Sammy Shelor


Sammy Shelor is an American banjoist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known as leader of the Lonesome River Band and for his solo recordings, music instruction, and session work.

Biography

Early years

The Shelor Family has a long banjo tradition. Charlie Poole taught Shelor’s grandfather the banjo, and Shelor’s grandfather in turn taught Shelor. When Shelor was four years old, growing up in southwestern Virginia, his grandfather fashioned a banjo for him from an old pressure cooker lid. His other grandfather promised to buy Shelor a real banjo if he learned to play two songs. Sam met the challenge, his grandfather bought him a Ventura banjo, and by age 10 Shelor was performing in local bands.
Shelor patterned his playing and career after J. D. Crowe, Earl Scruggs, and Sonny Osborne of The Osborne Brothers.
Shelor became a full time professional musician when he joined Richmond, Virginia-based The Heights Of Grass at age 19. That band eventually morphed into The Virginia Squires, featuring Rickie and Ronnie Simpkins. Shelor played six years with the band. The Virginia Squires reunited for one show in 2017.

Lonesome River Band

Shelor joined the Lonesome River Band in 1990. When founder Tim Austin left in 1995, Shelor and Ronnie Bowman took over management of the band. Shelor became manager after Bowman's departure in 2000.

Solo recording

In 1997, Shelor released a solo album Leading Roll on the Sugar Hill label. Guest artists included Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, and Alan O'Bryant.

Awards

Shelor has received the following recognition:

Music instruction

Shelor and AcuTab have published books and instructional DVDs.

Instruments

  • Huber Banjos designed and produced a Sammy Shelor signature model banjo.

Personal life

Shelor and his wife Jordyn have two children.

Discography

Solo albums

  • 1997: ''Leading Roll''

Linda Lay and Sammy Shelor

With the Virginia Squires

  • 1984: Bluegrass With a Touch of Class
  • 1984: Mountains and Memories
  • 1985: I'm Working My Way
  • 1986: Hard Times and Heartaches
  • 1988: ''Variations''

With the [Lonesome River Band]

  • 1991: Carrying the Tradition
  • 1994: Old Country Town
  • 1998: Finding The Way
  • 2000: Talkin' To Myself
  • 2002: Window Of Time
  • 2005: Head On Into Heartache
  • 2006: The Road With No End
  • 2008: No Turning Back
  • 2010: Still Learning
  • 2014: Turn On A Dime
  • 2015: Coming Back Home To You
  • 2016: Bridging The Tradition
  • 2017: Mayhayley's House
  • 2019: Outside Looking In
  • 2021: "Singing Up There: A Tribute to the Easter Brothers"
  • 2022: "Heyday"

As producer

  • 2012: Acoustic Blue - ''Being Country''

Also appears on

Music instruction

  • 1995: AcuTab Transcriptions Vol. I
  • 1995: AcuTab Transcriptions Vol. 2
  • 2006 Knee Deep in Banjo book
  • 2011: Sammy Shelor: A Demonstration & Analysis of an Award Winning Style DVD, streaming