at the Grand Ole mandolin, fiddle, electric bass, upright bass, Opry shortly thereafter, and performing for the dobro, pedal steel guitar and drum set. Academy of Country Music Awards just a few years later. Members of Country Current have Country Current was officially formed in been among the top instrumentalists in their 1973 by Cmdr. Donald Stauffer, the fourth lead- field, a tradition that continues to this day. er of the Navy Band. However, its framework began a year earlier in 1972, when musicians Country Current’s bluegrass group show- Eddie Davidson (lead guitar and emcee), Larry cases six members in an acoustic setting, per- Watts (bass), Dan Meyers (guitar), Bob Faylor forming traditional, contemporary and original bluegrass compositions. Bill Emerson estab- Joint Chiefs of Staff, the master chief petty of- lished the ensemble in 1989 and they quickly ficer of the Navy and numerous other dignitar- began playing to standing room-only audienc- ies. The group has also performed overseas es in libraries and concert halls in the Washing- in Stockholm, Nova Scotia and Beijing, as well ton metropolitan area. Soon after, the group as at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New received national attention on TNN’s “Nashville Orleans. Reaching out to communities both lo- Now,” WWVA’s “Wheeling Jamboree” and at cally and nationally, they regularly perform for Opryland Park. Over the years, they have per- veterans, elementary schools, and in support formed with legendary bluegrass artists such as Alison Kraus, Nickel Creek, Rhonda Vin- cent and the “Father of Bluegrass,” the late Bill Monroe.

Throughout its ex- istence, the ensemble has been in constant demand by the nation’s most prominent bluegrass festivals. In 1992, they traveled with the Ceremonial Band to perform at the Swedish Army Tat- too in Stockholm, and performed at the 1994 International Bluegrass Music Association’s “Showcase,” followed by performances at the IBMA’s “Awards Show” and “FanFest” in both 1997 and 2000. Also in 2000, the group of our active-duty Sailors. With a fun-filled and was featured at the Folk Festival in Anchorage, family-friendly stage show, Country Current Alaska, and in 2001 at the Mississippi Blue- has been delighting its fans for 45 years with grass Reunion in Purvis, Mississippi. In 2011, their musical virtuosity and humor. Country Current became the first military band to perform at South by Southwest in Austin, Tonight’s performance has special meaning: Texas. Today, the group routinely performs at it’s the first time original members of the en- festivals such as Darrington, Windgap, Gettys- semble are joining the celebration. The concert burg, Lake Havasu and Grass Valley. will highlight the great legacy of the ensemble and will feature many of its notable alumni. Since its inception, Country Current has Each former member has chosen a few songs been a favorite of the most senior govern- to perform, accompanied by other alumni as ment officials, regularly for the president, vice well as current members of today’s Country president, secretary of the Navy, chief of naval Current. operations, chairman and vice-chairman of the UNITED STATES NAVY BAND

The United States Navy Band is the premier musical organization of the U.S. Navy. Comprised of six primary performing groups as well as a host of smaller ensembles, "The World's Finest" is capable of playing any style of music in any setting.

Since its inception in 1925, the Navy Band has been entertaining audiences and supporting the Navy with some of the best musicians in the country, performing for more than 270 public San Pedro Sula, Honduras concerts and 1,300 ceremo- The United nies each year. From national concert tours to presidential NAVY MUSIC States Navy Band, inaugurals to memorial ser- Every year, Navy musicians present vices at Arlington National nationally and 6,000 performances across the United Cemetery, the Navy Band States and around the world, connect- internationally, proudly represents the men ing with millions of people. The Navy’s stands for and women of the largest, 11 bands represent the Navy in a musi- musical most versatile, most capable cal capacity by stimulating pride, esprit and military naval force on the planet de corps, retention and recruiting, pro- excellence. today: America's Navy. moting national and international public relations, and enhancing the prestige of The Navy Band is dedi- the Navy. cated to the education of younger musicians. The Music in the Schools program Navy bands go where ships can’t go to features band members presenting expand and strengthen our network of clinics, master classes and recitals at partners. In a typical year, Navy bands local schools. Every spring, the Concert travel to more than 40 countries, help- Band hosts their annual Young Artist Solo ing to improve access and relationships Competition. abroad. Here at home, Sailor musicians play an The United States Navy Band, nation- important role honoring the long and ally and internationally, stands for mu- proud tradition of naval service. While sical and military excellence. Whether traveling all across the country, Navy performing at Carnegie Hall, the White bands come together with communi- House or a rural civic auditorium; sharing ties to honor and celebrate the service the stage with Ernest Borgnine, Itzhak of veterans. Perlman, Branford Marsalis or Vince Gill; Whether performing for school chil- or appearing on television programs like dren in Asia, entertaining crowds in the "Today," "Meet the Press" and "Good Midwest, or participating in funerals at Morning America" and in films like "Clear Arlington National Cemetery, your Navy and Present Danger," the United States bands are connecting people from all Navy Band is constantly reaffirming why walks of life to America’s Navy. they are "The World's Finest." COUNTRY CURRENT Saturday, May 19, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall

MISSOURI Musician 1st Class Kenny Ray Horton

WHEREVER YOU ARE Musician 1st Class Kenny Ray Horton

HONKY TONK HEART John Neel, Lonnie Wilson

WHO’S CHEATIN’ WHO Jerry Hayes

AMERICAN SATURDAY NIGHT Ashley Gorley, Kelly Lovelace, Brad Paisley

*ALUMNI BAND*

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Bob Thiele Musician 1st Class (ret.) Eddie Davidson, guitar/vocals

WALKIN’ AFTER MIDNIGHT Alan W. Block Musician 1st Class (ret.)Tensel (Parker) Leach, vocals

LET ME BE THERE John Rostill Musician 1st Class (ret.)Tensel (Parker) Leach, vocals, Musician 1st Class (ret.) Eddie Davidson, guitar, Chief Musician (ret.) Larry Watts, bass

WHERE DID COUNTRY GO Master Chief Musician (ret.) Jerry Gilmore Master Chief Musician (ret.) Jerry Gilmore, guitar/vocals

HEART OVER MIND Mel Tillis Master Chief Musician (ret.) Jerry Gilmore, guitar

STATUE OF A FOOL J. Crutchfield Musician 1st Class (ret.) Ben Winter, guitar/vocals ON THE ROAD AGAIN Willie Nelson Musician 1st Class (ret.) Ben Winter, guitar/vocals

THEME TIME Master Chief Musician (ret.) Bill Emerson Master Chief Musician (ret.) Bill Emerson, banjo

APPALOOSA Master Chief Musician (ret.) Wayne Taylor Master Chief Musician (ret.) Wayne Taylor, guitar/vocals

HEART OF CAROLINE Master Chief Musician (ret.) Wayne Taylor Master Chief Musician (ret.) Wayne Taylor, guitar/vocals

LEGEND IN MY TIME Master Chief Musician (ret.) Wayne Taylor Master Chief Musician (ret.) Wayne Taylor, guitar/vocals

CHEROKEE SHUFFLE Traditional Senior Chief Musician (ret.) Keith Arneson, banjo

FINALE U.S. NAVY BAND AUDIO PRODUCTION ELECTRIC/STRING BASS ENGINEER AND VOCALS COMMANDING OFFICER MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS SENIOR CHIEF MUSICIAN CAPT. Brendon P. Lennon Michael “Mick” Nicholson Kenneth C. Collins, conductor Washington, Massachusetts CHIEF MUSICIAN Reno, Nevada Larry D. Watts EXECUTIVE OFFICER FORMER MEMBERS MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS LT. CMDR. BANJO Jeremy Middleton Mark K. Corbliss MASTER CHIEF MUSICIAN MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS Jersey City, New Jersey William H. Emerson Bryan Smith SENIOR CHIEF MUSICIAN MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS SENIOR ENLISTED LEADER Keith Arneson Charles Patrick Verner MASTER CHIEF MUSICIAN MUSICIAN 2ND CLASS MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS Kevin T. Dines Harold E. Kehr Washington, D.C. Joseph Wheatley VOCALS DRUMS COUNTRY CURRENT MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS MASTER CHIEF MUSICIAN BANJO, GUITAR Tensel (Parker) Leach Joseph L. Barnes AND VOCALS EMCEE, GUITAR AND MASTER CHIEF MUSICIAN MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS Robert Snider Haley E. Stiltner LEAD VOCALIST MASTER CHIEF MUSICIAN SENIOR CHIEF MUSICIAN Windsor, Virginia Wayne Taylor Gary Griswold FIDDLE, MANDOLIN AND MASTER CHIEF MUSICIAN CHIEF MUSICIAN VOCALS Jerry E. Gilmore John Emerich SENIOR CHIEF MUSICIAN MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS CHIEF MUSICIAN Patrick J. White Robert “Eddie” Davidson Dale L. Vanderpool Williamsport, Maryland MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS GUITAR Robert Faylor DRUMS MASTER CHIEF MUSICIAN Robert Sullivan III MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS William Kreitner Christina M. Catalanotto MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS Slidell, Louisiana Daniel Meyers AUDIO PRODUCTION ENGINEER PEDAL STEEL GUITAR AND DOBRO MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS Frank Solivan II SENIOR CHIEF MUSICIAN MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS David Morse Henry A. Johns MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS Huntington Beach, California Benjamin A. Winter CHIEF MUSICIAN Brian P. Bowman FIDDLE, MANDOLIN GUITAR CHIEF MUSICIAN AND VOCALS MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS Conrad C. Reynolds Joseph M. Friedman SENIOR CHIEF MUSICIAN Michael Stein CHIEF MUSICAIN St. Louis, Missouri Scott A. Shepherd MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS EMCEE, GUITAR AND Robert T. Kaufmann MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS LEAD VOCALIST Louis Brown PEDAL STEEL GUITAR MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS Kenneth Ray Horton MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS Robert Palmer Rocky Comfort, Missouri Jeffrey N. Agnew MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS Chistopher M. Trupe ELECTRIC BASS, STRING BASS AND Bradley Corbin VOCALS MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS Patrick Gulley Daniel J. Stewart MUSICIAN 1ST CLASS Laceyville, Pennsylvania David Sutton JOIN THE CONVERSATION NEWS, VIDEOS, AND MORE