CAROLINA ROAD - BIO
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CAROLINA ROAD
Bluegrass crowd-pleasers, Carolina Road recently released Back to My Roots, their highly anticipated second album with world renowned Rural Rhythm Records. This 12-song release finds Carolina Road returning to their homegrown style of music with traditional bluegrass instrumentation and heart-warming vocals made famous by the band. Their previous release, aptly titled Carolina Hurricane, achieved commercial and critical success, charting on WNCW Radio’s Top 50 Bluegrass Albums of 2010, Bluegrass Music Profiles TOP 30 SINGLES, and TOP 10 ALBUM Chart and reaching number #7 on Billboard’s 10 Bluegrass Albums.
The band’s distinct sound and old time flair can be attributed to bluegrass-rich area of North Carolina from which they hail and borrow their name. As the founding member and band leader for Carolina Road, Lorraine Jordan’s showmanship and chemistry with the audience makes the group one of the most popular bands among bluegrass fans today. Lorraine has fronted Carolina Road for over a decade and has seven national recordings to her credit. The band has earned a reputation as one of the hardest working bands in bluegrass, averaging 60 bluegrass festivals in the U.S. and Canada annually along with headlining the Bluegrass Cruise and hosting the Canadian Bluegrass Awards. Carolina Road’s performance is a hard driving traditional sound with invigorating instrumentals, smooth blending vocals, and all the energy that you can stand.
As the newest addition to the band’s music catalogue, Back to My Roots is produced by Lorraine Jordan and assistant produced by Ray Edwards and Carolina Road. The release features new Carolina Road band member, Tommy Long on lead vocals and guitar. Long’s a baritone voice with a traditional style are highlighted on his original composition “Granny’s Garden,” which he wrote about his grandmother who raised him during hard times and his memories of her. Soaring strings on Back to My Roots can be credited to six-year Carolina Road veterans Josh Goforth on the fiddle and Ben Green on the banjo, who pair up to create impressive intricate instrumentals. The mandolin chop puts the drive on every song with a short, precise snare drum sound played by band leader, Lorraine Jordan. Tommy Long's lead vocals and Lorraine Jordan's tenor vocals are a perfect harmony blend and their phrasing is close to perfection. Back to My Roots was engineered by Wesley Easter and recorded at Wesley Easter's studio in Mount Airy, NC which is well known for producing some of the top artists in bluegrass music. Carolina Road features the talents of Tommy Long, Lorraine Jordan, Josh Goforth, Ben Greene, and Eddie Biggerstaff.
LORRAINE JORDAN
Mandolin / Lead and Tenor Vocals
Affectionately known as the “Lady of Tradition” in the bluegrass community, Lorraine Jordan grew up around bluegrass music on the coast of North Carolina. She now resides in Garner, just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina. She has performed bluegrass music for over twenty years and formed Carolina Road in 1998. She continues to be the driving force behind Carolina Road's popularity and longevity as a consummate performer, songwriter, emcee and show organizer. Lorraine plays a “Monroe-style mandolin” and is known for her hard driving mandolin chop. She has been a finalist in the IBMA Songwriting Showcase and was the 1st runner-up in the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest. Lorraine has been a finalist for SPBGMA Entertainer of the Year and Traditional Female Vocalist. Lorraine is a co-founder for the formation of the Daughters of Bluegrass, whose Back to the Well album won the IBMA Recorded Event in 2006, and she was part of the Daughter's latest album, Bluegrass Bouquet also a 2009 IBMA Recorded Event of the Year winner for the song “Proud to be a Daughter.” In her spare time she enjoys riding her Honda motorcycle and playing with her two Maltese - JD and Polly.
Lorraine is proud to endorse Gibson Mandolins, GHS Strings, Colorado Cases, CT Straps, Intellitouch Tuners, and Blue Chip Picks.
BEN GREENE
Banjo / Bass Vocals
Ben grew up in banjo country in the piedmont of North Carolina. He resides in Monroe, North Carolina. He has been a member of Carolina Road for six years. He began his music career in 1973 playing with the late Charlie Moore. Between 1973 and 1979 during his tenure with Charlie, Ben recorded six albums. He played electric guitar with country and& dance bands until 1995. Ben played electric bass with the Bluegrass Cardinals, banjo with Lost & Found, David Parmley & Continental Divide and The James King Band. Ben has performed in every state, plus seventeen foreign countries. He was a nominee for SPBGMA Banjo Player of the Year award in 2008, 2009, and 2010. In 2007, Ben recorded a banjo instrumental album titled, "On Watson's Cove." Recently, in 2010, Ben recorded his newest album titled “Banjo Sideman” on Blue Circle Records. This project includes a vocal song from each band that he has previously been a member of. In his spare time he loves to go fishing with friends and family.
Josh Goforth
Fiddle/Baritone Vocals/Road Manager
Josh is a Madison County native and resides in Asheville, North Carolina. He has been a member and road manager of Carolina Road for six years. Josh attended East Tennessee State University where he majored in Instrumental Music Education. He is very active in the world renowned bluegrass and country music program at ETSU and also mentors upcoming fiddle players through residencies with universities including Colorado College, University of Georgia and University of Kentucky. He has performed with Appalachian Trail, David Holt & Laura Boosinger, Open Road and The ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band. He has also performed in 13 foreign countries and throughout the United States. In 2000, 2003 and 2005 he was named the Fiddler of the Festival as the nationally acclaimed Fiddler's Grove Competition, and awarded the title of Master Fiddler after winning the coveted position three times. In 2008, 2009, and 2010, Josh was a finalist for SPBGMA Fiddle Player of the Year. In 2009, he was nominated for a Grammy for the album Cutting Loose which he produced and recorded on with David Holt. Josh also showed off his acting chops in the 2000 film Song Catcher where he was given a small role, was the vocal coach on set, and performed on the film’s soundtrack. Josh enjoys teaching folklore and sharing his talents with others.
Josh is proud to endorse Henderson Guitars, Kogut Violins, and Baggs Pickups.
TOMMY LONG
Guitar/Lead Vocals
Tommy grew up in Hamptonville, North Carolina, where he still resides today. He started playing with Carolina Road in 2010. He began his musical career at the age of 8 playing drums in his step-father's country music band. In 1982, he formed the band Dixie Creek Revival. Tommy's great lead vocals and driving rhythm guitar playing helped propel the band to win the "Horizon Award" in 1992. In 1995, Tommy left Dixie Creek Revival to help form the Long and Pardue Band. In 1997, this award-winning band claimed the title of Mid-Atlantic Bluegrass Champion in Denton, NC and finished 2nd in the nation at the Pizza Hut Bluegrass Showdown. The band followed with performances at SPBGMA and IBMA leading to the signing of a contract with Pinecastle Records. In 2009, he joined Ray Edwards and Hard Rock Mountain, working primarily in the North Carolina area. In 2010, the group performed as honorary Sunny Mountain Boys, working various festivals with Jimmy Martin Jr. Tommy joined Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road in the fall of 2010 and has found a home. His outstanding voice, rhythm guitar playing and great songwriting talents are being used to their fullest. Look for Lorraine's upcoming new CD to include several Tommy Long penned tunes. Tommy's the proud father of son Jayce, daughter Casey and is elated with the birth of his first grandchild; baby Lucas, the son of Jayce and Sarah Long.
Tommy is proud to endorse GHS Strings, Blue Chip Picks, and Mike Long Guitars. .
JD is the official band mascot of the Carolina Road Band. He travels with the band and keeps the band leader - Lorraine - very happy while going up and down the highways. He is a 7 year old Maltese. He has a sister named Polly Lewis who also travels some with the band.