简介：byStephenThomasErlewine&DavidVinopal TheCountryGentlemenexpandedthedefinitionofbluegrass—theywereprogressivebluegrassbeforethetermexisted.TheGentlemencamealongwiththefirstwaveofthefolkmusicrevivalinthelate50sandquicklymadeanameforthemselvesasabandthatcouldnotonlyplaytraditionalmaterialstraight,butalsobroughtBobDylanandcontemporarycountrymaterialintothegenre.Becauseoftheirexceptionalsingingandvirtuosoinstrumentals,theGentlemenattractedabroadaudience,rangingfromtraditionalcountry/bluegrassfanstofolkandsoftrocklovers. FormedinWashington,D.C.,onJuly4,1957,theoriginallineupoftheCountryGentlemenfeaturedguitarist/vocalistCharlieWaller—whohasledthebandthroughallofitsnumerousincarnations—mandolinist/vocalistJohnDuffey,banjoistBillEmerson,andbassistTomMorgan.Wallerhadspenttimewithanumberofcountrystringbandsintheearly50s,mostnotablyBuzzBusbysband,theBayouBoys,whichalsofeaturedEmerson.AftertheBayouBoyssufferedacarcrashinearly1957,WallerandEmersonputtogetheragrouptofulfillthebandsregularspotataVirginiavenuewhilevariousmemberswererecovering.ThatreplacementbandevolvedintotheCountyGentlemen. Forthefirsttwoyearsoftheirexistence,theCountryGentlemenwentthroughnumerouslineupchanges.In1959,theyfinallylandedonapermanentlineup,withbanjoistEddieAdcockandbassistTomGrayjoiningabandthatalreadyincludedWallerandDuffey.ThislineupsecuredacontractwithStardayRecordsandreleasedahandfulofsingles,aswellasonealbum,TravelingDobroBlues.FollowingtheirStardayrecordings,thegroupmovedtoFolkways,wheretheyreleasedthreealbums,includingtheirbreakthrough,CountrySongsOld&New.AftertheirstintatFolkways,thegroupmovedtoMercuryin1963,wheretheyreleasedFolkSessionInside.Thefollowingyear,theybeganalongassociationwithRebelRecords. Duringthe60s,theCountryGentlemenbuiltupadedicatedfanbaseinAmericathroughconstanttouring.Althoughtheirlineupshiftedrapidly—followingGrays1964departure,theywentthroughseveralofbassistsbeforesettlingonEdMcGlothlin—theirsoundprettymuchstayedthesame.Attheendofthe60s,thecorelineupbegantosplinterasDuffeyleftin1969;hewasreplacedbyJimmyGaudreau.Inthefollowingyear,bothAdcockandMcGlothlinleftthelineup.In1971,thesecondclassiclineupoftheCountryGentlemen—featuringWaller,arejoinedBillEmerson,mandolinistDoyleLawson,andbassistBillYates—fellintoplaceandstayedtogetherfortwoyears.Forthenext20years,variouslineupsoftheCountryGentlemen,whichwereallledbyWaller,remainedpopularonthebluegrassfestivalcircuit.