LAST ROAD is a South Carolina
based group which is
comprised of four energetic,
talented musicians and vocalists
who feature a wide selection of
traditional, contemporary and
Gospel bluegrass music. They
combine the influences of first
generation performers like
Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe,
and the Osborne Brothers and
more recent acts
such
as Blue Highway, and Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder.
LAST ROAD entertains at many
different functions around the
Southeast such as festivals,
city concerts, weddings and other
private
functions and frequent many local restaurants around
the
upstate area.
e-mail:
david@lastroadbluegrass.com
Dave started getting involved in bluegrass music in the
mid 70’s after playing rock'n roll throughout his high
school days. Having played in and started a number of
bluegrass groups over the years, Dave has become known
as one to find good musicians and singers. It seems that
he has done it again by coming up with yet another group
of great musicians and singers to carry on the Last Road
name. Dave formed Last Road in the early 90’s and though
a lot have trod down this road there’s still many a mile
to go.
Not only playing bluegrass on stage but Dave has been
involved in radio over the past 10 years or so. Hosting
his own radio show, Bluegrass In Dixie for 3 years on
WESC-AM 660, this show became short lived after the
station leased off the AM station and there was no
longer a place for bluegrass there.
After about a year away from radio Dave carried his show
to WRIX-FM in Anderson for another 3 years only to end
as result of talk radio. Maybe another door will open
before long.
You may find Dave just about anywhere there is bluegrass
music. He enjoys playing his 1990 Hutto mandolin at jam
session around the area as well as local festivals where
you might also find him sounding the festivals as he has
become a pretty good bluegrass soundman.
Not having any children of his own you might find Dave
sitting down with some young pickers trying to give them
some pointers or maybe a few licks he has learned but he
always has a word of encouragement.
Dave and his wife, Pam, live in Easley, SC and they
worship the Lord at George's Creek Baptist Church where
they are active in the children’s programs and Dave is
involved also in the music ministry. With what time is
left they enjoy riding their jet ski’s while at Lake
Hartwell.
e-mail:
brian@lastroadbluegrass.com
Playing the driving doghouse bass in Last Road, and
usually found singing the tenor part, is Brian Baker.
Brian's love of music goes back to childhood. He grew up
playing classical music on the trumpet, followed by rock
and roll drums in college. In the early 1990's, he
discovered the “high lonesome” sound of bluegrass, and
has been enthusiastically playing and singing it ever
since.
In addition to the bass, Brian has learned to pick a bit
on the mandolin, guitar, banjo, and fiddle. Bluegrass
groups getting frequent play on his iPod include Bill
Monroe, the Country Gentlemen, Tony Rice, Alison Krauss,
Doyle Lawson, and Tim O’Brien. Brian's bass, which he
just recently acquired, is a 1962 Kay M-1 upright.
Originally from Virginia, Brian has called the Upstate
home since 1988. He lives in Simpsonville with his wife,
Cathy, and their cure for empty-nest syndrome, a Lhasa
Apso named Rupert. He takes great pride in his two
stepsons, Brandon and Zach, who are about the finest
young men you’ll ever meet! In between his hours spent
working as an engineer at Michelin and playing
bluegrass, Brian enjoys serving the Lord at Crossroads
Community Church, and restoring his historic 1911 home.
e-mail:
benji@lastroadbluegrass.com
Benji’s musical background would be considered a bit
“unconventional” compared to the average bluegrass
musician, but all talented musical roads eventually lead
back to bluegrass. He now feels he is finally where he
belongs. Pickin’!
Benji Merritt was born and raised in Powdersville, SC
and began studying the Cello at the age of 6. He
attended the Governors School for the Arts and then
proceeded to the University of South Carolina on a full
music scholarship. (Note: Benji is the only cellist to
date in USC history to play Rugby for the gamecocks.)
After graduating, he moved to Nashville, TN and pursued
a career in songwriting. After 8 years of living and
working in Nashville, homesickness struck him and his
family, and they all decided to move back to the Upstate
and open their own fence business.
In high school, Benji began picking up different
instruments to learn, including piano, guitar and
mandolin. He played with a southern rock band for two
years in college singing lead and playing guitar and
fiddle. He has sung and played in places ranging from
beer joints and bike rallies to the Governor’s mansion
and churches. He has sung in many different choirs in
High School and college, singing Bass, Baritone, and
Tenor. His local “claim to fame” is writing the fight
song for Easley High School.
Benji, Ansley, and their two kids Walker and Abbey Grace
live in Easley, SC and are members at Covenant
Presbyterian Church. They have a deep love for the Lord,
their family, and the great state of South Carolina.
e-mail:
mike@lastroadbluegrass.com
The
newest member of Last Road is Mike Crane, who joined the group in January of
2008. Originally from Oklahoma, Mike became interested in the banjo when
Dueling Banjos hit the AM airwaves in the early 1970s. His folks bought him
a banjo out of the Sears catalog and from there taught himself how to
play using The Earl Scruggs’ method.
After earning a degree in
forestry at Oklahoma State, Mike has been working with the U.S. Forest
Service since 1984. He moved with his family to Walhalla in 1999.
Mike and his wife,
Martha, have two sons; Ben and Tucker who attend USC in Columbia and a
daughter, Anne, who is a senior at Walhalla High School.
You'll see Mike playing
either his Gibson Earl Scruggs Standard model banjo or an Ome Monarch banjo
he had custom made.
