William Hundley "Bill" Emerson, Jr. (born January 22, 1938 in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

) is an America

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

n five-string banjo player known for being one of the founding members of the original Country Gentlemen

The Country Gentlemen

The Country Gentlemen were a bluegrass band that originated during the 1950s in the area of Washington, DC, United States, and recorded and toured with various members until the death in 2004 of Charlie Waller, one of the group's founders who in its later years served as the group's "focal point...

 and Emerson & Waldron.

Career

Beginning in 1957, Bill Emerson established himself as a banjo virtuoso and history maker alike! A founding member of the famed bluegrass ensemble "The Country Gentlemen", billed as a featured artist while with "Jimmy Martin" during the height of that bluegrass legend's career, the man who introduced the classic "Fox on the Run" to bluegrass, founder and shaper of "Country Current" the world renowned bluegrass ensemble of the United States Navy Band. Called "a banjo legend" by the "Washington Post", twice awarded "Banjo player of the Year" by the Muleskinner News Bluegrass Magazine, credited with giving start to the careers of both dobro legends Mike Auldridge and Jerry Douglas, credited by Ricky Skaggs as being responsible for his post Ralph Stanley musical career, Bill Emerson was also inducted into the "Virginia Folk Music Association" Hall of Fame in 1984 and June 10th was proclaimed "Bill Emerson day in Virginia" by Governor Charles S. Robb.

Emerson joined Buzz Busby and the Bayou Boys in the 1950s. In 1957, when Busby was injured in a car accident, Emerson and Charlie Waller - who was also a member of the Bayou Boys - formed the Country Gentlemen. Emerson's stint with the Gentlemen lasted until 1958 when he left the group and began working as a sideman. In 1962, he joined Jimmy Martin

Jimmy Martin

Jimmy Martin was an American bluegrass musician, known as the "King of Bluegrass".-Early years:Born James H. Martin in Sneedville, Tennessee. Jimmy Martin was born into the hard farming life of rural East Tennessee. He grew up near Sneedville, singing in church and with friends from surrounding...

's Sunny Mountain Boys where he remained until 1967 with the exception of a brief interlude with Red Allen

Red Allen (bluegrass)

Harley Allen , better known as Red Allen, was an American bluegrass singer and guitarist known for his powerful tenor voice.-Biography:...

 between 1964-1965. In 1967, Emerson and guitarist Cliff Waldron formed "Emerson & Waldron" recording for Rebel Records

Rebel Records

In 1980, Freeland sold the label to David Freeman, the founder of County Records. Rebel currently has 140 titles in print from more than 35 different artists and groups. In 2008, the label released 8 new titles, including ones from Ralph Stanley and Larry Sparks.-Notable artists:...

. The sound and repertoire of Emerson & Waldron was very similar to the Country Gentlemen often performing songs from contemporary rock, soul and country. Three years later, in 1970, Emerson was back with the Country Gentlemen. In the absence of Emerson, Waldron renamed the group "Cliff Waldron and the New Shades of Grass. When Emerson joined the Navy in 1973 he also joined the Navy Band performing with them for the next twenty years. In 1992, the Stelling Banjo Company issued an Emerson signature banjo model.

During the First annual Oak Leaf Bluegrass and Mountain Music Festival at Luray Caverns on July 4th 2011, Virginia Governor Robert F McDonnell presented a CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION to Bill Emerson for his many contributions to the development, popularity and proliferation of Bluegrass Music in the Commonwealth of Virginia and around the world.

Emerson & Waldron

• New Shades of Grass (Rebel, 1968)
• Bluegrass Country (Rebel, 1970)
• Bluegrass Session (Rebel, 1970)

Bill Emerson

• Banjo Pickin' 'N Hot Fiddlin' (Coronet, 1963)
• Banjo Pickin' 'N Hot Fiddlin' Vol 2 (Coronet, 1964)
• Country Banjo (Design, 1969)
• Home of the Red Fox (Rebel, 1987)
• Gold Plated Banjo (Rebel, 1990)
• Reunion (Webco, 1991)
• Banjo Man (Webco, 1996)
• Bill Emerson & the Sweet Dixie Band (Rebel, 2007)
• Southern (Rural Rhythm, 2010)
• Eclipse (Rural Rhythm, 2011)

Emerson and Goble

• Tennessee 1949 (Webco, 1987)
• Dixie In My Eye (Webco, 1989)
• Webco Classics Volume One (Webco, 1995)