From Four Oaks, Russell Johnson founded and led the Grass Cats for 20 years.
In addition to the Cats’ many terrific shows at Fountain, he also brought to town the revival of his excellent New Vintage String Band and performed with Diamond Creek.
He’s currently director of UNC-CH’s Bluegrass Studies program and its Carolina Bluegrass Band, which was profiled by RAF proprietor Alex Albright in Bluegrass Unlimited‘s August 2018 issue. Buy it.
An avid Civil War historian, Johnson also recorded an excellent CD of original period songs with Barney Rogers in 2009, When the Bands Played. Buy it.
Russell Johnson performing with Diamond Creek, Nov. 2014. Photo by Tom Whelan
